I CAN do it. !!! 3 weeks now and counting!

[libbyss]

Ok, couldn't do it with my dd's, not through lack of trying but so far so good I can't believe how well Gil has taken to feeding. I am really proud of myself - as the thought of breast feeding before I had him really made me so nervous.

Just one question though - is it normal for him to want to feed for almost three hours on the trot?

Finding I can just about manage to do most things with the other kids if he's in a sling. I'm just worried that he'll get used to the marathon feeding frenzy.

[LIZS]

Well done ! Yes, unfortunatley they only have little tummies and what goes in comes out fairly quickly ! It does settle eventually.

[LucyJones]

Do you mean to feed for three hours without stopping? If yes then he may be using you as a dummy!!!

[libbyss]

Yes I do lucy, it was so tiring but luckily dh knows how important it is for me to keep trying (as it really isn't awful like the last times) so he is pulling out all the stops and doing everything.

But the thing is he is actually drinking, quite casually but he is.
Thank you LIZs

[Laura032004]

My DS did this for a couple of months. He was stopping and starting, but feeding on and off for the whole three or so hours. However, if he did this, then he tended to sleep for about 7 or 8 hours, so I thought of it like he was tanking himself up for the night!

Does he do it in the evenings? I think it is called cluster feeding then, and is quite common. There is lots on the kellymom site about it.

HTH

[projectmanagerCOd]

well done
you are right to take it one day at a time, i was determined to aget pastt he mythical 10 days point where most people give up as i didnt want o be most people!

[hunkerpumpkin]

If this is a recent development, it should settle soon - sounds like a growth spurt to me. He's just making sure there's enough milk for when he's bigger - you're doing brilliantly!

[sweetkitty]

well done you've done the hard bit it gets easier from now on

My DD was a speed feeder 10 mins from start to finish and she would latch off she fed every 3 hours or so, she never cried for food either I would have to offer her a boob every 3 hours. I know this time I'll get one that wants to use me as a dummy.

[suzi2]

Well done! I'm 9 weeks in - and although I don't really enjoy it,it's getting easier amd faster. My DS has days where he wants a 3 hour marathon. It could be a growth spurt, however if he's doing it all the time (ie not a spurt) I would consider a dummy so you can get a break.

[moondog]

You go girl!!!
It will settle down and be more manageable...we promise!!

[KiwiKate]

Well done Libbyss. I also had a bad first bf experience. Now with dd (also three weeks old) things are much better. She also feeds for hours on end (esp in the evenings). I figure that she is boosting my supply. If you join us on the Sept post natal thread here , you'll see that many are experiencing the same thing.

Well done. You are doing great!!

[libbyss]

oh hello. How lovely to see that I've had some replies.

Yes it tends to be in the evenings when I am super tired that Gil starts his feeding marathons.

It's good to hear that's it normal then, all I've heard from mother in law is that obviously my milk wasn't satisfying him which upset me.

I obviously don't have anything to compare it with.

[KiwiKate]

It is perfectly normal for them to cluster feed in the evenings. My dd's feeding fest can go on for 5 hours some nights! I know she is "satisfied" as she is putting on weight. But this is just how their feeding cycle goes.

Remember, the more they drink, the more they stimulate you to produce - so when dd is giving me sleepless nights DRINKING AND DRINKING AND DRINKING, I just try to think, "oh goodie, she is stimulating my production".

Apparently the cluster feeding does die down a bit, but keeps coming back periodically as they have growth spurts and need to increase your production to the next level.

How thoughtless of your MIL! You are doing a great job

BTW - great name "Gil"

(what sling do you have? I want to get one for my dd, but don't know which type is best)

[edam]

Well done libbys!

Cluster feeding can be a pain but it is normal - your MIL is parroting the rubbish she was told, probably in the days when bottle feeding was seen as better because it was 'scientific'. Back in the late 60s they used to come round the postnatal wards with injections for everyone to dry up their milk!
But she shouldn't upset you, very thoughtless.

Use cluster feeding as a reason to put your feet up with a good book, the phone or the remote control, get your dh or anyone else who is around to bring you drinks and delicacies on a tray.

[lummox]

I had this with ds. It lasted for about 8 - 10 weeks, and then he gradually started to get quicker and quicker at feeding. Now he takes about 10 minutes and I am constantly worrying that he's not getting enough!

It was really hard and I felt like I did nothing much with my day other than feed him (I think at its worst he was spending about 8/10 hours a day on the breast). He was the same as your ds - pretty chilled pace but always still sucking with gaps.

