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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Constant breastfeeding

29 replies

Melrose86 · 21/12/2021 19:43

My baby is 10 weeks and I feel I am just constantly feeding him still. I really hoped things would have calmed down and we would have more of a feeding routine but today he has been feeding so often it's making me think how much longer can I cope with this? The longest he has gone between feeds today was an hour and a half when we went a walk. The rest of the day its been more like half an hour between feeds. Doesn't help his naps have been short today. My first was formula fed so I would feed him and know it would be about 2 hours til his next feed and this stretched to longer as he got older but this time there's just so little time between feeds some times. Will it be like this for much longer? He is sleeping for about 4 or 5 hours the first part of the night but whenever he's awake during the day he wants fed 😭

OP posts:

Original poster

Melrose86 · 21/12/2021 19:46

I also can't stand the "he can't possibly be hungry again" comments from family 😭

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RedWingBoots · 21/12/2021 19:50

Breastfed babies frequently cluster feed.

They also feed a lot to increase your milk supply when they are about to undergo a growth spurt.

Oh and check he doesn't have tongue tie.

NigellaBangBangTurkey · 21/12/2021 19:53

My baby was latched on all the time. Get comfy on the couch with films and stuff and just lean into it. Totally normal.

Original poster

Melrose86 · 21/12/2021 19:54

I did think about tongue tie but he has been gaining lots of weight so think he is feeding well. I also think it is a growth spurt but he cluster feeds every single day and I've only had 1 day so far that I felt he went decent stretches between feeds

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NigellaBangBangTurkey · 21/12/2021 19:57

I don't think the midwives prepare you. Certainly anything I read before I had DS made it seem like feeds were every few hours, for a neat 30 mins.

DS would feed for 2 hrs, sleep for 40mins and then feed again.
.

It slows down after a few months

tumtitum · 21/12/2021 19:59

Some babies are just like this I think. And they feed for so much more than just hunger. I had two tongue tied babies so (although it was divided both times) I can't say that didn't have any impact but they both fed frequently, particularly my second who put on weight way better than the first. It is frustrating tho 😬 will they take a bottle? We left it too late with my second and she would never take a bottle which killed me! I would combo feed all the way if I had another now

Original poster

Melrose86 · 21/12/2021 19:59

@NigellaBangBangTurkey I was hoping to make it to 6 months breastfeeding but can't cope with the constant feeding for that long. I do enjoy it sometimes just sitting watching TV but I would like some freedom plus I have a toddler that needs my attention too. Just really thought it would be longer than than an hour/half an hour between feeds by now x

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Lazypuppy · 21/12/2021 20:02

OP have you tried a dummy? Baby won't be feeding for that amount of time, as in actually drinking.

I used to take dd off and give her the dummy, and then if she wanted more milk i'd put her back on, but i never let her just suck for comfort, we used a dummy as i woulf have gone stir crazy and switched to formula

Pinkflipflop85 · 21/12/2021 20:08

@Melrose86

My dd was gaining loads of weight.

She needed to have a tongue toe snipped at 10 weeks.

NigellaBangBangTurkey · 21/12/2021 20:08

Yeah I had DS in lockdown so I was able to. But not sure how I'd fair with a second so I feel for you.

Definitely agree that it's not just a hunger thing. I'd feed DS after every nappy change as he'd cry and it was the only way to soothe him. He never took to a dummy, maybe your little one might?

Original poster

Melrose86 · 21/12/2021 20:09

@Lazypuppy we do use a dummy but a lot of the time he won't take it. My husband gives him a bottle of formula a day to give me a break but now I'm close to just switching to formula altogether. I just find it hard taking him anywhere as people comment about how he can't possible be hungry so soon after being fed and maybe I should try formula to fill him up.

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Original poster

Melrose86 · 21/12/2021 20:11

@Pinkflipflop85 maybe it is tongue tie then. I will talk to the health visitor. I don't know much about tongue tie so just presumed he wouldn't be gaining weight so much if he had it.

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Lazypuppy · 21/12/2021 20:13

Have you fried different types of dummies? They all have different shapes and sometimes you have to try and help them to learn how to suck them.

But OP, your baby needs a happy mum, so if you choose to switch to formula there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! If you do, remember to drop feeds slowly, especially with so much feeding so you don't get mastitus. Maybe start by introducing another bottle and see if that helps?

Original poster

Melrose86 · 21/12/2021 20:15

@NigellaBangBangTurkey I think it is comfort sometimes. The pram usually settles him. Some days I walk miles just to get a break from feeding! He has to be moving though. He hates when it stops so I'm always powerwalking and don't stop to talk to people 😂

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User0ne · 21/12/2021 20:18

All 3 of mine fed less often from about 4m. BUT they all had patches of feeding as you describe until well past 1yr old.

Can you use a sling? If you can learn to bf in one it makes managing toddlers much easier. Storytime can work while bf if you get the hold right (it's easier with baby's head towards the toddler so they don't get kicked).

