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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Help! 3 day old feeding CONSTANTLY!

22 replies

SummerSevern · 21/07/2013 20:51

Hi. Long time lurker. First post.
Our 3 day old dd is feeding constantly. I've had to co-sleep with her for the last two nights, which I really don't want to, because its the only way I can get some rest. She's also feeding all day too. Since 14:45 she's fed 11 times, max an hour, min 15mins between feeds. Feeds lasting for between 5 and 25 mins. Every time I put her in her moses basket she makes sucking noises, then cries to be fed again.
She's latching fine, weeing and pooing etc.
I told all this to the midwife when she visited earlier, and she stsyed to watch a feed. But sods law that was the one feed all day where dd fed beautifully and then settled straight after. So mw just said I was doing fine.
I honestly feel like giving up and using a bottle. But I know it's early days.
Please can someone tell me this is normal/she'll grow out of it/what the hell to do? Its 9 now and she hasn't slept since 11!

OP posts:

notanyanymore · 21/07/2013 20:53

Totally normal

ThursdayLast · 21/07/2013 20:58

Hello, I'm a first time mum to a 15wk DS so certainly not an expert, but I think the babes go through a bit of a growth spurt/feeding frenzy in the first few days. This sounds v much like my experience, though I was still in hospital at 3 days old.

Don't lose heart, just keep swimming, they do their own merry thing when this little.

Also I co- slept a couple times when DS was first home, just to get some kind of peace. It worked at the time, and hasn't lead to any kind dependency so don't worry about that. They can't remember two minutes ago!

I am also a long time lurker, so this is my first post too first timer!

Pascha · 21/07/2013 20:58

Completely normal and right. She's feeding and feeding to build your supply up. It will settle down in a day or two but for now you should just go with it.

SoftSheen · 21/07/2013 20:59

Congratulations on your baby! :)

What you describe is absolutely normal, though exhausting. I went through exactly the same with my DD. Things may get better in the next day or two as your milk comes in, or it may take a couple of weeks, but it WILL get better.

Just snuggle up with your baby, feed on demand, and let her sleep on you. She is still getting used to the outside world and she needs to be close to her mummy. This is such a short phase so just try to enjoy it.

Make sure you look after yourself too- have lots of drinks and nice snacks and make sure your DP/family take care of the housework and everything else.

tricksybaby200 · 21/07/2013 20:59

Poor you! My first Ds did this. Felt like I didn't leave the couch for the first two weeks! He jumped from the 25 centile to the 75th in that time. It does get better. I found getting him weighed made me feel better as it made it seem worthwhile.

Hope it calms down soon but keep going, not forever and you're doing a fab job x

Pascha · 21/07/2013 21:02

growth spurts

Make sure you keep your strength up with cake

CheungFun · 21/07/2013 21:03

I think this is normal for bf babies. DS was ff and fed every 2-3 hours in the early days. I think in the early days you've just got to go with the flow, sleep whenever you possibly can and if you manage to get dressed and brush your teeth then you've done amazingly well!

highlandbird · 21/07/2013 21:03

Has your milk come in yet? My DS2 was like this until my milk came in, and then he calmed down. Honestly, it does get better very very quickly, although it doesn't feel like it will now. Plenty of lansinoh so your nipples don't get sore and make sure someone is bringing you lots of food and drink. Look after yourself, and congratulations on your new baby!

glenthebattleostrich · 21/07/2013 21:12

Agree, totally normal. It's to get your milk to come in and build up the supply.

Lansinoh, sit with your boobs out as much as you can as letting your nipples air dry helps and lots of drinks and snacks.

It is exhausting but worth it.

And if it makes you feel better, I took my DD back to the hospital in tears because I thought she was broken when she'd fed pretty much 4 days straight! (my milk came in that day and I had baby blues, totally normal!)

jkklpu · 21/07/2013 21:14

Congratulations. Echo all the other posts. And if she sometimes goes an hour between feeds, she really isn't feeding all the time, even if it feels that way. I second the suggestion of Lansinoh and remember you really don't have anything better to do, so try to let yourself go with the flow. Hope you have someone making you food and drinks 24/7.

NotQuiteCockney · 21/07/2013 21:14

It does sound v normal.

I need to ask, though, are your nipples sore? Are feeds hurting at all?

Original poster

SummerSevern · 21/07/2013 21:18

Wow! Thank you all so much for such instant, positive replies! You've all made me feel much better. I will keep going with it - with my brilliant dh's help.
Thursday thank you for first-posting for me. Congratulations on your baby.
Highland I'm pretty sure my milk has come in today. My breasts are certainly larger and dd's poo has changed. But they don't feel particularly hot or full like the mw described. Is it a sudden or a gradual happening?

OP posts:

giddywithglee · 21/07/2013 21:20

Yes, DS2 is 13 wks and first 2-3 wks fed hourly. It gets better as they get bigger and your milk adapts - hang in there.

Original poster

SummerSevern · 21/07/2013 21:21

Nipples are sore from all the damage she did during the first all-nighter. But not getting any worse and several mws have cheched my latch and said its ok.

OP posts:

Pascha · 21/07/2013 21:24

I remember it being a gradual filling over the day and by the next morning I had boulder boobs. I don't remember them feeling hot. I do remember the relief when DS fed when they were very full.

ThursdayLast · 21/07/2013 21:28

'Pretty sure' !!

Never fear, you'll know when it's come in!

mrsmartin1984 · 21/07/2013 21:30

Good god I remember those days. I was of the impression that breast feeding was natural and would just feel right. It was a bloody shock to the system. And allot harder then I thought it would be. She is trying to stimulate your supply. Remember that the first 3 weeks are the hardest, then it tends to get allot easier after 6 weeks. Afterwardsyou watch women FF and think "what a faff!".

You're doing well, keep up the good work. Remember it's the best start for your baby

Original poster

SummerSevern · 21/07/2013 21:34

Thank you thank you thank you all. Am off to bed to attempt to snatch 5 mins now. But you've all been excellent.

OP posts:

tricksybaby200 · 21/07/2013 21:39

I never got that full feeling or hot boobs. Worried me as i thought i might not have enough milk. Don't worry if you don't get that feeling, I had plenty of milk it turned out fine x

mrsmartin1984 · 21/07/2013 21:40

Were are you based? Do you have any breast feeding groups in your area. They really help. Especially in the early days. It's good to talk to women who have been in the same boat. Sometimes when you talk to women who FF they don't understand and some of the things that are different can really shock them (and they think that is wrong). It's good to go to those groups because it normallises BF. It really helped me

Original poster

SummerSevern · 23/07/2013 07:59

Just to follow up. Dd is much better now, and managed 2-4 hrs between feeds all night, and slept in her moses basket.
So here's for taking the time to help!

OP posts:

highlandbird · 23/07/2013 08:44

Glad it's all settling down for you, can be a bit overwhelming the first few days can't it? Things will get easier from now on, apart from growth spurts when they feed like newborns again for a couple of days!
Enjoy bfing your baby, such a special time x

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