Feeding too much/ not feeding enough

[funnylittlekaty]

Just looking for some advice really as an anxious new mummy. My little one is 16 days old and we are really struggling with bf. During the day he could feed for up to 10 hours pretty much constantly if I let him. I've been trying t break the cycle by taking him out in the afternoon-a welcome change of scene for us both but the feeding dozing crying fussing routine can start as early as midday. Then it's pretty constant til 10ish where he generally wears himself out and we put him down. Tonight he has gone 10 til 4 without waking to feed. I just woke him up, changed his nappy and tried to feed him but he was only on the boob for ten minutes before he fell asleep. I woke him and put him back on, this time he managed 5 mins. I know that this sleeping at night is a godsend, but I've been reading some threads on here describing "failure to thrive" babies and i'm worried he's one. He hadn't regained birth weight at last weigh in and we are moving over from mixed feeding to ebf, although some is expressed from a bottle, which I tend to give in the afternoon if I think he's really hungry and not getting enough from boobs. Nappies are all fine. I'm a nervous wreck though...he's snoring on my knee. Am I being mental to worry so much??

No, you're not mental to worry so much, thats exactly what Mums do . I'm not trained so don't know whether this is ok or not. What I would suggest though is finding a local Bfing Counsellor and talking to them. She may want to observe a feed.

Is your LO giving you plenty of wet and dirty nappies? How much formula are you giving and how often? What was LO weight gain before the formula top ups? How are your nipples?

Thanks for replying. He's got at least 3 poopy nappies and countless wee ones. His weight gain went from 3680g to 3730g so really tiny and that was when he was on top ups. Didn't realise last night as was so spark out that dh gave him some expressed breast milk and some formula as ge was still hungry after 10pm which explains his snack in the night. I did go to the breast feeding clinic. They were helpful but I think I wanted them to wave a magic wand and make it all better x

I know that he hasn't regained his birth weight, but this can be ok in a bf baby. There is some information about it here. Kellymom suggests that is baby loses more than 10% of birth weight or doesn't regain birth weight by 2 weeks then breastfeeding needs to evaluated. This can be done by a local BFC or Lactation Consultant. Have you got the number of a local one?

Did LO loose more than 10% of birth weight?

As for the local Bfing Clinic, I would keep going. They won't have a magic wand but you may meet some other bfing mums which can help as much as anything I can say. Are there any other Bfing Support Groups you could go to as well? Does your Children's Centre run one or have you tried Baby Cafe or La Leche League.

The most important thing to look at in a BF baby is output. Sund's like he's pooing and weeing fine which is great.

The pattern of feeding your discribing sounds totaly normal. You say you where mixed feeding, if you've drop this then this would explain the constant feeding he's trying to up your supply. I wouldn't try and distract him at this age or make him go longer between feed's if you've had problems with wieght gain. Get yourself comfuy on the sofa with lot's of good DVD's and feed, feed feed. Your supply will soon catch up and it'll have seatled down before you know it. As long as your not soure then all sounds quit normal.

I take your DH fed him that night so he didn't actualy go 10-4. I'd also keep going to the BF group, we can't wave a magic wand (although sometimes I wish I could) but they give you great help and support through these difficult early days.

Ah thanks everyone. I just get dead worried that he's hungry and distressed and not getting enough food. I'm really happy to feed him all the time-just can't stand the thought that I'm leaving him unhappy because I'm not doing my job properly. He only lost 5% of body weight when we were doing lots of formula top up, we've only been topping up if he really needs it at night for the last week so we'll see if he's put on weight when we go to postnatal clinic on Sunday. I'll keep going to bf clinic, can't hurt to get the latch re checked and try and meet some friendly types. Xx

Don't worry, it is normal to get concerned. I remember it well! You suddenly have this huge responsibility providing everything this new person needs and they seem so fragile.

Lots of babies have fussy periods of the day. Breastfeeding is not only for food but is also a huge comfort. Its a way of keeping close to you, which is what they have been used to in the womb, your smell, your voice etc. Now suddenly they are in a world where everything is different and for some babies that can be overwhelming.

I'm sure you know but your breasts are never empty, if you let them suck as long as they want towards the end of the feed they get the really thick milk. And the more they suck the more they stimulate you to produce more milk for next time. But if they come off themselves and fall asleep that is ok. Just offer offer offer if you want to get to ebf.

Its good to get your latch checked in case he's not taking milk as efficiently as he could and also they could advise on different positions, even when you get months down the line. Groups such as La Leche are great for giving you a bit of confidence - you can search for local groups here.