Constant Breastfeeding

[KitKat36]

I have a five week old who won't stop feeding. I don't mean that he feeds and then wants more an hour later, I mean literally goes on and on for hours. This morning has been since 10am and now at 12:30 is still showing no signs of let-up. I've had to put him in his pram and ignore him for five minutes for the sake of my sanity.

I've seen a lactation consultant and been to an NCT breastfeeding drop-in and both thought the latch looks ok. Supply seems to drop right off in these mammoth sessions and I really don't want to start bottle feeding.

LO gaining weight at a rate of knots so he's getting milk (400g last week and tracking the 50th percentile exactly).

I haven't slept for more than ten hours in the last four days and I'm at my wits end. Any tips on what I might be doing wrong would be really appreciated. I can't take much more of this :o(

Do try a dummy- it sounds like he really finds the suckling soothing, but you need a break!

Op my baby is a huge eater too. I know exactly what you mean when HV and MWs ask how often you feed and not knowing how to explain. I felt like saying I only feed him once but it lasts for about 23 hours. Sounds like you are doing amazing. I cracked and introduced formula on day 6 and dummy on day 7! In terms of mix feeding we did what a PP did. Give him a bottle for his last feed of the day. I didn't really get to go to bed any earlier as he still fed on me too much to get away but it helped. Less so with the cluster feeding but more I found it easier to cope with thinking ok I can give a bottle in 2 hrs/1 hr / 30
Mins etc. and the dummy is my best friend. I know introducing formula is a v personal choice but just thought I'd share in case helpful. Do whatever you feel will help you cope. It didn't effect my supple at all and I now ebf again.

As others have said it will get easier. Suddenly one day, DS just naturally spaced his feeds. He's 14 weeks now and feeds roughly every 2-3 hours in the day and sometimes does 6 at night. We still have our ups and downs with it (someone was very hungry last night and hardly slept weren't they DS???) but the days of super intense feeding feel like a distant memory.

Oh and order some box sets. It's the only way to cope!

Hi Op, just a thought, has he been checked for tongue tie? My DD has it, she's not an efficient feeder so feeds more often, also apparently babies with TT struggle to access the richer milk so get hungry quicker. however her latch is good and feeding isn't painful, so I'm trying to work around it without getting it cut. Her constant feeding and not settling at night have been put down to that, expressing is helping a lot.