hypernursing question

[Rachel]

My DD, 5.5 mos, has been nursing like crazy for the past few days. She
has always nursed frequently (every 2-2.5 hrs during the day, 4 hrs at
night), but now she's nursing every 2 hours more or less around the
clock and for long periods of time. She's really sucking - not dozing
at the breast and not "flutter" sucking. I would say it's a growth
spurt but it's so much more intense than her previous ones.

We were planning to start solids at around 7 months. Could this be an
indication of readiness? Should we start now instead of waiting? I was
delaying because she has shown signs of food sensitivities (dairy and
soy) and want to minimize risk of allergies.

Or is my supply decreasing or inadequate to keep up with her? I feel
so completely sucked dry and no longer feel "full" at all. She's I
feel like she's so hungry and I can't find a way to fill her up. also
completely rejecting the bottle so the freezer stash is not an option
(plus I'm trying to save it for when I go back to work). Any thoughts
would be greatly appreciated!

Rachel

[Dagny]

"Rachel" > wrote in message
om...
> My DD, 5.5 mos, has been nursing like crazy for the past few days. She
> has always nursed frequently (every 2-2.5 hrs during the day, 4 hrs at
> night), but now she's nursing every 2 hours more or less around the
> clock and for long periods of time. She's really sucking - not dozing
> at the breast and not "flutter" sucking. I would say it's a growth
> spurt but it's so much more intense than her previous ones.
>
> We were planning to start solids at around 7 months. Could this be an
> indication of readiness? Should we start now instead of waiting? I was
> delaying because she has shown signs of food sensitivities (dairy and
> soy) and want to minimize risk of allergies.
>
> Or is my supply decreasing or inadequate to keep up with her? I feel
> so completely sucked dry and no longer feel "full" at all. She's I
> feel like she's so hungry and I can't find a way to fill her up. also
> completely rejecting the bottle so the freezer stash is not an option
> (plus I'm trying to save it for when I go back to work). Any thoughts
> would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Rachel

I don't think it's a sign of readiness. But this is my first baby.

I also went through a floppy tit stage but mine was at about four months.
It worried me that my supply might have been low, but it went away.

I think my DD Meg will be ready for solids when she starts eating them.
She's 5.5 months old now (but six months since her due date), and for maybe
three or four weeks I've been handing her food during some of my mealtimes
for her to play with so I can eat in good peace. Pizza crusts, tortilla
chips when we're out for Mexican, a banana. The other day we went out to
eat American, and I put some mashed carrot on a plate for her to mess with
during the meal, and gave her a crust of garlic bread. She's not eating,
she's just smearing it behind her ear or sucking on it. But I get to eat!
I don't really want her to start eating in a serious way any time soon.
Stink poo.

One of my friends went through a big to-do with her first baby, mashing up
baby foods, storing them in the freezer in ice cube trays. Next baby, she
did nothing special and one day the baby just started eating. I believe it
was some kind of pie and rye bread.

I am not a very uptight mom in many ways. In case you didn't notice :) I'm
not going to worry about food allergies unless I get a sign (like you did)
that something might be up.

-- Dagny

[nina]

"Dagny" > wrote
>
> I think my DD Meg will be ready for solids when she starts eating them.
> She's 5.5 months old now (but six months since her due date), and for
maybe
> three or four weeks I've been handing her food during some of my mealtimes
> for her to play with so I can eat in good peace. Pizza crusts, tortilla
> chips when we're out for Mexican, a banana. The other day we went out to
> eat American, and I put some mashed carrot on a plate for her to mess with
> during the meal, and gave her a crust of garlic bread.

Hey? Whats "American"?? I'm really interested to see what is considered
"American" cuisine
in other countries. For some reason I imagine meatloaf, mashed potatoes,
corn and carrots,lol.

My baby at 5.5 months likes to gnaw on a chicken bone, she also has been
trying to steal food from us
she likes teething biscuits. Yummm

[Nikki]

Rachel wrote:
> My DD, 5.5 mos, has been nursing like crazy for the past few days. She
> has always nursed frequently (every 2-2.5 hrs during the day, 4 hrs at
> night), but now she's nursing every 2 hours more or less around the
> clock and for long periods of time. She's really sucking - not dozing
> at the breast and not "flutter" sucking. I would say it's a growth
> spurt but it's so much more intense than her previous ones.

