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?

I'm a veteran long term breast feeder op but I'd forgotten nights 3/4 after milk comes in and baby puts their order in when my DS came along! I couldn't fathom why he fed for what felt like 10 solid hours for 2 nights and then I remembered the exact same feeling from my DD ten years previously! Babies do not use their mother as a pacifier at this age, ignore such a load of ill informed twaddle. They need the skin to skin, as do you to keep the milk building, and the feeding also actually stimulates real sleep - the milk has sleepy hormones.

If you are getting lumpy I'd get it under a hot shower and massage toward the nipple. I find a comb gently pushed down the tissue in that direction helps too. Feed her from that side in a few different positions in case her chin is squishing a duct but keep an eye, if it gets red or sore or you feel flu-ey call your GP ASAP.

Thank you for everyone’s experiences and helpful advise

She’s been mostly at breast all morning

I’ve massaged and hot compressed the one with lumps and looks like a plugged duct as a thick bit of white came out too

It needs more work as still lumpy

Feeding on other breast feels quite comfortable at the moment

If both were like that I’d be very happy indeed

I’ve managed to do feeding lying down but only on one side so far

Pain from c section is letting up and I feel a bit more mobile which is helping me adjust when needed

Worrying il end up with bed sores from all this sitting down

DH bringing me plenty of drinks and fruit and yoghurt

I have a book to read but haven’t mastered doing that one handed yet

Current scene

Windy

Totally normal cluster feeding as others have said, and no babies do not 'use you as a pacifier'.

It's very tough breastfeeding the first few weeks after a c section but gets so much easier, definitely consider buying a nursing pillow to support the baby while feeding- it'll save you hunching over.

You're doing great, OP! Absolutely normal. Sleep in the day whenever you can. You got this! It gets easier and then one day you realise it's an absolute breeze!

Ahhh she's gorgeous! Bless her.

Oh and invest in a Kindle! Ideal for one-handed reading. I used mine loads when trapped under baby!

Oh, lovely pics, what a sweetie!

Bugger, just typed a long reply then pressed 'back' by accident and lost it... I'll summarise:

Both my DC (both c sections) did this. It's normal, though very sore, and serves to stimulate your future milk production. I'd forgotten that sore feeling inside my boobs as they dry sucked for hours on end and only remember bf being very easy now, so it does get a lot better! I fed both mine for years, this phase passes and you'll make more milk for fewer feeds soon.

• Lansinoh, feeding on your side, holding baby sideways, leaning over and hanging a boob above them etc all great for unblocking ducts even if it looks ridiculous . Nipple shields if you get very sore/cracked and she'll not just scream at them (thanks, DS1).

But most of all - your baby is utterly GORGEOUS! I always think all babies apart from my own look like a baked potato crossed with a fat Dominc Cummings. But yours could be a model in a baby wear advert, she's absolutely beautiful (that windy smile ❤️). Congrats!

Utterly gorgeous! Congrats op.

I'm 7 months into breastfeeding my second, after nearly a year with my first. For the first six weeks with my first baby, it was excruciatingly painful but after week 6 it improved dramatically. Nothing wrong with his latch, my nipples just needed to adjust and toughen up a bit. Sometimes breastfeeding does hurt, but as you're clearly aware, blockages etc need extra care. I developed mastitis with my first baby, and I had to take antibiotics. If you start feeling hot and cold or flu-ey, call your midwife or gp immediately.

Other than that keep doing what you're doing, it will get easier, and there will probably come a time that you marvel at the convenience of breastfeeding over bottles. For now though, cuddles, snacks, plenty of water, and remember you can have paracetamol for the pain if it gets too much.

What a cutie! You're doing well. Sounds like a blocked duct then so yes, get in the shower and unblock and it should all start to settle down. Many congratulations.

Thank you, massaging and warm water has helped

I’m so nervous about weigh in tomorrow

'Midwife said she was only to sleep in Moses basket or cot but she just does not sleep until touching me or being held and it’s making me paranoid'

Your midwife should have directed you to the Lullaby Trust Safe Co-Sleeping guidelines rather than making unrealistic rules.

This.

What a little cutie she is! Good luck for tonight and the weigh in tomorrow

She’s just beautiful! Good luck and look after yourself.

Don’t be nervous op! Day 5 weights are not an indication of your ability to be a good mother or even your future breastfeeding success. It gives midwives a good idea of how things are going and can help to pick up babies who might need some extra support. Don’t panic if the baby has lost more than 10%, it can be quite common with mums who have had traumatic deliveries/cesareans/large blood loss etc. And can sometimes just be a case of milk taking slightly longer to come in. Weight loss of up to 11.5-12% can usually safely be managed at home. Babies who lose more than this need a little bit more assessment but are usually absolutely fine too.

