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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

How can I stretch out feeds

17 replies

boompi · 29/08/2007 15:13

DS is 23 days old and putting on loads of weight. Up to over 11lb so more than 2lb since born! Not cocerned about my supply anymore! BF exclusively. (DH gives one bottle of ebm -4oz at night)

He cluster feeds in evenings (got good advice from MNetters on this) from 5 -9pm and I have asked my parents to look after dd (2 yrs) so i can do this. Can cope for a month more like this as will have the extra help for that long.

Problem is he now seems to be snacking all day and night. Wrote down feeds over last week and he cries and is seemingly hungry every 1 1/2 during day and only lasts 2 - 21'2 hours at night. I have tried comforting him in ways other than bf (hugging, sling, dummy etc) but most of the time he just bashes his head against us and roots and screams. He will take dummy for a few minutes but no longer.

He is obviously getting enough to eat and this has been going on for longer than a growth spurt should i think? He only eats for 10min at breast at a time so is really snacking.I can however express 3-4oz now in 10 min so should be getting a fair bit) He has eaten 12-14 times a day for past week excluding the cluster feed 4 hour period!! I cant do a thing other than feed really. And am getting knackered with a toddler too.

How can i space out his feeds apart from just letting him scream which i dont want to do?

I know he is still v little but with two kids i cant demand feed like this for much longer. dd is already feeling upset and acting out.Any advice please?

OP posts:

daisyandbabybootoo · 29/08/2007 15:30

no advice, but bumping for you for tiktok etc!

Amberjee · 29/08/2007 15:53

hi boompi, sorry it's so hard at the moment. babies this young are difficult and i don't have any other advice other than doing the best you can to go with it and getting as much help as you can. it WILL get easier soon.
the frequent feeds sounds really common and will prob naturally space out as baby's tummy gets bigger and also as he gets more confident in the world. the breast is the most comforting place for them, it's no wonder they need to feed so often.
see if you can cut down what you need to do. must be hard with a toddler too, but just do the bare minimum you can get away with. feeding is honestly a full time job in the early days.

Mumpbump · 29/08/2007 15:57

Ds did this - you have my sympathies. I doubt there is much you can do about it at this age as I suspect it is completely normal with a bf baby. You can't assume that he is snacking; he could just be an efficient feeder as ds was, in which case you should be grateful he isn't feeding for 30 minutes every 2 hours!!

Only other thing would be to give him cooled boiled water to fill his tummy and stretch out the feeds which I think Gina Ford suggests - not sure though.

tiktok · 29/08/2007 16:05

boompi - it is hard when you have a baby who is 'programmed' to be like this...but it doesn't last. Responding to his needs now builds his confidence in your love, and also builds a good milk supply (as you've found). The practical stuff - help with the other children and so on - you seem to have pretty well sorted, and as he grows he will become more versatile in getting comfort and interest in other things. You'll find he will be able to watch his sis with great interest from about 6-7 weeks (not long to go).

Going with the flow is probably easier for you, and happier for him, than trying to make him wait for feeds. Can't see the point in the boiled water thing myself - you have the nuisance of boiling the kettle, cooling the water, putting into a bottle and you still have to give him it! Breastfeeding is quicker and at least guarentees he will be happy with it

Hang on in there and grab all the help you can - a baby and a toddler are hard work whatever the feeding method.

Tapster · 29/08/2007 17:55

Sorry its completely normal IME I wish somebody had told me its going to be like that. Well you either feed on demand, or space out feeds and get lots of screaming and likelihood you end up using formula with this method (don't know anybody that has successfully spaced out feeds without topping up in the evening). It will get better but my you will probably have a few more weeks to ride out. Can you get some help around the house or with other child?

Amberjee · 29/08/2007 20:26

i did go to a breastfeeding class while pregnant and teh instructor said it's normal to spend 12 hours out of every 24 feeding in the beginning. i didn't believe it was possible, but actually it is the truth!

callmeovercautious · 29/08/2007 20:34

Normal - sorry DD was exactly the same. I once (at about 6 weeks old) fed her and left her with DP to go to Tesco assuming I had an hour tops. Got back to find him giving her a bottle of EBM as she had started screaming 5 mins after I had left! I didn't leave her again until she was about 12 weeks which is when she started to space out her feeds.

coleyboy · 29/08/2007 20:41

TBH it sounds pretty normal to me. DS was a big boy at birth and fed pretty much like you describe.

