Not feeding long enough

[kickymonkey]

My 3 month old only feeds for 2-4min. (max) when I nurse her. I have been pumping and then bottle feeding her more after I nurse her to try to get her to eat more. When she snacks like that (without the bottle afterwards) she doesn't get the hind milk and gets an upset tummy.
I would estimate she is getting about 2 oz. per feeding.
She wants to sleep all the time and doesn't want to play for more than 45 min.
It's really wearing me down.

I am afraid that she will take to the bottle and not want to breast feed anymore if I keep this up.

Any suggestions?

[artgoddess]

I would try feeding her only on one side for three hours or so. Then switch to the other side. Meaning if she eats at 9:00 am on the right side, then burp her. Try again at 10:00 on the right side, then again at 11:00. any time she will eat do so on the right side. Then at noon switch to the left side.

If you get super engorged while waiting for the opposite side, pump some to relieve the pain. But I would try to avoid bottles, it sounds like they are confusing her already.


Is she wetting enough diapers? how is she gaining?

[kickymonkey]

She is a big girl and seems to be gaining enough weight. I think that is because I am finishing off her feeding with the bottle.

I will try your suggestion. I am desperate to solve this problem. She doesn't nap for long or stay awake for long. I'm not sure where the issue began? feeding or sleeping? Since she isn't sleeping long feeding her every hour won't be a problem.

thanks again.

[PatioGardener]

Do you have LLL in your area? If so, why not give them a call. Soemone may be able to help you with your latch. Also, an LC (IBCLC) would be a good idea to help you right now.

[kickymonkey]

she latches very well. She just doesn't want to stay on? I am tired and confused.

[PatioGardener]

Sorry - I should have said latch and milk transfer.

How are her poops and pees? (How many in 24 hours, how much and what colour?)

What is her weight gain like?

How long has this been going on?

Do you have a forceful letdown? Does she pop off and milk sprays everywhere? Or does she tug at the nipple?

You must be tired! Hang in there. Sorry for all the questions, but it may help to figure out the issue.

[Snowflower]

my lo has gotten very quick at eating. she is 3 months too. like 5 min tops each side. i was worried but her diaper count is good so i guess she just got super efficient. it seemes strange though cuz she used to nurse forever!
sorry no advise, just my experience.

have you been to kellymom.com? very experienced and helpful moderators!

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

My ds used to pop of the nipple after 2-3 min all the time. Then he would want to nurse again 10 min later. I started watching him closely. I could usually tell when he was getting ready to pop of and before he did that I would put my finger onto my breast near the corner of his mouth and tug a bit as if i was going to pull the nipple out of his mouth. It was one thing for him to pop off and another thing for me to take the nipple away. he would usually get back to business redoubble his nursing efforts. Sometimes I would have to pretend to take the nipple away several times in one nursing session before he was full.

[cdmommie]

My baby girl does pretty much the same thing.... and she's 5 months old. I've just gotten used to it and she has started to even out a bit more. She wets alot and she is already 17 pounds, so I don't worry about it. She's healthy. I think my let down is so fast that she gets plenty in the little time she nurses. but I Agree with the nursing from one side for 2 or 3 hours for hind milk. Don't stress too much. Babies are pretty good at getting what they need as long as it's available. As for the sleeping thing, I totally understand the frustration, my daughter has just in the last week started taking normal naps. Up till now she was naping 30 or 45 min like 5 times a day..AHHHHH. But she's getting better now, like an hour or two a couple times a day. Hang in there!