DS is 7 weeks old and ebf. All going well, was a very constant feeder but now settled down into a nice 2 hour daytime routine. He has cluster fed every night since week one (with two nights off from it when he slept). All fine. I'm exhausted and feel I've missed lots of the first 7 weeks but all to be expected.
But now he is using me a dummy. Pretty sure he isn't cluster feeding anymore as there is no swallowing, it's a different kind of suck. Last night was awful and I cried lots (I also wrote a rather long post here but deleted as it was incoherent!) He won't take a dummy, we have tried since about three weeks old. Have tried different brands/shapes. Tried a slumber buddy and rocking his moses basket which helps in the day sometime but no settling.
I am borrowing a breast pump today from a friend so hoping to express enough to mean OH can give him a bottle and see if this then helps him take a dummy but I feel a failure for doing this :o(
I feel like an awful mummy for trying to get him to stop comfort sucking on me but it's starting to get me down. It's all night from about 6 until the morning when we get up, then he settles in his pram on the school run and sleeps for a couple of hours. No naps in the day except a couple of ten minute ones after his feeds. As soon as he is moved he cries.
I am starting to dread the evenings. Last night I sat in my bedroom, OH with him, in the dark with his slumber buddy on for 4 hours just trying to get him to settle without my breast. OH on nightshift. I was in tears, he was upset (but not too much as I couldn't do it to him and let him suck everytime). I know it is only for such a short time and I should be happy I can ebf and have such a lovely bond with him, he is lovely when he is well fed and will settle for anyone, smiles etc.
Any tips on getting him to settle without my breast? Or will it pass soon?
E x