Help, talk me through the hungry baby stage...

[laumiere]

My little man is 8 weeks old now and has always been hungry - he was excl BF until 6 w and has had 1-2 bottles of formula a week since, but the last few days have been impossible.

He's feeding for 30-60 min at a time from 6 am til 11pm with maybe breaks of 20 min sometimes between feeds. In desperation have tried offering formula but he won't have it, and will only feed side-lying (he has a slight tongue tie which docs dismissed as not a problem). He fusses at the breast and often hits it in frustration. I'm losing 2lb a day at the moment (have already lost all the baby weight), feel utterly drained and distraught at neglecting my older son (3 in May and disabled). Luckily DS2 does sleep at night for 2 hours at a time so am getting some sleep.

DS2 has been putting on approx 1lb a week since birth, wees and poos plenty and is also 91st pecentile for height. I don't have any relatives nearby snd DH works nights so I have to keep both kids fairly quiet in the day so he can sleep.

I'm at my wits' end, please talk me off the ceiling! Am I feeding my boy too much, does it get better?

I can't offer any advice, but can sympathise. My dd was exactly the same, fed all the time, off the charts for weight, 99th for height, 1lb a week gain for the longest time. She's still on the same centiles and still bfs a lot at 23 months! I was very fortunate in that she is my only dd and therefore could just sleep when she did.

You aren't feeding too much, it's not possible. You're sustaining a tall, hungry boy. It does get better I promise. After about 12 weeks she settled to 2 hourly feeds, had another spurt at 16 weeks and one around 22 weeks but it became more manageable.

Hope somebody has some very good advice for you.

Do you have any other help?

Nope, pretty much by myself although DS1 will be back at nursery on Wed).

make sure you're eating and drinking enough - v important to stop you getting TOTALLY run-down, though I know how exhausting that feeling of 24-hour pump is. Are you co-sleeping at least so you can get a bit of rest?

I sort of co-sleep at night but can't in the day as have DS1.

Starlight, thank you thank you thank you for saying it's normal!

I gave up BF with DS1 at 8 weeks (not adjusted, he was 9w prem) as he had undiagnosed CP and couldn't take in BM effectively because of problems with his muscles. So he acted in exactly the same way but was obv losing weight and thrived on formula, so it was a no-brainer for us to FF him (I couldn't express all the time, I psychologically loathe it).

I'm not worried about Gabriel's ability to take in BM, so that's something. I don't always offer both sides if he seems satisfied and drops in to a deep sleep after one side, if he's still awake and hungry I swap. Of course, the deep sleep never seems to last! I don't want to give up BF as G gets so much enjoyment from it (his little face lights up if offered a boob), but am feeling a little desperate at the moment, mostly due to feeling bad for my older son, who can't articulate if he's feeling neglected or left out.

APols for typos, am exhausted!

Gabriel finally went to bed at 9pm last night (up since 8) and slept til 2.30, had 2 quick feeds at 3 and 5 and then had his 'whinge time' (where he sleeps but cries or grunts in his sleep so anyone in the room doesn't sleep!).

So far since day has been:
5-7 am whinging
7-8 sleeps (so I get DS1 up and dressed)
8-9 feeds
9.15 - 10 feeds
10.15-10.30 feeds
10.45-11 winding
11-11.45 feeds (this is a fairly average daily pattern until he goes down for the night, I've been losing about 1-2lb a day)

He's asleep now but will have to get him up as he's asleep in DS1's room and DS1 needs to nap. Gabriel's 9 weeks today, when the hell does it get better?

Have tried formula but Gabriel will only have it if you deny him food to the point that he's screaming hungry and loves the breast so much I don't want to deny him.

Sorry if this is a silly question but are you sure he's hungry- that seems to be a lot of feeding- does he keep it all in or is he sick because he's taken on too much, and therefore has to feed again to fill his tummy? Some babies like to suckle when they are tired too- i know not everyone likes dummies, but it might be worth a try in case it is just the suckling/comfort he needs, and not the milk?

pula I wondered if it was comfort but he's def. swallowing what he gets, doesn't tend to throw up more than an average posset. Unfortunately he won't tolerate a dummy at all.