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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

permanent attachment!!

19 replies

jaqphil · 16/05/2005 18:44

My 2 and a half week old has suddenly decided to be permanently attached to my boobs. I don't mind feeding her but today I never managed more then an hour max without her wanting more food..how can she keep on wanting more when she has feed virtually all day non-stop. Is this normal..a growth spurt purhaps..and what can I do to stop my nipples which are throbbing!?

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hunkermunker · 16/05/2005 18:46

Growth spurt, definitely. Lansinoh for your nipples - it's a cream, you don't need to wash it off before a feed either. Make sure she's latched on well at each feed too - non-stop though they are! It doesn't take long for poor latch to cause problems. Stay with it - the first six weeks are the hardest and you're halfway there! Lovely!

Gillian76 · 16/05/2005 18:48

I agree with hunkermunker. Definitely sounds like a growth spurt.

Keep at it, you are doing so well! It really does get easier

KBear · 16/05/2005 18:48

Yep sounds normal to me, you just have to put everything else on hold and let her feed when she wants and she'll soon settle into a more practical routine so you can have some time off!

hunkermunker · 16/05/2005 18:49

I remember DS doing this - he fed literally all day, then the next day I decided (dead on my feet though I was) that if I put him in the pram and went out, I might feed him less. Growth spurt over, he slept for England - I had to wake him up to feed him because my boobs felt like hot watermelons!

Gillian76 · 16/05/2005 18:59

If I understand it correctly they may not be actually feeding all the time they are sucking. It's in an attempt to stimulate more milk production as their requirements increase.

Clever, eh?

jaqphil · 16/05/2005 20:12

Glad to hear it is a growth spurt..I've put a bit of vaseline on for the moment until I get hold of some of that cream. Sounds about right for the sucking thing as the intial attachment feels fine but it's later on in it that it starts to hurt (especially after two hours?!). She has already put on more than 13ozs in 12 days so she's not struggling with feeding even on a 'normal' day!! I daren't ask but is there any chance of me doing things like going to the hairdresser or a few hours out at night in the next four weeks or should I expect at least up to the six weeks until I can leave her for more than 30mins?

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NotQuiteCockney · 16/05/2005 20:17

Before now, did she go a while without feeding? I'm sure she'll come back to taking time off.

Whenever my nipples were sore, I would just smear a bit of the last of the milk on them, and leave them out to "air". I'd be a bit worried about vaseline getting into the baby, IYSWIM.

You're doing great. Does she tend to feed like this at night? Are you sleeping with her?

Magscat · 16/05/2005 20:17

I found my milk supply really clicked with dd's & ds's demand at about 4 weeks. Also got really comfortable about that time - you could be nearly there!

Have you tried cabbage leaves? It's not just an old wives tale - I found they really helped. Keep a savoy cabbage in the fridge & just peel off a leaf & stick it down your bra whenever you want. Really cooling. Good luck

Magscat · 16/05/2005 20:19

Another thing that works on sore nipples in Kamilisan cream. (Supermnarkets & health food shops).
You can use it on baby's bum too. It's all natural ingredients.

Wipe off before feeding though as it has quite a strong smell (& presumably taste).

aloha · 16/05/2005 20:32

While it is probably a growth spurt, some babies just lurve to suck and will do it as much as you let them. They will also appear hungry when they are actually just tired and want to suck themselves to sleep.
Because of this, I do recommend taking her out in her pram so she can fall asleep and give you a break.
My patented method.
Feed baby - certainly no longer than an hour - detach baby at the end of this period.
Dress baby and put in pram.
Ignore any shrieking. They are probably tired.
Walk confidently out of house.
Head to nearby cafe.
All being well, baby will fall asleep before you open your garden gate.
While baby sleeps, drink cappucino and read paper/magazine.
Walk home via shops.
Arrive home, baby hasn't fed for 2.5 - 3 hours.
Feed baby.
It has to be worth a try!

Magscat · 16/05/2005 20:37

Aloha - does this really work for you??? You are lucky .

Got to be worth a try but my scenario goes like this:

Feed baby for an hour
Think she can't poss be hungry so detach
Get ready while she screams
She falls asleep just as we get to where I want to go
She wakes up between car & shop/cafe (i.e. after 5 mins sleep)
She screams while I try to chat/drink coffe/shop
She refuses to feed while I'm there
Take her home & feed her. She's too knackered to feed properly & falls asleep
She's too hungry to sleep long so wakes up again!!

Having said this, it wasn't like that with ds - just think my dd is going through an awkward phase.

It is worth trying!

aloha · 16/05/2005 20:42

Oh dear! Poor you!
Well, it obviously doesn't work for everyone...

Magscat · 16/05/2005 20:45

Jaqphil - Just to add that at 2.5 weeks your situation is diff from mine so please don't take my previous comment as pessimism -Aloha's idea is a good one - my dd is 19 weeks so more capable of staying awake & stroppy

wysiwyg · 16/05/2005 21:15

Perhaps this is a lot of comfort sucking? Can you still heat your baby swallowing milk after a long time? I thought that a baby would have a good feed of 20-30 minutes at each breast. Have to confess that I got a dummy for ds which he took to luckily. Worth a try? Contentious I know but if you continue to be sore then likely to stop feeding sooner and it'll be a less enjoyable experience for you.

NotQuiteCockney · 16/05/2005 21:46

wysiwyg, babies really vary in how long they need to feed. My DS1 would feed (ok, and comfort suck) all day. My DS2 generally has never fed for more than 15 minutes at a time, both breasts. (And he's put on weight much better than DS1 did.) And now, at 7.5 months, a good feed is 5 minutes, max.

jaqphil · 17/05/2005 13:16

She normally feeds really well and quickly. At night she only wakes every three/four hours. Lovely thought about the coffee but having had a c-section I am house bound as no car driving and I have been banned from pushing the pram and carrying in the papoose!! Ill persevere and hopefully it will reduce!

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rydercup · 17/05/2005 14:17

Hi - my DS2 is 6 weeks and exactly like this - although I daren't speak too soon - he is definately getting a bit better in the last few days! I do exactly what Aloha does and break the cycle after a really good long feed and get out of the house! Gives him and me a good break!

NotQuiteCockney · 17/05/2005 19:46

Oh, I've had two sections, and was told to carry nothing heavier than the baby - carrying the baby is ok. That being said, the easier you take it in the first four weeks, the better.

jaqphil · 18/05/2005 10:31

NotQuiteCockney - Yesterday ended up being not as bad as the previous day..and so far today has been OK-ish. I'll definitely try the papoose then and walk to the local paper shop after her next feed. Actually what am I doing on the computer? I still haven't had breakfast or more than half a glass of water!! I'm off for the mo'.

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