very hungry BF baby, I'm knackered, any advice pleeeaase

[pukkapie]

DS is 6 months old and up until 3 weeks ago bf on demand. He has always fed every 3 hours at least throughout the day and often for an hour at a time. He cluster fed in the evenings up until around 20 weeks and then started going down for the night at about 7.30. However, he is now back to feeding all evening as of the past 4 nights. I am weaning him and he is eating 3 meals a day which I never intended him to do so quickly. He has also increased the number of milk feeds to 2 hourly, with mammoth feeding sessions at least twice in the afternoons.
I love breastfeeding but I'm worn out, he never seems full! On the plus side, he sleeps really well at night so I suppose I can't complain really.

I'm no expert but things change very quickly at this stage so likely to grow out of it soon. If he's going through the night you're doing really well. Maybe increase the solids a bit? Does he take any water, may be thirsty?

He has water with his solid food and seems to drink quite a lot (as well as pouring it on his head ). I'm worried that he is already eating to much in the way of solids- he never refuses!

my original post said 'up until 3 weeks ago was breastfed on demand'. He is still breastfed on demand- I meant exclusively as he now has solids too!

my original post said 'up until 3 weeks ago was breastfed on demand'. He is still breastfed on demand- I meant exclusively as he now has solids too!

growth spurt!! imo!
should settle down in a bit.
just try to rest whenever you can, and well done on the bf. you are a star!

thanks gigglewitch

Oh at least he sleeps.
Console yourself with that!

I do moondog, I know I'm very lucky. However, I still feel like I'm not satisfying him during the day despite hours of breastfeeding...

Would you be able to try feeding lying down, you are still doing the marathon feeds but at least you can get some rest while you do. Call it a belated babymoon

Is he plump enough?
Lotso f babies just love b/feeding 9who can blame them?) Do you have time away from him? He's old enough to go a few hours without you know.
I'd pplan something nice to do -alone.

I would think its a growth spurt too.
Your milk takes at least 24hours to adjust to the increase in bf so you are keeping up with bm just perhaps not with him iyswim.
You are doing a fabby job remember. Do anything that will make your life easy missus

d'ya know what i have just remembered what i did in such times as you are having now (ooh was that a working brain cell i found??)
I must add that i have absolutely no idea how this works, but it did work for me, with all three.
I expressed milk, obv put it in bottle or cup (depending on pref of child), stocked up til i got 7oz (=200ml) and DH or granny gave it to starving baby.
Two theories here, one is that they are getting smaller amounts from you, just getting watery foremilk and not the more filling hindmilk, and so keep wanting more,whereas if they get it all in one go from a bottle/cup, then they drink up (fast flow teat if bottle)and are satisfied. second theory is that if in mum's company they smell the mum/milk and want it for comfort, thus knackering mum. DH and granny or whoever hopefully don't smell like mum

thanks for telling me I'm doing a good job, nice to hear in times of doubt
Moondog, yes he is plump enough- following the 50th centile so not massive, just right! Gigglewitch, I do try to express and let him have milk from a cup (he wont take a bottle) from others. This works to an extent- maybe gets be an extra hour between feeds. The problem is getting time to express, supply only really good enough in the morning and it's a race to express between his feeds (usually 3 boobs before 10 am).

Oh I'd be tempted then to breastfeed,followed by a big bowl of milky porridge (cows' milk fine) then clear orf for a bit!
Have a swim or a sauna or a massage followed by lunch.Lead a bottle of EBM.
That should give you at least 4 hours of peace!

go with the flow for the moment. Do anything and everything to make your life easy. your boobs will keep up with ds's demands.
strangely mine dropped almost all feeds at 6 months old and by 10 months was on 1 feed in the afternoon and that was it. he was bf on demand too. It will sort itself out.
switch the telly on and get a cup of tea when he starts to bf and get comfy
Choccy biscuit wouldnt go astray either

squimlet, I've watched the entire 1st series of 'Heroes' this week while feeding in the afternoons!

Pukka,make the most of it then.You will never have this much time to sit about again in your life (at least not until you are 88 and in an old folks' home.)

I know, I shouldn't complain at all, I do love breastfeeding, I guess I was just unprepared for how exhausting hour after hour of sitting down can be! And I suppose, now ds is 6 months old, I am beginning to want a few hours to myself from time to time without worrying that he will be crying for a feed.

Oh God,you're allowed to complain.It's a pain in the arse sometimes (and I loved it too).
Just takes a bit of planning to get some time away.
Your are over the most demanding bit. By the time my baby was 8 months old i was working f/t and just breastfeeding morning and night. She had no formula in the day but carried on for 39 months.

39 months, wow, well done you! I would love to carry on feeding ds for that long (not at the current frequency though ).

Oh sorry, meant 30 mths (would have gone on longer if she;'s wanted to).After 8 months it was easy. Just lived a normal life. If I was there she fed,if not it was water or juice.

but as she says you are at the most hideously knackering bit - my three were all down to breakfast and bedtime feeds by 8mo too. keep up the good work and learn to be lazy. if you don't know what that is check out the nearest male, cos they know how to sit down, watch telly, eat and not clear away, etc
only kidding (erm i think)