Newborn feeding questions...

Ollie is now 5 days old. :-) We're demand feeding, but also not allowing more than 3 hours to pass between feeds as he is very sleepy and still a little jaundiced.

My milk has come in now but I am concerned by the behaviour Ollie is showing at the breast. A lot of you will know about my problems with Jackson, so this time I feel more anxious to pick up any issues early on. He can latch well, has a good suck (much better than JJ ever had) and I have no nipple pain.


However, Ollie only drinks for 5 - 10 minutes on the first side. Only sometimes is he interested in taking the second side. I know I have a decent amount of milk and a fast flow... could 5 - 10 minutes total be enough at this early stage to fill his tummy? Looking at things online, there's lots to say that some babies don't feed for long, but everywhere seems to say 10 - 20 minutes minimum. I worry that I am falling far behind this!

Afterwards, sometimes he is rooting around, but if I offer the breast back he gets all panicky and refuses to latch on, and quickly ends in him screaming. I stop straight away and try to calm him. He still seems hungry but I can't get him to go back on. Any tips?

I am concerned he is not taking enough to gain weight, which is what happened with Jackson. But, I also know his tummy is TINY at the moment, so maybe he is just getting full quickly?

Any comments/advice/support would be greatly appreciated!

Do you have a fast let down? Maybe he is just really good at getting the milk out? Is it a side preference thing? Like does he prefer to feed on one rather than the other and fusses on the non fav side.

ooooo - Kiwilaurie - just had to sneak in to say congratulations!  And love the name (not that I'm at all biased!).

Can't help on the feeding front I'm afraid but I hope you get it sorted.

A short feed may be plenty, as he may be an efficent feeder already - and lucky you, no nipple pain! Thats great! however I would offer that side again instead of swapping sides just in case he isn't draining that side, then swapping sides after a refusal IYGWIM?
Also your flow might be a bit fast for him, so maybe try feeding lying down/back with him lying "up" you to slow things down a bit.
His wee tummy only golf ball size, too.
Little and often for sure.
You are doing a great job, and I second Bizz, try not to worry, sounds like you guys are doing fine!

Thanks guys.... I am trying really hard to forget about JJ, especially since I think the teeth were our biggest downfall, and so far no sign of those, thank god!! It's hard not to feel anxious though - the reassurance certainly helps! Some of those sites you go to for advice are so regimented, even Kellymom which is supposed to be really good. I can sort of see why America has a high bottle feeding rate - there seem to be a lot of "rules".

I am offering the same side during a feed, and only swapping once he's either had a second go on that side or he's really distressed about taking it back. Usually though, once he gets upset, he won't take either side so it doesn't make much difference.

It seems to be a bit up and down, so I'll just cross my fingers. In any case, I am quite determined to just go with what Ollie does. Jackson was extreme, and yet he's still fine and alive 2 years later. I don't want to be bullied to bottle feed again, as it didn't change much.

Thanks heaps for replies!

Haven't read all the other posts but I think it could be that he is an efficient feeder and 10 minutes is all he needs!

Another thing could be the let down is too forceful but a sure sign of that could be he is arching back and not latching while your let down is going on...
You could try expressing a bit off first and see if that makes any difference?

Otherwise maybe wait and see what his weight gain is. Lily was a fast feeder the first week and then the second week she would take 40 mins to feed and then it gradually got less again.

Just read other posts and agree with Bizzy - may need a burping (could be wind as to why he doesn't want to go back on)

Congrats - you are doing a great job and well done!

Yep I have an efficient feeder here too, 10 mins is a looooong feed here!!
And congrats too! I remember you getting your BFP, I cant believe hes here already!! All the best!

When Caden would do this my midwife told me to swaddle him, as his arms would distract him and he'd get angry and not latch properly.
I found feeding him(and Bella) swaddled was much easier! and, its also easier to do the rugby hold when they are swaddled.

Sounds like the right breast may have a really fast let down, and probably why he doesn't like it so much. You could maybe try expressing a little bit off first, to get rid of the initial burst of milk. And I second the winding idea, he might be coming off after 5-10 mins because he's full of wind (also very common if you have a fast let down, because they're trying to gulp it down fast!).
And if you're still worried about him getting enough hind milk, check the colour of his poos! If they're green, then he's getting too much foremilk! Otherwise, you're all good.

Good luck, sounds like you're doing a great job!

Aurghhh, things have just been getting worse.

But had midwife and a lactation consultant visit today and both seem convinced Ollie is just suffering from terrible wind pains. Lactation Consultant was happy with my latch and supply, so hopefully we can keep him growing for however many weeks until his little tummy starts processing the wind better.

Do people know of any magic cures for wind? Jackson never really suffered from it too badly.