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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

What am I doing wrong!! Day from hell!

35 replies

Mollydolly · 03/08/2005 18:57

Can anyone enlighten me - had the day from hell breastfeeding my 6 week old dd2. For the last couple of days she has had blocked/snuffly nose (not running/green/no temp so don't think it's a cold)Consequently feding has been a little difficult, however today has been horrific beginning with dd wanting short feeds (15 mins)every 2 hours from midnihgt last night til 9 this am. finally she went to sleep from 9.30am til 11.30 when she woke for a feed and has wanted feeding ever since! The day/feeds have gone like this - she is thrashing about a lot on the breast, grunting,straining and going red in face (not constipated tho)and doesnt seem to be satisfied (definately feeding tho - can hear her gulping) She is absolutely tired out but won't sleep for any lengh of time - she dozes after 10 mins on breast then wakes up screaming as soon as I put her down until I feed her again. She is latching on like she is starving every time. Can anyone help me? I am at my wits end, tired out and am worried about her - is she feeding long enough to ever get any hind milk? Could she be ill? I am on the verge of calling the doctor - can anyone help?

OP posts:
edodgy · 03/08/2005 18:59

it will be cause her nose is blocked have u got an aspirator or any saline nose drops as they both work a treat.

edodgy · 03/08/2005 19:03

also try to have her lying at an angle whilst shes asleep you could put somethng under the hind legs of her cot or moses basket making sure its not unsteady as this will help her to breathe more easily if shes not totally flat.

Lakota · 03/08/2005 19:07

There is a nasal aspirator called a 'NUK' which you can get from some chemists - really gross but does work quite well!

edodgy · 03/08/2005 19:09

? If your baby is congested, elevate the head of the mattress with an old towel or two. Sleeping at an incline may help relieve your baby's postnasal drip. (Do not use pillows to prop your baby up ? they can pose a suffocation hazard ? or pillows under the mattress.)

? Because babies are too young to blow their noses, the best way to help them breathe more easily is to wipe their noses. You can also apply petroleum jelly to the outside of your baby's nostrils to reduce irritation. If your child is having trouble breastfeeding with a stuffy nose, you may like to ask your GP to prescribe saline drops to apply to each nostril 15 minutes before a feed. Some parents then use a suction bulb to clear the nose of salt water and mucus.

? Try a cool mist vaporiser to moisten the air. Or take your baby into the bathroom with you, turn on the hot water or shower, close the door, and sit in the steamy room for about 15 minutes. Remember to change your baby into dry clothes after the steam bath.

just found this for you. HTH

bumpylump · 03/08/2005 19:12

Yep my ds had a cold at that age, the NUK is like a mini turkey baster it does work but always needed a 2nd person else they sniff it all back up, yuk!

bumpylump · 03/08/2005 19:15

Oh also my ds still fights sleep like anything even with huge bags under his eyes, my Health Visitor recommended burning a Lavender candle. It really worked He gets knocked out by it now and goes into a deep sleep.

throckenholt · 03/08/2005 19:16

maybe a cold coinciding with a growth spurt so she is hungry but finding feeding difficult and so is frustrated.

blossom2 · 03/08/2005 19:21

Mollydolly - you have my sympathies - i thought i had a bad day with DD2 crying & feeding from 2-7pm. But yrs was alot worse. have no advice but just to say you're not the only one trying to figure out a newborn's crying. good luck & hope tonight is better

Original poster
Mollydolly · 03/08/2005 19:43

Have tried saline drops and nasal aspirator but snot is not forthcoming! Its like the blockage is more at the back of the nose. Her nose in't running either (wonder if its an allergy?)Could this be colic/reflux do you think? No expeience of either with dd1 but dd2 has grunted/wrestled/strained/red-faced a bit since birth and not just when feeding - just seems worse today? She has always had runs when she wants to feed a lot which I have put down to growth spurts and she is gaining weight (avg.12oz a week for last 3 weeks)but she usually has good sleeps when she seems satisfied and contented even at those times. She cries when not on the breast, but doesn't seem totally satisfied when she is on the breast - it's so frustrating and upsetting

OP posts:
bumpylump · 03/08/2005 19:50

Oh MollyDolly, am sending you a virtual hug right now, It was only a few weeks ago but I can remember how hard it was when he had a growth spurt. It felt like he was attached all day. You need to speak to a breastfeeding expert (is Mears on-line?)
It does get better, it really really does.

