Non stop feeding help!

[user1489931797]

Hi everyone

Thus is my first post so bare with haven’t got the shorthand’s down yet.

My newborn is almost 5 weeks old, I’m breastfeeding and he Is steadily gaining weight small amounts but right direction, he has plenty of dirty and wet nappies.

My challenge is there doesn’t really seem to be the 1.5/2hr breaks between feeds that everyone talks open more of an all day buffet, past week he’s been very agitated/windy and since bringing him home never wants to really sleep anywhere but our arms.
We tried twice small amount of ready to use formula as a top up to help him sleep and give me and my boobs a rest and it’s just come straight back up despite slow flow teat and keeping him more up right.

Any advice to help him keep down the formula as I’m starting to feel like 24/7 cow I don’t even get enough time to express and in the last 2weeks managed to twice and only get 1oz!

Help I need sleep I’m surviving off 2hrs a day!

Cluster feeding! Mine both did it. They feed constantly around that age to get your supply up. DC1 fed every half hour for most of the day then for 6 hours constantly every night. It settles down after a few weeks.

Thank you thank You not unusual atleast!
Any thoughts why can’t keep formula down only giving 2oz about 10pm I’m thinking possibly as he’s so hungry but probably takes so long to get that amount from me it’s a shock to his stomach perhaps?!

Hi OP, this all sounds totally normal - my boob monster was never off me at 2/3 weeks and 6 weeks. These are prime growth spurt times and they are building up supply for when they need it. If it makes you feel better, I learnt that they cluster feed like this just before the growth spurt hits so by the time they are really hungry, the milk is already there! Despite the fussiness, therefore, it's likely your baby us getting all he needs especially as weight gain and nappy output are good.
With the formula - in all honesty, you probably don't need to give it. If your baby is getting what he needs at the breast then he is probably just expelling the surplus! If he is hungry and still bringing up, make sure he he well winded beforehand, use a slow teat and make sure you are doing paced feeding (sounds like you are). Maybe try a different brand of formula to see if a different one suits him better. Good luck! Sounds like you are doing a fab job! And it does get easier I promise!

Thank you so much for the reassurance katnissk means a lot!

This rings some bells with me. Week 5 was the peak of my exhaustion and DD fed lots, snacking regularly. I was told that sometimes you need to close the buffet i.e. ask dad to take the baby out for a walk to distract them from feeding. Obviously this won't work at night. Is he getting sleepy at feeds. Sometimes stripping them to their nappy and tickling their feet wakes them up to take more of the feed. You are doing great and it should get easier soon, assuming no reflux etc. No advice on the formula, I had a bottle refuser so never got that far!

That’s a great idea bendingspoons “closing the buffet” I mean you want to go out and enjoy a walk too but I guess priority right now 2nd to feeding baby is to get rest!

I don’t think reflux as it’s only when he gets super agitated and windy usually evening and nighttime is he being sick/spit up

Totally normal, keep going if you can and it will get easier. The first 6 weeks are almost breaking point hard, but then it gets easier. Well done OP.

Thanks booboo so nice of you to say!

User if your priority on a particular day is going for a walk then do that! I don't know if either of you use a sling but that can help too, inside or out. We spent many evenings taking it in turns to pace the flat to try and distract DD. We also did baby massage after her shower (only when calm obviously) to try and calm DD.

It DOES get better, hang in there! I don't remember when cluster feeding and the witching hours stopped but people tend to talk about 6 weeks and then 12 weeks being points things roughly get easier.