9wk old BF baby won't go longer than 2hrs between feeds,

[Gingerbics]

Absolutely shattered as got a todler who's up at 6 each morning too.
This little one wakes frequently, 2hrs is the longest he'll go, won't take a dummy. He's gaining weight and is thriving generally but I'm not!
He was snuffly for a few weeks so he slept in his bouncer chair (vibrating), it was the only way he'd settle. I now found he really won't settle in his carry cot.
I've tried offering both breasts but invariably will zonk out and appear full after just one. If I then change his nappy once he's fed,he gets really distressed.
Any advice, reassurance gratefully received.

well now i have been tested on what i have said may i carry on??

It will get better! I think the best advice I ever got before having a child has to be remembering that every phase passes so quickly. Just as you're thinking 'god i can't cope with this anymore', their routine suddenly changes and they're on with the next thing.

Try and stretch out the feeds for as long as possible during the day so you make sure DS is getting a really good filling meal. I do know how hard this can be with a screaming baby though so easier said than done.
I agree with the advice don't look at clocks in the night.

And don't give up on BF rimsky, your LO may be just the same with formula and you'd have the trouble of making up all the bottles!

After you...

OP one thing that could work is expressing int he morning and giving this after a feed in the evening, say around 10 pm. If you leak alot whilst feeding you might be able to collect what you leak in breast shells and give this in a bottle.

Do have every sympathy with your though as my DS was terrible at night. The only thing that helped was co-sleeping. It worked for us

Oh and Hayley "ive not come on here for arguments". You do know you're on MN don't you?

Just remembered, my mum had me and my sister 20 months apart and used to give me a bottle of formula every night just to give herself a break!

OP - Sounds like you are doing a great job. This is quite normal at this age. As already said many mothers find cosleeping can be a great help. LLL ahve an info sheet 'sleep and the BF baby' if you have a group near you it might be worth going along as they should have some and you could get some RL support. Or, you could phone the helpline and a LLL Leader could send you the info. phone number here

During the day another handy tactic for occupying your toddler is having a 'nursing box' full of toys that only come out when your baby is nursing. I found plenty of books useful too as I could sit and nurse the baby and hold the book in my free hand keeping my toddlers occupied too.

Hayley. Did you train as a LLL Leader or a peer supporter. I'm slightly confused as LLL encourage safe cosleeping and one of the 'concepts' is mothers and babies being close during the first weeks.

Yes, don't give up on BF, you sound like you're doing well! Co-sleeping was the best thing for us, we all got more sleep and it really helped. If you don't want your DS in your bed then you could go for a side-car set up. You don't need to buy one of the fancy specialist cots, a cot bed with the side taken off works just as well.

Hayley- please don't leave, I want to train as a LLL leader and I might want to pick your brains It's a shame you're not allowed to promote co-sleeping, I was given the LLL leaflet on safe co-sleeping by the MWs when DD was born and it was one of the things that persuaded me. I suppose it depends on the PCT rules but I know a few of them are changing their policies.

Gingerbics - you are doing really well. My second was a frequent feeder, which came after a shock as my first was a nice every four hour feeder (apart from when she was cluster feeding and I just had to be glued to the sofa watching soaps educational documentaries!) Things I did which helped were: not doing night time nappy changes unless there was poo, co-sleeping, encouraging my DD to nap at the same time as ds so I could nap too, and when DD was at nursery I would do lying down feeds on my bed so I could grab a nap.

As others have said, it's amazing how suddenly they will move onto another phase. While at the time there were moments when I wanted to give up, I do now look back fondly on the 3 years of breastfeeding.

Hayley - I have found though that it is important to be careful how you word things because people interpret written text differently from the spoken word. You may perceive my words to be rude, but in fact I, and others are trying to be helpful, just as you are to the op and other women you wish to help!

Sorry to get off original posters point but Hayley unfortunately you are going to have to have a thick skin if you post on Mumsnet, people are very quick to jump on what you say! Personally I want people to say it's hard because when I had problems I felt like there was something wrong with me because it is supposed to be "natural". Had plenty of setbacks, but am still here EBF and I'm glad that I now know it's difficult and it isn't just me.

In fact, why aren't pregnant women told about the difficulties of breastfeeding during ante-natal classes as my NHS run classes convinced me it was a total breeze, and it isn't!

Sorry, total hijack there!

As i explained i work with my sure start centre and i have been told that i cant encourage it. also im not supposed to talk about my experiences in a way that could show that i am wanting them to follow my lead. that make sence? for example, i could say to a lady that some women find dummies help to comfort a baby inbetween feeds. but i couldn't say... i gave a dummy to my child and it worked great. because i work alongside health visitors and midwives and my guidlines state i shouldnt encourage it. if a woman is co-sleeping i then have to ensure i inform them of the safety side etc etc.

Are you a LLL trained peer counsellor rather than a leader then?
When you say inform them of the safety side presumably you mean tell them the safe cosleeping guidlines and about the possible risks rather than a blanket ban?
Sorry to go on about it but I'm a little confused. As far as I'm aware one of the advantages of LLL is that it is independent and does a lot of research of it's own.

i am employed as a LLLL in my community. i trained as a peer counsellor 4years ago and have since joined lll as a leader and run 2groups in my area. i also get referals from health visitors to visit ladies. i also work along side a private midwife delivering parent craft sessions. just resently i have been asked to be involved in monitoring and evaluating the treatment ladies recieve throughout their pregnancy and birth alongside members of the NCT and NHS.

Sorry Hayley I'm still confused. Not sure how the LLL works. Does that mean that you trained as a peer supporter or a bfing counsellor?

Sorry not had much time to reply but can't thank you enough for your words of encouragement and advice.

Well, we're lucky if we get an occasioanl 3 hour stretch (if we do i get really excited ) but oftrn he'll only do a 1 or 2 hr stretch after that, he's often disturbed by explosive poos and very noisy farts!

Have tried co-sleeping but just don't seem to get in the right position thats comfy for both of us.

Have tried giving boob and formula for the bedtime feed which usually gives a sounder sleep (arms above the head stylee).

Anyway, basically we're hanging in there, its sooooo knackering tho but I guess thats what babies are!

Thanks again everyone X