Breastfeeding - feel like I'm doing it all wrong. :(

[Babybeesmama]

Hey,
DS is almost 5 weeks. EBF & my third baby. He was weighed over a week ago & gaining really well.

The last week has been awful.. fussy at the breast & I feel like I'm feeding him constantly but he's never taking a full feed. It's driving me mad. The nights have gone backwards having had the odd 3 hours we are back to every 1-1.5 hours.. I'm so tired with having 2 other DC in school holidays. I feel like I'm driving myself mad overthinking it but should I try to space his feeds better in the day? I never have any idea where I am with feeds. He's having a few green nappies.

He gets tired & needs boob to go to sleep but doesn't actually seem to want milk so tends to be a bit sick. His best feeds are when he's gone 2-3 hours inbetween..

Please help a tired stressed anxious mummy 😢 I realise it could be a growth spurt but I feel like he's not getting a proper full feed to help fill him. Thanks

Is there a Bfing Support Group near yiu Baby? Might be worth going along and having a chat with them

Sounds so hard but you're doing great. Fussing and wanting to be on you all the time is still normal at this stage I think. Definitely try the NCT BF hotline or local La Leche group or your council might be able to suggest a local drop in centre.

DS2 is 6 weeks (I combination fed DS1 but am determined this time not to combo feed), I feel the same. Last night was so frustrating as he was tired so taking short feeds then waking every 2 hours. DP does not understand, I am more cranky than usual but so would he be with this amount of sleep!

Reading lots of other people online who have felt low at this time has at least made me feel less guilty for feeling like I do. I also have ordered a copy of 'So this is what they're for' by Janet Tamaro. You can get it 2nd hand on amazon for a few quid, people have said that even though it's very American and a bit cheesy it is very informative and helpful and really helped others stick at breastfeeding.

Thanks for the replies. I've found a booby group to go to on monday. We've tried a dummy too which has helped him nod off a bit when he usually wants a small feed. He did go 3.5 hours last night (only once but I'm not complaining!) & has been happier today thank goodness. Chuffcloud do you think it may be the 6 week growth spurt with your little one? How were they doing at night previous to this? Xx

La leche also have a 24/7 helpline. So when you feel like it's all too much at 3am there's always someone to talk too

Yup I do think it's the dreaded growth spurt, boobs now sore again due to amount of feeding when they'd got back to normal. DS was giving me 3 to 3.5hr stints in the night.

Have had a better day today, he slept for 3 hrs after lunch which was so nice and it was the first time that he self settled himself to sleep so feeling a bit more positive!

Glad you found a boob group, I've found one too which i may try. Hope you are feeling a bit better about things?

Well I had felt better but then last night was rubbish again. And he's snack feeding again today.. but he's inconsolable unless I feed him 🤦‍♀️... think maybe I need to stop over thinking it & just feed him when he shows cues & pray he eventually goes longer?

Chuff cloud, if he was doing pretty well before it sounds like just growth spurt.. hopefully he'll return to normal soon! X

Yes I did read on another thread that just accepting the feeding will be constant makes it easier to deal with, I'm trying to do that though it's hard when I have to deal with my older child too!

But I've accepted feeding is taking up all my time now so it's easier to deal with. DS2 has finally properly fallen asleep for the first time today! Hope you have a better night xx

Do you have a sling at all that you could pop in him? I had one that DS could feed in (a stretchy wrap type, it was a kari-me but Moby are same), so I could just get on with stuff with my toddler if I had to. But tbh, retiring to your bed, so you can rest enough to up your supply would be ideal, but I appreciate that by baby no 3, it's probably a non-starter!
Congratulations on your son

Try contacting abm.me.uk/ or breastfeedingnetwork.org. Uk. They have an online chat facility. I downloaded the app - the wonder weeks and it tells you weeks where developmental milestones cause baby to change and make you feel you are going backwards, when in actual fact it is just your baby going through a development milestone. it features clouds on these weeks and sunshine on positive weeks, so gives a good guide on when to expect some turbulent weeks and try and prepare rather than feeling down and that you are doing something wrong.

It sounds like a growth spurt to me too. If they're having green poos try repeat feeding from the same boob until you think they've had a reasonable go at that one - worked for me with mine when they were being like that :/

Hope it gets better for you soon x

During her 6 week growth spurt my DD cluster feed for 12 hours...for 3 days! 😩

She's 7.5 weeks now and had a horrendous evening when she was refusing to do anything. I think possibly she was just completely over stimulated as she's finally fed to sleep in a dark and quiet bedroom.

I've also just downloaded Wonder weeks and it looks like a storm is coming!!