Struggling :-/

[Tanya4beauty]

Ok so I'm ashamed to admit this as Ashton breastfeeds really well but I'm struggling with the frequency of it! In the mornings it at least 11 before he settles back to sleep after constant feeding/crying cycle. This makes it incredibly difficult to look after or play with my 3 yr old and I feel incredibly guilty. He then settles for a good 3-4 hrs before feeding again. Then he starts another feeding frenzy from about 5pm until he settle to bed. Het has also been doing it at his 2-3am feed. The other night it was 1.45-4 that I was up constantly feeding. Trouble is he fusses too. He roots around for food but then when I put him to my boob he fusses and won't latch but 10 mins later he will! Does this get easier?!!! I feel like there's no routine or regular intervals between feeds!
Last night we formula fed all night just so I could get a break but then he was sick this morning which made me go back to breast. I just feel like I want to bottle feed now to get some help. Trouble is I don't know how to go about it really as he feeds so often! If I gave him a bottle then he fussed for more an hour later would I give him more?!! I never had this issue with my daughter as she was more 3-4 hourly.
I should add he's 12 days old xx

 

[MrsS143]

You probably just need to persevere

Youre meant to solidly bf about a month before introducing bottles or dummies so they learn the right amount of suck

Might be worth trying different positions etc too to ensure youve got a good latch

Youve done well so far. It doesn't last forever
Try and persevere
Maybe ask a midwife or health visitor to have a look x

 

[MrsGriff]

Also worth checking for tongue tie if this hasn't already been done.

The first month or so is incredibly tough but it is worth persevering.
If bf is important to you then I'd be careful about feeding him formula bottles. It's a slippery slope to becoming a completely formula fed baby. The more you do, the less milk you will produce yourself and then the more bottles you will give him. However, if you are are comfortable with that then maybe that's the right choice for you. There is no right or wrong - things have to work for your family. I just wouldn't want you to have regrets afterwards about not trying for long enough.

If you decide to continue with bf, could you express some milk so your OH could bottle feed breast milk rather than formula? That way you still get a break. I did this with my LO and it was a lifeline.

Take heart though that it does get A LOT LOT easier. There won't be any routine or pattern at first but it will all settle down as he gets a bit older. And there are lots of advantages to bf that you may not think about now -e.g it's a lot quicker to placate a hungry screaming baby at 4am with some boob than it is when you have to prepare bottles.

 

[Tanya4beauty]

Thanks for your replies ladies. I will be going over to formula anyway as I'm back to work when he's 8 weeks old and j think that's in the back of my head. I suppose I'm thinking why am I struggling when I'm going over to bottle anyway. I'm going to aim for 4 weeks and see how we go from there. Last night wasn't too bad but my insomnia seems to be creeping back which is a problem I had after my daughter. Ashton didn't wake between 11.30 and 5 last night to feed but was grunting from 2am which kept me awake! X

 

[MrsS143]

Keep an eye out for if he's in any discomfort
Maybe try massaging his tummy and cycling his legs x