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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

5 day old been feeding for 7 hours non stop... Help!

14 replies

starfish12 · 14/10/2013 04:26

I've had my 5 day old on my boob for 7 hours straight now. Every time he nods off i try and put him down but he chews his hands, roots and cries, making me think he's actually still hungry. Im shattered as literally getting no sleep. Is this normal and will he ever stop...??!!

OP posts:
mcgilly · 14/10/2013 04:29

Oh dear. It's normal but you need someone else to take him off you anyway ... For a shower and some sleep. Are you alone? Call in help.

mcgilly · 14/10/2013 04:31

On the plus side, it will do wonders for your milk supply ... Make sure you are swapping sides to aboud massive boob engorgement. But get someone to hold or walk him for a while!

Original poster
starfish12 · 14/10/2013 04:40

Trying to let my husband sleep so he can have him in the day and hopefully tomorrow I'll manage some precious sleep. I didn't realise that they feed for this long! Is this just for the first few days? My milk supply is well and truly in now!

OP posts:
mcgilly · 14/10/2013 06:46

Always wake up your partner if you think you are going mad/upset/falling asleep.

This won't be a normal pattern I'm sure but do ask someone in daylight hours ... Your midwife? Best of luck and sounds like you have a vigorous baby there.

Percephone · 14/10/2013 07:41

Might be an idea to get your midwife to check his latch if he is feeding for hours and not satisfied.

tiktok · 14/10/2013 08:38

starfish, one thing to try: instead of putting him down to sleep when he nods off, just keep him close to you in your arms.

5 days ago he was inside you. He is 'hard wired' to object when he is no longer conscious of your presence. He won't be needing to feed '7 hours non-stop' but he may well need to be close to you for much of that time. In time, you will be able to guage the moment you can put him down to sleep away from you.

TristanFarnon · 14/10/2013 09:14

Are you able to feed lying down? On a safe surface, like a mattress on the floor with no pillows/blanket? That way he gets food/comfort and you get some rest at least. You wont sleep well, but may be able to doze and take the edge of the tiredness a bit.

Mine is now 11 weeks old, but I remember the early days were! It might not feel like it but I PROMISE it will get easier. You are doing a wonderful job.

TristanFarnon · 14/10/2013 09:15
  • I remember HOW HARD the early days were.
PoppyAmex · 14/10/2013 09:19

I agree with Tiktok, sometimes it's all about the proximity and comfort.

Definitely try to feed lying down if you're comfortable with the idea and have safety measures in place for cosleeping. DD learned access the "self service bar" quite early and I got a lot more rest.

BigWoooooo · 14/10/2013 09:20

I agree with what others have said. Feeding for 7 hours non stop is probably not necessary. More likely there is a problem with the latch or he just needs the comfort of his mummy. I would keep him close to you. My DS had every nap on me or DH until he was about 4 months. Why not? He's too busy to cuddle me now!

Original poster
starfish12 · 15/10/2013 10:08

Good advice thanks all. The midwife said that it is cluster feeding and it's just him getting my milk levels up. I kept him close last night and snooze d with him on my chest and he even went in his basket for an hour when he was totally zonked.
guess it is just one day at a time... good to hear ot gets better tho! No one really tells you they want to be close all of the time so you expect them to sleep for hours in their moses basket/crib.
might look into co sleeping too...

OP posts:
gamerchick · 15/10/2013 10:12

It's normal.. baby's just doing his job. We're not cows our boobs have to learn.

I promise it gets better.

For40 weeks your baby has had a constant supply and is carried about by you. They're shoved out into the bright.. Their temperature changes.. They feel uncomfortable in the shorts area and their constant presence of mum vanishes sometimes. They get used to it.

tiktok · 15/10/2013 10:15

"They feel uncomfortable in the shorts area".....my dh sometimes complains of this when we have been on a sandy beach.....:) :) wonder what your phone really intended to say, *gamerchick" ??

Pizdets · 15/10/2013 10:20

I feel your pain. My baby is 2 weeks old and the other day was on and off for 8 hours straight with very little time off. The health visitor had a look and he had posterior tongue tie, which was affecting his latch too...we had this cut yesterday and he's not fed for more than 90 minutes at a time in the last 24 hours. I'm by no means an expert but it might be worth asking your midwife or health visitor to check it for you when you next see them?

Good luck with your lovely baby and hope you get some rest soon!

Piz

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