BF ramble. Struggling.

[Martha200]

My younger son is 11 days old and omg am really struggling at night now with feeds

Last night after sitting there for a good couple of hours and feeling he fed and winded well in that time he still screamed the place down (as often he does at night) and DH took to moving the moses basket into the Nursery, the idea being to help me sleep (I am so tired recently, that I dare not co sleep, though the other night did my neck in a bit having fallen alseep sitting up and bf in bed.)Felt really bad about dh moving him into another room but I have had a headache for nearly 24hrs and guess he was trying to make sure I got some rest.

My nipples go through sore stages (which probably is my fault with positioning, but my right one really is in a state and wondered about whether using a nipple shield might help.. though am cautious about this as it was the shield and jaundice that really put an end to my bf attempts with ds1.

Then I think about other options, is it my fault he is not content after more than an hours feed at night? Should I consider a dummy as he then cries when put down after a feed most of the time at night. I guess formula is not the way to go?

I am expressing one bottle a day. I tried giving the bottle at night time but he was hungry an hour later (unlike the day time where he is settled into a 3/4 hr pattern.)

I don't know how long I can last for, though not giving up yet, but a friend came over recently and said she couldn't understand how people found bf hard as she had had no problems when she had bf some years ago.. made me feel even worse

Am looking fwd to going to a bf support group but can't do tomorrow as got MW and HV visiting during the day!

Hi Mommafeelgood - Nights have turned into we all go to bed at the same time, ds in moses basket and when he wakes 3-3.5 hrs later he and I move into another room onto a new spare bed (bought for visitors)
I am a bit sad not to be with my DH and I am not doing this forever but the extra sleep helps me cope, that and weirdly something clicked when I introduced a dummy (sparingly) I learnt when he really wanted feeding and when he was not that hungry and just wanted some comfort. to think I am crap at reading my sons signals, but never having done this BF before (or well longer than a fortnight)I do still feel like a real novice compared to all the bf new mummies I meet at local groups, but hey ho feel like some progress.

My dh called the helpline (which wasn't that great this time... but next week I can finally dash over to a bf support group

Am finding ds feeds better whilst out than at home.. maybe it's my imagination?!!

Mommafeelgood - will have to think of these posts at night.. though saying that had the best nights sleep so far last night

Thought I would try and do the feed in between going to bed and getting up, sitting up again and then place baby back in basket rather than resort to sleeping in other bed (really do miss my husband and own bed!) so at 3am he fed and I placed him back.. only for 30mins peace before he kicked off so we moved to other room where he fed for another 10mins then I got into bed, with ds asleep and next thing I knew he was awake and hungry at 7am!!! (not expecting this to last.. but bloody hell it was a good nights sleep!)

He also had a good hour and a bit yesterday evening of being alert and taking in the world, the most alert he has been so far, so really appreciated it.. roll on first smile though!!

MW discharged me yesterday from her care as we had reached day 28, but I was well when she weighed DS after a week. He had put on 7oz (that's oz and not lbs like I accidently told my mother in law

If anything that was great proof that something is going right for us even when it doesn't always feel like it.

Thanks for the link mommagotobed, but there could be a internal clash for me during the nights as DS1 was bottlefed after a couple of weeks and is a very healthy nearly 5yr old