Help needed about feeding age 9 weeks

[Lilipot15]

Hello, I have posted on infant feeding but not had any responses...wondered if anyone can advise if there is a growth spurt at 9 weeks.
My thread is long and I don't know how to link!
Essentially 9 week old feeds 1-2 hourly in daytime, gaining weight well, seems happy and well. On an evening, pretty much since birth, but worse in last week, she is tugging at boob, getting angry, head butting me....
It's a bit of a struggle as I also have an 18 month old toddler and getting absolutely nothing done!! Family helping but I am wondering when this will pass.

She very easily took 90ml EBM from a bottle last night but I only find time to express once a week and only giving bottles really so she stays used to them for when I go back to work.

Any advice? Any way I can get these feeds spaced out a bit more in daytime? I cannot feed in a sling and getting back and neck ache from sitting feeding for so long.

Hi OP, I am FF my DD but she too is 9 weeks old and goes no longer than 2 hrs between feeds in the daytime, and maybe 3-4 overnight. My HV advised me that this was perfectly fine, frequent smaller feeds spread out over the day are better for their digestion than say 6 massive ones, as their stomachs are still so tiny!

I'm sorry to hear about your neck and back, I had the same problem when breastfeeding my elder child. they are 8 now so my memories are a bit fuzzy but I think her feeding settled right down by about 12 weeks and I could go a good 3 hours before she needed feeding again. It was around this point that I finally tackled my ironing mountain if I recall correctly haha!

It might be worth offering a dummy, as some of the feeding could be comfort feeding-this might buy you an extra half am hour or so to put your feet up. Failing that, chat to your HV who might have some other ideas.

Thank you, my mum mentioned that it might be better around 12 weeks.
Reassuring to know a FF baby in a similar pattern as I was wondering whether to start formula.
I think the neck and back aches are because I often just start feeds in such a hurry to minimise crying or because she has been crying for a while whilst I deal with something else I forget to get comfy and sit there all hunched up (doing just that now!!).

Trying a dummy but it's hit and miss whereas my eldest was (is) a dummy monster!

there is always the possibility that a formula top up might help? I see people talk about doing that a lot here but I've no personal experience of it, DD1 would never take a bottle so was BF til she was 14 months! If your little one will take a bottle definitely keep up using it for occasional feeds, br that formula or expressed breast milk, will make life so much easier for you later on if you go back to work!

My DD. was a bit iffy with the dummy for a few weeks but now she likes it when she is tired and sucking on it sends her off to sleep so maybe yours will be the same and take to it eventually lol! I did find the shape of the teat matters to her, so maybe try some different designs. I ordered mine from amazon as much cheaper than boots etc for tommee tippee and mam ones.

Thanks. I shall keep trying with different dummy types. Have wondered about formula top up, but DD1 was allergic to cow's milk, so bit nervous of the same, although she's been okay with me continuing to eat dairy (phew- can still eat cake!).....however formula in cupboard just in case it's needed!
I know these phases pass, it's just tricky that I feel it's taking me away from DD1, although she seems quite happy actually.

Bless, I feel the same way about my DD1, as obviously DD2 needs so much of my time at the min and she had me to herself for 8 years but actually, she's handling it really well. I think as mums we'll always feel guilty about something

The fact that you can eat dairy is defo a good sign, so if you decide to try the formula hopefully she will be fine! Start with small amounts and see how she goes.