cluster/comfort feeding newborn: can anything help?

[squizita]

1 1/2 week old dd.
Some nights (like tonight) never mind waking, I just don't get to sleep at all. She cries for food. I feed her. Then she cries for more food.
The trouble is rather than getting better, once my breasts are clearly empty she goes on them for mere seconds, then loses interest until I put her down ... whereupon she screams the house down and roots. I pick her up acting hungry: a few seconds and she stops. I wouldn't mind comfort feeding or feeding to sleep but it's like she doesn't want that and get confused.

Earlier today she slept more than usual and missed a feed. She gorged herself next feed and spat up a little/needed winding/needed a poo. I didn't know she would over feed like that. Is this the cause?

She's very little. Could be one of a couple of things... My dd cried for the boob but reared away as you describe when she had wind. It was really tricky to dislodge a burp at that age but it helped.

She could just want the comfort of sucking but doesn't want the milk.

Don't worry that your boobs are empty, they produce milk as she's sucking.

At 1 1/2 weeks, I would go sleep if I were you. Lie her next to you and let her suck till she's sleeping then remove your boob and try and get some sleep. If you are going to try this, read up on safe cosleeping.

I'm just about to try this with my restless 12 week old!

Have you tried using a dummy to settle? Some babies are just really sucky... Mine needed a dummy or a finger to suck on to settle. I thought she was feeding for ages but actually she was just sucking on my job a lot of the time. I personally am a big fan of dummies as an aide for small babies and wish I'd relented earlier in giving my DD one. There's plenty of time to wean them off it when they're a little bit older. Good luck!

Co sleeping doesn't work literally goes from milk drunk drowsy to screaming when I am no longer holding her at the breast. Not meant to Co sleep myself either, really.

Might get a dummy. Worried they affect latch.
It's not even every night.

Just had 1 1/2 hr sleep as DH rocked her to sleep (no rooting for milk with him or screaminh) but she soiled herself and back to square 1.

I used to let DS suck on my finger for ages till I realised a dummy would be easier! Some babies are just suckier (rubbish word but you know what I mean) than others. Have you tried Infacol?

It's so tough in those early days but I'm afraid this is so, so normal - there's nothing that can be done except coping strategies.

A week and a half old is just so tiny - you will unfortunately have many more broken / sleepless nights ahead. This parenthood lark is HARD!

My coping strategies when going through the exact same thing was palm baby off onto Dad or grandparent at any given opportunity to let them settle without the smell of mothers milk - meanwhile you get some sleep or a hot bath or hot meal to recharge the batteries.

Is your DH/P still on paternity leave? If so then let him take baby in the night for a couple of hours at least, to let you get some rest.

Comfort sucking is such an instinctive thing for a breastfed baby to do - but the intensity does pass quite quickly once your supply has been stimulated.

hang on in there, you're doing a great job.

MrsMugoo Yeah DH took her for an hour and she even settled. Only to do a huge poo and wake herself an hour later!

Another dummy recommendation here.....DS1 is almost 6 weeks now and I spent the first 2 weeks with him attached to my boob. It was exhausting and I got quite upset when we'd go out and I spent most of the time finding places to feed him as he was constantly crying and rooting. My mum came round one afternoon and just said, your baby needs a dummy, he's not hungry that much. It's made a huge difference. Some days he won't take it at all and when he's actually hungry (feeds every 3 hours roughly) he refuses it so I think he's good at knowing when he just wants to suckle. It's been a lifesaver for taking him out and about too.

It sounds normal. They need to do this in order to up your supply. DD2 did a marathon 16 hour cluster feed in her second week.

It does get much easier. She is now 6 weeks and I'm amazed at how different it is. Can you experiment with feeding lying down so you can sleep through the feeding?

Can't really Co sleep (have done but uneasy about it as am not a great sleeper and sometimes move in deep sleep).
Daytime now so of course she's textbook "feed 1 hr, sleep 2-3" again!
Just napping when she does.