I just wanted to record my experiences so far, because they have been a revealation to me, so I wanted to share the experience.
Charlotte latched on shortly after she was born at 20.37 and had a good feed, which felt fantastic. She then slept all through the night and didn't show any interest in another feed. The midwife in the hospital recommended waking her about 9 the next morning, but my nipples had gone flat, which can apparently happen after delivery (they have always been OK before) so it was a bit of a trial getting latched on and the midwife (who was excellent) had to manhandle me a bit to get going. Charlotte still wasn't particularly interested in feeding that day, but did have another couple of feeds, again with the midwife helping if I couldn't get he latched on. She woke once in the night for a feed (which I managed all by myself - including a change and settling her back down - I was very proud) and then settled into a routine of 4 hours between feeds.
I thought I had it sorted - we wnet home when she was two days old and she fed every 4 hours and then went back to sleep.
However, my milk came in when she was 4 days, and I fed constantly from 12am to around 9 the next morning. I phoned the labour ward at 5 (it was a sunday morning) because I had no idea that this could happen and thought something was desperately wrong. I kept thinking that if her stomache is the size of a walnut - where is it all going?They told me it was perfectly normal, and just to carry on feeding. I did, but also phoned the community midwife when they got in at 9 to check, and they also said it was normal. I was glad afterwards that I had not got any formula or bottles in "just in case" as I think I would have been tempted to use them.
after that first night, my nipples were in a bit of a state - chapped and scabby (but no longer flat!). The MW recommended lanolin which I used after each feed, and they recovered quite quickly, and we have not had a problem since. The other problem was that I started to have trouble latching her onto my right boob. The MW suggested the "rugby ball" hold, thinking she had a preference for one side and this would trick her into thinking it was the same side. I actually found the problem was that that breast was very drippy, and so was slippy when she tried to latch on and she couldn't getr hold. Now i just make sure it is dry and problem solved. I stuck with the rugby ball hold though and use it on both sides as I feel more comfortable that way - it is supposed to be good if you have large breasts - which I do.
After that initial night, she settled into a pattern of long sleeps (4 hours) in the day, and 3 hours at night, but with cluster feeds in the evening - I was feeding for about 4 hours fairly constantly in the evenings (we had to make sure all our meals could be eaten with one hand!)
This pattern has changed, firstly she was feeding more in the afternoon, and less in the evening, which meant a more civilised dinner, which was great. once this happened, wh have tried to start a bedtime routine, with a bath around 7, a feed and then bed. She can usually then go a couple of hours before another feed, and is then into feeding about every 3 hours through the night.
Now, she is feeding alot in the morning - every half to 1 hour, a little less in the afternoon and evening, but no more than 2 hours between feeds, and often a lot less. Last night, she had some EBM (about 3.5oz) before bed, and then a top up from me about 7.30. She fed again at 9.30 and then slept until 2.30! Don't know if this is the start of a pattern would it would be fantastic if it was.
Although she is only a month old, I feel like we like we have been on a long journey. I am so glad I stuck with it, despite negative comments from my Mum about it being unnatural to feed so much and I mustn't be doing it right.
The proof is in the weigh-ins - Charlotte was 6lb11.5oz born, 7lb0oz at 10 days, 7.14oz at 20 days, and 8lb13.5oz at 28 days. Even my mother has to admit I'm doing something right.
I've now started expressing as well to give my husband some time ( and me some time off!) I have heard that the 6 week growth spurt can be traumatic, and spoke to someone from the NCT who said this is when most people give up, so that is the next challenge.
I do think that, in trying to encourage breastfeeding, the message that it is very challenging has been lost, and so you do feel like a failure if your up all night feeding, and thus more likely to give up. apparently, there used to be a booklet called "surviving the first month of breastfeeding", but it was thought to be too negative so they did away with it. I go to a breastfeeding support group and that is really good, as you can get advice and hear everyone elses stories and so don't feel like such a freak.
Anyway - thats the first month - I wonder what the next month will bring?
Update at 11 weeks.
Been so busy its been ages since I was last on, but thought I would come back and update this record with the story so far.
Feeding continued in the same pattern - every 3 hours or so at night and every couple of hours in the day, with cluster feeds in the morning up until about week nine, and Charlotte continued to thrive - making it up to the 50% line on the growth chart. There wasn't a noticeable increase at 6 weeks - although i tried not to watch the clock too much in the day and just feed as and when required.
I started to think however that she was waking up at night more out of habit than hunger, and so hubby slept in the spare room for a few nights and I tried to leave her when she woke up for her 1am feed. she still woke up but after being ignored for 10 mins, she went back to sleep. this happened for 2 nights and then on the third, she slept though until 4am. I had over 5hours uninterupted sleep and thought it was fantastic. She started sucking her thumb around this time, and i think that helped her setlle herself back down again.
At the same time (I think - details get a bit hazy!?!) we stared to wake her up when we went to bed for a feed. she doesn't wake up fully, but OH changes her nappy, and then gives her a bottle of EBM (6oz). I think she still would feed if I did it, but I think it is easier for her to take it from a bottle when she is half asleep, and it makes sure she can take a bottle (she will need to when I go back to work), and is a lovely time for her daddy as well.
We then went on holiday, and kept to the same routine, and she started herself sleeping through until 6 or 7 am. She has been doing this for nearly 2 weeks now, so it seems to have setlled into a pattern.
As well as dropping the night time feeds, she has also settled into more of predictable pattern during the day, especially the mornings. She feeds at 6amish, and will then go to 9, and then around every 3 hours. I have enought milk to express one for the freezer (6oz) and a couple of oz to top up the night expression ( I express before I go to bed for the next nights feed, but can usually only manage 4oz). The freezer is now has around 30 feeds in, which is 2 for every day I am at work intil she is 6 months. I'll carry on expressing though so we have plenty - I should only miss 3 feeds a day.
I was worried that she seemed to have dropped so many so quickly, but she was weighted at 11 weeks and she is still on the 50% line, so she is obviously still getting enough, and I'm over the moon at the nighttime routine. I have been told be some other Mums that they got a routine at 3 months of sleeping through, but this reverted at 4 months, so I am still prepared for growth spurts, but just enjoying it while I can at the moment.
Now that the feeding is less frequent, and I am expressing as well, it was definately worth the journey to get to the stage where it is not painful, its fairly predictable, you are getting enough sleep, you can share it but it still remains the most convenient way to feed, as well as being best for Charlotte. When we were travelling to Cornwall - which took most of the day - I didn't need to worry about heating up feeds or sterlising bottles - just popped it out and hey presto. I often get a lovely smile just as she latches on which is the best feeling in the world.
I have been bf Freya for ... well since she was born and she seems to feed well, every 2-3 hours during the day and about 3 hourly at night, her nappies are very wet but I havn't had any yellow poo yet 
had one changing poo that was the night before last and about 4 meconium poos before that, is that normal?? She seems to be constantly 'bubbling' in her tummy but there isnt a lot of action at the moment, what do you think?
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