Please reassure me this is normal...

[banana87]

DD2 is 11 days old. She's gone from not feeding at all in the first 24 hours, to pretty reliably feeding every 2-3 hours including at night. She feeds from one side for about 20 minutes and then sleeps until her next feed.

A few days ago she came down with a cold but this did not affect feeding. Since last night she's now feeding every 90min-2hrs. Am I right in thinking that: 1) she may be feeding more frequently because she's having a growth spurt 2) she's feeding more frequently because she's a bit unwell (only she has been since Sunday) or 3) I'm totally screwed and she's going to stay this way forever and I'm never going to get a proper nights sleep?!? We are co sleeping so I don't feel exhausted but after a nightmare feeder like DD1, who fed frequently and wouldn't be put down for the first 5 months...I'm a little nervous!

Sounds about right for a 11 day old tbh! She will gradually stay awake for longer periods in the day and therefore in theory sleep for longer at night. Its very early days and if you are worried about not being able to put her down I would start as you mean to go on and when she is asleep pop her down in moses basket/ pram or cot.

Congrats by the way

Congratulations on your new little one!

It may well be a growth spurt, or linked to her being unwell (or she may be making up for not having taken as much in her feeds when she was unwell). Try not to panic just yet! My DD fed like a total maniac at 11 days old but slept amazingly by 9 weeks. My son never fed especially regularly but never spread out the gaps between feeds including at night until he was nearly 1. It's so hard to see a 'pattern' at this stage.

Having done both co-sleeping and not, I'd say if you have a regular feeder at night, co-sleeping is the way to stay sane!

I'd say to that it was perfectly normal and no indication of how things will pan out in the next few weeks.

How is DD2 feeding now? Is it still the same?

banana, would it help to see the midwife and get fully reassured about your baby?

Her behaviour is totally normal for a young baby - forget about growth spurts and colds and why she might be feeding the way she is, because babies do change for no apparent reason and we just have to trust 'em :)

Maybe she will become a baby who prefers to be close to you rather than be put down - this is not a 'nightmare' but a variation on normal :) Adapting your expectations and your life to accomodate this is easier than fighting against it, honestly.

Maybe you are worried because it can be scary to be responsible for two little ones - and the feeding 'thing' is just one aspect of this, because you know you are needed in two different ways and there is only one of you a lot of the time....hope you get help and support.

Sounds similar to DD1 at her peak she fed 21 times in a 24hr period. I spent a lot of time on the sofa.

Co-sleeping will help especially if you manage to feed lying down.

It's funny how they are all so different isn't it? DS1 was totally different, much more efficient with his feeds and spaced them out a lot more.

What was DDs birth weight - perhaps it's down to how tiny her stomach is. DD1 was only 6lbs but DS was 8lbs.

You do have my sympathies as DD was feeding every 2 to 3hrs up till the age of 1yr.

Thanks all. She's feeding pretty much the same but has started cluster feeding so is going 3 hours between feeds during the night . She is also able to be put down I've discovered and am over the moon about! She loves the moby too all things DD1 hated