Have a look at the co-sleeping guidelines. Baby boy and I started cosleeping from 4 days. I actually also kicked DH out of the marital bed so baby boy and I could have more space 😆

We had good amount of napping and feeding in bed this afternoon so feeling half human

She’s been ever so fussy (angry and shouty) at the breast this evening

At one point it had taken nearly an hour for her to latch and we’d gone through different positions, different boobs, different rooms, a walk in the garden, music and rocking and eventually she latched.

It felt quite traumatic as she just seemed to hate me so much in that moment.

DH helped with lumps and engorgment but it just seems to come back as soon as she’s not fed for half hour.
I’ve tried hand expressing but I get nearly nothing from one boob and the other one I get more from but takes time to work the lumps.

Hoping we get through this and the amount regulates so I’m not feeling full all the time

She’s definitely struggling to empty even one

Your supply will regulate, but it takes a few weeks. Some people find Savoy cabbage leaves in the bra or cold packs help - but use carefully as you don’t want to reduce supply, just make yourself more comfortable. Massage, warmth just before feeding (not too long as it can increase swelling), reverse pressure softening of nipple before feeding to get a better latch, massaging out lumps, using different positions and hand expressing (you’ll get the knack in a day or two) all can help. I hope you had a better night, and things are ok this morning.

It sounds like you are doing brilliantly OP. With DS2 I had a haakaa pump (loads of different brands now) which you simply attach to the "other" breast while feeding and it catches both let down, and I found really helped with engorgement. They're super cheap and don't interfere with supply (and are v easy to use) so might be worth a try?

Another who co-slept with both here. Lots of advice on how to do it safely. Co-sleeping and slings are a bit of a Mumsnet advice stereotype, but there is a reason for it! If she's fussy in the evenings your husband wearing her in the sling could give you some respite (it certainly did in our house).

Also, your baby is gorgeous!!

Wow it sounds like things are really getting established now OP. Well done. Give the National Breastfeeding Helpline a ring on 0300 100 0212 if you need to. It's free to phone from most mobiles and they will support you every single day from 9.30am til 9.30pm. It's all staffed by volunteers so do keep trying if you don't get through the first time.

Those lumpy bits are quite common in the first few weeks - learning how to hand express will help (Best Beginning have a good video) as well as working on getting that deep comfy latch. When you're really engorged, laid back feeding (your nipple lower than the level of your baby's throat) or hand expressing the initial 3 or 4ml "burst" of milk - a teeny amount, so lots of mums just catch in a muslin - can help your baby learn to manage to flow. Also, if in doubt, skin to skin without pressure to feed. This releases oxytocin, lowers cortisol (stress hormone) and makes the breast a nice place to be for your baby. Get a good box set on the go - have you watched Normal People yet?

Congratulations on your new baby.

Everything you're saying sounds entirely normal (yes I know that's annoying when it feels difficult and out of control!). Baby's often fuss at the breast - my second was so difficult to get to latch - he would get himself in a state and then he'd be crying and his tongue would be in totally the wrong position for latching!! Difficult as it is just try to stay calm. Babies will often bang or "punch" the breast to stimulate the milk to release so don't be concerned when she's doing that. Your supply WILL regulate but tbh that usually takes a good few weeks...up to 3 months really. Often mums suddenly realise they're not really, really full and worry they've suddenly developed a supply problem!! Of course they haven't it's simply the supply is now regulated.

How are you getting on @Rebelwithallthecause ?

@ParadiseLaundry thank you for asking

Weigh in went well. She’s gained weight! Only 150g or so off birth weight

Midwife helped with few breastfeeding questions and watched me feed and made some suggestions on positioning

I then spent the rest of the day in the garden and managed to feed comfortably (as can be) and confidently the rest of the day

Things went to shit at night as by that time my nipples were very cracked and bleeding and the pain of the night feeds were excruciating

I took some of the stronger painkillers the hospital had given me that I hadn’t needed to use yet and that got me through the night.

Lansinoh arrived and I’ve been using that lots and expressing off the discomfort from being over full

There are some persistent lumps that I can knead out but come back again shortly after

My most badly cracked nipple I’ve put a medela soft shield on this morning to get me through the feeds whilst it heals. It’s helped the toe curling pain

She’s not too happy to begin on it but once it flows it’s a smooth feed
Just hope using it it doesn’t cause issues down the line 🤞🏻

Your doing amazing, reading this has just brought back a lot of memories! My baby is 12 weeks, I promise it gets easier.