Help constant night 'feeding'

[sleepdodger]

Am first time mum
8 day old boy 7lb2oz dropped 5% weight from birth so mw happy
bf- has fed well from outset BUT night feeds are becoming a joke
he is waking for feed at 12 then won't go down until 4 am with breaks inbetween for a nappy
I realise this isn't feeding but mainly comfort but how do I know which he needs ie do t want to ignore feed cry but how do I comfort without suckling? Do I have to introduce a dummy to break this cycle?

Fwiw during the day he normally feeds at 8/11.30/4 for about 40 mins

thanks...

Hello! I'm no expert, but I'd be trying to feed a lot more often in the day, offer the breast every couple of hours, say, and try and shift the balance to more daytime feeding. Cluster feeding is v normal but it's better (for you!) if it's in the evening rather than the night. I was generally pinned to the sofa from 7 to 11. Are you feeding between 4 and midnight?

At 8 days old lots of night feeds sounds perfectly normal, I'm afraid! Someone with a lot more expertise will be along shortly but my ds did very similar. Night feeding is important in the early days for establishing supply - it's not just for comfort! 3 daytime feeds is not much though so like privetdancer says I would offer the breast more frequently.

I got through this stage by learning how to feed lying down, an invaluable skill as you can doze while they suck!

Also the worst nights I camped on the sofa with tea in a thermos, magazines, choccy and the remote control, then handed the baby over to dh when he finally slept!

I would be wary of offering a dummy at this stage as it can cause nipple confusion.

You are doing a fantastic job, keep up the good work! :)

He's only 8 days old!
this is what it is like for the next few weeks at least.

Very slowly, your baby will start to realise what day/night means, but not for a while yet. He doesn't even know he is a separate person yet!
Also, he needs to feed all the time to signal your boobs to make more milk.

all you can do is make sure you are as comfortable as possible. Have water/snacks handy for those middle-of-the-night marathon feeding sessions.

Do you have a partner who can cuddle/give a finger to suck if your boobs need a break?

It won't be like this forever, and even better than that: you don't have to do anything to sort it out, that will happen naturally.

I agree that there aren't enough daytime feeds - a newborn should probably be feeding roughly every 2-3 hours. Oh, and I'd forget about comfort feeding and assume all feeding is a response to hunger. Otherwise you risk your supply, especially if you're using dummies. Free access to your boobs right now is the best recipe for a plentiful milk supply.

Sleep when he sleeps be that day or night, take him out for a walk in the early afternoon each day, and this too shall pass - well done and congrats!

Newborns need to feed 10-12 times a day, so if he's only getting a few daytime feeds he has to make up for it at night.

The two things I would do is offer frequent feeds in the day in bright rooms with a normal level of noise (don't tiptoe round the baby or put him to sleep in a darkened room during the day) and then keep night time as dark and quiet as possible, keep the baby in bed with you and feed him there. He'll soon sort day from night.

I also agree with the others - he's only 8 days old, there will be lots of feeding and not much sleeping for a good while yet!

3 daytime feeds a day? Seriously? That's your biggest issue right there IMO.

Thanks all
he does feed between 4&12 usually at 8&10 - sorry the sleep deprivation last night mssed that!
I'm glad all sounds ok, thanks for your supportive words
most of my friends ff so I can't gauge as easily as them in terms of what he actually eats
much appreciated