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Infant feeding

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

Calling all night time feeders - always up feeding when we should be sleeping! Let's keep each other company PART 2!!

999 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 05/06/2014 21:14

I think to start the new thread off we should reintroduce ourselves and our babies for the sake of our own memories and also for any newbies who may join Smile

I have a 10 week old DS who is EBF. Has been sleeping through the night for the last week and I'm just waiting patiently for things to go downhill as I'm sure they will Smile

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Writerwannabe83 · 01/07/2014 23:08

I started going to the BF group when DS was 6ish weeks because I was having problems with his feeding. I didn't think he was attaching properly, it was taking him ages to feed and I was in a lot of pain. Emotionally and mentally I was in a very difficult place. I found the group very helpful and supportive and although they said my latch was fine they advise I have him checked for tongue tie - which I did. He had a small degree of tongue tie but nothing that was expected to affect his feeding. The Lactation Consultant I saw gave me new ideas for positioning but it didn't work out very well. My mood continued to decline, I was in tears every day over the feeding and I just couldn't cope. I rang a breast feeding helpline and cried to the lady who answered and she sent a BF Peer Support Worker to my house the next day to come and advise me and talk about how I was feeling. The woman who came was brilliant, she stayed for just over an hour and it felt so good to just voice my worries and concerns and have someone reassure me. I still found BF'ing difficult for a few more weeks but I was in a better state of mind and knew I could ring the Peer Supporter at any time and she would come straight back and see me again. Something seemed to click when DS was 9-10 weeks, things just started getting easier. I was told that as they get older things improve because they are able to open their mouth wider, they can attach better and they can feed more effectively because their mouths are bigger. DS is 14 weeks now and BF'ing is going really well. I still have my ups and downs but things are much, much better.

It is very normal to have such a young one to be on the boob all the time - I think that's why I started to doubt myself because I couldn't see why if he was getting enough milk, he needed to feed so often. Babies will appear to gulp from bottles, not because they are necessarily 'hungry for it' but just because it's so much easier to feed from a bottle than it is to feed from a breast. Babies have to work to get milk out of a nipple but when it comes to a bottle the milk just pours out into their mouth, they don't have to make any effort.

How many bottles a day are you giving?

If I was you I'd look at getting a peer supporter to come and see you at home and spend some quality 1:1 time with you. I can't praise them enough.

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mrsmugoo · 01/07/2014 23:45

DH has just brought DS to me in bed to be fed as apparently he woke up 45 minutes ago and he heard him on the baby monitor but I was fast asleep and hadn't heard.

So he'd taken him into the living room with him until he cried thinking he was doing the right thing.

FFS! He's now wide awake and confused because he thought it was night time but suddenly he's up in the living room!

I'm feeding him back to sleep (well attempting to) and DH had clambered into bed for the night and is snoring within 5 minutes.

What planet is he on???

mrsmugoo · 02/07/2014 01:37

I'm doing something I've basically never done and settling DS without a feed - he's only been down an hour and a half!

johull · 02/07/2014 02:01

Mrs- I feel you pain. Establishing a strict routine for the baby is sooo important and to have it messed up is very frustrating. Do you think DH Thought he was doing good? Or was it for an easy life that he did it his way??

Writer- wow! What journey you have been on...
I am very impressed at how determine you are and how you overcome the issues you had instead of giving up. I feel that I have given up because of my own mental health. I give her 3 bottles a day - dream feed and 2 night feeds- even my own. Latching her on can take upwards of 35 mins to get it right so I don't BF at night as I want her back down again ASAP. People from my BF group seem more inclined to do both as well, for different reasons but mainly for ease and time. I too have called the BF helpline to no avail. They said everything I had already been told, tbh they were very 'robotic' and unhelpful.
I have a few questions for you writer- how do you know when your DC has had enough? Do they fall asleep? As I have a preemie she falls asleep after every feed but not with the breast?? Do you know why that might be? She literally just goes on for hours, and eventually falls asleep from being overtired, not because she's full. Do you find you get sure nipples even when everything is going well? Is your DC generally more settled now they have the boob? Did you ever use bottles? Were you ever delegated from DC? What I mean by that is my DD was incredibly Ill when born so I didn't get to hold her for 4 days, or bring her home for 10 days? Thanks soooo much for your help btw. Really enjoyed reading about your BF'ing journey.
I hope not too many mummy's are up. This is a scheduled 2am feed so can complain.

