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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

4wk old breastfeeds till he's sick then still cries and roots for more

26 replies

lucielooo · 18/05/2011 22:10

What do I do??? he just seems to feed/cry/feed/cry all day. Like now for instance he's been feeding on and off since six - just had a big long feed for about the last hour and sicked some up (prob because he's overfed) and straight away he's crying on DP's shoulder and rooting and snorting for more.

I honestly don't know what to do.. he never seems to be happy, just seems to feed and cry.

Any ideas? Should I put him back on when he's like this or what???

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mercibucket · 18/05/2011 22:13

they do often cluster feed (aka feed almost non stop for flipping hours) in the evenings so maybe it's that?
how's his weight gain? what's he like during the day?

fartingfran · 18/05/2011 22:16

Hmm. Mine did this most nights at that age. She was also unsettled - grunty, couldn't lie still, short naps. Had a huge gassy sore tummy. Does that sound familiar?

KateMiddletonsMum · 18/05/2011 22:16

Aaww I feel for you! It does sound like he's cluster feeding to "up" your supply, maybe hes ready for a growth spurt.
May also be indigestion/wind too?
My DS had this too, I just used to have him latched on all evening til he fell asleep...

ThatllDoPig · 18/05/2011 22:19

I had one like this. Never knew whether he was still hungry, or just comfort suckling, or comfort suckling because he had gut ache from having too much milk! Can be very draining. But four weeks is still so very young. I'd just resign yourself to going with the flow, and keep offering milk every time he rootles around for it. He will sort himself out.

Original poster
lucielooo · 18/05/2011 22:28

weight gain is good - he's been putting on about 10ozs a week.

That does sound familiar fran always wriggling and grunting and fussing and whimpering if he's not latched on. To be honest he's like that aaallll day not just in the evenings, cannot get him to nap for love nor money :( Could be a growth spurt but hes been like this since he was born. Judging by previous similar evenings he'll probably want to feed till about 2.00am now

I don't mind if it's what he needs but I cant help feeling something can't be right as surely he has a tiny tummy and is feeding for the best part of 8 hrs sometimes and with the being sick as well??

He's back on now anyway and guzzling away

If yours was like that when did they settle down a bit?

OP posts:
mouseanon · 18/05/2011 22:31

Have you tried a dummy? My eldest had a really strong need to suck and the dummy was a lifesaver. When she was hungry she wouldn't take it so it didn't get in the way of feeding.

Original poster
lucielooo · 18/05/2011 22:36

Yep! think we've tried a dummy at least once a day for the last couple of weeks but he doesn't seem interested. He did take it for a bit on Saturday (for about 10 minutes) when he was hysterical after a trip out in the pram and then didnt want it anymore and hasn't since.

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lilham · 18/05/2011 22:48

Is he napping at all during the day? The whingeing might be from overtiredness? Babies at 4wo gets tired after about 1-2 hours of awake time.

fartingfran · 18/05/2011 22:56

lucie, what are his poos like? Is he farty?

For us the problem was a severe oversupply of milk leading to lactose overload. It's probably a little early to worry about that but if it sounds possible then please speak to a breastfeeding counsellor before you do anything else. It's usually simple to fix but as it involves actively reducing your supply at this early stage it's important that the diagnosis is accurate.

Of course, it is entirely possible that you're just in the midst of normal clingy feeding frenzy newborn stuff. It never hurts to talk to a counsellor about these sorts of things.

Original poster
lucielooo · 18/05/2011 22:56

Well today for example he was yawning so I started trying to get him to nap about 12.00 after good feed, nappy change and briefly sitting in his chair (half hour from end of feed tops) he kept almost falling asleep and then crying this went on for about 2 hours until I fed him again (and he fed hungrily) and this kind of repeated till about 5.00/6.00 when I fed him to sleep. Since then we've fed, he's nodded off - tried to move him (only as far as DP's chest!) wakes up cries and roots, feed him, and round we go again! This is pretty much the pattern all day every day!

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fartingfran · 18/05/2011 23:01

Waking when he's moved is normal - he's so tiny and new, he wants to be near you always - this time last month he was in utero! :)

Original poster
lucielooo · 18/05/2011 23:02

fran I think this is sometimes the problem - some days he'll scream a lot and them produce a very green nappy which I understand is too much lactose (i.e. too much foremilk) so I've been block feeding to make sure he gets enough hindmilk and this seems to help as he's been doing good yellow poos for the last few days. He's still pretty windy though (giving him infacol) Just fed him to sleep, passed him to DP and he's crying his heart out again bless him :(

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Original poster
lucielooo · 18/05/2011 23:03

He won't settle on me either.. if I accidently wake him by moving after he's fed he'll start crying then too.. Don't know why he's so unhappy

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fartingfran · 18/05/2011 23:06

Well, firstly be careful block feeding without guidance at this stage, for the supply reason I mentioned, but also some crying and distress is normal when they're not right there, at the breast. If this all persists then keep posting and get yourself in touch with a BFC, but lots of carrying, cuddling and feeding will be soothing too, and soon this will be just a memory :)

fartingfran · 18/05/2011 23:08

I'll also add that if it does turn out to be oversupply then there are other things which can help, don't feel you're up against it if things aren't improving. Are you getting RL help?

