Baby CONSTANTLY feeding

[leilathebaby]

My baby is 3 weeks and 2 days and she is CONSTANTLY feeding. I've put her on hungrier milk for babies and then the midwife came round and said they don't recommend it until they're 6 months. She's having 6-8 ounces every hour and a half. I feel like I'm going through tubs and tubs of formula (which don't come cheap lol) and she's constantly wanting to feed. I don't get much sleep either because she wakes up screaming feed me. I offer her water in between feeds as well which she guzzles. I don't know what else to try surely it's not normal for a 3 week old baby to be eating what a 6 month baby would normally eat.

Did the midwife think it was unusual? Might be worth another conversation with the midwife or GP if you’re concerned. I believe it is NOT recommended to give newborns water though - please don’t do that without clearing it with the midwife/GP as well. I do know that newborn feeding feels relentless !

Are you doing paced bottle feeding?

Babies this age should not be given water, so please don't do that. Babies do go through growth spurts abs feed constantly, it's normal. But talk to your healthcare advisor or take her to see a doctor if you are concerned. 6-8ounces does seem a lot for such a small baby, but some babies do need more than others. One other thing... is she calm once fed? Is she sleeping? Could she actually have trapped wind or reflux and is seeking comfort from the milk? Make sure you wind her really well after each feed.

The midwife recommended I offer her an ounce of boiled sterilised water throughout the day to help with any dehydration. I do pace bottle feeding but because she has so much milk it takes absolutely forever especially with all the burping I have to do. Personally I can't rest if I know she's got wind so I spend my time trying to bring it up.

Once fed she's calm and will sleep very well.

Im a midwife and that is very poor advice from your midwife regarding giving water. Please do not give your baby water. It does seem like quite a lot of milk. Have you tried giving slightly more milk at each feed to try and space the feeds out a bit more? It could also be worth trying to speak to the GP about silent reflux. Some babies with this over feed as they are trying to soothe the burning feeling they get...could be that your little one is doing this.

She started out really well once born she fed every three hours and had 2-3 ounces. It's the past week she's become so hungry. She had jaundice which has now cleared and is putting on a lot of weight. At the start of the week she was 6lb 13 and now she's 7lb 13 which makes me think she's having a growth spurt and making up for the fact that she had jaundice

Im a midwife and that is very poor advice from your midwife regarding giving water. Please do not give your baby water. It does seem like quite a lot of milk. Have you tried giving slightly more milk at each feed to try and space the feeds out a bit more? It could also be worth trying to speak to the GP about silent reflux. Some babies with this over feed as they are trying to soothe the burning feeling they get...could be that your little one is doing this.

@stopchewingeverything

Im a midwife and that is very poor advice from your midwife regarding giving water. Please do not give your baby water. It does seem like quite a lot of milk. Have you tried giving slightly more milk at each feed to try and space the feeds out a bit more? It could also be worth trying to speak to the GP about silent reflux. Some babies with this over feed as they are trying to soothe the burning feeling they get...could be that your little one is doing this.

Okay that may be the case, I reckon I may try GP advice!

Hmmm I've just researched a little about the reflux and my baby has ALL the symptoms I'll definitely be calling the GP first thing this morning