Baby not sleeping, constant feeding - how long does this go on?

[babybouncer]

I'm getting towards the end of my tether and I don't know what to try next.

My 6 week old was bfing really well roughly every 2-3 hours during the day and night for the first few weeks and putting on weight well. Recently, though, she feeds more like hourly (except for occasionally when I've had to go out and she's fallen asleep in the pushchair for a couple of hours) and has stopped putting on weight. She won't go to sleep - especially in her crib - and I end up feeding her continuously from about 5pm till midnight or later. She'll then drop off while I'm holding her and stay asleep in a swaddlepod for a couple of hours when I feed her again and spend another hour trying to get her to sleep. At this point I often end up feeding her again and she sleeps in my bed for another hour before we have to get up with my 3yr old.

I am exhausted and sleep-deprived and really struggling to function without any time to do anything. (I'm not a fan of housework, but some amount of cooking/washing up/clothes washing still has to get done and DH can't manage it all on his own on top of his full-time job and looking after 3 yr old).

I feel like my supply is dropping - can't remember the last time I felt 'full' or felt let down. I've had mastitis and blocked ducts - would this affect my supply? DS was bottle-fed because he never regained birthweight and was so miserable, I really want to bf this time, but not if it's going to be like this all the time.

Is a top-up the answer? Is there another way to get my supply up (I've already tried expressing, but there never seems to be a time to do this, I've done skin-to-skin and general resting and DH is force-feeding me to keep my energy up)?

Help!

How long has this lasted? It sounds like it could be the 6 week growth spurt, if so, it should only last 2-3 days. You need to feed on demand during the growth spurt to increase your milk supply but things should calm down after that. The best thing to do is to feed on one side, then the other and then offer the first side again as this will help to increase your supply. Alternatively you could also express after a feed.

A top-up won't help unless you want to include some formula in your feeding as your supply won't be stimulated unless the baby feeds when it wants to.

You really have my sympathy, I have a 7wo and a 2.5 yo, it's bloody hard work and I sometimes feel like I can't cope but I'm living by the fact that it WILL get better.

Agree with marathonmama, must be a growth spurt.

Just wanted to add if you dc has plenty of wet nappies and is putting weight on then there is nothing wrong with your milk supply. I remember that "empty" feeling and panicking but there isn't anything to worry about. Dc will be sucking and stimulating your body to make milk so you will feel 'full' soon enough.

As for housework leave it, do the bare minimum. Have you got a sling that you can feed in? I brought a wrap one and it was great.

As for food - can you call on those that offered help when newborn arrived? Request some casseroles/curries/lasagnas to be made and dropped off. Alternatively I think either egg / beans / tomatoes / cheese on toast is lush and I'm sure your 3 year old and dh will think so too.

All the best

my baby is now 11 months but I had forgotten how hard the first growth spurts were until I read your post. It seems never ending and really hard work (and that was without a 3yr old to look after). My house was a bit of a tip and looking back we seemed to live on toasted sandwichs.

Do you have anyone that could take both children for a walk/to the park and let you get even an hours sleep during the day?

Evenings were a blur, I just remember from around 7 onwards sitting in bed feeding for most of the evening.

Have you tried feeding lying down? Or the biological nurturing position? while you wont be getting any extra sleep they are both much more restful positions.
Its tough but it does get better(for a wee bit, until the next growth spurt). When DS turned 7 weeks he started sleeping 10pm to 4 am. So hopefully a little light at the end of the tunnel.