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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

constant b/feeding or cries - 4 hours straight

17 replies

trackerc · 15/04/2007 21:50

I am a new mum of 3wk old dd & for last week have battled with distressed baby, usually of an evening where she screams & wriggles unless on the breast. Now as a new mum I have been thinking this must be just fairly normal but then read messages here that a feed lasting an hour is long. Well, she has been on this evening since teatime (3hr & counting) The other night it was 6pm til midnight before she settled. As you can imagine my boobs, like myself are knackered & its so frustrating/tiring. I try to take her off to wind or just so i can go for a wee or pass her to dh, but she is crying within 2 mins. Tried all the colicky advice offered on these messages but to no avail. Got any thoughts?

OP posts:
Cazee · 15/04/2007 21:54

My DD suckled constantly for the first 8 weeks or so. Your dd is probably just enjoying the closeness and building supply. I presume her weight gain is ok?Things settle down eventually.

alicemac · 15/04/2007 22:02

Hi

Both my two were like that for the first weeks - a combination of establisging your milk, them being tired and needing to be closed to you. 4 until midnighbt is just hell for many babies and mums. With number one we used to take her off and bounbce her in our arms on an aerobics ball for hours - at least hubbie could share the workload.

With number two our tolerance was not quite so high so after 5 weeks controlled cried her out - 5 days of hell and order resumed.

Good luck.

PavlovtheCat · 15/04/2007 22:04

This is almost exactly the same for our now 9months old DD. DD did this, especially in the evenings from about 6pm until 11pm or so. I think it is common, as Cazee said, building up your milk supply, especially in the evening, as she needs it to get her through the night (which for a newborn can be a couple of hours most!). And getting to know you, the world around her, its very open and new and big for her, she needs her mummy.

DD settled down after a while, cant remember how long, but probably 2-3 months, however, she was crabby and fed lot more around bedtime until she was about 6 months old, but less intense/boobs god used to it/i got used to it.

All I can offer in the way of advice, is to rest as much as you can in the day whilst she is resting more, eat well, drink plenty of water/fluids and be patient. When you feed in the evening, expect it to be like this and prepare yourself, water and some snacks at hand or get DP to wait on you, a book if you feel up to reading. Some lanisol for your sore breasts (oh and apparantly dark green cabbage leaves is also good for sore boobs) It will settle down, and I think it is perfectly normal

badelaide · 15/04/2007 22:05

I don't think a feed lasting an hour is long at this age. When mine were tiny I couldn't tell where one feed finished and the next began.
That stage passes in the blink of an eye though, honest!

colditz · 15/04/2007 22:06

sound like she is cluster feeding to me.

that means she is sucking constantly in order to fill her tummy for night time, and boost your supply - sort of reminding your breasts that she is still there.

as far as I know, it is normal for her age.

it might well be colic, have you tried some walks in the pram? Or put your washing machine on and got and hold her next to is. Anything that gets her to calm down is a bonus, you won't start bad habits.

MrsBadger · 15/04/2007 22:06

Oh you poor thing! You sound like you're doing brilliantly though - well done

The evening 'cluster feed' is a v common phenomenon - good informative page here , but the best I can do is say 'this too will pass...'

hog the sofa and the remote, think about having dinner early so you get something to eat before she kicks off, and insist DH bring you drinks and snacks on demand...

colditz · 15/04/2007 22:07

And I think (sorry but I must say this) contolled crying on a 5 week old is horrific. Please don't do this.

PavlovtheCat · 15/04/2007 22:09

Colditz - cluster feeding thats the words I was looking for, thank you!

chirpygirl · 15/04/2007 22:16

Sounds perfectly normal to me as well.
DD did this until she was about 6 weeks and the supply was properly established.
If you can, get a sling or someway of holding her to breastfeed, it was a total godsend for me as it meant I could have both hands free to read/eat/go to the loo (I know it's disgusting but when DH wasn't home and I hadn't peed in 6 hours something had to give!)

alicemac · 15/04/2007 22:18

Cluster feeding is relalty really common but very hard on the mum. Our first relaly was colicky so used this to help her but I think it just made her more cross as it didnlt help her tummy. I really would recommend the bouncy ball it can work a treat and helps to soothe a sore tummy - great foir your abs too.

I agree crolled crying a 5 week sound horrid but was a necissity as she was at the stage of sleeping for no more than 5 hours a day and all of those in our arms. She bascially would cat nap for a few hmins in and then wake and find it impossible to go into deep sleep - either in arms on in bed.

By putting her donw, but being with her she learnt to go to sleep on her own and get into deep sleep.

Guitargirl · 15/04/2007 22:19

DD also did this for the first few weeks or so - in fact I got so used to it that when she stopped cluster feeds in the evening I started to worry she wasn't eating enough.

Agree with Pavlov - prepare yourself as much as you can during the day, rest whenever you can and get some good magazines and DVDs for the evening and get comfy.

Gradually she will stop, we also found that DP pushing her around the house in her pushchair worked for a while to give me a break.

PavlovtheCat · 15/04/2007 22:31

Guitargirl lol at worrying when she stopped! I used to worry, and still do now she often has only one BF before bed, that she does not get enough as she used to eat soooooo much before!

Original poster
trackerc · 15/04/2007 23:02

Thanks for your reassurances. Will have to remain patient!
Im still here feeding. May have to consider getting a sling cos even this one handed laptop typing takes forever. Can you use those baby holders (like bjorn)? cos have been given one of those but cant visualise how to wear & feed with it

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 15/04/2007 23:04

Bjorn is not really any good, you would need a proper sling, or maybe you could customise one with a sheet? If its only for indoors, I think you could do that you know...if it works you could consider buying one?

MrsBadger · 16/04/2007 08:10

(just in case, there's some stuff here on improvising slings with whatever you have to hand)

chirpygirl · 16/04/2007 08:51

Following on from Mrs B this one at the bottom I did with my DD when she was a few weeks old using a pashmina I had floating around.
Practise with a doll of teddy first to get the hang of it but once you do get the knack after a few goes your evenings will be so much easier!

welliemum · 16/04/2007 09:15

I find a pillow on my lap quite comfy if sitting in one place - I do all my mumsnetting that way!

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