How do you know he is snacking? I'm guessing he's just a little piggy wiggy who loves his milk and being close to his mum!!

I can remember the frustration when it feels like you are constantly feeding, but it doesn't last forever. And if he hungry then stretching out the feeds or giving him water will just make things worse - you'll have a v pissed off and hungry babba on your hands!

You're doing so well, stick with it. Things will soon change and he will be able to go longer between feeds - just give him time.

charliemama · 29/08/2007 20:55

My first 2 both were frequent feeders and to go with that my dd also had extreme daytime colic. It was awful but it did end!! Somewhere between 12 and 14 weeks they both settled down. I had weaned my ds by then on the advice of the hv because he fed every 2 hours day and night. However, didn't with dd despite being sure I would have to. What I am trying to say is in my experience some babies want to feed frequently initially, but it will end. Oh and when I tried to space my dds feeds out to every 3 hours it was the worst week of all!!! Spent the whole time pacing and rocking her.

Emzy5 · 30/08/2007 20:01

why doesn't anyone tell you that bf babies feed all the time? haha so reassuring to read that everyone's babies are the same. phew - thought mine was gonna be a porker after all the snacking!

i think all the advice points towards not trying to space feeds out as that will mess up supply/demand.

i really don't know hoe you mamas out there with other kids do it. i take my hat off to you all

notnowbernard · 30/08/2007 20:07

Have to echo the 'sibling fascination' point! DD2 would feed little and often, too (and gained weight really well etc) but at about 6 weeks would be happy to stare at DD1 for prolonged periods instead. It does settle down.

Original poster

boompi · 17/09/2007 14:35

Well have reached 6 weeks (13lbs) and it is getting gradulally worse
He is sleeping less at night and for last two nights ds has woken every 90min (or more frequently) through the night and feeds for 5 or so min and falls a sleep. Grizzly during day too so im not getting any rest. Shattered and pessimistic as its getting harder not easier.

OP posts:

tiktok · 17/09/2007 17:20

boompi - I am really for you. Lots of babies are still the way you describe at 6 weeks....is there any way of making it easier for you?

Is he still gaining loads and loads of weight? Could you perhaps have a too-generous supply, which might make him grizzle?

Where does he sleep?

Would a sling help?

Original poster

boompi · 17/09/2007 18:21

He is still gaining loads of weight - 4 lb since birth.

he sleeps in a cot in our room at night and carry cot or travel cot in kitchen during day.

have a sling but havent tried it except for during trips out. worst thing really is nighttime as being woken every 90min means dont really ever get to sleep or even nap.

OP posts:

Amethyst8 · 17/09/2007 18:38

Maybe growth spurt at 6 weeks. Am still BF 1 year old DD and I promise you it does get better. Must say though that things only really got easier when she hit 5 months and I put her on solids. She was more than ready. Ate everything I gave her and still does. Life got a lot easier. Started going up to 3 - 4 hours between feeds.

The worst thing was that every time I thought I had her in some sort of routine. She would go completely hay wire and be feeding every hour or two again. Is difficult because every time you get in to a routine a growth spurt, or a cold, or teething comes along and disrupts everything but it really does get easier I promise. At times like that though when they are not well it feels so good to be able to BF them and not shove a big teat in their mouth. So comforting for them. Sorry not much advice there just hope you might feel encouraged knowing it doesnt last forever.

NineUnlikelyTales · 17/09/2007 18:44

Boompi, I'm sorry you are having a tough time. I just wanted you to know that my DS was just the same (and he was bottle fed) at the same age, but at 8 weeks or so he did start to go for longer stretches. I think he must have just had a really small stomach.

tiktok · 17/09/2007 18:49

boompi - call one of the bf helplines and maybe talk about

use of the sling as an everyday way of holding him, not just when out (needs to be an appropriate sling)
co-sleeping to make the night feeds easier (need to check on the safety guidance eg no smokers in the bed)
one-sided or 'block feeding' for the over-generous milk supply

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