8 day old baby feeding really well but very hungry early evenings

[pamelat]

My gorgeous little boy is 8 days old today

I breastfed DD (now 2.4) until she was 5 months old. I fed on demanded and never enjoyed it but am glad I did it. She was a very sucky baby and fed for hours and hours on end.

DS is doing really really well, feeding perhaps 2 hourly in the day for half an hour (20 mins one side, 10 the other). Brilliant (!) at night, waking once or twice, feeding but re-settling easily (DD never did this, she cried for hours on end and needed holding).

The only "problem" is from 7pm until 10pm ish. At this time I seem to have low milk supply and he seems to want to feed constantly. I am doing this but its not very satisfying for either of us. Its making me very tired and I have DD to look after in the day time as of next week

I was wondering about introducing formula at 7pm?

MW told me to use a dummy as she says he is already gaining weight and he is just sucky. I tried this last night but it gave him hiccups (?!) and he kept spitting it out. He seems very young for it.

Any tips?

PS) does anyone else have experience of such a young baby only waking once or twice at night. I dont mean it in a smug way its just such a surprise to us after our DD that I wondered if it could be "normal"?!

Hi, my DS slept from 10pm until 6pm from day one I spent half my time staring at him waiting for him to wake up. Like your little one he spent the whole evening feeding, I had the same problems but eventually your body adjusts the supply to the demand. My MW said just persevere and I did it soon passsed as he started to take more at each feed. Its early days for you. Good luck with your little one.

Hi and congrats.

I'm not an expert (hopefully there will be one along soon) but the early evening feeding sounds like cluster feeding to me. DS used to do this loads. Didn't know about MN or cluster feeding at the time so thought I was running out of milk but turns out to be v important for building supply.

If you can, just let him feed, he'll settle down again. If you're getting too tired, can you express and give him some EBM?

Also try the http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/breastfeeding/directory/ breastfeeding helplines if you don't get any joy on here.

Sorry, link to bf helplines here

Cluster feeding in the early evening is very, very normal. It's not that your milk supply is low, or that he is sucky, it's that he is stocking up on milk for the night.
Giving a formula or EBM bottle, or a dummy could affect your milk supply, or indeed reduce his fab sleeping.

My advice to to go a lie on your bed and feed lying down with a book or laptop, and just switch sides every so often. It's rather nice tbh, especially if you make your DH bring you a plate of little snacks and a drink in a sports cap bottle

Also not an expert but second the cluster feeding theory.

I think it's normal that you're tired, your supply is low, he's getting less milk at each feed so needs to feed more often.

If you feel you need to introduce a bottle then do to save yourself but be aware it will impact your BFing as you won't have the supply stimulation etc. It's not something I'd recommend IYSWIM.

He sounds like an efficient feeder and you're doing well to have BF practically established.

Re: night waking what's his current pattern?

Congrats on your little bundle!! This sounds just like ds2.

See iof you can get all that you need done before 7 - manic, /i know. Then settle yourself in front of a good film/tv prog/book with snacks, drink, phone... and just feed. Bolster yourself up withh loads of pillows (those travel pillows for your neck have beena lifesaver for me) and just chill/snooze as much as pos. The cluster feeding is probably the reason for the longer spoells at night - a good thing!"!!

I'd steer away from formula thius early on if he's gaining weight ok. Unless you are really sore feeding. I also didnt get on with expressing - I was alreadfyu too tired without adding anorthyer thing to do, incl sterilising etc.,

You're doing a great job so far!!!

Congrats on your new baby! He sounds wonderful! I agree that the evening feeding sounds like cluster feeding. It is really important to encourage your supply and also probably the reason why he is sleeping so well through the night. I would not introduce a bottle at this stage. I know it is difficult with another child to look after but could you not just rest on the couch (or in bed) while he is feeding?

wise words from CMOT

the snacks are very important, as is getting DH to settle DD and load the dishwasher etc while you feed

This is utterly normal behaviour for an 8 day old It can seem like hard work I know.

Your supply is not low at this time - this feeding is what small babies do, and constant feeding (called 'cluster feeding' as hairymelons says) is something that's a whole lot easier to accept than try to change Are there ways you can make it easier eg by getting help with your toddler and other evening routines?

Formula at this stage is likely to risk undermining your breastmilk supply.

Hope you can get good help and support .

My DSs were both attached from about 7pm until 10pm until about 4 weeks(ish).

Figure out a way to facilitate it. I am convinced the early cluster feeding has meant that now our last feed of the day (at 7pm) is a BIG one, what I mean is that he has set it up so there is lots of milk available for that one. He will now sleep from 8pm until 4am (totally his doing).