Demand feeding 3wk old constantly?

[bubbakin]

Hi
This is DC2 but DS was on bottled expressed milk then formula & feeding every 3hr or so.
I'm so delighted that this time I seem to have mastered BF with only slight discomfort at the beginning, now it's fine. I'm demand feeding my DD, however when she's awake she wants feeding! I can feed her for 20mins or so then within 30mins she's getting upset, sucking her fist & looking for more! She tends to be awake for the morning then nap over lunch into the afternoon then awake on & off through the evening - I'm happy to feed her lots in the eve to see if she'll sleep longer at night - currently does around 4hr, then a few 2 or 3 hour spells.
But with a toddler, I'm finding the constant awake feeding a bit tricky & exhausting. Plus it's a nightmare if she wakes up when we're out, I have to spend a majority of the time sat in a cafe feeding her!
Is this normal & does it get more manageable?? Just wondering whether to consider introducing a dummie to give me a break & get her into more of a 3hr routine.
I also worry I'll run out of milk...i feed her on one side, then if in 20mins she wants more I put her back on the same side again. Then next time I'll put her on the other side. Should I be alternating sides every time???
It's so confusing, although I would like to add I'm loving feeding her & feel so chuffed to be able to feed her.

You're doing brilliantly, it's probably a growth spurt, common at 3 weeks and will ease off in a few days.
In the meantime, keep drinking loads of water and don't be too adventurous with your outings!

Congratulations :) Sounds like you are doing brilliantly, and I am at your only slight discomfort!

Yes it is normal, and yes it gets more manageable.

Don't worry about running out of milk, the more she feeds the more you will produce. :)

I think in your position that I would offer both sides at each feed as a matter of course - yes the feed might take a bit longer but then she will have had more milk so you may find you get a slightly longer gap between feeds to have some time with your toddler.
Have you thought about using a sling? Then you've got both hands free and you can walk around feeding with them after a bit of practise which would mean you felt less tied down.

hi bubbakin. it does sound normal for such a tiny baby and it must be really hard with a toddler so hats off...

if she has one side and softens it well, or actively feeds/drinks for that twenty minutes, sucking and swallowing etc, and then wants more half an hour later, i would put her on the other side. or just offer the other side after she seems to have had enough of the one side but all in one feed instead of twenty minutes later. when she stops the active sucking / drinking of the one side, you can try breast compressions to get her even more milk www.drjacknewman.com/help/Breast-compression.asp then start with that side the next time iyswim.

sounds great at night - 4hours, then 2/3 hours. totally normal. it all sounds normal basically - little babies like to feed alot as it comforting, warm, safe, etc. have you got a sling? little babies like to be carried close to mum ALOT!

i hope that is clear!

lol x posts what they said...

I would offer her the other side every time she comes off the first side - putting her back on the same side again will limit your supply rather than increase it I think?

My 15 week old has only just started going 3 hours between feeds, so that may be a while off yet!

Thank you ladies, nice to know it's normal! I have got a sling that my cousin has lent me so I'll have a practice with it this evening. I know she is still so tiny but she started out quite chilled but seems to be getting greedier & more impatient - typical girl!!!
Will definitely offer her other side straight after. She does suck/swallow through out most of feed although the last few mins feels & sounds more like comfort. She will also sometimes bring a tiny bit back up about 5 or 10mins after feed which I assumed was a sign she'd overfilled her little belly (not so little actually!)
Thank you x

Forgot to add she also suffers with wind pains, bringing her legs up & screaming out etc which I worried was a sign she's eaten too much!! x

Am totally there with you- my three week old has crazy feeding days too. I was told to re-offer the same breast if he only had a short feed then wanted another soon after- to make sure breast was 'emptied' and he gets enough hindmilk. But tbh it's my first time so am just fumbling my way through and relying on sites like Kellymom. I do find that he bulks up on feeds in the evening and morning to make up for sleeping for four hour stretches at night (bed-sharing is working for us- he hates being in his crib). So admire you for being able to juggle two LOs bubbakin x

when they are doing those fluttery sucks at the end of the feed and sucking less often, they will be getting lots of hind milk that will keep her going longer. no need to limit this. obviously if she is totally zonked you can take her off :)

I assumed the more delicate sucking & fluttering was her just doing it for comfort as she doesn't seem to swallow. I only take her off when she is really out of it, however she often wakes up & within a few mins is rooting & getting upset again. But we'll persevere!!
Redbird, I have got our cot with side down up against the bed but often after her night feed I'll put her in our bed but not close to me, then her early morning feed is usually done with me lying down dozing!
With my DS I tried to do it all by the book (so to speak!!) not to cuddle too much, to put him down to go to sleep on his own.......and it made it stressful & DS didn't comply! So this time I'm going to enjoy it all & follow the babies needs!!

sometimes that fluttery sucking will elicit another let down of milk which is very fatty. this can really help to satisfy them. she might be swallowing every ten sucks or so... she may well be comfort sucking too - it produces happy chemicals in their brains. before she is really out of it, you could swap sides. or you could encourage her with more milk by breast compression and then once she starts to fall asleep then swap sides to see if she has more - this might keep her going a bit longer.