Please help me avoid this feeding sleeping hell tomorrow

[BlueDragonfly]

BabyMonster is 15.5 weeks old. He has fed every 2 hours since he was born but has recently started going thru the night from 8/9pm ish to 4/5am ish. he feeds from one side only despite me offering both and he is a quick feeder - always has been.

The last few days have been Hell. He cried for most of the day on Thursday, yesterday i fed him every hour and a half from 7am until 3:30pm when he slept until 7pm (i didn't dare wake him!) and today he has fed every hour since 4:30am and in addition to that, has wanted to feed to sleep. He has spent most of his time awake crying. In fact he reduced ds2 to tears because he just would not stop crying!

If i am being completely honest, i just don't want to be holding him all the time feeding him or letting him comfort suck. I have 2 other children who need my attention and a pile of housework that is getting bigger by the hour.

How can i break this cycle?

[sallyforth]

Could this just be a growth spurt - in which case it should resolve after a couple of days.

My LO has had a crying-feeding-sleeping day today too, which I think is because we went to a wedding yesterday and he was too excited to eat/sleep. In the end this afternoon I just put him in my sling, with ready access to the nipple, and let him get on with it.

[trixymalixy]

Have you tried a dummy?

My DS fed every hour and a half until we got him a dummy. It was a total life saver.

[BlueDragonfly]

He already has a dummy! Won't take abottle though (expressed milk or otherwise!)

offer both sides again even though he has already just fed and been offered both sides?

I look at the time as i start to feed him so its from the start of one feed to the start of the next.

He is crying again now I am seriously considering buying some ready made formula and spending some proper time with DS1 and 2 and leaving DP to cope with the screams I can't listen to it anymore.

(can't actialy leave DP with him as DP is working 20 hour days at the mo to pay off debt and save so we can move from this shit hole)

[BlueDragonfly]

I am trying to remember that its just a phase! really i am! This os the longest i have exclusivley breastfed for and i am beginning to remember what it was like to be able to have a bath knowing that someone else could feed him if he woke and that i could go to the dentist without some having to come with me to hold him

[BlueDragonfly]

i can't get to grips with my ring sling and the baby bjorn pulls on my back.

we have nowhere to move to yet-stilllooking. DP working to deadline, if he doesn't do all these hours then the job isn't done,he won't getpaid and debts will spiral. he has several jobs, works from home a lot but is attached to his laptop withheadphones.

[BlueDragonfly]

oh yes, i agree that bf is far more convenient!

[EmmaDilemma]

I found swaddling a great help when my babies got over fussy - it can give your baby a feeling of security imo. Sssshing & swinging to mimic womb sounds & movements were also of use - even at 4 months but admittedly I used these tools from birth. Good luck & yes forget the housework.

[BlueDragonfly]

i can't forget the housework because of what DP is doing at the mo he has clients round alot so the house needs to be alright ish. or i at least need to able to hide things at short notice!! he has a trombonist coming to record 2mo and i still haven't tidied/cleaned. i am MNing for a break

[BlueDragonfly]

i can't afford a cleaner, even as a one off. And i can't babysit for people. I don't drive so nights are out as i would have to wander the streets with DS3 in the buggy. In the days i have ds2 as well.
there isn't much i can offer people actually (surely i am not that much of a waste of space?)

Thanks SM, i just needed to offload really. i know i just have to get on with it and carry in feeding him (obviously i wouldn't starve him!) and remind myself it will pass

[sallyforth]

So it will (pass, I mean). And I am sure 1 bottle of formula, as a one-off, would not be the end of the world if you have not had any supply issues so far and if you feel absolutely at the end of your tether.
Hang on in there

[BlueDragonfly]

ok, he just fed from one side - a good feed. fel aslep[grr] so i winded nappy changed and offered other side. he had a tiny bit more but came off and refused more. was happy and smiley, put him in bed....he is wailing again.....i don't know what to dooooooo

[ilovemydog]

Re: Sling - they really can be such a huge life saver. Baby Bjorns can be really uncomfortable, but there are lots more.

DD was the same as your DS, and sling helped.

And lots of nipple cream!

[EmmaDilemma]

Or try swaddling after next good feed as his immediate wailing when put to bed can not be hunger again IMO.

[BlueDragonfly]

lol @ affecting my supply. I think the random feeds will be doing that

he has been asleep for 10 minutes now and its bliss i tell you! will give it a few more mins and then will get in bed myself. its been a loooooooooong day.

[BlueDragonfly]

he wriggles himself out of a swaddle, will try again though next time, he may have changed his mind.