How to stop comfort nursing?

[flyingbeet]

My baby is 7 weeks old. I kept her on the breast a lot because she used to cluster feed a lot. Now for the past 2 weeks she has started to comfort nurse and it really is taking a mental toll on me. She cries so much, literally to the point of going red in the face and stop breathing momentarily and as soon as she's on the breast she is barely feeding. She just wants to be on and will give a light sick here. She falls asleep and I keep trying to wake her up. She wants it to go to sleep or when she has gas pains or just when she's bored so basically all the time. I don't even get the time to brush my teeth until my husband gets home and he sways her while she cries and I rush. But what I find weird is that when, and I do this very rarely, I give her formula she is fine for about an hour and I get a break. I really want to continue my breastfeeding journey but I don't know how to make her stop comfort nursing

Awww you probably can’t. She’s seven weeks. That’s teeny tiny. Of course she wants comfort. Part of breastfeeding is about embracing that it’s about more than nutrition.

I’m sure I’ll be called a mummy martyr although personally I wouldn’t rule out supplementing with formula in the evenings if your supply is low and she’s hungry. But you probably only have a month more max of the mad cluster feeding.

The wonderful thing about breastfeeding is that it gives comfort as well as food.

Your little one hasn't yet realised that they're separate from you, and want the closest form of contact possible (and to stimulate more milk).

Go with the flow, and eat and drink plenty!

your know how they wave their hand or swat ,what i did was get a comforter .One of those small raggy cloth things and place it in my daughters hand every time she fed,if she started to fall asleep on the boob i tickled her feet .Then cuddled her to sleep with the soft thing still in her hand .

Over the months of feeding her with this comforter she developed a attachment to it.So i could put her to bed with it and she would nuzzle that to sleep

If you're struggling to get ready in the mornings can DH get up half an hour early so that he can watch baby whilst you get ready for the day?

My first was very much like your DD. I found that she was actually more settled if we went out. Are there any BFing Support Groups near to you? You might find going to one of those and having a and just a bit of adult company might help.

What you've said does sound like pretty normal baby behaviour but you can do things that will help.

I found the book Baby Calming very helpful.

You could try some Breast Conpressions.

You could use a T-shirt DH has worn as the sheet in the Moses Basket to give it a reassuring smell.

Like a say, it does sound pretty normal and will get better but I would just read this article on Tongue Tie just in case she has any of the symptoms

your baby is a newborn. let her seek comfort in you, she is getting used to the world outside of your tummy and only really knows you!

How are you today @flyingbeet?

@PolaroidPrincess The comfort nursing most of the time was because she was just sleepy. I would go through the constant cycle of letting her comfort nurse and then burping her since she has reflux but burping her would wake her up and in 10 minutes or so she would want to comfort nurse to sleep again. She only likes to sleep through comfort nursing otherwise she'll stay wide awake and overtime herself.

Have you managed to get to any BFing Support Groups?

It could be normal baby behaviour but I'm just wondering if your LO has any signs of Tongue Tie?

@flyingbeet hey! Did you have any luck? 11 week old here exactly the same and it’s not fun anymore…plus he won’t take a dummy or bottle 😫

@Peanutbutterislife My daughter doesn't need to be comfort fed anymore. If I'm honest I'll be the one initiating a comfort feed sometimes of 5 minutes whenever she is in a fussy mood and then she'll be happy but I could just give her a cuddle and it do the same.

Since I don't know a lot about your LO I can't say the reason for the comfort feeding is the same as mines. My baby got diagnosed with a cows milk protein allergy which is why she used to comfort feed so much but there can be many other reasons. Your baby may have tongue tie or reflux. If you suspect this and haven't already then try and get that checked out.

If baby is fine (no tongue tie or other issues going on) and you're sure that your milk supply is fine and baby is truly comfort feeding and not just feeding for hunger then it may just be normal. Trust your instincts and hang in there. I know how tough it can be but it gets better.

@flyingbeet thank you do much for getting back to me. SO pleased your issue has resolved itself! Does your little girl now fall asleep in other ways?
funnily enough just had CMPA diagnosis so I’m onto the dairy free diet (woo 😭) I’m praying we see some differences in a month or so. It’s too intense like this all on me!

Lots of babies with CMPA will feed more. They can associate feeding with comfort so will feed when they're in pain from the milk and the cycle just starts again.

You gave my sympathy over bring DF though. I'm DF too. There's a thread going in the allergy section on DF Christmas treats but it's not got many posts yet

@Peanutbutterislife My LO can be rocked to sleep now. She's going through the 4 month sleep regression though so sleep has not been so great but I am trying to fade her sleep associations and help her develop good sleep habits. I wish I started from day 1 but I'm a FTM and I guess I'll have the experience for the next baby 😅

Hopefully your baby's symptoms improve soon and the comfort feeding decreases. You can then work more on establishing good sleep.