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Breastfeeding/14-week Old Baby Eating Less
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Dear Sally,
My 14-week old started acting funny over the weekend. She started eating less and sleeping more. She used to nurse 4 times a day and would take 3 bottles of approximately 3.5 oz each totaling 7 feedings a day. She often slept through the night from 10pm to 7am without a feed and continues to do so. However, over the weekend, she started eating less and taking two 2-hour naps during the day (I guess this is quite normal, but she wan't napping before). She would only take 5 feedings a day now: 3-4 nursing sessions and 1 bottle (3.5oz). I went back to work PT two weeks ago and she was fine with taking a bottle during the day, but now she’s not taking the bottle and nursing less. I already talked to our family doctor, but we are not certain as to why she’s behaving this way. I do have a strong letdown and lots of milk (I can double-pump 6-8oz during a single session). Anyway, there is definitely a bit more fussing and crying than before, however, the crying and fussing only starts during feedings (esp. THE bottle), otherwise, she’s perfectly happy and goo-goo-ga-ga-ing around. Oh, she seems to be having the enough wet diapers and poops once a day. Any advise is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joyce
Dear Joyce,
First, congratulations for giving your daughter the best start in life by breastfeeding her!
The problems she's having now, with sleeping more and eating less, seem -- to both Dr. Marks and myself -- to be more than a breastfeeding issue. Dr. Marks said that if a mom in her practice called with these symptoms she would want to see the baby right away.
So we would suggest that you take your baby to the doctor you spoke to earlier and have your baby checked for an infection or for some other reason for her changed behavior. If this doctor has already seen your baby and checked her carefully and still doesn't know what's wrong, it would be a good idea to get a second opinion from a pediatrician.
Good luck!
Sally
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Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters. Now in revision for a fourth edition, with pediatrician Laura M. Marks, M.D.
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Sally Wendkos Olds
Expertise
What do you want to know about breastfeeding? I can tell you what`s good for the baby, what`s good for the mother -- and the father, how it`s related to a woman`s sexuality, how working moms can nurse, how to overcome obstacles, and lots more. As the author of THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING and author or coauthor of 8 other books and more than 200 articles about child and adult development, I can offer sound, sensible advice on breastfeeding, child care and family issues.
Experience
I nursed my 3 daughters and am the grandmother of 5 breastfed children. My book THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING (written in consultation with pediatrician Marvin S. Eiger, M.D.) was first published in 1972, and in 1999 came out in an updated 3rd Edition by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books. It is now a classic, with over 2 million copies in print. I am now revising this book for a fourth edition, consulting with pediatrician Laura M. Marks, M.D. This new edition will be published September 2009. I welcome any and all suggestions for the new edition. I coauthored college textbooks A CHILD'S WORLD: INFANCY THROUGH ADOLESCENCE, and HUMAN DEVELOPMENT; both are leading texts in their fields and have been read by 2 million students. I am the coauthor of HELPING YOUR CHILD FIND VALUES TO LIVE BY and RAISING A HYPERACTIVE CHILD, and author of THE WORKING PARENTS' SURVIVAL GUIDE & THE ETERNAL GARDEN: SEASONS OF OUR SEXUALITY. My newest book, A BALCONY IN NEPAL: GLIMPSES OF A HIMALAYAN VILLAGE, published in 2002, tells the story of the way of life in a remote village in Nepal, where all the women breastfeed! My book, SUPER GRANNY: COOL PROJECTS, ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER GREAT STUFF TO DO WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS, will be published March 2009. I speak often to professional, parent and general audiences and make many radio and TV appearances.
Credentials I received my B.A. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, where I minored in Psychology, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude.
Other points of interest
I have received national awards for my writing, and am a former president of the American Society of Journalists & Authors. I am listed in the World Who's Who of Women, International Authors & Writers Who's Who, and Contemporary Authors, and am a member of several professional and civic organizations. I believe: that all parents are working parents; that parents employed outside the home need special support; that mothers' well-being is crucial to their children's welfare; and that the family is the best institution in the world and the one for which we are least prepared. My thrills come when parents or kids tell me they were helped by my writing or speaking or just understanding.
To find out more about me, go to
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