I definitely felt feeding claustrophobia with ds1. By the time DS3 arrived I didn't expect anything else 🙄 If you have a dp then go out for a walk by yourself/sit in the car for 30mins every day. It doesn't matter if DC scream the whole time (they won't) - you need some space for you

swissrollisntswiss · 21/12/2021 20:28

Oh goodness mine was like this. At 5 months he was still feeding every 1.5hrs around the clock. Everyone told me to just space it out more and he’d get used to it but he would scream and I just couldn’t do that to him. I did notice that he didn’t feed as long as others but I tried all the tricks to get him to take more and nothing worked.

I spoke with a lady from La Leche league and she said that some just prefer little and often. She also said that some women have storage boobs which hold more milk and others don’t hold so much and so the baby has to feed more often (it’s not related to size). As he was gaining weight as normal she said it was normal for him.

After a month of trying to get DS to take a bottle he finally did at 5 months and we instantly went to feeding every 4hrs. That was when I stopped being so exhausted and started to enjoy him.

Original poster

Melrose86 · 21/12/2021 20:46

I will try different types of dummies. My toddler has been really good and will play independently but I will try using my sling more as maybe baby will nap for a while in it too. I've never been confident with the sling so haven't tried feeding in it.

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roastedsaltedpeanut · 21/12/2021 20:49

Babies just want to be near their mummies all the time, while having yummy sweet milk, even better! Mine were basically attached to my boobs 24/7 till they could crawl/walk. I was a walking milk bottle that provides fresh and perfect temp milk on demand.

I think it’s more about comfort, safety and love than food and nutrition. Mine were definitely happiest when they were latched on. Half drinking half giggling.
No body warned me how difficult breastfeeding would be. breastfeeding led to cosleep too, it was the only way to get any sleep at all. But I did enjoy all the midnight cuddles and baby kisses so for me all the hassle was so worth it.

NigellaBangBangTurkey · 21/12/2021 20:56

Whatever you decide will be right for you. But please don't take people comments to heart, of course your milk is filling him up - and they are probably just hoping to have more cuddles.

whoknew23 · 21/12/2021 21:04

Could maybe just be cluster feeding just now, it does eventually settle.

I got so sick of being told my breast milk wasn't enough for my ds, he was gaining weight and happy but non bf people kept telling me he was eating too often and must be hungry 🙄

Tickly · 21/12/2021 21:29

[quote Melrose86]@Pinkflipflop85 maybe it is tongue tie then. I will talk to the health visitor. I don't know much about tongue tie so just presumed he wouldn't be gaining weight so much if he had it.[/quote]
With all respect for the work that health visitors do, often they are not breastfeeding experts. Have you come across la leche league? They provide support and might be able to advise. They have local chapters but LLL west London will accept anyone during the pandemic as they're running online. They are wonderful. Also, the Breastfeeding Network is another resource.
Finally if you're able to there are private options to do tongue tie assessment and division / look up ICLBC and tongue tie. You can search by post code.
As a general comment it is a bit constant early on buy if you've made 10 weeks you're very nearly there. It does tend to settle at 12-14 weeks as baby starts to move out of the "4th trimester" and look more outward into the world. It is much easier from there and no faff with bottles or sterilizing which I found fab (but of course it's absolutely fine if you chose to mix feed or exclusively formula feed - your baby will be wonderful no matter how she is fed).

Original poster

Melrose86 · 21/12/2021 21:51

Thanks everyone for the really helpful advice. I think I am just having a down day as I thought the feeding would be starting to settle down by now. Overall I have been enjoying breastfeeding so far and my baby has been very content most of the time (I used to hate hearing about people's content and happy babies with my first as he was so unsettled with colic. Glad I'm not experiencing colic this time round!)

@Tickly now that you've said that I remember I did get given the phone numbers of breastfeeding support so I will try phoning them to see if they can give me some advice. I will look into la leche league too

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Tickly · 22/12/2021 07:34

@Melrose86

@Tickly now that you've said that I remember I did get given the phone numbers of breastfeeding support so I will try phoning them to see if they can give me some advice. I will look into la leche league too

Great. Many years ago I found the phone lines difficult to get through on - all volunteer led but it may have improved. I know BFN has Facebook messaging now too - I used them recently for a query on medication whilst feeding and had an overnight reply. www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/ And www.laleche.org.uk/supportgroup/la-leche-league-west-london/

Original poster

Melrose86 · 22/12/2021 11:09

Thanks @Tickly

He did sleep from 9.30 til 5 last night so guess all the daytime feeding helped him to sleep well!x

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AnnaBegins · 22/12/2021 11:25

You are doing a fabulous job and it will get easier. That's a fantastic night's sleep!
I think it helps to remember some stock phrases for opinionated family especially this time of year! Positive ones like "the health visitor says it's great how he's gaining weight perfectly on his line, he's such a good baby to be feeding so well" to neutral like "I know, babies are always hungry" "thanks for your advice I'll bear it in mind" to more pointed "this works for us and we're happy doing things this way".
You are the expert on your baby and we all believe in you!

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