Newborn continuously feeding for over 3 hours at night

[Rebelwithallthecause]

I’m in tears, I’m in pain.baby is less than 4 days old and is continuously feeding.
In the last 3 hours has only dropped off to sleep once for 5 minutes max before waking for more

This can’t be normal?

What should I be doing? Am I doing something wrong?

They feed for about 30-40 minutes, the rest of the time, they are using you as a pacifier .
Please speak to your baby nurse

If lots of pee and poo and cluster feeding only at night, totally normal. At three days they’re bringing the milk in and eat pretty much constantly.

Make your bed safe in case you fall asleep, find some good TV and feed, feed, feed.

In the morning call your midwife to check how your baby is attaching to the breast and that everything is reassuring that feeding is going well. If all is well catch a nap and get ready for the night.

Are you producing enough milk ? Try expressing some to see how much comes out, and weigh the baby to check weight gain. Feeding for 3h doesn't sound normal. Especially if it's all day and not just at night. Babies this young should be sleeping all the time.

If the baby has lost more than 10% of birth weight and/or has failed to gain weight ring your hospital and consider supplementing. Don't waste any time as if there is an issue like this it could be an emergency (don't mean to scare you, please weigh the baby and if weight is normal then you don't need to worry).

Absolutely totally normal - they are feeding to encourage your body to make milk. It is very important but obviously is exhausting.
Can you have your partner take the baby for a while to let you sleep?
It will be like this for a few weeks while your milk supply is established.

Congratulations on your baby

PS - did they check for tongue-tie ? Is baby swallowing when it's feeding or just sucking ?

Ah sweetie, you're doing nothing wrong. That's what newborns do, it's normal. I'm assuming from your post that you're breastfeeding? They feed a lot at the start, and believe me I remember how tough it is. They also tend to be nocturnal at that stage, annoying little things that they are! It's very early days.

As long as there are lots of wet nappies your baby's getting enough. Are you sure baby's latch is OK? It's normal at this early stage to be uncomfortable but not in lots of pain. I'd get your midwife to check to make sure. Have you got Lansinoh cream? It can help a lot.

Also, at four days in it's completely normal to feel quite tearful and overwhelmed. It usually passes quickly, but if it doesn't talk to your midwife and if you don't feel better in a few days make an appointment with your GP.

Hi sorry you are going through this and hope you are keeping ok and just wanted to say I felt like crap first couple of weeks breastfeeding with the pain, feeling like baby constantly attached and makes you wonder if you can continue, some people will say it's baby latch wrong but I'm not sure, I think when it's your first time it takes some time to get used to. Sorry for tmi but I had really sore cracked bleeding nipples for couple of weeks but honestly it does get better as you and baby get used to the flow of things and wouldn't change it now xxx

Hi op,
That doesn’t sound totally unusual for a newborn. I am also still awake from having fed my baby! It can be a frustrating, lonely time. It may be that your milk is coming in so baby is half way in between colostrum and proper milk so not getting that much yet. Don’t panic. It’s normal and will kick in! I’ll let someone more knowledgeable that me advise about that. My main comment would just be that day four is a terror. When my little one was born my best friend warned me in advance, which was so helpful. Remember everything feels worse in the night but morning will come sooner than you think. The day will be breaking soon and you’ll be watching the dawn with your beautiful, perfect baby and then you’ll both snooze together during the day. Baby will be fine. You’ll be fine. Hang in there. Xxx

Signs that feeding is going well on day 3

• greenish poo at least 2times in 24 hours

-at least 3 wet nappies -no red marks in the nappy -no cracks or damage to your nipples -breasts feel comfortable -weight loss should be 8% of birth weight or less (midwife can do that tomorrow)

A well infant, alert and feeding is not in any immediate danger and if you have any concerns or need reassurance call the midwife in the morning for a visit or a chat.

This is so tough but really normal. Google "fourth trimester"- your baby is so new to the world and his safe, secure place is being on you! It's all he knows. He is also telling your body to bring in your milk, which is a good thing.

I'm not surprised you are sore if he's been feeding that long continuously though. Have you accessed any breastfeeding support to make sure he is latching well? Also can you try to remove him from the breast at some point and just have him skin to skin instead?

Milk only just came in yesterday

Lots of pops today, in the middle of this feeding marathon was 5th of the day

Midwife checked for tongue tie and said there’s a very small one but not enough to snip

Baby definitely getting milk, I see it being dribbled out sometimes.

