Breast Feeding newborn problems

[Duds]

Well here i am again with half a ton of problems!
You'd think it would be easier second time around but im finding it harder.

I am currently breast feeding Freya (2 weeks old today) and i cannot get her into any kind of feeding pattern - at first she fed everyy 1/2hr to 1hr now she can go for 2 hrs stretch but in the morning and evening she seems to want to consantly feed & im sure most of it is for comfort.
How do I stop this??
The other problem i have is at night she literally spends about 6/7mins feeding and then wont have anymore and of course is hungry again 1hr later.
She is quite greedy as went from 8lb1 to 8lb 11 in 5 days! the midwife and hv just say it will get better and to stick with it but im absolutly knackered and really feel i cant carry on bf any longer...


Any advice? how much does your baby feed?

 

[Baileysmummy]

Im gonna pm you hun

 

[trixipaws]

millie was like that (and still is but not as much) and i just go with it.
i can understand why ppl give up BFing but i'v found it has got easier.
actually i found that the hardest periods were the first 4 days and then weeks 2-4, so if freya's 2 weeks old she's the same age millie was when i found it most difficult. i think now millies had practise (and me too lol) she's more efficient feeder and she's not on for as long or as often now.
my advise is try n stick with it for as long as u can as it may get easier like it did 4 me, but dont feel bad if u do give up, u tried ur best and u did really well to get to 2 weeks!

 

[Baileysmummy]

millie was like that (and still is but not as much) and i just go with it.
i can understand why ppl give up BFing but i'v found it has got easier.
actually i found that the hardest periods were the first 4 days and then weeks 2-4, so if freya's 2 weeks old she's the same age millie was when i found it most difficult. i think now millies had practise (and me too lol) she's more efficient feeder and she's not on for as long or as often now.
my advise is try n stick with it for as long as u can as it may get easier like it did 4 me, but dont feel bad if u do give up, u tried ur best and u did really well to get to 2 weeks!

this is what i wanted to say but couldnt explain myself so gave up

 

[Redshoes]

They have tiny tummys too, so that's why they often feed little and often, I am sure you it will ease as she gets older, you're doing ever so well, very best wishes to you both
Isaac still sometimes needs the breast for comfort and not food, but as people have said to me, he's still so young, where's the harm to let them, and I know it's not very convenient if it's all the time but I'm sure Freya will do it less as she grows

 

[Nicky_Jones]

Ellie used to feed really often on evenings. It is termed cluster feeding and it helped Ellie sleep through the night. This is quite normal they are stocking themselves up for the night.

 

[andreag]

Charlotte fed through most of the evening continuously for the first 2 weeks, but it is now starting to tail off. she is also very greedy - she was 4 weeks yesterday and 8lb 13oz, up from 7lb14oz the week before. I find that if I go for a walk in the pram, I can hold her off a bit to let my boobs "refill", and then she has more on the next feed.
It will get easier (so everyone tells me!).
All~the best

 

[Sabrina]

I sympathise with you Duds as George has been almost constantly on my breasts for the last 2 days. Before that he seemed to feed, have enough, and then sleep but now he's feeding a lot more and I do worry my milk will run out. In between feeds I hardly have time to build it up again.

Ever since he was 4 days old I've been giving him a bottle at bedtime instead of breastfeeding. I've found this settles him quickly and he is definitely sleeping better as a result.

I was told it could take about 3 weeks to get into a breastfeeding routine. I'm not going to give up on it just yet but do feel quite frustrated at times because obviously I want to be sure he's getting enough.

 

[oldermum]

My Holly is 10 weeks old and i feed on demand which for her means anything between 1hr and the most is 4/5 hrs overnight, today has been about 2 hourly, tomorrow may be different.

 

[Duds]

Things just arnt getting better i dont even know if giving up would help anyway as she has a formula at 10/11ish and still wants feeding again up to 2 hrs later. She isnt too bad during the day and has gone for nearly 3 hours one day! but at night she is still feeding all the time and its only for about 5 mins a time, she is extra noisy between feeds and restless, where as the day she can nap quite quietly. i need to try and get it reversed but dont know how .....?
I also cant just give up because i am now producing so much milk it flows out when i bend over !

I have to try and get something sorted b4 DH goes back to work as i will be on my own with Freya and my 18month old & i cant function properly.

Sabrina - hope things are improving for you, it's hard work this breast feeding !