snoozysleeper · 02/07/2014 03:25

I have to echo johull and say your story is an impressive one writer I've been debating going to a bf group too

mrsm I hope your lo is settling now
Feeding after 2 hour45 snooze, which is amazing compared to yesterday!! My other problem is getting him to sleep between feeds ... Will be trying again soon enough

mrsmugoo · 02/07/2014 03:33

I got him down by 2 but he's awake again :(

mrsmugoo · 02/07/2014 03:37

3:30am and on my third wake up. Someone pass me the gun.

Writerwannabe83 · 02/07/2014 04:55

It depends who you want to shoot mrsmugoo, your husband or yourself?

DS had just woken so has gone 7.5-8 hours which is a million times better than I though!

johull - When DS was younger he would typically fall asleep at the breast, I think that's very usual for babies at 6 weeks. It may be that your DC is suckling for so long because they're trying to stimulate your milk production as due to you giving bottles your milk supply may be a little lower. Are you expressing at all during the night? I think night feeding is considered to be very important in terms of the supply and demand feeding (though can't remember why) so if you are giving formula overnight maybe you could express at some point to make up for this? Do you have a partner who could give the bottle whilst you express? Or have I misunderstood and it is breast milk she is having?

Now DS is older he just takes himself off the breast whe he is done. As they get older it's much easier to assess when "they're done" as they will let you know themselves by detaching themselves and seeming content afterwards. If DS still seems a little fractious after finishing on one breast I offer the other one and if he wants it he will take it. Up until DS was about 8ish weeks my nipples were always sore and tender which I put down to breast feeding being something new and the frequency of which DS was feeding. Have you got any Lasinoh nipple cream?? It was my saviour!! I was absolutely slathering it on every few hours, all over my nipples and areolas, it was a life line. It isn't cheap but well worth it if you haven't already got some.

I had a C-section so found it very difficult in the first 24 hours to have a lot of contact with DS. I couldn't really establish breast feeding and DS just wouldn't attach. At one point I was hand expressing colostrum into a syringe for the midwives to give him. He was very sleepy and going 6-7 hours without waking and was also being sick a lot and getting quite jaundiced so he had to be seen by the neonatal team twice. He had two bottles of formula whilst I was in hospital with him because it was the only way of getting something into him.

When we bought him home and I was still struggling with feeding there were 2 separate occasions in the middle of the night (when DS was about 4-5 weeks) where I just hit breaking point because I couldn't get him to attach and he wouldn't stop screaming. I told my DH to go and make up a bottle (we had some formula in the kitchen as back up) but by the time DH would reappear with the bottle I'd have managed to get DS on the breast. So apart from those two occasions in hospital he has been exclusively breast fed.

It sounds like you have been through a tough time with your baby, it must have been very scary for you when she was born. I'm glad you are both ok though!! If it took my DS 35 minutes to attach I think I would be going down the exact same route you are, it's amazing you have persevered so much!!!

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snoozysleeper · 02/07/2014 05:15

Another 2 hour 15 sleep, middle of feeding again.
Little steps but gaps between feeding seem to be slowly increased ie. Just above 2 hours so hoping this will become more consistent and continue to get better

writer thank you for sharing those details

I can definitely second the lasinoh cream, made huge difference for me, just wish I had used from beginning

midnight1983 · 02/07/2014 05:55

Writer and johull - you both have such perseverance! In sure I would have given up in those cases. Very admirable.

Mrsm - I can only offer you a stro ng cup of metaphorical coffee. Did you manage any more sleep?

Snoozy - that is amazing for a newborn (you do have a newborn?)