I have a breastfeeding helper but they are only over the phone now and won’t come to houses. I messaged them this morning just as milk was starting to come in and they sent me a leaflet to read

Baby now sleeping for 10 minutes so hoping this is an hour or twos break. Wish me luck

Just to say, don’t get too worried about Malysh’s comment. I know one comment like that out of 20 reassuring ones will drive you mad at 3 am! On day 3/4 your milk and breastfeeding isn’t going to be totally 100%. It’s a transition time. Speak to tumour midwife in the morning and they will ask about wet nappies etc but most likely by then things will have changed anyway :) stay calm and keep feeding baby if they are asking for it... even if your supply isn’t great right now it could be better in the morning.

This is totally normal. Babies do this instinctively to help establish your milk supply. It will soon get better.

Thank you everyone. This is reassuring

I’ve ordered some lanisoh cream too.
I have nipple shields but haven’t given them a try yet in case it causes additional problems

On the pain - it didn’t hurt the first few times after birth and has just become more sore as baby has become more vigorous and feeding has become more often

Will this get better?

They aren’t bleeding yet but it’s definitely not comfortable

Baby was quite anal when born. Just 6.5lbs. When I was discharged from hospital they made it clear to me that I had to do my best to ensure minimal weight loss

The 3 day weigh in I took her to at the hospital yesterday she had lost 8% and I was told it’s borderline for them referring me to Pediatrics but they will weight again on day 5

My milk wasn’t in at all by time I had gone to that appointment though so I’m not too sure how I could have prevented the loss

Will it get better? Absolutely yes. Lansinoh will help a lot. If you can let your nipples get some air when baby's not feeding that will help too. Best of luck, you are doing great x

Hi op ! Congratulations ! I had my baby on 20.05.2020 and he was a similar weight to yours at 6lbs 4. Went to the hospital today for a weigh in and he's lost 7% of body weight ( also breast fed) but the nurse was saying that it was totally normal ? They weren't worried at all ! Doc was also happy I wonder why we received such differing advice

Totally and utterly normal. The nipple cream will help a lot. You will get spates of this type of cluster feeding up to about 10 weeks, it is just the baby trying to stimulate your body to produce more milk. The weight gain should start in a day or two. We had feeding issues at the beginning and my son lost 9.5% of his weight in the first week, regained in a matter of days. Within 6 months he went from 50th centile (which he was born on) to 99.9th! He is still over 98th both height and weight now at almost 5.

Please ignore malysh and weenurse. Babies don't 'use you as a pacifier' FFS, they use pacifiers as a nipple. Ridiculous, unhelpful comment from someone who obviously doesn't know anything about breastfeeding.

Your milk has just come in and your baby is doing a great job in helping get your supply established. You will probably find that your baby will sleep more during the day today and you can rest you nipples. You are doing a fantastic job and I'm sure with all the lovely milk she's guzzling down she will have put on weight . Where I am 8% loss is definitely not a cause for concern, especially not so early (they don't weigh until day 5 here) .

Sounds like you're doing a brilliant job OP.

I found lasinoh really helped minimise pain, slather it on after every feed. Hopefully it will help you too.

Also I didn't wear breast pads as they irritated the absolute fuck out of my nips. I have a stash of cotton vests which I change frequently and shove a muslin down during feeds to catch the opposite side. Bras are also a no go! Just stretchy crop tops if I'm going out.

Assuming baby is latching well, the pain will go. I found week 2 the hardest. Gradually improved and by week 6 it was a lot better. Week 8 was painless and has been ever since.

You're in the hard bit now but the effort is so worth it, I love that I don't even have to get off the sofa to feed LO

Totally normal as others have said. DD went for a record 6 hour feed at that age. I had to take her off because I needed the loo and she tried to latch onto DH! And it did hurt for a while. Nobody told me that at breastfeeding classes. DD is 9 now, it gets better, promise!

Bless you it is hard. I remember breaking down on day 4 because of lack of sleep, baby spending the whole night feeding and drop in hormones. I spent the whole day crying. My mum ended up showing me how to feed lying down on my side (game changer) - it makes nighttime feeding easier. Can your other half take the baby for a bit so you can have a rest. Nipple cream after each feed, air your nipples as much as you can and use cabbage leaves in your bra. Sit and eat your body weight in chocolate and cake. Baby and you need the calories

It is hard but you are doing really well

See if you can feed lying on your side in bed. That way when she does feed for hours you can safely doze, it saved my sanity. It is completely biologically normal for them to feed and feed and feed. Some of it "comfort" feeding but comfort is a need as much as hunger at this age.

Does sit feel like she latches securely?
Can you feel your nipple moving in her mouth or hear a clicking sound, if so re-latch. The "flipple" technique on YouTube is brilliant. If the pain continues I would definitely get her reassessed for a tongue tie.