Advice needed- breastfeeding

[mollyD]

Hi, I'm new to this channel and am desperate for advice. My DD is 2 weeks old and so far I have been breastfeeding exclusively, but I'm really finding it difficult. Feeds can take up to an hour and half and I reckon that shes just sucking for a max of 25/ 30 mins during this time, she doesn't seem to stay awake for long whenever shes on the breast.

Also this is probably a stupid question but how can you tell if a breast is fully empty and I should start on the other one?

I'm really tempted to start formula feeding at least for night time as the tiredness is killing me and I seem to spend most nights in tears at the propect of what seems like endless feeds. But then I worry that this will affect her in some way- stupid I know! Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Where does she sleep Molly? Sometimes when they are young they suck even when in a light sleep. Have you tried feeding her lying down?

If she is sleepy then don´t have her too warm.

Slings help babies go to sleep if you want her off the breast.

Night bottles will effect supply if you want to bf for longer so not imo your best option.

all the best

Ds used to feed for this length of time, but looking back now I think a lot of it was comfort feeding. When you feel your dd's mouth "fluttering" rather than drinking that's her coming to the end of her feed. Wind her then see if she wants the other boob - she might not at 2 weeks, but keep offering it anyway - she'll get hungrier soon enough.

I agree that a bottle in the night will just reduce your own milk supply.

YOu're also still up and down with new mum hormones - I was weepy for about a month after both ds and dd.

Prop yourself up well back on a bed while your feeding and you might be able to drop off too?

Tiktok is a b/f counsellor and is really good at this sort of thing - all the best - you're doing really well!

Hi MollyD! Congratulations on the birth of your dd. Just a v quick message as I have to go out now.
Lots of long feeds are normal at this stage, but it doesn't go on like this forever, honest. DD is just building up your supply. Supplementing with formula at this early stage could affect your milk supply, so try to hang out for a bit longer on that one, if you can. It will get better!
Other thing is to try stroking dd's palm or her cheeks to encoutage her to keep feeding if she starts falling asleep. You could also try \link{http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/15.html\breast compression}.
Sorry, got to go.
Good luck and hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply Papillon, I'll try the feeding lying down, usually I feed her in a chair and shes falling asleep after about 10 mins on the breast.

as a newborn, my ds would have sent all day on the boob! i ended up giving him a dummy when he was about 10 days old as i realised he was just comfort feeding. he was a 'sucky' baby.

i would then have fed him for about 25 mins on one side and 10 / 15 on the other i think. this worked really well for us and i never had any mastitis / soreness.

Molly, call one of the bf helplines.

You can never totally empty a breast - people who tell you to do this before changing sides are the stupid ones, not you for asking the question.

Let your baby show by behaviour when to change, but it's not crucial anyway. It sorts itself out.

But do talk to someone about all this.

Have you tried taking dd off the breast when she is asleep and not sucking, just by gently putting your finger into her mouth. Ds used to do this and sometimes taking him off and putting him in his moses basket asleep would work and this would let me get even a few minutes sleep. Gave ds formula once when he was few weeks old as he would not stop feeding thinking it was going to be like magic and he would sleep for hours on end, but no made him feed even more off me as he had terrible wind and needed comforting. Just remember you are doing a great job and it does get easier and easier. Am so so glad that I bf, my boobs have been great for feeding and comforting my son!!

hi molly I'm feeding my DD2 who's 5 weeks old today and yes it just feels like all I do is feed her. She is a total boob freak and I know a lot of it is for comfort. She cluster feeds in the evening and it's so hard when they feed for ages and all you want to do is sleep.

It does get better though and they do settle down just got ot keep that in my head.

mine would have gone on for hours if I'd let him, but I was too sore! So I gave him around 30 mins one side and then took him off burped him and offered him the other side if he was still hungry for abt 10 mins. You can then take him off and burp him and uif he's still hungry he'll let you know - but he's probably asleep! The switching sude thing wasn't exact but I did min 20 mins the first side and max 30 - that way he gets the hindmilk, but the other side still gets stimulated IYKWIM. HTH And my HV advised me the whole thing incl. burping shouldn't take longer than an hour.

I also had a very sucky baby who would feed forever like Jag9 I gave in and let him have a dummy which solved the problem - have to say I was fearful that I;d end up with a 5 year with a dummy but he threw it out the cots of his own will at about 14month. Used to feed him - hed go off to sleep on the boob and then if he stirred I stuck the dummy in!! - try to get one thats soft and most like you - so latex might be a good option!!

Stroking their cheek or rubbing their hand always kept my DD back in the living and not just sucking like a zombie. but you have only been a mum for 2 weeks, so don't beat yourself up about anything. Call a bf counsellor - they were fab when i got masitis (sp!!) and was sobbing down the phone. Hang in there! and know there is always someone on MN to help!

molly your doing really well, it is exhausting at the beginning but it does get alot better and is very rewarding in the long run.

what ja9 said about the dummy is good advice, my dd was exactly the same and after 3 days continuous feeding with no sleep and bleeding nipples my HV saw i couldn't keep it up and suggested a dummy. i don't think i could have kept feeding without it.

get an avent or nuk one that copies the human nipple and only give it when you're absolutely sure that your dd is full and just comfort sucking. my dd didn't really get fond of hers til she was much older but it did help me get some rest in the first months by waiting til she was asleep at the breast and slipping the dummy into her mouth instead of the nipple.

good luck and congratulations, whatever you decide your dd obviously has a very loving and caring mother and thats the most important thing in the world

Eve2005, when did your lo like the dummy? My sucky ds is not interested and I could do with using one occasionally as a comforter.