My 7 day old feeds continuously

[Amazonmulu]

Hello

I'm hoping someone out there has some advice. We are really struggling :(

Our 7 day old DD lost too much weight after birth and we were put on a feed schedule :( We breastfeed minimum every 3h for 20-30min and then cup feed her 15-20ml formula. We've been doing this for 2.5 days.

She has put on a bit of weight (yay!) but now seems to feed continuously. Nothing seems to settle her apart from a boob. Even after formula she won't sleep or settle she lies, then roots then cries.

An example (we are tracking everything):
Feed left 15:01 35min
Nappy wet 15:43
Cup feed 15:50 20ml
Nappy poo and wee 16:10
Feed left 16:20 20min 
Sleep in my arms 60min
Feed right 18:10 35min
Cup feed 18:50 15ml
Feed left 19:10 20min
Sleep in cot 5min
Nappy wee 19:30
Sleep cot + throw up 
Grizzling
Feed right 20:05 21min
Nappy poo and wee 20:27
Feed left 21:10 30min


Any advice very much appreciated :(

[WellErrr]

Cluster feeding. Totally normal.

Stop tracking feeds, don't stress. Just tuck yourself in with a drink to hand and a good box set on and feed away. It won't last more than a couple of days or so.

It's normal and necessary - it's how the body knows it needs to produce more milk, and usually coincides with a growth spurt in the baby.

Make sure you eat enough and drink lots of water. And id ditch the formula, you need to have her on the boob to stimulate the milk.

Congratulations on your baby

[DartmoorDoughnut]

From memory DS was pretty much on my boobs constantly for the first few weeks, think they're putting their order in to establish your supply, plus comfort. It's exhausting but try and keep plenty of one handed snacks to hand and lots of water and basically find some box sets to watch/download some books to read

((Hugs)) it gets so much easier!

[DartmoorDoughnut]

Mix feeding is fine obvs too so you can have a break.

Do whatever is right for you and your baby

[jobrum]

Wow, that level of tracking sounds exhausting. Babies do feed an awful lot once milk has come in, often every couple of weeks you might notice a feeding frenzy where it feels like all you're doing is bfing. Great your baby's gaining weight now, you're clearly doing great so as pp said: just start to relax. Note when feeding starts, when you finish, pay attention to nappies and just sit down with drinks, snacks and the tv remote and a book!

Congratulations!

[plannedshock]

For the first few weeks they feed all the time literally all the friggin time! It's rough. Be kind to yourself congratulations and good luck X

[WellErrr]

It's one of the things no one tells you about breastfeeding, and one of the main things people give up over, because they think the baby's not getting enough.

But if you're getting wet and dirty nappies then you're fine.

It's normal. Honestly.

[gruber]

Sounds like DS. He lost a lot and I was told to keep him close (in my arms or on me), feed, feed, feed. That's pretty normal for a newborn. Hope she gains - just hang in there, suddenly one day I felt "oh this is ok" and then we had it sorted.

[blackkat1978]

Just as others have said. If you can (& are happy to) I would ditch the formula as the more your baby feeds directly from you the more milk you'll produce. Try to get as much skin to skin as possible to help produce more milk & just get comfy as some babies feed a lot!! It's completely normal.

[Amazonmulu]

Thank you guys x I thought i was going to go mad if this was what it would be like for the next months :(

How long do these bursts of cluster feeding last?

Also how can I tell if my milk has come in? I've not had any engourgement (spl?) But she is doing loads of poops and wees.

Thank you all so much for your reassuring replies x

[Amazonmulu]

Thank you guys x I thought i was going to go mad if this was what it would be like for the next months :(

How long do these bursts of cluster feeding last?

Also how can I tell if my milk has come in? I've not had any engourgement (spl?) But she is doing loads of poops and wees.

Thank you all so much for your reassuring replies x

[sonlypuppyfat]

I honestly think a baby feeding like this is to make sure you,mum, sits and rests.

[WellErrr]

They last from 24 hours to a few days and can happen often or not so often. They'll get further apart though. This first few weeks are the most full on.

It's also nature's way of making a new mother REST!

Re engorgement, I always got very enforced around day 4 but everyone is different - keep feeding, eating and drinking and the milk should keep coming.

