Breastfeeding

[linz84]

Hi,

First time post.

My daughter is 1 week old and feeds constantly. Today she's been latched onto me since 5.30pm until now, my milk is coming in and I feel the latch is correct. If I put her down she whinges as though still hungry. She won't for anything settle in her Moses basket. I spend most nights on the couch feeding her and her falling asleep on me.

I really don't want to stop breastfeeding but it'd really taking everything out of me. I have occasionally given her a formula bottle to try and get her to sleep.

Anybody any ideas?

I know this is not what you want to hear but....it is totally totally normal
Breastfeeding takes many weeks to become fully established and the constant feeding is part of that process

If you want to continue breastfeeding then do let your daughter feed as much as she wants and do not offer formula at this stage. The best indicator that she is getting enough from you are frequent heavy nappies, soft yellow poos, and good weight gain

Breastfeeding is full on and it does take it out of you-the early weeks and months and truly exhausting; I personally found that making a conscious decision to mentally give in to it helped an enormous amount

Eat and drink plenty, co-sleep safely if that's what it takes, but do not sleep on the sofa/couch with her-way way too risky

Good luck-you can do this!

Do you have a partner who can take her when she's not feeding so you can rest as much as possible? Have you tried warming the Moses basket before putting her down, and using a muslin that smells of you as a sheet? White noise can also help.

Breastfeeding is one of those things where the hardest part is all at the beginning. 2 weeks is better than week 1, 6 weeks is much better again. At 3 months it's hard to remember how hard it was at 1 week.

Is she gaining weight ok? Otherwise seem well?

This is what they do. Sorry I've done it twice. Cluster feeding! It helps increase your supply. It usually calms down after the first 6/8 weeks. Just keep checking for wet and dirty nappies and get baby weighed regularly.

The midwives told me that I could top her up with formula and that many parents are combined feeding now. I try and avoid doing it and my intention is to stop completely when I can.

I have tried warming the Moses basket first but she still doesn't seem to like it.

I think I forgot how exhausting newborns are, this is the first time I've breastfed.

Normal.
You basically need to hunker down with your baby skin to skin & let the feed alllll the time. She's putting her order in & your boobs are responding. Then it gets easier & easier

My suggestion would be cosleeping - it is hugely beneficial for BF.

Ugh OP it's mega tough. If you can keep at it it gets much easier after six weeks and is then so easy. No faffing with bottles in the night, go out, can feed one handed so use the other hand to play with my full on one year old 😅

But I had to dig deep those first weeks. Just keep hydrated, well fed and enjoy the excuse to sit and cuddle your baby. I personally didn't use formula as i was told it can mess with supply but who bloody knows with the every changing advice.

It's tough, but it gets so much easier. If you can hang on and a take it a day at a time it gets better!

It will get easier

• she's cluster feeding, have you tried swaddling her? Tiny babies are still working out what it's like to be a little human being so she's just working her way around her little world - I'd say just let it happen, keep open talks with your HV to make sure it's all normal, and enjoy her - congratulations!

Hello OP I also had to dig very very deep with my first DD, it feels like it’s never ending those first few weeks, my DH cut my food up for me and fed me!

Your LO is indeed putting her order in! Your boobs will only make as much milk as requested, not when you have an empty boob, but sucking equals the making of more milk. The problem with topping up now is that your almost stopping your boobs from making a sufficient amount of milk to sustain your baby so that you’ll have to continue to give her formula ans it’ll become a cycle, the suckling will make the milk.

My DD was the same as your little one, my DS was much more efficient and went longer between feeds but my third DS is the same as my DD ... and so it goes.

My only advice would be to treat yourself, get in some snacks and chocolates and lovely drinks, have a bath with LO and get DH to put some fresh sheets on the bed, then climb in with LO and watch box sets. Prop yourself up on pillows and make yourself comfy, have wipes, nappies, spare sleepsuits close by and try and enjoy it.

Your milk only came in a couple of days ago, in another few days it’ll start to plateau and in a few weeks you’ll be flying.

For the leaking boobs I would go bra-less and just fold a muslin cloth over the boob that isn’t feeding to catch the excess, tuck a muslin into your vest as you’ll be feeling tender so having things loose will help. Try and run the shower head over your boobs as often as you can to ease any discomfort. If your nipples are cracking, try and put on a bit of lasinoh but just on the cracks and let the air get to them.

Try and sleep as much as you can with baby, lying on your side to feed is a bit tricky but is a godsend for these long cluster feeds.

www.llli.org/faq/positioning.html

You’ve got this OP you can do it!!!

Has she been checked for tongue tie? I would say it all sounds normal IME but worth checking that there are no issues feeding.

Also read up on the fourth trimester. Neither of mine would ever go in the Moses basket (or cosleeper or cot!). They slept on me or in the sling downstairs and in bed upstairs. She's so little and all she knows is you, your warmth, your heartbeat and your milk so she just wants to be close.

It's the putting down that is the problem so I would avoid it by breastfeeding lying down in bed and letting her sleep there (following the safe cosleeping guidelines). Breastfeeding is exhausting but resting if not sleeping whilst she feeds in the night makes it all so much more bearable.

She lost quiet a bit of weight in the first 3days but then put some back on at day5. She was born at 9lb9 so is a big baby. She has plenty of wet nappies, not many dirty nappies but the midwife said it's common with breastfed babies.

We had a better night last night, still exhausting though

The first few weeks are relentless unfortunately. Cluster feeding feels like forever!! It will pass. :)

Look up safe co sleeping and please, please give it a go. Feeding lying down with safe cosleeping arrangements is so much safer than falling asleep on the sofa with them. They do just want to feed for hours at first and whilst well meaning people may tell you the baby HAS to go in the Moses basket thanks unhelpful health visitor finding something that works for you is much better and safer.

I co slept with my two when I had to, then moved them to a full sized cot with the side off so the mattress was level with my bed. I often woke up half in the cot but found if cosleeping is a necessity rather than a preference, this was a great way of doing it as you each have your own space.

OP, when you say you're not getting many dirty nappies - are you at least getting 1-2 per day? If not then I think the feeding needs checking over as it could indicate poor milk transfer.
Your midwife isn't quite right about a lack of poo being common in bf babies. This is only the case after about 4 weeks or so. Before that point, a lack of poo always needs checking out.
How much formula are you using and how often? The use of formula this early on can really harm your supply and make it very difficult to continue breastfeeding for much longer.
The first few weeks are incredibly tough and establishing breastfeeding does take time and patience. But once you've cracked it, as pp said, it becomes so easy you'll not even think about it.