How to do night feeds

[Cinnamon84]

I've written several posts about the problems I've had getting the hang of breast feeding so won't go into it too much.
I can't seem to get the hang of feeding and getting ds to sleep. He is almost 4 weeks old. Currently using a nipple shield (trying to wean with no success so far). Ds gives him a bottle of ebm at about 9ish and he sleeps fine for a couple of hours and then direct breastfeed when he wakes up. He'll feed really well from one side and fall asleep, I'll try and wake him to have more and move him onto the next side, he'll lose interest and fall asleep. I'll move him onto the bed or cot and he'll stay asleep for 5 minutes and then will stir before waking and rooting for more food. This will go on and on and we'll end up feeding until dp wakes up for this next ebm bottle at 6ish in the morning.
This also happens during the day where he'll feed, fall asleep on me and then I'll be stuck and unable to move for fear of waking him and having a day of continuous feeding.
What am I doing wrong here? Does it sound like he's not getting enough milk from me? I think I've messed up the feeding a bit as he is feeding from a bottle a couple of times a day and I'm using nipple shields so not sure he's feeding efficiently.

[UsernameTaken2]

I have no idea but I am up currently winding a 6 week old and thought I would bump for you

Hope someone comes along who can help

[wayway13]

I pretty much had to hold my DD1 for the first 10 weeks of her life. She fed on and off throughout the day, slept on me through the day and cluster fed in the evening (6hrs every evening). She'd sleep in her cot at night for a few hours at a time. It's physically and emotionally exhausting and it feels like it will never end. Your DS wants to be close to his mummy and needs to suckle frequently to encourage milk production. My HV would tell me off because my feeds weren't long enough (5-10mins max) and I'd feel really inadequate. She was talking rubbish. If your DS is gaining weight then he is getting what he needs. The first 3 months of bf is the hardest thing I've ever done and no one tells you that beforehand! There will be times when he will scream at your breast and you'll think you aren't making enough. You are. Your body doesn't know how much to make until baby tells it. You're doing great xx

[wayway13]

PS DD1 is nearly 3 now!

[Cinnamon84]

Thanks for the responses.
Wayway ok that makes me feel a bit better, just thought he wasn't getting enough as he only seems sleepy and satisfied for a short while before wanting more.
Breastfeeding is bloody hard, I've been so close to quitting (still might) due to the pain and the battle we seem to have before each feed - thought it would come so naturally!

[wayway13]

Ah yes, the most natural thing in the world. Baby will find your nipple itself and latch on. Cheers NCT classes for that completely unrealistic expectation. It's so hard. It gets so much easier later on. I ended up feeding til 21months because I couldn't get my DD1 to stop feeding which seems so ironic looking back to when I was dangling a cracked nipple in her face and begging her to eat.

You have given your DS an excellent start by feeding for 4 difficult weeks already! It does get easier but I know that a day feels like a month at this stage so that might not be a comfort. If you need to stop then stop and know that you've done brilliantly. Take it one day at a time xx

[ShinyDiscoBalls]

My DS is now 7 months old and he was pretty much the same for the first month or so. I was literally up all night with him attached to me. He then decided he would no longer take a bottle at all, so I've been EBF ever since!

It is hard work, and I remember being almost in tears every time he wanted feeding as my nipples were extremely sore and cracked. It does get better trust me. They're learning how to do it just as much as you are! Its tiring being the only one who can feed him, but I know deep down I'll also be gutted when he stops :(

[Elllicam]

Both of mine have been the same, feeding, asleep for 5 mins in cot then back on boob. I ended up cosleeping with DS2 and he slept so much better. In fact he is still feeding (although not all night) at 2.

[Artandco]

I would feed them, then Dh would resettle them or burp. Meant I could feed for about 10 mins, Dh settle for 10 mins, so I wasn't awake for 20-30 mins at a time