I wouldn't rule out growth spurt at all. My second had a massive one at
4.5-5 months old.

It could also be the return of your period. My babies nursed like crazy and
were fussy for 3-4 days with each cycle. I never had to supplement but I
think my supply did dip. It always came back on its own. Nursing was
irritating to me during those times too. It wasn't painful but it didn't
feel good either. That also went away each month on its own.

> Or is my supply decreasing or inadequate to keep up with her? I feel
> so completely sucked dry and no longer feel "full" at all.

Like I said...if you get your period it could be a minor dip. Are you
taking any medications that would dry you up? If not either of these two
things the chances that you are not able to produce enough milk for her at
this point are infinitesimally small. There is a point where your body will
never feel full unless you skip a whole day of nursing. Your body just
becomes in tune with your baby. For me that was 9mos with #1 and 3-4 months
for #2 so you can see that there is a wide variance.

--
Nikki
Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2)

[Phoebe & Allyson]

Rachel wrote:

> I would say it's a growth
> spurt but it's so much more intense than her previous ones.

I still vote for growth spurt, or a new developmental skill working
itself out - that always made Caterpillar sleep and eat oddly.

> We were planning to start solids at around 7 months. Could this be an
> indication of readiness? Should we start now instead of waiting?

Not an indication of readiness. Don't start now. OTOH, there's no
particular reason to delay offering to 7 months, rather than 6, and some
evidence that parent-driven delays (as opposed to baby-driven delays)
past the 7th month (after she turns 7 months old) may have negative effects.

Besides, it's not as if she'd consume a significant number of calories
from solids at this point. :)

> Or is my supply decreasing or inadequate to keep up with her?

AF came back for me at 6.5 months, and was preceded by 2 days of
power-nursing.

> no longer feel "full" at all.

That's normal at this point. I can now go 6 hours during the day
without being uncomfortable, thank goodness.

> I feel like she's so hungry and I can't find a way to fill her up.

Have you tried distraction? Caterpillar nurses when she's bored, or
tired, or unsure about a situation, but almost never nurses when she's
interested in something else. She's older than yours, but I think that
distractibility kicked in pretty early. It might give you a break, and
if amusement makes her not want to nurse, odds are she's not starving.

Phoebe :)

[Dagny]

"nina" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dagny" > wrote
> >
> > I think my DD Meg will be ready for solids when she starts eating them.
> > She's 5.5 months old now (but six months since her due date), and for
> maybe
> > three or four weeks I've been handing her food during some of my
mealtimes
> > for her to play with so I can eat in good peace. Pizza crusts, tortilla
> > chips when we're out for Mexican, a banana. The other day we went out
to
> > eat American, and I put some mashed carrot on a plate for her to mess
with
> > during the meal, and gave her a crust of garlic bread.
>
> Hey? Whats "American"?? I'm really interested to see what is considered
> "American" cuisine
> in other countries. For some reason I imagine meatloaf, mashed potatoes,
> corn and carrots,lol.
>
>

Hah! That's funny because that was exactly what both of us ordered for
dinner. Meatloaf with musroom gravy, mashed potatoes, and a baby
carrot/broccoli mixture. But um, I was in the United States -- I called it
American because most of the time when we go out to eat I would call it
something else: pizza, barfood, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Tex-Mex,
California Mexican. I call American when I go out to eat and it's things
like meatloaf, steak, baked chicken, etc. and the sides are mashed potatoes,
carrots, green beans ...

What are American restaurants like in other countries?

We have a new English style pub in the neighborhood where they serve huge
burgers, various sausages and liver things, most of the side dishes are a
type of potato, and the only thing green is a salad, which is small and
overpriced.



-- Dagny

[toypup]

"nina" > wrote in message
...
> Hey? Whats "American"?? I'm really interested to see what is considered
> "American" cuisine
> in other countries. For some reason I imagine meatloaf, mashed potatoes,
> corn and carrots,lol.