Original poster
Mollydolly · 03/08/2005 20:11

Thanks bumpy, I feel a little better knowing I'm not the only one for whom bf'ing isn't a walk in the park - is this "normal" behaviour for a breast fed baby then or could it be colic or reflux? Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mollydolly · 03/08/2005 20:12

blossom2 - how old is your little one?

OP posts:
blossom2 · 03/08/2005 20:15

DD2 is just 4 weeks. I'm thinking it might be colic and gave her infocal and she has been asleep since 7pm (paris time) so fingers crossed!!

i'm new to breastfeeding and it seems to have taken all my confidence - ie not knowing whats normal etc.

bumpylump · 03/08/2005 20:16

Do you get wind up after she feeds Mollydolly? as in does she do a great big lovely burp?

blossom2 · 03/08/2005 20:20

oh, DD2 also has a nose issue at the moment, with grunting/blocked nose noises. they have devices which you can suck out mucus from babies noses here and it works really well. she does seem to settle & sleep better when her nose is clear, but god she really hates it & i hate doing it to her. i wonder if having mucus without a cold is common in babies?? they were cleaning her nose daily at the hospital ...hhmmm must investigate and i'll let you know what i find ...

bumpylump · 03/08/2005 20:22

my ds is 13 wks now and is still soooo mucus/snuffly, I've been so worried have seen 2 doctors and they have both sed his chest is ok it's in the back of his throat. (he snores the loadest in the bedroom now and that's saying something!)

bumpylump · 03/08/2005 20:23

ummm that's loudest, (this wine's good)

bumpylump · 03/08/2005 20:23

ummm that's loudest, (this wine's good)

Original poster
Mollydolly · 03/08/2005 20:26

Bumpy - I wind her once during and after feed and she does burp quite well most times but not always. She is sick a bit most feeds though, someitmes copious amounts, sometimes only a little or not at all. My mum thinks she is a greedy baby, specially considering her weight gain, and that she overfeeds and sicks up the excess. (DH has just come back from driving dd round the block and she is finally asleep - good old dh!!) Blossom - know what you mean about the confidence thing - didn't actually bf dd1 -expressed as she was in SCBU due to being 11 weeks prem - I never know whether I am doing the right things re feeding and miss the satisfaction of watching a bottle emptying. Silly really cos I know the benefits of breastfeeding. How is it going for you?

OP posts:
bumpylump · 03/08/2005 20:29

OHG just read back what I wrote, meant the baby is the loudest snorer in the bedroom

blossom2 · 03/08/2005 20:32

the idea of expressing is seriously tempting, although have resisted so far. On friday i would have been breastfeeding for 4 weeks so its a record for me - rewarded myself with a lovely shawl. I've even breastfed in public 3 times now (and its not done in paris).
i'm finding it all really confusing, unsettling and generally not very enjoyable. also having a 3.5 yr old makes it worse. i enjoy it at weekends when DH is at home but during the week its a pain and I wonder how long DD1 will tolerate me spending so much time with DD2.

So to sum up, i hate it really..... not really sure why i'm doing it apart from the 'its best for baby' arguement...

bumpylump · 03/08/2005 20:33

sounds like you've got a baby that loves to suck, if she likes her dummy and that calms her for a bit, then when she realises nothings coming out of it get fracious try a little warm water in a bottle. DS did exactly the same and kept overeating/being sick cycle. hmmm, your breatfeeding though so I could be giving you the wrong advice It's just what worked for me.

Original poster
Mollydolly · 03/08/2005 20:38

Thank the stars! It's not just me then? I am not enjoying it, not at all, but it doesn't seem the done thing to admit that! Like you am trying to do the "right thing", but m also struggling with not neglecting my 4 yr old. Dh is totally supportive though and says that if going on bottles makes me happier, then I should do it. Must add that the only pressure I feel to continue is that which I am putting on myself....

OP posts:
hercules · 03/08/2005 20:38

No, blossom2, what's best for baby is a happy mum.

blossom2 · 03/08/2005 20:45

I know where you are Mollydolly - i'm in exactly the same place.

for me, i'm in an almost no-win situation - if i give up too early, the guilt would kill me, but at the same time i'm not really that happy, don't feel in control, lack of confidence, frustrated at times (DH would like me to continue). All these emotions could lead to PND etc....

i've had 2 glasses of wine btw so apologies for rambling....

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