Newborn pooping at every feed, after nappy change wants feeding, poops again

[Unluckoftheirish]

My 4 day old baby boy feeds on the breast for only 5-10 minutes at a time, he's only lost 3.6 percentile of his birth weight (9lbs), but each time he feeds during the night, he poos, after only a few mouthfuls of food. I let him finish his feed, where he often is then sleepy or asleep and would be perfect for putting to bed, other than his bum needing changed. As soon as I change him, he's fully alert and ready to feed again, and so begins the cycle. I've had 7 hours sleep since giving birth, four days ago. I pumped one bottle for my partner to give to him, my milk has just come in, and he went through it and still wanted the breast, everytime he feeds it's instant poo, and instantly after his change, he's crying for the breast again, mouthing, trying to suck etc. I have no idea how to break this cycle, I can't put him to sleep in a dirty nappy, but I can't keep feeding every 15 minutes. I feel really depressed, the home midwife sent me to the GP today for anti depressants because I'm so drained and have serious mental health problems. I don't even know how good my milk will be for him once I start taking them.
If anyone has any advice on how to break the quick feed-poo-change cycle, please do say.
I'm also terrible at winding him, so he constantly spits up over himself while lying down, so I'm very paranoid he's going to choke, or go cold in his own sick patch

How long do you leave it after the end of feed before changing him? If you change him straight away hang on 10-15 minutes as he may not have finished pooing.

With winding we found out little boy didn't need it after every feed. If I wind him he will be sick. instead i hold him in cradle position for a while after a feed before putting in his crib. We also found we had to try different winding positions. I was awful at winding as I expected a burp within 5 minutes. It was definatly dhs area

Hang in there! There’s no rule that says you have to change him. If he’s happy sleeping then so be it. Change his nappy when he wakes up. Congratulations on your new baby.

Oh love, he’s 4 days old. They change on a weekly basis at this age, if not daily. It’s not something he going to do forever, bf babies poo a lot less a lot quicker than formula babies because they’re so little waste. In 2/3 weeks you’ll be lucky to have one poo a day.

His intestines are getting used to working and digesting, frequent poos whilst tiring are very normal.

I remember this stage and being desperate for a solution, hang in there OP.
We ended up changing every other nappy in the end just to get some rest - DC was absolutely fine, never got nappy rash and actually got sleep in between which then led him to feed more at the next feed as he had more energy for it.

As PP mentioned, it changes so quickly at this stage though - I think this lasted a few weeks max for us before he stopped pooping overnight at all! So hang in there, you're doing wonderfully

Thank you all so much, he's definitely a big fan of pooping, I took the advice here and left it a little longer to change and tried winding him in the meantime, has definitely helped a bit. He's actually slept through a good part of the night, even if a lot of it was in my arms before transfering him over. Keeping him upright as well as (badly attempting) burping him seems to have cut down on the reflux, but definitely still an issue, he's throwing up 10-20 minutes after being put down an covering his little face and shoulders so he gets wet and cold, but it's not as bad as it was. His nappy rash is not nice at all, but I don't leave him sitting too long, and the midwife isn't concerned.
I'm so aniexty riddled at the best of times, but this is a whole new ball game. Thank you for your support ♥️

Op sounds like you are doing an amazing job feeding and his pooping is evidence of this, take heart. Read up on the fourth trimester next time you feed, it will give you lots of information and reassurance to help with anxiety around your new man. Congratulations lovely

When mine was newborn, I'd often hold her over a potty to poo. (Her back to me, holding her legs up in a squat position). This helped lots of poo come out at once.

Also, everything's a phase with newborns. It's exhausting, but it gets easier

EVERYTHING is new and you're learning. I remember those sleep deprived days and everything becomes such a massive deal. Burping is a real time stealer. Please don't beat yourself up. You're doing the best you cN and seeking support.

If the nappy rash is bad, use a small amount of metanium and a barrier cream on top- this will heal the rash and keep the poo away from the skin.
In the day, you can leave the nappy off and just loosely wrap a small towel around and under the baby’s bottom half for an hour or so at a time. Helps no end.

Oh and winding is overrated in BF babies- don’t stress about it.

You’re doing great as PP have said I would leave him if settled a poo-y nappy won’t do him any harm! Also I’m amazing your midwife sent you for antidepressants so soon day 4 post baby is height or hormonal flood and baby blues I was an absolute state on day 4 and by day 10 was absolutely fine! Hats off to you for breastfeeding but don’t do it if it damages your health or mental health- if it’s not sustainable after a few weeks maybe consider combination feeding? You’re doing greatN

With the nappy rash, get a tub of epaderm or hydromol (different brands, same thing, depends what the chemist stocks). Nicu used hydromol on our twins and especially when they were newborns it was remarkable stuff - DT2 has a big raw patch where the top layer of skin came off and this stuff sorted it rapidly. It’s wax based so stops wee and poo getting to the skin.

One tub lasted us nearly a year. Also good on dry skin, eczema etc. Always handy to have.

This will change a lot over the next 1-2 weeks so hang in there and enlist DH to take over whenever you can. When the twins came home from nicu, DH and I would feed one each then he’d change them while I pumped. It was brutal but we are still alive!

Oh and get some of those puppy pads - nappy off time lying on the pad will help with rashes.

If it’s not healing or gets red dots / is bright bright red, it can be fungal which can be an issue for both of you if you’re bfing.