I'm American and I think hamburger and fries.

[Cat]

"Dagny" > skrev i en meddelelse
.net...
> What are American restaurants like in other countries?

Denmark:L

Burgers or Club Sandwiches (chicken, lettuce, bacon, curry dressing)

Fast food.

In our opinion a American Cuisine does not exist. You all eat burgers and
fried chicken :-)

Tine, Denmark

[Phoebe & Allyson]

Cat wrote:

> Burgers or Club Sandwiches (chicken, lettuce, bacon, curry dressing)

Let me tell you, nothing with curry dressing would pass as American in
the US. ;)

Phoebe :)

[Cat]

"Phoebe & Allyson" > skrev i en meddelelse
...
> Cat wrote:
>
> > Burgers or Club Sandwiches (chicken, lettuce, bacon, curry dressing)
>
> Let me tell you, nothing with curry dressing would pass as American in
> the US. ;)

....and what you call Danish Pastry we call Vienna Bread... :-D

Tine, Denmark

[DeliciousTruffles]

nina wrote:

> Hey? Whats "American"?? I'm really interested to see what is considered
> "American" cuisine
> in other countries. For some reason I imagine meatloaf, mashed potatoes,
> corn and carrots,lol.

I'm in Canada and when I think American food I think of giant-sized
portions and those deep-fried onion thingamabobs. :-)

--
Brigitte aa #2145
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/j/joshuaandkaterina/
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/i/isabellazora/

"Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare."
~ Harriet Martineau

[Em]

"Rachel" > wrote in message
> My DD, 5.5 mos, has been nursing like crazy for the past few days. She
> has always nursed frequently (every 2-2.5 hrs during the day, 4 hrs at
> night), but now she's nursing every 2 hours more or less around the
> clock and for long periods of time. She's really sucking - not dozing
> at the breast and not "flutter" sucking. I would say it's a growth
> spurt but it's so much more intense than her previous ones.

I went through this with DS from approximately 5 months to approximately
6 months (lasted more like 3 weeks probably). I could only assume growth
spurt, even though everything I read only talks about growth spurts up
until about 3 months. He nursed like crazy and was serious about
it--pulling at the nipple for let down to start, nursing on both sides
when he usually only takes one at a time, etc. I think it was primarily
a cognitive spurt, because during this time he started sitting up, using
a pincher grasp (still not good at it), clasping his hands together in
front of him, babbling. He also weighs 20 lbs (or more) and is 29 inches
tall now! I, otoh, am down to a fairly pitiful 113 (I'm 5'7"). My other
hints that it was indeed a growth spurt were that I suddenly lost a
pound and my breasts felt floppy and "empty" most of the time. Night
were awful for a few days until I adjusted to the every 1.5 hour
wakings. Last weekend, he started sleeping better again and my breasts
started feeling fuller again. No question, this was most intense and
exhausting growth spurt he's ever had. I told my DH that I would wake up
in the mornings feeling like I'd been abused!

> We were planning to start solids at around 7 months. Could this be an
> indication of readiness? Should we start now instead of waiting? I was
> delaying because she has shown signs of food sensitivities (dairy and
> soy) and want to minimize risk of allergies.

We started DS on a few solids on his six month birthday. I, too, thought
that maybe he had some sort of increased calorie need that I wasn't
quite keeping up with. He also seemed entranced by our food and would
make desparate grabs to get it, etc. However, he fairly thoroughly
rejects solids. We keep trying little bits here and there, but
everything is met by horrible faces, gagging, choking, spitting it out,
etc. I find it fairly hilarious that he will chew with gusto on a
catalog or a cardboard box, but if something edible is offered he makes
a face that looks like he's been poisoned and starts coughing, gagging,
and so forth. He has sort of liked things that he can hold and chew on,
but I don't want to give him too many things like that until he stops
being so choky about things. I *knew* cognitively that bf'ing was still
providing him with everything he needs, but it has been kind of
validating to have him reject the solids and be content with nursies. If
anything, he seems more happy and content with nursies since the awful
nursing strike we had a while ago. And, also happier at the breast since
we offered the solids--like now he knows that isn't missing as much as
he thought he was!

