Feeling like the worst mum in world. Breastfeeding problems

[lozzy1982]

Hi ladies. I have a 5 week old DS. I was exclusively bf for the first 3 weeks on a feed on demand routine. The night feeding got too much at week . I simply couldnt cope with virtually no sleep. Baby was waking literally every hr then feeding for 2. I just felt a wreck so introduced 2 formula bottles at night. One at 10ish and one when he wakes up again between 2 and 3 which sends him back off till 6 ish. So seem to have sorted the nights out the days tho are awful and i just cant help thinking i am doing something wrong. We get up at 6ish i change him then start bf. this then seems to pretty much go on all day. He will stop at points, and seems happy to sleep on my chest, but dare i try and put him down. As soon as i do he wants feeding again. Theres still no set time to any of his feds or naps and i call them naps as he just doesnt seem to really sleep in the day unless taken out in the pram. He is also suffering reflux which isnt helping, but has been on gaviscon for a few days now which seems to help somewhat. Im just finding the days a nightmare and dont know what to do. Any suggestions? ://///

Hi lozzy congratulations on your new baby
He's at a growth spurt period so is likely to feed pretty much continuously which can be hard but will settle down soon. If you're not feeding at night (or not as much) he may also be working on upping your supply as in the first weeks, the night feeds are really important for milk production.
Don't aim to do anything much more than feeding baby and yourself. Put your feet up relax and remember you're doing a massive job just keeping baby Alive!

Hi as others have said it's quite normal for a new baby. They are going through growth spurts and helping to build up your supply - i think night feeds are important for this. It will gradually start settling down more and more.

At 5 weeks your baby is still so tiny. It's totally normal not to have a feeding or napping routine yet. The baby is still used to being inside you so a lot of the sucking may be for comfort too.

There was a really useful website that helped me a lot when I first started breastfeeding. I will try and find it and post up the link. A mumsnet user called tiktok also helped me a lot but I don't know if she is still around.

It sounds normal. Sorry. It does get better eventually.

This is the website: Kellymom. I've linked to a page with some info about breastfeeding newborns but there's loads more help and advice on there.

Thankyou ladies, i needed the support! :)

Yes I have Friends on DVD and worked my way through most of those in the early weeks.

You are doing brilliantly. The early days are a killer. Well done for surviving 5 weeks of this you are a total star

Echo everyone else in saying this is fairly normal but tough.
You seem to have got the nights sorted which will help you to survive the days.

No real advice but wanted to tell you how well you are doing

Hi Lozzy

You are having a crappy mum day. You think you're a crappy mum, but you know what - you're absolutely not. You're just trying to do the right thing. Recognise crappy mum day's for the pain in the arse that they are. Its crappy but its temporary x. I've formula fed my boyface from the first week as I couldn't get him to latch on, he's not broken yet. He's happy, healthy and huge. So this whole thing about breastfeeding and the guilt - honestly, shake it off. Yes it is better to breastfeed, but the world has more important things it should be passing judgement on than new mothers trying their best xxxxx.

Whenever I'm having a crappy mum day (last one was a few days ago), I keep repeating this to myself. He will never remember this. He won't remember this an hour from now. It takes the pressure off a little. He's nearly 12 weeks old. All I can say is that it DOES get better and it does get easier. Hang on in there and I know its tough xxxx

Hi, just thought I'd throw in that if you have a BF clinic nearby, try and get along to that. Although frequent feeds are normal almost constant feeds all day could indicate there's something else e.g. Latch issue or tongue tie. If nothing else it gives you reassurance all is ok. Good luck!

I'd second going along to a bf group. We have one at out local SureStart centre. They do tea and toasties and there are always people to chat to. Even if you bf the whole time there, at least you'll have a change of scenery!

Everything you've described sounds totally normal. It will get better.