10mo old sigining "more" after nursing both sides...what do I do

[twinsplusone1]

He's SIGNING "more" he wants more. I'm so sad I don't want to dry up or something. He's been doing it awhile now and I thought he was playing patty cake...bad mommy I realized today he's saying more and popping on and off after both sides. I tell him to stay on so he can get more but he doesn't have the patience i guess to wait for another let down. I compress my breast and theres milk kind of trickling out and sometimes a few streams but OHHHH what to do. I've never had supply issues hes EBF NO BOTTLES ever I've only pumped one day on day 3 of his life when he went under the billi lights for jaundice and I needed to account for the ounces he was getting.

He nurses about 5 maybe 6 times a day now he sleeps almost 12 hours at night and takes 2 2hour naps a day. He nurses at 7a,9a, somewhere btwn 11-12:30p, 2-3p, 5-8p & he eats solids 3 times a day.

PLEASE don't advise me to stop feeding him IMO he's almost a year old and it reminds me of only drinking protein shakes after awhile you just need to eat food...anyway its not a question of not WANTING to nurse it is that s he wants MORE the little cutie he is signing "more" to me.

What should I do. Should I wake him around midnight and nurse him, should I take something. Tomorrow I'm going to start watching the clock and nurse EVERY two hours when he's awake. We've been busy lately maybe since I've gone awhile without nursing its slowing up...oh now I'm dedicated to CLW. I will nurse as long as its workig for us and i think at least until age 2 is so imperative for us both.
HELP LADIES any advise, PLEASE

[JessicaS]

Does he wake up to nurse at all?

(that is too cute he is signing "more" my kids have both done that, it is too sweet!!! )

Is he eating any food? Is he showing any interest in food?

I wouldn't recommend stopping nursing at all.

[jenneology]

He will have a hard time understanding this, but as he demands more, your body will begin to produce more milk for him. Give it 2-3 days and you should notice that your supply increases to meet the demand. If you want to artificially increase it faster, you can take fenugreek capsules until you smell like sweet curry and maple. Fenugreek works really well to boost supply and it can do it overnight.

It means that he is probably having a growth spurt right now. I don't think you need to offer your milk to him any more often than he requests, but if he's willing, then go for it. If you continue to breastfeed on demand, your body will respond. In all likelihood you don't need to worry about low supply.

I remember when my LO was 16 months old and going through a growing spurt, he was asking to breastfeed literally every 5 minutes all day long. He'd latch on suck a few times, pop off and go back to playing. That lasted a couple of weeks and right about the time I felt like ripping my hair out, he stopped.

[MCsMom]

Just another point of view - but my 2 y.o. signs 'more' when he wants to nurse. Like instead of the nursing sign all together. I am not sure where it came from, and honestly I think it is kind of cute. I'm just wondering if yours is starting to do this? Or do they have a different sign for when they are not nursing at all and want to?

[mamazee]

If he keeps popping on and off both sides like that, after a couple of days you'll probably be making more. I wouldn't worry too much, and I'd let him try to nurse as much as he wants, and your supply will catch up.

[etsdtm99]

i would offer the 1st side again.. and if he is unwilling to nurse more, offer a snack AFTER nursing. (i would do that in addition to trying to offer more during the day, i would not wake him at night) also he may just want more food - and he may be confused or experimenting about what kind of result will come from 'asking' for more.. i mean, is that something you always asked him when he popped off early? he may think that is just what you do when you are done nursing/eating .. he is, after all, pretty young .. my 17 mo old doesn't fully understand the use of more/all done/no even though he says them..

[Momtwice]

***note, I mistakenly read the age of your little one as older, which is why I called your child a "toddler" by mistake. ***

I'm not a LLL leader or an LC (and you can talk to one to set your mind at ease, if you like)

but I see normal behavior. Young toddlers often LOVE to nurse this side, that side, this side, that side, back and forth. They often love to nurse frequently for very short amounts of time.

Yes, this behavior will increase your supply if that is what is needed. But it could also be wanting to check in with you for emotional comfort, pain from growing or teething molars (human milk has natural pain relievers in it) or just the toddler discovering that no matter how maddening/startling it is to mom, going back and forth all day is FUN for some toddlers.

My advice would be to nurse more often if you child wants it and talk to a LLL leader or LC if you feel you should.

[BlackSheepPDX]

He sounds like he's doing just fine. He may just be realizing how much he LIKES nursing and asking to continue, and learning that you will respond to that request. It's as much about language and communication development as anything, IMO. If he asks for more, let him have more. Some times my daughter took one boob, sometimes, 3-4. And since I'm not a cow, that means repeating nipples, for those of you counting. Don't worry too much about it.