unable to fill baby up

[ljhad]

Hi
Please help. I am breast feeding my 9 day old daughter who i just cant seem to fill up. She is constantly feeding on both sides for 2 hours at a time and still hungry that i am having to top her up with formula as she is drinking me dry and still hungry. Its getting me down as i just dont know what to do anymore.
New mum for the first time and dont understand all the abbreviations used on the forums so explanations of these would also be helpful

Firstly congratulations on the birth of your daughter!

It sounds as if she may be in the middle of a growth spurt. There's generally one at between 7 to 10 days old with the next one at 2 to 3 weeks. Long feeds are totally normal but I know how knackering they can be. Have you tried feeding whilst lying down so you can get some rest?

You might find these articles on KellyMom useful. The first talks about when to expect growth spurts and the second talks about what to expect in the first 6 weeks of breastfeeding.

kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurts/

kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing/

You're doing exactly the roght thing by feeding lots! just because she is feeding a lot doesn't mean you aren't producing enough and really really doesn't mean you have to top up with formula (unless she is losing weight or not wetting nappies). While formula feeding is totally okay if that's what you want, IF you want to give a try to breastfeeding exclusively (often called ebf on here), formula feeding or a dummy this early can actually mean you produce less milk and may prolong the problem.

This is incredibly exhausting but very common - my son did this and I was totally panicking, but actually he put on masses of weight, he was just hungry and liked the comfort! After 3 weeks he'd settled down a lot, by 8 weeks he had breastfeeding totally sorted and by 4 months every feed took 10 mins max - so easy

Kellymom (google search will find it) is an awesome resource for breastfeeding tips. And if you decide that breastfeeding isn't for you, that's fine too, and your health visitor will be able to give good guidance on formula.

This period can be so exhausting, just remember that it isn't forever, and make sure that the moment she falls asleep or stops feeding, that your partner or mum takes over if possible, or if not that you pop her straight to bed and try to sleep tourself. The washing can wait!

X-post about Kellymom! And also agree about feeding lying down - it's brilliant, I made sure that my bed was safe for cosleeping first (pillows out of the way, blanket instead of duvet etc) as it is easy to fall asleep. That was the only way I got any sleep at all for the first few weeks

I'm a new mum too, and I have had many nights like that too - hungry baby, arm and legs all over the place and worries that I'm not producing enough milk. Now I cannot claim to be an expert, but I think that this excessive feeding has been my dd's (darling daughter) way of stimulating milk flow. Whenever, she has had an evening like that (and finally goes to sleep and gives my poor breasts a break) I've woken up a couple of hours later with very full breasts, looking like I've just had implants! I know it's frustrating, but I think it is quite normal to have days like what you are describing. Not sure I would be supplementing with formula though. The more you breast feed (even when it feels like nothing is coming out) the more milk you will have in the long run :-) anyways, as I say, I'm not an expert, but just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in feeling like this :-)

Thanks for the advice ladies. Only have to top up with 1oz of formula really and its not every time its normally for 1 feed during 24 hours .
How on earth do i breast feed lying down?? Havent been shown this yet. Have a breast feeding budy coming in on friday for a check up

Hi lijhad! congrats on your baby. BF lying down in bed, hopefully you have a firmish mattress so the baby doesn't roll toward you too much. Lie on your side with the baby facing in to you, her face in line with your breast, a comfy distance for her to latch on (I always used the lower breast ie turned over to change sides, but some women find it comfy to feed from either the top of bottom breast by shifting slightly). Stretch your lower arm, the one on the bed, out above her head and around her. This cradles her and will stop you easily rolling onto her if you drop off to sleep (likely, for both of you!). No duvet near her (though I used to wrap mine around my waist and legs to keep me warm, I had a winter baby, and put a cellular blanket over her). No pillow, or well away from her. Make sure she is well away from the edge of the bed (I used to put a pillow between DD and the edge of the bed). Then allow her to latch (you'll both get really good at that soon enough!) and relax.

That is basically the positioning part of safe cosleeeping. Here are some full safe cosleeping guidelines. Definitely read them even if you plan to return DD to her cot, as I say, you are likely to nod off (and that is what lots of BFing mothers find so nice!)

kellymom.com/parenting/nighttime/familybed/
www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/sleep-problems/sleep-safety/safe-co-sleeping-habits

I loved feeding my DD lying down, and we were cosleeping for a few months too, as it was the only way she would sleep when she was teeny.

She is 11mo now and I miss those days!

One other thing on safe cosleeping / lying down feeding - it's usually best not to put a pillow or bolster at the edge of the bed, better to keep your distance and if necessary out a pillow on the floor. My midwife pointed out that babies are surprisingly tough when it comes to falls (very unlikely in any case, at this age), but there is a real SIDS risk from rolling into pillows. Have fun feeding!

I feed in bed at night by sitting quite far back by the pillows then leaning back resting on the headboard with baby horizontal across my tum. Yes to kellymom and it will get easier. Sounds like supply building - feeding all the time like that.

top or* bottom breast, sorry

Please trust your books.. They know what they are doing.

We are not cows with gallons of milk at birth.. It has to be built up. Your baby is doing her job which is to make your books learn to make more milk. They can't do that if you give a bottle. Breastfeeding us much more than just filling them up.

I promise this isn't forever..
Congratulations .

*boobs