Confused baby?

[MissTwister]

My nearly 3 week old has taken to feeding constantly. And by constantly I don't mean ever couple of hours I mean as soon as she comes off she naps for 10 minutes before asking to feed again. I cant get a minute to sleep or do anything.

When she is on the breast she doesn't seem to feed that well often falling asleep quite quickly then asking to be fed again 5 minutes later.

If someone else takes her she is a little better and naps but when she's anywhere near me she just wants constant feeding. It's meaning I can't seem to enjoy time holding her as I know it will lead to a lengthy unproductive feed.

Prior to this she had a few days of feeding well and sleeping 2-4 hours so I'm not sure what's changed. Any advice?

[Micah]

It's not a lengthy unproductive feed.

Even if she's not taking much milk, she will be stimulating supply for what sound like an upcoming growth spurt.

It's normal, things will change frequently, go with it and repeat "it's a phase". Things will settle down again, use it as an excuse to sit on the sofa and be waited on.

[BreeVDKamp]

This was me three weeks ago. I DESPISED being told it's normal and gets better, but... It's normal and gets better.

Having said that, get her checked for tongue tie. I asked for DS to be checked at a 4 week check, it was missed, and I am currently in a private clinic waiting for him to have his snipped at 8 weeks old. And paying £140 for the pleasure!!

[BreeVDKamp]

Sorry. 5 weeks ago. Sleep deprived!

[BusyCee]

Agree with Micah - tummies are tiny at this age, and phases change quickly. As unhelpful as it sounds, find your peace with it in your own way. Lots of people will be tell you the 'right' way to do it (from gentle advocates who might say be child centric and follow her lead entirely, to old schoolers like my stepmother who'll tell you that feeding in demand makes a rod for your own back (!!). Hear what they're saying, listen to your instincts and your baby and choose what's right for your family. This is the first hurdle!!

Congratulations and good luck!

[BreeVDKamp]

And get a ring sling!!!! I only got one this week but am already planning on using it constantly for next baby. You can feed almost hands free in one.

[Rikalaily]

Google cluster feeding. She's trying to increase your supply, it takes a few days to catch up. It happens regularly in the first few months to make sure you have a secure supply in the future. The best thing is to go with the flow and feed, feed, feed, delaying or distracting from feeds will just make it go on longer. Make sure you are eating and drinking well, oats are good for milk supply, I swear by flapjack.

The early months can be tough but it's honestly worth it

[MissTwister]

Thanks all

Weirdly I have been eating flapjacks!

In terms of tongue tie who do I get to check for this BreeVDKamp? Do I need to go privately? I just looked up symptoms and she seems to have a fair few....

[BreeVDKamp]

Well I asked at postnatal clinic (so midwife) but she missed it. Then I got to the stage where I paid for a lactation consultant, and she said he had a mild one that didn't necessarily need snipping. Then HV sent me to clinic at hospital to have his mouth checked out where they said again it was mild but needed snipping, and that was a midwife.

He just had it snipped half an hour ago and it was 90% and thick, so severe!!! I had to go private but only because we've moved counties since he was born.

So basically everyone seems a bit crap but I think just ask your HV to advise you who you can talk to about it :-/

Where are you cos I'd deffo recommend the ladies I've just been to! They are midwives but tt specialists who run their own private tt clinic.

[BreeVDKamp]

Btw if you're in Surrey I went to the ladies at feedingfirst.co.uk

[curlykale]

MissTwister if you're in London I can recommend someone...as for coping with the feeding in the meantime, if it is tongue tie then maybe improving the latch will help? Try looking up the extended latch technique, also the nipple flip or "flipple" technique, or shaping the breast before the latch (as if you were feeding the baby a burger!). Also using breast compressions will help encourage the baby to suck.

Oats/flapjacks should help as can fennel or nursing tea. Also drink plenty of water.

But it sounds like getting real life help is a good idea. Either a breast feeding drop in or a lactation consultant. And if you feel tongue tie is a possibility make sure you have it properly assessed - a quick glance in your baby's mouth isn't enough! A bf drop in clinic won't harm but I'd go private rather than waiting for tt treatment - imo every day counts in getting the feeding sorted.

[MissTwister]

Yes I am in London. I'm not sure about the tongue tie - I had a quick look and it seems okay but I know you can't always tell. What would be the main symptoms of it?

[BreeVDKamp]

Feedingfirst is in Sutton.

Poor latch, feeding all the time or for ages, slow weight gain, slipping off breast. DS was (maybe still will be but hopefully not) a v frantic feeder, kicking, scratching etc. A bit of skin connecting tongue to base of mouth (although I saw this and thought it was normal and a lot of the time tongue ties are hard to see anyway)

[curlykale]

This is the details of the clinic in London www.thesmartclinics.co.uk/our-team/ann-dobson/. Clinics Monday/Tuesday and include osteo treatment which is important as part of tt treatment.

Symptoms list here www.ann-dobson.co.uk/tongue-tie_symptoms.html but much as Bree says - for me, fussy/distressed when feeding, always feeding, clicking, narrow gape causing shallow latch, misshaped/flat nipples, very painful throughout and after feeds, wind/hiccups, failure to settle (obviously due to hunger!) and infrequent poos. And with dc1, failure to gain weight. It can be hard to see by simply looking under the tongue - posterior ties especially as there is no obvious attachment near the front.

It's possible that you're experiencing normal cluster feeding but if it's been going on a few days and you have some of these symptoms then it's worth seeking real life advice.

[ThatsNotEvenAWord]

I DESPISED being told it's normal and gets better, but... It's normal and gets better.

This right here sums up the beginning of breastfeeding so well!! I remember being so jealous of my DH because he got to have lovely cuddles and I had to get my bloody boobs out each time DS came near me and it hurt and it seemed like it would never end. Still feeding a year later and can't imagine stopping yet (not meant to be a boast sorry just wanting to show that it changed for me to become positive).

Lots of great advice upthread just wanted to share some sympathy xx

[Gunpowder]

Second the recommendation for Ann Dobson. She did DD1's TT division. She's great. I found texting was the best way to get hold of her as she's busy.

Dd1 had a very similar feeding pattern, (as well as lots of the symptoms curly mentions) I put up with it for 10 weeks thinking it was just cluster feeding. DD2 isn't tongue tied, and although there is cluster feeding at times it isn't constant.