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[girlylala0807]

I posted this on chat earlier but it was kindly suggested I post it here to for some further advice.

Im kinda finding this being a mum thing a
bit hard.

I have a ds age 4 weeks and days and am having a few issues feeding him.

Im bf him but he has had formula too as there were times he was eating so much it was hurting. Its not what i wanted but im sure he will be ok for it. MY gran was telling me maybe my milk has not got enough nutrition in it and thats why i always seem to be feeding him. Im not sure if thats true though.

If i cant figure out why he is crying i put him on the breast as i cant stand to see him scream. I know this is not ideal, my mum said i need to try and get a routine going but i feel he is a bit too small for that yet..or is he. Mum an dh think i need to learn to leave him to cry but it feels cruel or am i just being pathetic?

Any thought or advice would be great.

Thanks.

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No expert, but have BF 2 DD's.

4 Weeks is very early to expect any kind of routine, also way too early for leaving him to cry IMO.

It sounds like you are doing really well and what I did at this stage was feed on demand. It stopped hurting fairly quickly and both DD's became very contented babies. If it soothes him to put him to your breast and instinctively it's what you want to do then trust your instincts.

HTH and good luck.

Your gran is wrong. Your milk is the perfect nutrition for your baby . He is probably feeding a lot because milk is made on a supply-and-demand basis - the more he feeds, the more milk you make.

Your mum and DH are also mistaken. How can leaving a baby who is hungry and wants his mothers milk to cry be a good thing?

Feeding on demand is IMO the best way to establish a good supply and BF relationship.

You are NOT being pathetic. You are doing a great job

Good luck.

Hi -- not sure I understand when your DS is crying? Is he crying to be fed, or crying while he is on the breast?

He may have colic/wind.

As he's 4 weeks, are you able to call your midwife for support? My midwife said that up to 6 weeks and I could call her for support. There is the possibility that your DS is breathing in too much air when he feeds and this is why he is unsettled.

But I don't know, and ideally you should get some RL support.

Im not sure why he is crying either, im having trouble figuring it out!

HV coming on Tuesday so will ask her then.

What happens when you try and feed him? Does he wiggle and arch his back? Does he settle? Does he cry after a feed? Does he have wet/dirty nappies?

Newborn babies do cry - a lot! It does get better, honestly.

Is he crying all of the time, or is it at particular times?

If he is crying from time to time and the only way to soothe him is to put him on the breast and that's what you want to do, then do it.

If he is crying a lot and seems to be in pain then he might be windy or colicky, or there might be another cause.

Speak to your HV, but it sounds like you are doing a great job and fumbling through like the rest of us!

he wriggles alot and arches his back, his face goes red. Tends to be when he wakes up and when he gets changed.

Also he likes his back patted!

Plenty wet nappies but over last week not so many dirty.

Thats him up now, will come back inmorning and check.

Thank you.