6 weeks in..... breast feeding

[madeindevon2]

Ok. So it's gOing ok. Baby so far gaining weight but today just wants to feed all the time not sleeping. Worried in not producing enough for her. Also have very active 5 year old in holidays and feeling he's neglected if I'm sat feeding all the time.
So today I bought some carton of formula. Not used. In cuPboard. Am I failing if baby has the odd bottle of formula?
Baby only goes 3 hours at night before waking for feed. It was 4 or 5 at times few weeks ago...
Just want a bit more sleep and more time with my 5 year old. Without compromising baby.. Too much to ask?

This is perfectly normal. The baby is just trying to up your supply. Just trust that your body knows what it's doing. At this stage, if you give the baby formula, it's a feed that's not at the boob and won't help you to establish your supply. It won't last forever and I found that after six weeks, it all got a lot easier.

Having said that though, I know it's bloomin' hard work at six weeks and I nearly gave up. DD is 19 weeks tomorrow and still EBF. :)

The six week growth spurt can be hellish. I spent three whole days attached to the sofa.

It will setlle down again.

That's the problem. I can't spend three whole days on the sofa feeding. :-(

I agree things should settle down again shortly if you hang on in there. As has been said, your baby feeds like this to increase your supply when they need to. Another week or two and things should get much easier.

Cross posted.

Can you feed in a sling? That way you can get out and about and take your older DC to the park etc while feeding.

must be really hard with another young child around who needs you

I remember thinking seriously about packing it in at 6 weeks as it was still really hard (and seemed to be getting harder!), set myself a target to continue for just another 2 weeks and that was it done with. it then suddenly became really easy at around the 8 week mark - bf ds until 12 months.

I used occasional premade cartons of formula as I couldn't get the hang of expressing, but not until about 10-12 weeks and I was sure my supply for firmly established.

so it's the only way? Just keep feeding?
Will a bottle bide me more time? One a
Day? I don't want to stop feeding.... It was so much easier first time! I could stay in pj all day feeding If I wanted!

I intend to stop by 6 months as will be returning to work full time then.But was hoping to bf for 5.5 months...

Will crack on and hope it passes! (and try enlist more help keeping 5 year old busy and happy)

Please don't beat yourself up over it. The occasional bottle/ff is fine. My DS was bf till 23 months. He is now 4. My dd is still bf and she's 18 months. We have also given the occasional bottle. If anything DS had his first ff at 3 days old - he was crazy crying and the mw brought a selection and said 'feed him'.

My kids both were very happy on the boob You will be fine. Just do what works for your situation.

Good luck.

It's your choice. Formula is not poison. I started weaning dd1 at ten wks as retired to work when she was 13 wks. I was so looking forward to the 3 or. 4 hour stretches that the formula was going to give me. Gave her a massive six oz bottle that she gulped. 1.5 hrs later she was looking for food. Even when I introduced bottle regularly, she still fed every two hours during the day. With the ff, I then had to faff around washing and sterilising bottles, boiling the kettle, waiting 30 mins for it to cool etc.
I have ds1 who is 7 wks and dd is 20 months and needs lots of entertaining/attention. When I'm feeding, I'll do puzzles with her with my free hand, have a box of her fav toys that come out, put on nursery rhymes or even, evil of evils, I'll let her watch cartoons!!! I know with your ds who's five, you'll have to be a bit more inventive to keep him occupied.
When you are in the middle of a growth spurt, it feels likes it's never going to end but it does and all of a sudden your lo will be more settled and will start sleeping again. Good luck!! You will get through it