6 wk old EBF is starving

[lickencivers]

He's dropped from the 75 - 25% (I did have fluids in labour though)
He's my 4th. I bf the others til they were 2 with no issues apart from a touch of reflux with one, so why am I struggling.

I am so tired. He feeds for a few minutes. Gets cross I swap sides etc this happens and happens in the end I give him a dummy and he naps but can't be put down, naps for 10 minutes then feeds etc etc etc the only peace I get is if he's in a wrap.

Night time is the same. Swaddled he maybe will go for one stretch of 3 hours. Then last night it was every hour. Can't co sleep as DP is worried I'll squash him and tbh I'm so tired I worry too.

I have him 2oz if expressed breast milk last night and he slept soundly for 4 hours. Properly asleep between 8 and 12 then awake every hour.

My MIL is always joking he's always feeding never happy etc he's a proper Velcro baby

I'm starving him aren't I

With my last baby ( who wasn't contented) I started to give a bottle of formula for a dream feed ( just before I went to bed) he would guzzle down 6oz then sleep until around 5am. I think last thing at night my breast milk was a bit depleted because I was so tired and was not satisfying him. I got the aptamil in individual cartons at first, and just gave them at room temperature.

I'm sorry that you're having such a rough time, it's not your fault though!

My story is that I expressed for a month whilst preemie was in hospital. The pumps take a bit of getting used to, can you try at different times of day? You can 'cluster' as well, which is supposed to help but don't pump for more than 10 mins if nothing is coming, you'll just end up sore.

With great reluctance we moved to formula after not getting on too well with BF. I chose Kendamil because the ingredients seemed closer to being natural than some of the others. It's not available everywhere, I got it in bigger Morrisons. But nutritionally all formula is the standardised so don't worry about it too much. If you want to try formula whilst you focus on pumping it might give you all a well earned break. you can top up EBM with formula so none of it is wasted. x

I combi feed. I used C&G but we later found my DD wasn't fussy and as C&G was a bugger to mix we used Aptamil. (We wanted to go for Hipp Organic or Aldi but we couldn't be sure of our local supermarkets having them in stock.)

At the moment even though it is much more expensive buy some ready made stuff particularly if you can get the stuff with teats so you get a few hours rest tonight.

Then tomorrow go to a large supermarket with a baby section or a large Boots store then buy some bottles and a steriliser, plus a brand of formula they have in stock.

I ended up doing cold sterilisation so got a steriliser and own brand sterilising tablets. (The microwave steriliser I got given didn't fit in my microwave and the bottles that could be sterilised in the microwave without one my DD didn't like. )

Then after going through expensive bottles the bottles we found DD liked best were the cheapest from Asda and Boots. I suspect it is because the flow from them were slower. I now always suggest people start with cheap bottles and then go more expensive.

That sounds really tough

Would it help to talk it all over with someone? You can call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 1000212. They can talk about all the options with you and they are not there to tell you what to do, but just to listen, support and give you information.

If you do decide to use formula then first steps nutrition is a really good source of unbiased information
www.firststepsnutrition.org/

Thank you all for your kind help

Last night I gave him 4oz of formula and he finally slept peacefully for 4 hours and I've fed him normally through the night.

Feel like it's taken the pressure off w little which is good as alone with him and others now til Friday as DP away with work.
Thank you all. X

Did you manage to sleep for a good chunk too? Hope you have a good day.

Oh op how brilliant. Well done

Brilliant!

Well I don't know what the heck is wrong with this kid but we are back to the constant feeding / sleeping feed sleep cycle all day again today. He's barely awake. Cries if put down even if asleep he wakes right up.

Got a prescription for infant gaviscon as I suspected silent reflux a couple of weeks ago but it got easier so didn't use - is it worth a shot now? My friend came over and rocked him for an hour while he just cried and fidgeted kicks his legs arches his back etc. I had fed and fed and fed and topped up with 2oz of formula so don't think it was hunger.

This really sounds like he’s taking in too much air, so his latch is off.

I know you’ve said you’ve checked it, but definitely no lip or posterior tongue tie? Is his lip flanged out when he’s feeding?

Otherwise you’re looking at CMPA, what are his poo’s Like?

Sorry you’re struggling so much.

So sorry the relief was only temporary. Did you try the Gaviscon in the end?

I'm sure you will have tried some of these, if not all, but other suggestions might be:

• Colic relief meds (infacol, gripe water, colief etc).
• Keep him upright / burp for 20 mins post feed.
• Do you have a crib that can be inclined slightly if it is reflux?
• Cranial osteopathy
• Bicycle legs / leg circles / tummy massage to help with any trapped wind.

Given gaviscon 3 times yesterday shall continue today.

Poos are yellow normal etc passes easily doesn't seem to upset him

I've booked s cranial osteopath but it's not for over 2 weeks

Health visiting team have suggested I cut out dairy

But continue with the formula top up

Which makes no sense to me.

He's screamed since 8am only just passed out 😭

Hi I forgot they think it’s reflux you should try ranitidine. I found gaviscon didn’t help at all

Sounds like he is in pain, poor thing! Is he windy? Does he not pass it easily??

Watch out that the Gaviscon doesn’t cause constipation and make him more uncomfortable. If it does (it does usually....), GP can prescribe Lactulose.

Gaviscon alone does help some babies but many end up needing Ranitidine or possibly a PPI like Lansoprazole.

As you have gathered, there seems little point in cutting out dairy yourself if you are giving a dairy formula. But it might be a good idea to go completely dairy-free and see if there’s a difference. They say you need to give it at least two weeks, but most babies are noticeably different within just a few days. Possibly the HV was mindful of the cost of the dairy-free formulas, they are eye-watering, and it definitely contributes to reluctance to agree to a trial.

Hve you had tougue tie checked? Have you done anything to increase surply, (Breast compression, hers, meds?)

I'm reading wondering cmpa. If you want to carry on feeding, try cutting out dairy (I'd do soya too, as the protein strands are so similar) for 4-6 weeks and see.

Also reflux too. If the gaviscon isn't working ask for ranitidine. And if you want to formula top up (I used 1 bottle overnight with DS) then ask for a prescription for nutramigen or neocate I think.

His tummy may just be adjusting to the formula, it has only been a day? Aptamil have a hypoallergenic version which breaks down the lactose and helped my daughter, could be worth a try.

I really feel for you, my daughter was just like yours. We only have one child as a result.