Then I would nurse every 2 hours as it takes about 2 hours for breastmilk to be digested. Longer than that, and he may get very fussy and hungry.

Hi hun! I'd be happy to be your champion, as I went through a difficult beginning, using nipple shields for 2 weeks while we tried to get Jack to latch. I'll PM you.

Thanks for all the comments esp. from Mervs Mum

I've been thinking about this a lot - and I think the problem is that I live in a country where feeding to a regime is the normal practice and I have probably been brainwashed to a certain extent. When I had no.1 it was the same, and because I never managed to get her to feed on the clock I considered myself a poor breastfeeder. Our instructions in hospital were to ignore cries during the night or give sugar water only and that if we fed on the clock the baby would adjust to that. I thought I was a failure (although I fed for 6 months) because I would be out in the park at say 3pm and total strangers would come up to me and tell me off for not being at home feeding at that time. After it happens several times you start to believe you must be wrong and they must be right....

This time round I was thinking I have to get baby onto this regime earlier so it's not like last time, but after reading your helpful comments, MervsMum's lovely PMs and doing a bit of googling, I realise that it is much better to feed on demand. It seems obvious once you start thinking about it that feeding on demand is better, but I guess we should never under-estimate the power of cultural pressure. I will feed Eddie on demand, but I am pretty sure I am going to come in for a lot of criticism - including from his paediatrician.

Here in Bulgaria we are not allowed to feed immediately after birth - the babies are whisked away. My first feed was 6 hours later. However, that was an improvement on when I had my no.1 as she was a c-section I wasn't allowed to bf for 3 days. This is the kind of bf culture I'm up against here!

Thanks again for your fantastic support and good luck to everyone

wow hun i think given what you're up against you did an amazing job with #2 and are doing an amazin job now!! you know where we are when times get tough hun! and of course when things go well too!!!!xxxx

Wow Magic, that is just crazy. I am so sorry you have to deal with so much opposition.

Well actually I consider myself lucky as I have access to you lot and to, let's say, more progressive thinking! Almost every single mother I have met here was told that she didn't have enough milk by the hospital nurses or paediatrician, and that they should use formula. I'm including myself too - that's what they told me when I left hospital with no.1! I wasn't feeding her well because I couldn't get her to latch on, so they concluded I didn't have milk, despite the fact that it was practically shooting across the room from my engorged boobs!

Crazy!! I'm glad I could help a little. I think another very important thing to remember about BFing is that the reason that demand feeding fits so well is because your boobs work on supply and demand. They will make EXACTLY the right amount IF they get the cues everytime. I am absolutely at the sugar water!!! That's like something from a Victorian era!! At the end of the day if you spoke to a paediatrician/HV/MW over here their head would probably blow clean off their shoulders at the idea of a newborn being given water let along sugar water. Breast milk, especially in the early days, doesnt just give anti bodies. A newborn gut is what's known as a 'virgin gut' and BM and in particular colostrum is designed to introduced a lining of exactly the right flora/bacteria which protects your baby against gastro infections and the like. Sugar and water.....

Stick to your guns hun. If you want some more reading outside of the net I can recommend some good books for you. I know they may take a while to come but at least you can smash the Dr round the head with them next time he talks antiquated BS!!

Hi
Really sorry for the delay in replying - I only just saw the message from Rafwife.

Am happy for you to PM me if you want to discuss things in detail.

We used to have problems getting Poppy settled at night too. It wasn't a colic issue, she would just not settle when we put her in her crib after feeds. She was also up for feeds pretty regularly - sometimes every hour but mostly every 2. I think because they are so little and so prem this is to be expected although I know it's not the case for everyone.
With regards to the 20 min feeds, sounds like he is doing fine if he's putting weight on. How often is he feeding? xx

Hi, I want to know if what I've been doing is okay?

LO gets up at 3 AM and 7 AM these days. Both times he gets a big bottle of EBM from the night before. Then he and I get into bed and I nurse him (the position is both of us facing each other, on our sides, lying down). We always fall asleep again for about 5 hours. I leave my boob out because he wakes up intermittently and nurses a little, then goes back to sleep each time (usually I don't even wake up when he does this).

Is this position and habit okay? I've really seen an increase in my supply.

If it's working for you then yeah it's fine! It's a loooong time since we were doing night feeds but this it exactly what we would do. We do pretty much the same now in the morning - she comes in with us and I lay on my side with her tucked up to me and let her just help herself while we doze off for another hour or so.....I LOVE those times