I am basically feeding my child ALL OF THE TIME.Or so it seems. I've never been all that efficient in general, but I never imagined that it would take one hour to complete each feeding. The process starts with Sam really wanting to eat but getting so over excited that he can't latch (according to What to Expect The First Year, he fits in the "Excited Ineffective" feeder category).
After ten minutes of attempting to latch, Sam is finally on the boob. If it's the right boob, he'll eat for 10 to 15 minutes straight. If it's the left (dubbed "The Evil Boob" by Dave), then he'll get on and off again every three minutes for the entire feeding and suck in all kinds of air.
By the time he gets through this first stage on either boob, he's exhausted and asleep, but not quite full. So, I attempt to burp him for five minutes -- usually unsuccessfully -- and then have to change a diaper, rub his feet, move him around, and burp again until he's awake enough to start this all again on the other boob. Then, just when you think he's done eating and should be full, sometimes he'll cry again nonstop and loudly.
And yesterday she spit up three entire meals. Which made me really sad.
So, tomorrow we're meeting with the lactation consultant. Signs point to a possible overabundance of milk on my part and gassiness in Sam. Someone named Heather is going to help me sort this out.
On the plus side, Sam's gaining plenty of weight and sleeps like a champion. And he's darn cute.
