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Original poster

I’ve overfed my baby. Help!

36 replies

B00cock · 25/03/2020 22:21

I’ve got a 5 day old baby, who’s also our first child, and regrettably we’ve realised that we massively overfed him yesterday therefore last night was horrendous (baby didn’t settle until 4:40am) followed by an entire day of crying.

We are using mixed feeding, however today I have only breastfed and continue to do so for the foreseeable. But is there anything else that can help soothe my poorly boy?

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WestWasnt · 25/03/2020 22:23

What makes you think you’ve overfed him? If you think he’s got wind cycling his legs may help, there are videos on YouTube to show you how.
Also congratulations on your newborn!

NuffSaidSam · 25/03/2020 22:24

Unless you were forcing it into his face I don't think you can really overfeed them...they eat what they need.

Is he pooing ok? Any reflux? Are you winding him ok?

GrumpyHoonMain · 25/03/2020 22:25

If you have stopped the formula then don’t worry about it. You can’t overfeed a breastfed baby.

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PragmaticWench · 25/03/2020 22:26

If you over feed a baby they just puke it back up, that's all. Perhaps there is another reason they are unsettled? Babies often don't sleep at night...

mynameiscalypso · 25/03/2020 22:27

In what way is he poorly? Babies are generally pretty good at regulating their own intake

Yesterdayforgotten · 25/03/2020 22:29

Sounds like trapped wind or reflux and not over feeding.

NameChangedToProtect1 · 25/03/2020 22:29

My experience was that babies are rather like gearboxes...if you overfill it - it just comes out!

dementedpixie · 25/03/2020 22:29

You cant possibly have overfed him. Why would you think that?

whatswithtodaytoday · 25/03/2020 22:31

What's actually wrong with him? Anything extra will just spill out as puke, and if you overfed him yesterday it will all be through his system by now anyway.

BecauseReasons · 25/03/2020 22:35

You can't overfeed a breastfed baby. And I thin the formula overfeeding is less of a problem in a single instance, more of an issue if you make a habit of it because they stop realising when they're full.

If you're happy with breastfeeding, I'd stick to that and remember to wind him after a feed- whoever said that breastfed babies do not need winding was a liar IMO.

givemeacall · 25/03/2020 22:37

This reply has been deleted

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PippaPegg · 25/03/2020 22:38

You can't overfeed with bf and you will be amazed how much feeding baby can do!

Definitely wind baby, both mine have needed winding. It's a myth that bf babies don't need winding

TinklyLittleLaugh · 25/03/2020 22:42

He’s a bit little for mixed feeding. At five days you should be breastfeeding on demand to establish your supply properly.

katmarie · 25/03/2020 22:44

Bear in mind that at the moment baby is likely to be cluster feeding to get your supply up, it might seem like they want to feed constantly, but it's done with a purpose. Plus a baby's stomach is really tiny, so they have to feed little and often. You cant over feed a newborn, just keep putting him on the breast whenever he gives off hunger signals.

Original poster
B00cock · 25/03/2020 22:45

From the moment he was born he was the most chilled happy little thing, so much so we would have to wake him for feeds and you’d never hear him cry, which then makes you think you’re not feeding him enough.
Yesterday, he had feeds off my breast eight times throughout the day and still didn’t seem content he’s also had three additional feeds from the bottle (yes I know we messed up there!). But then it came to bed time and the poor thing had four runny poos in just one hour, he cried all night he’s had reflux early this afternoon, with constant wind, and since then simply will not settle. When he does settle after a couple of minutes he just screams out and starts crying and there’s nothing that stops him. Which makes me believe we’ve over done it, as I have read you can overfeed a baby formula. Therefore he’s just on the breast for now but I just hope there’s something else that can help relieve his discomfort?

OP posts:
katmarie · 25/03/2020 22:46

Also the not settling til 4 am is very normal, they dont know the difference between night and day yet, so its pot luck when they sleep.

Solasum · 25/03/2020 22:48

They are quieter the first few days then wake up a bit. Eight feeds a day for a newborn seems on the low side for me. I am pretty sure my son was feeding about twelve times plus when he was that age, thankfully it settles down.

Milk poo is very runny.

georgialondon · 25/03/2020 22:51

It's hard to over feed a breastfed baby. I'm sure it's all fine.

mynameiscalypso · 25/03/2020 22:53

You didn't mess up at all! I agree; 8 feeds a day is nothing. At Day 5 I switched to FF but I was feeding 20+ times a day before then which I think is fairly normal. Everything you've described sounds pretty normal for the first few days. Everything is brand new for your baby and it takes them time to adjust - I don't think DS settles anywhere that wasn't lying on one of us for the first couple of weeks.

Willow4987 · 25/03/2020 22:55

Honestly Op that all sounds really normal

In the first few days/weeks babies do feed constantly. Both of my DS took on average 10 feeds at that age, some days up to 12 if they were cluster feeding

DS2 has a habit of continuing to feed for comfort and brings up any excess milk

You can’t really over feed a baby- I know they say you can for formula ones but truly they will just throw it up if they are too full

Please don’t worry about this. It could be anything from trapped wind to just being a newborn who wants comfort

Happywith2 · 25/03/2020 22:55

This is all normal. Carry on breastfeeding. My baby would feed every hour sometime more sometimes least. He would do loads of poos one after another normally at nighttime just as he fell asleep. It’s hard work but it will get easier.
Read Up on the fourth trimester.
You are doing a great job x

Willow4987 · 25/03/2020 22:56

Oh and the poo is totally normal! DS1 was constantly pooing. It was beyond a joke at one stage!

Mischance · 25/03/2020 22:56

Please do not worry - this is all very new to you and I know it feels a huge responsibility. But all new mothers are feeling their way a bit and trying to adapt to their baby's needs. You and baby need to get to know one another and over time you will feel more confident to meet his needs.

It really does not sound as though you have overfed him; but if he seemed upset after his bottle feeds then it might be best to leave them off and concentrate on getting the breast feeding going. To start with it is tempting to feel that you must get nourishment down at all costs, especially if they are restless. But babies can be a bit lethargic to begin with, then they start to perk up and get hungrier - that is what is so great about breast-feeding if you are able to manage this, because as the demand increases, so does the supply! A neat little arrangement!

Is the midwife still calling? - or the health visitor? - I do not know what is happening with that in these crazy times of isolation. Maybe you could phone the midwife for some reassurance?

Peanut55 · 25/03/2020 22:59

Hey OP. ..rest assured you will get nights like this. I remember one night I managed twenty minutes of sleep.

Babies cluster feed , so baby is most likely doing this to keep your milk supply up .

There is absolutely nothing wrong with combi-feeding either. I did this and my DS was great with it.

Definitely always try and wind. Maybe infacol? I had to use this for my DS. Helped alot with bringing his wind up.
Lots of cuddles and reassurance and baby will eventually settle. It's all brand new for all of you, it takes a while to get into the swing of things. You are all learning together.

Congratulations on your baby.

katmarie · 25/03/2020 23:01

If you're worried about wind, you can give infacol before a feed, and then plenty of winding after, also if baby stops to switch breasts, you can wind then before carrying on. We've also found gripe water to work quite well after a feed with dd who really likes to hang onto her wind.

Honestly it sounds like cluster feeding and wind to me, not over feeding. Both my kids cluster fed for the first 10 days or so, and then settled down a bit after that. It's just their way of letting your body know how much milk to produce. Just keep feeding and winding, lots and lots of winding, and lots of cuddling. Try propping the head end of your cot up slightly so baby isn't completely flat lying down. It will pass I promise.