constant feeding

[dyscochick]

i'm looking for some advice. Ollie is 16 days old and the last two days has fed constantly. he falls asleep on the boob bu wakes when i take him off and seems constantly hungry. breastfeeding was all going fine until new years day when he suddenly stppped taking from the breast. pushing it away and just screaming. i went to the mlu and they couldnt find the problem but helped me express enough to feed him uo and thei spent 36 hours expressing and bottle feeding before he went back on the boob with nipple sheilds. he's now back on the boob but we have the above problem now. i dont know if its related or that hes going through a developmental leap (he was 2 weeks overdue so almost 5 weeks adjust age. any ideas or similar experiences? how do i know if he is feeding or comfort sucking?

 

[l_maclean]

Sounds like hes had a nursing strike. Kelly mom has some great info on them, but be warned it seems a lot of professionals have no idea - I went through 3, and no mw, HV or GP knew what they were.

If shields are working, then I'd just keep going with them, we used them for months before g started natural latching.

Sounds like he's cluster feeding to get your supply up, shields can be a bit harder to get milk through so he may have to work a little harder to start with. Xxx


On my iPhone - so cant see tickers

 

[dyscochick]

thanks hun, we've managed too get him back on the breast, its good to know that it has happened to others, i'm just glad the nipple sheilds worked. I'm not sure whether to top him up with formula tonight? i've managed to express 2oz between feeds (where there was a gap!) so we are hoping to use that, i'll be expressing after every feed tomorrow if i can. its exhausting!

 

[l_maclean]

Personally I'd try not to top him up unless totally essential, you need him on the boob to get your supply up, and at this stage a top up means your boobs won't know he needs more. (I know thats easier said than done) the clustering happens for a reason and it will get better.


On my iPhone - so cant see tickers

 

[dyscochick]

Thanks Hun. He's overtired now so giving him some expressed milk. If its anything like last night though it just means peace for 3 h then it tarts again and I'll be expressing again tomorrow to try and up my supply again.

 

[Rowesb]

sounds as though he is heading for a growth spurt, keep going, you have found something that works for you although shield can affect supply slightly... have you got a baby cafe/feeding support near to you? might be good to go to get a bit of local support/back up x

 

[dyscochick]

Yep, Tuesday and Friday so was there yesterday but this feeding kicked in in the afternoon so did get to ask them this week. Will be there Thursday Tuesday thouugh!!!

 

[Rowesb]

not long to go then face to face support is always easier, but it sounds as though you are doing all the right things x

 

[cosmicgirl]

God I remember this. My little one was 14 days old and one night I fed right through X factor and 2 films!
It will pass, stick with it x

 

[dyscochick]

thanks hun. i fed pretty much all night last night. i need try new ways to get him settle i think. in the early days he just settled straight after a feed. now he wont go down at all and justwants to feed. lots of walks in the pram i think!

 

[cosmicgirl]

My little man is great through the day but from around 7pm I'll feed til around 10.30ish on and off. He does this every night. Then he sleeps til about 4am.
He's a baby that would really love a dummy. He sucks his fists, my shoulder, his sleeve, everything. He loves having my boob in his mouth at night but not always feeding. I don't mind though and there's no way he's getting a dummy lol x

 

[dyscochick]

we've got into a bad habit so trying a new tack today, keeping him going to as close to 3 h between feeds as possible. i dont mind him cluster feeding but this all day/all night thing was not working cos he wasnt getting properly hungry or properly tired so snacking and napping constantly. i'm learning to read his cues better too, when its real hunger or comfor chewing. i so want to avoid a dummy. i know mostly its me that needs to get better at keeping him going when awake. hopefully my mum here for a few days will help. i dont want a routine as such but we need to stop really bad habits setting in, for me ans him!

 

[cosmicgirl]

Sounds like a sensible plan. Let us know how you get on x

 

[dyscochick]

It worked!! We are now back in a feeding pattern of roughly 3 hourly and he did 4h last night I'm not being strict on routine per se but its now a much better pattern with better feeding and better sleeping!! Wonder how long it will last.

 

[mrswoody]

it does get better. I remember being on here asking a similar question and the cluster feeding only lasted a couple of days but it was so tiring.
It sounds as though you've coped well though and it's good to get them in a semi routine, if only for your own sanity x

 

[dyscochick]

It's mostly for my salinity tbh mrswoody, but he does seem much more contented now too. Like the HIV said it was a bit like Xmas when you snack a.lot and don't really eat regular meals which means you over eat get too full, feel sluggish but don't sleep properly, we are back to having some chilled awake time too whichever has to be a sign he's contented, we didn't have any of that during the cluster feeding days.