Your MIL is talking rubbish - if your milk wasn't satyisfying him he would be upset and not feeding. If he's feeding he likes it.

[libbyss]

JUST CAN'T BEAR IT! Have had the dreadful mil saying the same old stuff and I'm starting to get so paranoid and stressed that I'm starting to believe her. Gil has been quite unsettled and disatisfied today and I'm wondering if I'm perhaps not producing as much as I should.

She even bought a tin of formula and gave it to my husband to give me, telling him to do his son a favour. I was so insulted.

Is it normal for a baby to be a little bit fractious whilst cluster feeding? Or does he need more?

[libbyss]

...is anybody there?

[KiwiKate]

OH LIBBY, ARE YOU STILL THERE?

[KiwiKate]

Babies can be aggitated when cluster feeding. Could be that he has a wind (my dd has been unsettled the last couple of nights, but with no apparent reason - sometimes they have a wind that won't shift, sometimes something you ate does not agree with them and sometimes you just don't know why they are unsettled). Also, with your MIL hassling you, you will be feeling stressed, and that can stress your baby and make them usettled.

You need to tell your DH that you SERIOUSLY need him to talk to his mum. Get him to tell her that although you (as in "you and DH") appreciate her concern, you have taken professional advice and would like to try bf your way, and would ask her not to comment on your bf. Bf is difficult enough without someone (however well meaning) interfering with the process. If she offers him more formula, he should politely refuse to take it. You really need him on side with you on this one. Take him to bf consultants appointments if necessary, so that he can be educated about aspects of bf that his mum is obviously ignorant about. It is NORMAL for babies to cluster feed, especially when they are so little. It is NORMAL for babies to be unsettled sometimes. This does NOT mean that Gil is not getting enough from you.

If you are still feeling unsure PLEASE ring up La Leche Legue in your area (or a bf consultant or other bf support).

YOU ARE DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS and Gil is responding NORMALLY. There have been many threads about cluster feeding = it might help you to take a look at some of the old threads on this topic.

If you want to bf, giving formula is the fastet way to sabbotage your bf efforts, becuase your milk supply will decrease, and you will end up giving more formula. If you want to bf (and you obviously do by your questions) then trust your body and get your MIL to butt out (get your DH to tell her, don't get into a fight with her yourself, as that will just stress you more).

Is Gil gaining weight? Is your HV happy with his progress? Are you happy with the way things are going? These are the important questions - not what your MIL thinks.

Some babies are just unsettled (my first had colic and was unsettled for SIX MONTHS).

Please be aware that giving formula can, in some cases, make babies MORE unsettled. My first's colic only flared up when I introduced formula (something I am desperate to avoid now with baby no2). Also, introducing formula can increase the risks of food allergies (especially if there are any food allergies in either parent's family). I am not anti-formula, nor am I anti women who use formula (I ended up using formula for my ds because I did not get the best bf advice). However, if you want to bf and you can bf then PLEASE do not let others put you off. Get professional assurance if you need to, but remember that your MIL is not a bf expert (her comments clearly show that she is out of touch with current bf advice).

[beatie]

Hi libbys! Just popping over from the September Postnatal group to offer you my support.

It sound slike you are doing a fantastic job feeding Gil and until your MIL interfered, it sounds like you were relaxed and enjoying each day as it came.

My dd2 had an unsettled day yesterday and I was feeding her all morning (it seemed) She is 3 weeks old. It IS normal for babies to cluster feed at this stage and it IS perfectly normal for the baby to be unsettled.

My DH is a great father and has done this once already with our first dd but when dd2 is unsettled he asks "Is she hungry? Does she need changing?" I tell him "No, she's a new baby. Sometimes she's unsettled just because she's a new baby, not because we haven't done something for her"

MIL's can be so wicked can't they? Supposedly my MIL breastfed her 4 kids but when we visited with dd1, all I kept hearing was "Is that baby feeding AGAIN!" You have to remember that our parents' generation, whether they breast or formula fed, did so when babies were supposed to be fed 4-hourly only.

Please ignore your MIL and ask your DH to explain to her that what you are doing (baby-led feeding for a newborn)is what is recommend by health professionals. If you feel you need some more support, then try and find a breast-feeding support group. I'm not sure how long I'd have lasted bf dd1 without surrounding myself with other people who were in the same boat. I gained a lot of confidence that way.

[mummyhill]

hugs libby tell dh to get mil to back off cause the stress she is puttimg you under is unsettling you which is making gil unsettled too. Baby led feeding is recomended by hv's etc and contrary to the outdated information she is spouting breast is best and you are doing an excellent job.