It's also worth trying to get the hang of feeding lying down as it makes the whole thing so much easier when you can just doze.

[WellErrr]

*engorged.

[helly29]

I agree with other posters that this is really normal. She's building up your supply, and she's still tiny. Her tummy is still really small so she needs to feed often to get enough through the day. As time goes on your supply will go up, and her capacity will increase and the gaps between feeds will get longer.

Who advised including formula in the schedule? Was it the midwife? Paediatrician? Of course you can mixed feed if that works for you, but giving her formula will interfere with her getting your boobs to produce enough. It might be worth asking whoever's looking after you about gradually reducing the formula, or speaking to a lactation consultant. (La Leche League helpline is useful)

The vast majority of women (there are always exceptions) can produce enough. As said above, if she's got wet and dirty nappies and is growing, that's a really good sign. It's really early days - it does get a lot easier.

Congratulations! I hope you find a solution that works for your family

[Amazonmulu]

It was the midwife and paediatrician the advised to start on formula.

The MW is coming again tomorrow and I'm hoping the weight will be up even more so we can stop the formula.

[Amazonmulu]

Thank you all so much for the advice and support.

I've got comfortable and opened a box of chocolates. :D

[Cakescakescakes]

This CAN be totally normal (as with ds1) or it can be sign of a tongue tie (as with ds2). It meant he wanted to feed constantly but was never settled in between feeds as he couldn't latch properly. His tongue tie WA quite severe but it was snipped in a very quick procedure. Maybe just ask your midwife about this tomorrow, although generally it needs to be someone who is clued up on breastfeeding to be able to assess it properly. Just a thought

[helly29]

Kellymom website is also a great resource if you've not seen it before:
kellymom.com/category/ages/newborn/bf-basics/

Fingers crossed for the weigh in tomorrow!

[Amazonmulu]

I will ask about tongue tie tomorrow. I hadn't thought about it before. Thank you!

I will have a look at the Kelly Mom site. I've not heard of it before. Thanks!

Weird question - When going through a cluster feed period, how do you sleep? Or do you forgo sleep? DD hasn't slept much off my breast in the last day or so.

[Amazonmulu]

I will ask about tongue tie tomorrow. I hadn't thought about it before. Thank you!

I will have a look at the Kelly Mom site. I've not heard of it before. Thanks!

Weird question - When going through a cluster feed period, how do you sleep? Or do you forgo sleep? DD hasn't slept much off my breast in the last day or so.

[tiktok]

This is exhausting and it sounds like you need a review of what you are doing. The cup feeding formula is a massive hassle - do ask why it would not be ok just to put your baby on the breast again ( perhaps the other side, or back to the previous side) instead of the cup.

On the info you give here, it makes no sense to cup feed formula at this stage, when you have breasts available at all times which need no preparation :)

[FATEdestiny]

I would ditch the cup and either fully embrace breastfeeding (putting baby to breast every time) or fully embrace mixed feeding (and move to a bottle, which are easier/quicker than a cup).

To help baby sleeping without being held, have you tried a swaddle?

[Florentina27]

My dd was like that sometimes for good weeks at first. Sometimes she'll stay on boob for 1.5 hours then I'll go for a shower for example and by the time I'll be done she was already crying for more, I had days when I couldn't do anythiny and when I found out is normal I didn't stress anymore

[timelytess]

Don't panic. The baby expects to be at the breast 24/7. Keep her there and you'll be fine. Every six weeks or so you'll notice an increase in demand. Sleep? Erm... not much in the early days :)

[Amazonmulu]

To be honest I'm not entirely sure why e are on the cup method and not just passing her to the other breast. I will ask.

We have tied swaddling but though she doesn't mind it, it doesn't console her or stop her crying.

Last night we even tried co sleeping and feeding lying down. It worked a bit... She managed to be at my left breast for 2ish hours. It nearly killed my neck but it seemed to help her. She wouldn't take to the right side weirdly... Just kept spitting out the nipple.

I'm trying to stay sane... And certainly never expected a lot of sleep once she was born... But she hasn't really slept since 3pm yesterday and has been more or less on the boob the whole time :(