Baby won't stop feeding

[shesarainbow]

My baby is 9 weeks old and I've been breastfeeding exclusively. I've had various problems in those weeks and am just recovering from a second really nasty bout of mastitis so I'm exhausted already. Baby has fed non stop since 6pm and I don't feel like I can take any more. I haven't got any expressed milk because I haven't had a chance to pump anymore. She falls asleep whilst feeding and then wakes up minutes later to feed again. She is not like this normally I just don't know what is wrong. I've had to return to using nipple guards which I weaned her off about a week ago because it's just too painful. This is the first time if seriously considered driving to supermarket to get formula. Is it normal for her to be feeding so much?

They go through growth spurts where they feed a lot. I wouldn't make a decision in this haze. Wait till it passes to make a rational decision. It's very very hard and you are doing great. Even to get to 9 weeks is a massive achievement so don't feel any pressure. You are doing great.

She is cluster feeding to increase your supply for her next growth spurt. ’s fine to give one bottle of formula tonight to try and get a break. You may not get a very long break.

Perfectly normal. Ditch the nipple guards. Sit with your back straight to feed, raise baby to the correct height on pillows, so that she does not need to tug on the nipple. That saves you a lot of pain. Eat your main meal at lunchtime, have a nourishing drink around 4pm and expect to feed all evening and all night.
At nine weeks your breastfeeding relationship is still under construction. Your baby is doing her best, you just need to follow her lead.

Make sure you are drinking enough water or squash etc as much as they're feeding - not coffee/caffeine it does keep awake.

Sorry about the mastitis.
My only tip would be even though she's feeding lots - cluster - make sure all milk ducts are being emptied properly. You can do this by feeling for them whilst LO is feeding and any hard lumps in your breast gently knead/rub that duct area to release. It's good to check regularly, not necessarily every feed but every couple. That can help reduce risk of mastitis.

Agree with discarding nipple guards.
It is so so so painful but then it gets better.
Make sure you're well nourished. Lots of little snacks and snacks by the bed along with water etc.
Be wary of introducing formula as it can interfere with the supply and demand system.

Recommend silverettes to pop on your nipples between feeds to heal you. Lifesaver for me

You are doing great, yes they are cluster feeding, perfectly normal and can be really tough. 💐💐

Just my experience, but when I hit a similar point although I think baby was a bit younger I topped up with a little formula from a syringe, just to get a rest, cos I really couldn’t do any more that night. It just gave me enough of a break, baby went & had a sleep with daddy & I ran round the house being free for half an hour. Okay ten minutes, but enough. And at nearly two, she’s still feeding.
Would also echo pp about searching out the blocked ducts & massaging whilst feeding & getting bab up on a cushion or pillow.

It's normal but really hard. Hope you've managed some sleep. Could someone take baby for a walk so you can get an hours break or something?

As others are saying....totally normal and this intensity of feeding usually only lasts a few days. The heat will also be making her thirsty so just hang in there, make sure you're properly hydrated too. I liked to have baby in one arm and an ice lolly in the other

Unfortunately cluster feeding is normal. But totally exhausting.
Ensure you are absolutely fully hydrated. If she's drinking this much you must be drinking a lot of water. It will help

It's OK to say you've had enough of feeding for now and put her down or let someone else take her for a bit. On demand feeding does not mean at the expense of your own mental health. And yes if you want to give one bottle that's not going to be the end of breastfeeding - do what you need to do to be comfortable right now.

That said it sounds like there is probably more going on here than a growth spurt. Has your baby been competently assessed for tongue tie? I am thinking: nipple shield use sounds as though the latch may have been difficult/painful, potentially from the start? Recurrent mastitis suggests the breast is not being drained effectively, which in combination with frequent feeds suggests to me potential latch/milk transfer problems of some kind. (Not supply problems, though you may have had some sense that your supply could be low) "Various problems" hints this is a pattern which may have been there since birth.

Who have you seen for breastfeeding support so far? I am thinking this is probably beyond the experience of most health visitors, midwives and GPs unless you've been exceptionally lucky to find one who has extensive personal knowledge about breastfeeding. I would recommend (if you have not already) to move to the "next step" which to me is the free or low cost but breastfeeding-specific resources, that you may have to seek out yourself: the breastfeeding helplines (La Leche League's runs over the weekend but be aware it's in the helper's home so do state "I'm phoning for breastfeeding support" and wait to get confirmation you're speaking to the right person, don't just launch into a description of your breast to a person's poor husband as I once did to his credit he was completely unruffled and just got his wife :o), any local breastfeeding support group (google breastfeeding support + town), NCT breastfeeding counsellors, La Leche League groups, Baby Cafes.

If you already know someone/something at this level go back to them. If you can't find anything locally or need to go one step further, search for a local IBCLC. Some run groups for a low cost but most are private practitioners who charge for their time. However it is worth a phone call or email, even if you think you can't afford to pay for help. Just see what they say.

Without being too personal, are your nipples also cracked/bleeding/peeling? If so, perhaps ask for some support with latch. DS took a long time to learn to latch, then when he would cluster feed he would sometimes ‘revert’ back and my nipples almost went back to those newborn weeks shudder HV arranged someone to come and help with relatching, especially during a cluster feed.