> Or is my supply decreasing or inadequate to keep up with her? I feel
> so completely sucked dry and no longer feel "full" at all. She's I
> feel like she's so hungry and I can't find a way to fill her up. also
> completely rejecting the bottle so the freezer stash is not an option
> (plus I'm trying to save it for when I go back to work). Any thoughts
> would be greatly appreciated!

That's how I felt too. It lasted a very long time compared to his
earlier spurts, but it has ended and yours will too! I would get a few
days reprieve during the long spurt and think that it was over, but it
would start up again the next day. He's been "normal" for about a week
now, so I feel more confident that it has actually passed!

Good luck! I know what you're going through!

--
Em
mama to L-baby, 6.5 months old

[nina]

"Dagny" > wrote in message
.net...
>
> "nina" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Dagny" > wrote
> > >
> > > I think my DD Meg will be ready for solids when she starts eating
them.
> > > She's 5.5 months old now (but six months since her due date), and for
> > maybe
> > > three or four weeks I've been handing her food during some of my
> mealtimes
> > > for her to play with so I can eat in good peace. Pizza crusts,
tortilla
> > > chips when we're out for Mexican, a banana. The other day we went out
> to
> > > eat American, and I put some mashed carrot on a plate for her to mess
> with
> > > during the meal, and gave her a crust of garlic bread.
> >
> > Hey? Whats "American"?? I'm really interested to see what is considered
> > "American" cuisine
> > in other countries. For some reason I imagine meatloaf, mashed potatoes,
> > corn and carrots,lol.
> >
> >
>
> Hah! That's funny because that was exactly what both of us ordered for
> dinner. Meatloaf with musroom gravy, mashed potatoes, and a baby
> carrot/broccoli mixture. But um, I was in the United States

After I posted that, I did realize you were in the US.

-- I called it
> American because most of the time when we go out to eat I would call it
> something else: pizza, barfood, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Tex-Mex,
> California Mexican. I call American when I go out to eat and it's things
> like meatloaf, steak, baked chicken, etc. and the sides are mashed
potatoes,
> carrots, green beans ...
>

Well, I spose there is some consensus on what constitutes "American"
cuisine. :)

[nina]

"Cat" > wrote in message
. dk...
>
> "Dagny" > skrev i en meddelelse
> .net...
> > What are American restaurants like in other countries?
>
> Denmark:L
>
> Burgers or Club Sandwiches (chicken, lettuce, bacon, curry dressing)
>
> Fast food.
>
> In our opinion a American Cuisine does not exist. You all eat burgers and
> fried chicken :-)
>

Actually,due to our size and diversity, we have a great deal of regional
cuisines.

[Cat]

"nina" > skrev i en meddelelse
...
>
> "Cat" > wrote in message
> . dk...
> >
> > "Dagny" > skrev i en meddelelse
> > .net...
> > > What are American restaurants like in other countries?
> >
> > Denmark:L
> >
> > Burgers or Club Sandwiches (chicken, lettuce, bacon, curry dressing)
> >
> > Fast food.
> >
> > In our opinion a American Cuisine does not exist. You all eat burgers
and
> > fried chicken :-)
> >
>
> Actually,due to our size and diversity, we have a great deal of regional
> cuisines.

Of course you do - I just repeated the local prejudice :-D

Even we - with our very small size - have a great deal of regional
specialities, if not exactly cuisines.

Tine, Denmark

[Rachel]

"Em" > wrote in message news:<kdZcc.210805$_w.1980864@attbi_s53>...
> > That's how I felt too. It lasted a very long time compared to his
> earlier spurts, but it has ended and yours will too! I would get a few
> days reprieve during the long spurt and think that it was over, but it
> would start up again the next day. He's been "normal" for about a week
> now, so I feel more confident that it has actually passed!
>
> Good luck! I know what you're going through!

Thanks! It's nice to know other babies do this too.
Rachel