FessaEst · 18/05/2011 23:09

DD was like this, and in the end I did just go with it, stayed on the sofa practically topless and she just fed on & off. If I so much as went to the loo, she would be rooting around for a nipple on any passing object! The sickness could just be normal possetting, and the constant feeding normal clustering to help your supply - if so, the only way is to go with it and it will end, promise. However, if you are concerned something is wrong, then speak to your GP and get real expert advice from a BFing counsellor.

BTW - a Moby Wrap sling really helped, and meant DD did manage to nap a bit, and also allowed me to at least go and get a drink/something to eat, and feel a bit less like a hostage.

DD is now 18 months old and I can barely remember that stage - but I do know it was difficult. You are doing brilliantly - this too shall pass.

Original poster
lucielooo · 18/05/2011 23:52

thanks Fessa I dont think theres anything medically wrong - I just wonder if I am doing the wrong things for him hence why he's not happy.

I've got a Moby I just need a few minutes to figure it out!!

Fran have RL support in that DP is great but is out at work 12hrs a day and obviously needs some sleep at night too

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lilham · 19/05/2011 00:05

Second the suggestion of a moby too. My DD won't nap unless being held and will work herself into overtired hysteria all the time. But she loves the sling.

Lucie what you are describing sounds similar to my DD at 4wo minus the green poo. It's really hard since by the time I've fed and changed her, and if she won't settle for a nap and cries, it'd be nearly 2 hours and she'd be genuinely hungry again! It'll get better!

cinnamongreyhound · 19/05/2011 06:59

He sounds a lot like ds1 unfortunately I had massive holes in my nipples by about 10 dys and I couldn't bear to feed him every time he cried or I would have given up bf. He was very colic and often was rooting or sucking because he was in discomfort. He would cry and cry I'd feed him he'd stop and then he'd start again almoststraight after. He did sleep but only 20mins here and there, thankfully he slept well at night. I found laying him across my legs on his tummy helped and rubbing his back. Plus I got some good massages from hv which really help him get rid of wind and he seemed happier. I never had a problem with supply as I had enough for the street so genuinely don't believe he was trying to increase my supply. He was easier by 12 weeks. Such a different experience to ds2 who did cluster feed in the evenings but was so much more settled generally and would sleep on his own!!

fartingfran · 19/05/2011 07:39

lucie, by RL support I meant some proper BFing advice like a baby cafe or a counsellor who you can talk to on the phone.

I found the hospital infant feeding advisor really, really helpful but nobody alerted me to her existence until 4 months in. You could try your HV or GP for a referral? It's their job to support you in breastfeeding and even if it's just to have an expert reassure you that everything's fine it is well worth chasing up help IMO.

bumpers · 19/05/2011 10:04

Sounds just like my little one (who is now 6 weeks old), fussing at the breast, crying, unsettled then rooting etc. Having been driven almost crazy by this my HV suggested it was overtiredness (as previous poster suggested) as the 'rooting' was actually more like snuggling into my neck rather than open mouth, bobbing etc. So we tried stopping the constant feed, cry, feed again, cry cycle and just swaddled and held her til she fell asleep and it has helped sooooo much. It seems she wasnt sure what to do with herself and was so cranky but after having nice sleeps, she was more able to feed for longer periods and able to have more good quality sleeps after that too.

She doesnt drop off easily but it was defo sleep she wanted/needed not more feeding. Really hope something works for you soon.

Cosmosis · 19/05/2011 13:21

DS was like this for a while and we worked out it was trapped wind - they like to comfort suck because it eases the pain, but then it makes the wind worse. Once we sorted the wind (with infacol and lots of different winding positions) it was a lot better.

cockle84 · 19/05/2011 16:20

my 7wo was very much the same and still is occasionally. I tried various dummys but have now found one she loves- it is made by mam. It may be worth trying another dummy. He'll still tell you when he's hungry.

cockle84 · 19/05/2011 16:21

my 7wo was very much the same and still is occasionally. I tried various dummys but have now found one she loves- it is made by mam. It may be worth trying another dummy. He'll still tell you when he's hungry.

Original poster
lucielooo · 20/05/2011 18:06

well I think the inconsolable crying might have been overtiredness as baby has been sleeping well in the day today and yesterday. He still just wants to feed and not sleep from about 7.00pm till 2.00 am.. am sooo tired

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