Constant constant feeding - please help!

[writerwrites]

I'm a first time mum to a 9 week old boy. I've posted here before about his massive feeds - I'm ebf and he has always been a big feeder - feeding for at least an hour at a time.

But in the last couple of weeks it's increased - today I've been up since 4 feeding him constantly. I take him off and he immediately cries / makes feeding faces until I put him back on. He'll suck my finger for about thirty seconds before he spits it out so I'm pretty sure he's not just comfort feeding.

He sleeps quite well - has two naps in the day (only if I put him in the sling and stay on the move - he never falls asleep on his own in the day) - and does between four and six hour stretches at night. But once he's up he'll feed for hours - I've never ever been able to do a night feed and put him back down.

He's really alert and really active for his age (according to mw) so is this massive feeding just what he needs??? He's had tt snipped (made no difference) and I've had his latch checked by two lactation consultants, three midwives and two hv and they all say it's good, but that he 'shouldn't' be feeding for such long stretches.

It's not a growth spurt as it's just always like this. By the end of the day my nipples are in agony as he's been on them for about twelve hours.

He does plenty of wet and dirty nappies and has followed the 25th centile pretty consistently so do I just need to grit my teeth and carry on or is there something I'm doing wrong / could do to shorten his feeds??

Sorry for the long post - tired and a bit worried

[marmaladegranny]

Have you been to a breast feeding expert to have his latch checked? My DD had the same problem with her DS and watching him feed helped them diagnose tongue tie which had been missed at post birth check and standard baby clinic. Once this was dealt with his latch was better and feeding easier - it's a whole new world now!!

[TropicalHorse]

This was about the age I gave my dd a dummy, despite my earlier intentions not to! They are much maligned but I have found it to be a godsend, especially for travelling and when she had to spend some time in hospital.

[writerwrites]

Thanks for your replies

marmalade - yep, he had tongue tie spotted late by a lactation consultant - divided at 5 weeks. Hasn't really improved much - reduced pain a bit... Glad it worked for your daughter though!

Tropical - I've been wondering about a dummy too - but my Mum and the bf consultant both looked so appalled when I asked about it that I've been a bit scared off...

[sunshineandshowers]

Your mum and bf consultant are not you and are not up all night. Whatever worked for them might not work for you and your baby. I was going to suggest dummy. He will probably spit it out straight away, but persevere. He will not be confused now he is 9w.

My ds is 11 weeks this week and ebf and feeds for about 5 hours a day. I use a dummy. I also try to do the baby whisperer schedule of feed, play sleep. He then will feed more efficiently because he hasn't fed for a while. We still have night cluster feeding, and he feeds from 7 till 10 approx. In the night try getting the dummy in real quick when you pop him down. Good luck xx

[writerwrites]

Thanks sunshine, that's really helpful - I'll give the dummy a go... X