We have had a good night. Baby skipped his 10 pm feed and slept till 1am instead. Quick feed and back down until 5.30 Grin this is the best it's been for a while, and I'm grateful. He is getting more fussy in the day though, where previously he never minded the pram he now fusses and cries if he's tired and I've had to carry him round the shops while pushing the pram...hoping he grows out if that quickly!

mrsmugoo · 02/07/2014 06:34

I got him in his cot at 4 and I'm just feeding him again. If he'll go off to sleep I'll probably keep him
In bed with me otherwise DH is going to have to take him.

Cannotbelieveit · 02/07/2014 08:10

Had to feed Ryder again just before 11pm again after putting him down awake didn't work (it does the day) and he slept 11-7 (one wakeup at 5 and I settled him with his dummy!)

Sorry to those who had a bad night Hmm

Cariad007 · 02/07/2014 08:43

Had a pretty rough night. DS didn't sleep til almost midnight and then when I woke for his 4am feed I couldn't get back to sleep. By 7 I realised he has developed a slight temperature and a cold so I dosed him with Calpol and unclogged him a bit with the snot sucker. So much for the day I had planned involving meeting friends at Westfield for lunch :(

Cannotbelieveit · 02/07/2014 08:55

Sorry cariad. It's horrible when you've got plans you were looking forward to aswell Shock

midnight1983 · 02/07/2014 09:09

Cariad, that's so frustrating for you. Hope you get some rest later.

Writerwannabe83 · 02/07/2014 09:52

DS slept 4 hours after finishing his 4am feed. We just woke up and I couldn't believe it when I saw it was 09.30!!

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Writerwannabe83 · 02/07/2014 09:52

Actually it was 5 hours - it appears I can't do simple math anymore Grin

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Cariad007 · 02/07/2014 10:07

That's great Writer, lucky you. I really wish my DS would repeat that one blessed night where he slept for nearly 6 hours! He's still poorly I'm afraid - very cranky and keeps bringing up his milk. I am exhausted too, especially as he wants to be carried all the time and must weigh over 8 kilos now!

Writerwannabe83 · 02/07/2014 10:16

It didn't feel lucky when I realised it meant I only had 45 minutes to get myself ready, get DS ready and get him fed before my lift arrived to go to the BF group!! EeK. I have never moved so fast in my life!!

And isn't it typical that just as I was all ready to go my friend would then text to say she'd be 15 minutes late Grin

8 kilos is definitely a lot to be carrying around!! I miss the days where I could walk round and cuddle DS for ages but it's just not possible anymore and like you said, it's a total nightmare when they don't want to be put down!!

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KateTheShrew · 02/07/2014 12:16

cariad Sad hope your DS feels better soon. Mine's really snotty and bunged up too -- gets really frustrated trying to feed and has to come off every few sucks and take a huge breath through his mouth. I'm not sure if it's a cold or hay fever though as he hasn't got a temp and doesn't seem ill, just very snotty! Can babies get hayfever? I've certainly got it and it kept me awake after the 3 am feed. Grrrr.

DS is still doing well in the cot though. Only woke for feeds at 11.30, 3am and then slept thru until 7! That's very good going for him. Also he woke crying at 10pm
(only 45 mins after I'd got him down) and I managed to get him back to sleep just by rocking and shushing and WITHOUT BOOB Shock That has never happened before. I found him on his tummy again this morning but feel a little bit more relaxed about it now.

Cariad007 · 02/07/2014 12:26

I'm sure they can get hayfever - DS usually gives several sneezes in a row when we go out and the pollen level is high. This is definitely a cold but as he can't blow his nose the snot will come out the other end in his nappy. Lovely! Have put him in his bouncy chair and switched CBeebies on just so I can have a sarnie as I am starving.

KateTheShrew · 02/07/2014 12:36

cariad I'm letting DS nap on my lap right now just so I can eat my lunch in peace Grin

johull · 02/07/2014 14:28

Midnight- totally jealous!!!! But well done, I'm sure you've had bad nights too and it's a well deserved break Smile

Writerwannabe83 · 02/07/2014 15:29

My weigh in was a bit disappointing - he has only put on 9oz in 3 weeks Hmm

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FrankelandFilly · 02/07/2014 16:38

What did they say writer?

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