Feeling exhausted BF

[Babybeesmama]

DS is nearly 4 weeks now & seeks to feed all the time. I saw every hour last night 😬. I've got 2 other DC's & am totally exhausted. I really don't want to give up but I'm not sure I can continue with nights like this?

Anyone offer any advice? Thanks

There's a growth spurt around 4-6 weeks. For me that meant feeding either every hour, or even less than that.

It is very hard when you have 2 others (I have 3 children too).

The only thing I can hope for you, is that you have a very supportive DP/DH who can give you a break when you're not feeding?

Exhaustion is just awful

I went through the same thing with DD. I hope you get through it.

Do you have any family support, DP or friends that could help you and stay with baby and DCs so that you get some rest?

First 8 weeks of breastfeeding is hellish and exhausting even if baby is growing at a normal rate and there aren't any other problems.

Take on all the help that you can and know that you can introduce formula if you want to. Sometimes remembering that you have a choice gives you a safety net in your mind, even if you don't use it.

Could your DP do the 9-12 shift so that you get a three hour block of sleep?

You might already be doing it, but I found changing her nappy once she falls asleep on the boob and then offering her the other boob has helped her too sleep longer.

I have really helpful parents but feel a bit like I'm putting on them a bit.. I'm sure they don't feel that way. Got some friends coming tomorrow who I'm sure will help.

Last night was hellish.. he was snotty & everytime I laid him down he seemed to choke & gip.

He seems to cluster feed between teatime & 11pm ish so going to bed early seems futile 😭.. but guess I could try.. even if I only get a little bit extra it's worth it.

I did get him weighed yesterday & he had gone from 7lb 14oz to 9lb 6oz in 11 days so guess I'm doing something right! Just wish he would settle a bit better at night 😭.

Thanks for the replies.. keeping me going! X

I totally feel you! I'm feeding twins and they aren't as bad during the day but seem to know when it's my dinner time and from then onwards they are permanently attached it's so hard but they are gaining weight so well I don't want to give up and have to start paying for formula x

Sorry no advice but I sympathise, my 5 week old has started staying up for hours at night having 5 mins feed then nodding off and repeating til I can hardly keep my eyes open and my nipples are killing me!

Cluster feeding generally lasts all evening. It's how the supply is created, it's like they are putting in a milk order for the next day

I didn't put my babies to bed before 11pm. Certainly wouldn't put a baby to bed at 6pm-7pm because they feed all evening. I would feed downstairs all evening with DH, watching TV. Baby would doze in between feeds.

Ohhshiney - breastfeeding twins?! Wow. That's amazing 😉

It's bloody hard work I tell ya my evening are spent with a thousand pillows on the sofa with a baby on each boob! But they are gaining lots of weight so must be doing well lol I also get in the habit of between 8.30-9.30 getting into bed for "bedtime" feed with lights off etc then lay them down after. They obv wake after a few hours for more but I feel it's helped their day/night routine a bit

Has it's perks thou in the evening i sit feeding on my phone (fb/ mn etc) while he watches shit on Netflix and runs my feet the whole time lol

Hats off to you feeding twins shiny! Amazing work! You must need to eat a cheesecake a day to get those calories in!

Well at least I'm not alone! Thanks all of you! I kind of feel like I don't want the knackeredness to spoil this lovely bit whilst they are tiny as it doesn't last long & hes def my last!

I came off some pretty hefty immunosuppressant meds to be able to breastfeed (major skin issues - severe eczema & urticaria) so whilst I'm coping I really want to carry on feeding.

I really hope it gets easier at 6/8 weeks like everyone says 🙈.. I'd already switched to formula with the other 2 by then as DD had bronchitlitis at 5 weeks & lost stacks of weight & I had awful chest infection.. & DS I had awful pnd & couldn't cope longer without sleep x

Wow and here you are persevering for your third! You are made of tough stuff OP!

And feeding twins? Can't even imagine. Threads like these remind me how incredible our bodies really are.

Ok gonna stop being mushy now.

Thanks little.. I really just want it to get easier. DH is very supportive but I know he's worried I'm exhausted & I can tell he's thinking about formula...

Baby bee 3's nappies have been a bit green today 😕.. I know this can be attributed to foremilk/hindmilk imbalance.. he was a bit on/off last night.. sometimes he starts feeding then pulls & grunts & fusses until I swap him.. HV seemed to think he might be a very efficient feeder & emptying the breast very quickly... any ideas?

Well done for wanting to hang in there, I would say it definitely gets easier at the 6-8 week mark if you want to keep exclusively breastfeeding.
Sometimes baby has a preference for one boob, could that be it?
You could try putting him in a different position on the same boob if you want him to get more hindmilk.
Also for me my DS2 was a ferocious feeder in those early weeks, and I had a toddler to look after too, the only way I got any rest was by feeding him lying down and co-sleeping - I should say HVs advise against this but it's a lot better to plan for safe co-sleeping than to accidentally doze off in an unsafe way due to exhaustion!

Aww I'm welling up babybees as you've taken me back - I've been there (newborn plus 2yo and 4yo).

It's eight years ago now, but I do remember the cluster feeding in the early weeks. It was the hardest time of my life with the two older DCs to look after all day when I was out-of-my-mind tired, but it really did improve by 6 weeks or so. The supply is still balancing out and it's exhausting to the point of tears, but it WILL get better.

Don't listen to people who might tell you to give a bedtime bottle (unless you choose to of course).

You CAN do this.

I really recommend going to bed in the early evening. Even if you don't sleep, at least you are lying down. My DH used to have the baby from 7pm till the next feed or the one after. He stayed up till 11/11.30 so I could rest as much as possible before dealing with the night feeds. Maybe your DP could do this?

About the green nappies, don't panic. Try to make sure you don't swap boobs too quickly or that baby is favouring one side.

Good luck.

We are just about to hit 12 hours of cluster feeding...started at 9.30am 😩
DD is 5 weeks old so assuming growth spurt. It's very tiring indeed

Keep going Babybees you are doing a great job and it will settle down at 6-7 weeks loads more as our supply evens out after the cluster feeding sessions!

I wish there was more info on cluster feeding. Through all 3 children not once did anyone ever say anything about it.

I wonder if this is why many mums feel they are just not producing enough milk? As that's what it feels like.

The reality of growth spurts and cluster feeding they might think would put mums off. But I think the opposite it true. Because they would know that it's normal.

Keep it up every one, it is so so hard.

I'm at the other end of breastfeeding at 18 months, but DS2 bit me really badly, gone right through into the nipple and it is agony. Reminds me of the early days. Waaaah.