Would also begin on nipple shields (as it was the latch I found particularly excruciating) then once he had settled down, I would ‘unlatch’ him, slip the shield off, then ‘relatch’ successfully. Sounds a fuss but it really helped.

As did using breast shells between feeds, combined with whatever cream/healing product you want to use - www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_noss&k=breast+shells&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Cluster feeding is intense! But it does get better. Your baby is ‘creating’ their supply right now, it will all of a sudden become so much easier. Introducing formula will unfortunately likely interfere with your supply, with also certainly wouldn’t help with the blocked ducts/mastitis. Certainly express if you can to give your nipples a break, and make sure when your baby isn’t feeding that you are getting a break and rest ‘away’ from them. Protein snacks, hydration and a good book Netflix are your friend.

She falls asleep whilst feeding and then wakes up minutes later to feed again.

Can you expand on this? Does she fall asleep, you put her down in a cot/basket, then she wakes up minutes later and the only way to settle her is a feed? If so, that’s pretty typical and not so much cluster feeding as needing support to sleep. Solution is to co-sleep and feed lying down so that she conks out in situ and isn’t woken by being moved off you. You should get 90mins-2hrs between feeds that way.

I agree with the side feeding. It was such a lifesaver

Hi all thanks for your replies. So she wouldn't latch on when born and I was told by midwife it was because I had flat nipples and she advised to use nipple guards. I was doing ok with them and every now and then expressing milk to give myself a break and she took the bottle fine. Then I missed a few feeds (used saved up expressed milk and didn't pump) and got mastitis in week 6 and had to have antibiotics. Got over that and then then had her injections week 8, slept for two days solid with very few feeds and was so upset whenever I put her down I basically cuddled her the whole time and didn't pump and I got mastitis again which started Monday.

Last night I couldn't take the pain anymore and used the nipple shields and it wasn't painful anymore. I know I'm not latching her on right but I don't know what to do. I went to see a breastfeeding support worker yesterday and she was great - she gave me some tips, I felt really positive and excited about putting it into action and it was just a car crash. This morning I tried without the nipple shield and it's just painful again. With nipple shield it's better.

I've never had any problems with supply till now.

I guess the answer is to use the nipple shields until I can see a support worker again next week but I'm absolutely gutted. I hated using them out and about because they are so fiddly. I just feel really depressed to the point where ibdont want to breastfeed but then the thought of not doing it makes me cry as well so I'm just sat here crying. I'm worried I'm traumatizing her by crying because she will pick up on my energy. Basically i feel like I'm failing in every way.

Oh you poor thing. You are definitely not failing. Is there no way you can contact the support worker before next Friday? Any other groups in your area perhaps on a Monday? What about the La Leche League telephone line? I did find them helpful.

Have a cry, it won't traumatise her at all. At this age she probably won't even notice :) But even if she does it's OK for children to come across the idea that their parents have emotions, it isn't healthy or normal to just feel (or present as) happy at all times. It's alright to be sad and I'm sure that's something you want her to know as well as she gets older. Do you have a partner, is he awake? Or a local relative/friend you can call (especially one who has had a small baby and "gets it"). What I would say you need first of all is a hug and then a break, maybe a nice bath, and/or a warm cup of tea, while somebody else holds the baby.

I am wondering whether the flat nipples thing might have been a bit of a red herring. It really sounds like you're having more trouble than usual in latching which isn't your fault or something you're doing wrong, but probably means you need some more specialist support. It's OK to use the shields for a bit longer, I know it's a pain but it won't be forever and if it helps you get to the next step, it will be worth it.

Oh OP, you’re not failing, quite the opposite. Remember. It’s ok not to be ok, and to cry. I had both flat and inverted nipples. Believe me, I get it. But please, for your mental health, don’t let it overwhelm you. Pain doesn’t help either...I would dread the latch at every feed at the beginning!

You need a little extra support these first few weeks. Ask if a support worker can come and visit you in your home, then they can see in your home environment and suggest better ways to help you and LO.

You aren't failing. Latch is hard at this stage. I found it only really got better when DD got bigger with a bigger mouth that fitted the nipple better if that makes sense.

Find a support group and keep going if you can, it will help get you through the tricky early part.

Thank you for the replies I really appreciate it. I got through first feed today and then managed to pump for her second one so gave myself a break. I've rang the breastfeeding local helpline and am going to see someone on Monday. I'm going to try feeding her in the bath so we are both a bit more relaxed

You're doing great!!

Also if it's after evening cluster feed but you know she's tired, but still acting like she wants to feed then coming off quickly recommend your other half take her out of the room to do bed time etc. Basically your baby can go a little 'milk smell crazy' and act like they want more even though they don't. The smell of you sometimes can make them think they want more. Obviously if they won't settle after a bit they may want more but for us that worked a lot of evenings.

I used to express so I could have a break from feeding so my DH could give a bottle but you do have to make sure to express when they're having the bottle/should have fed - I just had a hand pump one - otherwise the milk sits in the ducts and will become blocked I'm afraid.

Just seen your update - baths are great as well the warm water for helping sore breasts - milk will probably leak for checking for blocked ducts. Have a feel around for nobbly ones. Sounds funny but once you get used to how the rest of the non-blocked ones feel you'll know exactly what to feel for.

That sounds really good. Fingers crossed the specialist is helpful on Monday.