Please come and tell me I'm doing well and shouldn't give up yet

[Moosy]

DD3 is 15 days old and is still 4.5oz below her birth weight, she's only put on 1oz in 10 days.

When she was 9 days old I got a tummy bug and have been drained and exhausted since, I always struggle to keep weight on and lost a LOT of weight in the first 10 days but have levelled out a bit now. I'm trying to eat and drink lots but haven't completely got my appetite back after being ill, I'm trying to eat constantly all day.

MW came today and was very nice, she told me to wake her every 3 hours (she feeds every 2-6 hours if left to her own devices) and push more and more feeds in to get her weight up and boost my supply. I've also started taking Fenugreek.

I'm determined to carry on BFing her having failed to bf DDs 1&2 but it's so draining and every time she doesn't settle I feel like I'm failing her and I'm SO tempted to pack it in and crack open the formula.

Please tell me I'm doing ok and should carry on trying, DH is being very supportive as he knows how much it means to me, but being a man he can't truely understand!

I woke her after 3 hours 45 mins since her previous feed, she FED properly, proper gulpy drinking, for 20 minutes and has gone straight back to sleep Something's working

Moosy so pleased for you

I love 'proper gulpy drinking'

Not doing so well again

Had her weighed by the HV today and she's only put on 3oz in 8 days. She seems to be constantly hungry, she normally doesn't settle after feeds, just cries and cries. If she does settle then it's only for an hour or so, day or night. I've had her in the bed with me, feeding while I sleep as I'm so exhausted.

The HV was ok this time, saying that I'm experienced and know what I'm doing so to do what I feel is best and she didn't try to push me towards top ups.

I just don't know what to do with her when she cries in between feeds, she can't still be hungry, surely? I've tried holding her, putting her in her rocky chair, leaving her to cry herself to sleep, nothing works. She's only happy when she's feeding and I can't do that 24 hours a day!

moosy, sorry you feel so low. Your baby is still very young - not even four weeks old - and it's hard to tell if the behaviour you describe is a sign something is 'wrong' or simply your baby's normal need to be close to you even when she is not feeding, and to feed a lot still, with only ever small gaps between feeds.

The fact you have tried so many things to stop this happening makes me think that going with the flow for several days would be worth a try...hold her close, in a sling if it is easier, and don't put her elsewhere to sleep. Let her stay on/near you...this might not be something you need do long term, but for a short time, it might make life easier.

Thanks, I will try to hold her more during the day (difficult with a 4yo and 2yo!) and carry on having her in bed with me at night. I'm just feeling very disheartened that I've been feeding her SO much for the last week and she's hardly gained anything after doing 2oz in 2 days!