Struggling being a mum.

[Anonmumm]

Hi all, so I’m a single mum to a 6mo. They were born premature meaning their development is around 7 weeks behind their actual age.

they don’t consume more than 22oz in 24 hours- roughly an oz an hour… which is exhausting. This goes on though out the night too they will wake 5/6 times a night still.
he is so clingy, he won’t let me set him down without him screaming meaning it’s getting impossible to get anything done. I find myself doing laundry at 2am while he is sound asleep.

im really struggling with being a mum, I feel like I’m no longer enjoying it and each day is just repeating itself. Even if I go out or meet up with friends and family, I just feel like I’m going round in circles. He is six months old and I feel like I still have a newborn. It’s draining everything from me and I need some advice and support.

I'm not a mum but just want to send a virtual hug and I know from friends how difficult being a single mum can be x

Sending a hand hold. Hang in there!

Are they FF? Any ideas why he will only take an oz an hour? Do they fall asleep on the bottle etc?

Gentle techniques to keep awake and feeding could help, plus larger bottle teats.

Hello, yes he's FF. Due to complications with his birth and him coming early. My milk never developed meaning I could not BF.
We are not sure why he eats so little it could be because his stomach wasn't fully developed when he was born. Iv increased teat size from a 0 to a 1 but when I try him on a 2 he chokes on it and makes himself sick- almost like it's too much at once for him x

Hi @Anonmumm,

I'm a new mum too and it's very hard. I feel the same as you. What bottles are you using? I changed bottles with different teats and it's worked wonders for his feeding. But I guess every baby is different! Other than that have you rang your health visitor as they'll offer advice even when they have stopped the official visits.
Would you family look after them for a while to give you a break?

Hi,

My DC was born 9 weeks early and was exactly like this. It felt like such a chore. Drinking 3oz would take forever. Have you started weaning? It does get easier once they are eating. Things will hopefully start getting easier soon. Make sure you are getting enough sleep and eating well too. I found that when I was tired everything was a lot harder to deal with.

It sounds like he's snacking rather than having a proper feed. DD used to do this. I managed to increase her feeds by distracting her for approx 20-30 minutes then feeding her so she went from 1 to 1.5hrs. Then the next day again so she went from 1.5 to 2 hrs. Then from 2 to 2.5, then to 3. She kind of stuck at 2.5 to 3 hrly feeds in the day and 4 hourly at night which was much more manageable.

Hello!

We have not started weening yet as we was advised not too untill we see a dietitian ( mid April)
It honesty feels so hard, it's exhausting. You say it becomes easier once they start eating, did yours continue with good weight gain after this? My son is really struggling with weight gain atm he is only gaining half what he should be.

I use mam bottles, he refuses any other type won't Even put it in his mouth let alone drink from it. What bottles did you use?
I see the health visitor frequently and they have said just keep going with the feeding and hope that it improves, i've got an appointment with a dietician in April to see if they can suggest anything as he is not gaining enough weight.
My mum watches him on a Friday night for me so I can do whatever I need too, she works full time so she isn't available to have him any other time