 

[Sabrina]

Hi Duds,

my mum came over this morning and has managed to settle George so he's now laying in his cot quite happy and awake. I fed him myself for about 20 mins earlier and that wouldn't normally be enough. My mum said he had bad wind so she sat winding him and that has really made a difference (or maybe it's just co-incidence?)

I wonder if your little one gets wind too? George is always quite burpy after the bottle but I didn't think he could be like that from the breast too. Doh So at least now I can try something else if he won't settle (and it might give me a while to build up some more milk).

 

[Tasha20]

it's hard work this breast feeding !

yep it is

I felt exactly the same, I was knackerd! But I got used to it and perserverd and got through it.

By the time she was 3 months we were both in a routine and pros a beastfeeding.

It takes time

 

[Sabrina]

it's hard work this breast feeding !

yep it is

I felt exactly the same, I was knackerd! But I got used to it and perserverd and got through it.

By the time she was 3 months we were both in a routine and pros a beastfeeding.

It takes time

That's really encouraging Tasha. Thanks. I'm hoping we'll also be well into routine by 3 months as I'd like to go on holiday and really can't face packing bottles, steriliser, milk powder etc. Breast is so much easier (as well as all the other benefits of course).

 

[cloud9]

Duds ..do you think she is not getting enough in her meals ..If she is only having 5 mins then she may not be getting the hind milk which fills for longer...If she only feeds for 5 mins then try stipping her down to her nappy to wake her..We had to do this with Dylan as he was so sleepy due to jaundice.
Also if she only has 5 mins put her back on the same breast next time..i found this has helped me with Dylan.

I have times when I am fed up of b/feeding but then the thought of making up bottles i know i actually find b/feeding easier

 

[Nicky_Jones]

She isnt too bad during the day and has gone for nearly 3 hours one day!

I don't know if it makes any difference but I didn't let Ellie sleep for that long in one go during the day. I used to get her up and feed her at 7:30, I would then play with her and make sure I kept her awak at least 15mins after the feed. I would put her down when she looked tired, but then wake her up (if not already awake) just before 10:30 give her a nappy change (helped wake her up properly), and then another feed. Again playing with her for at least 15mins after the feed. I would keep this up all day (ie feeding every 3hrs), but also give her an extra feed at 180 as I found she needed it, and then put her to bed straight after her 19:30 feed. I would then feed her 4hrs later (11:30), and then let her wake me for the next feed (until she dropped it completely). Often she wouldn't quite go the full 3 hours during the day, if that was the case I would feed her when she needed it.

 

[Lyndsey]

This sounds absolutley normal! Your doing a great job. Things will settle down into a routine in a few weeks. Like Tasha says by the time you get to 3 months things are pretty much sorted and then its so easy to BF!

Babues tummy's are the size of a hazlenut at birth and then it grows to the size of their fist over the next 10 days so imagine how small it is and how often it needs filling. The breats milk is so suited to your baby that it gets absorbed really fast too!

your doing a grand job!!!

 

[Duds]

She isnt too bad during the day and has gone for nearly 3 hours one day!

I don't know if it makes any difference but I didn't let Ellie sleep for that long in one go during the day. I used to get her up and feed her at 7:30, I would then play with her and make sure I kept her awak at least 15mins after the feed. I would put her down when she looked tired, but then wake her up (if not already awake) just before 10:30 give her a nappy change (helped wake her up properly), and then another feed. Again playing with her for at least 15mins after the feed. I would keep this up all day (ie feeding every 3hrs), but also give her an extra feed at 180 as I found she needed it, and then put her to bed straight after her 19:30 feed. I would then feed her 4hrs later (11:30), and then let her wake me for the next feed (until she dropped it completely). Often she wouldn't quite go the full 3 hours during the day, if that was the case I would feed her when she needed it.

This is the sort of routine i'd like to get into and is what i had for Aimee but i dont know how you put in place for a newborn - esp a hungry one! I can hold her off from feeding for a bit by giving her a dummy but not for very long, its also impossible to keep her awake at the mo and if i do get her to go back on the boob she only does for a few sucks so im assuming she doesnt want anymore...?
She is getting better during the day & i am finding it easier, its the nights that suck, she woke every hour last night and is also full of wind despite winding her after every feed, im just not sure how to get her more settled.

Thanks for all your advice and support, dont know what id do without this forum.
x

 

[Nicky_Jones]

The things I did when Ellie was very sleepy to wake her up / keep her awake included

tickleing
nappy changes
cold water on her cheek
stripping her down to just her nappy (so that she wouldn't get too warm and comfortable)
talking

Once I got her to open her eyes, I would then engage her with noisey toys, or her baby gym.