Breastfeeding baby can't put down to sleep

[firsttimemum15]

I don't expect my 6 say old to sleep through the night by any means but I can't out her down to sleep at all. She will sleep after feeds but only on me or partner. She did not sleep for the standard 3 hours in hospital but would sleep in the cot. We've been home for two nights and for both of those I've been feeding at night pretty much constantly. I don't mind but when I put her down she's wakes and wants feeding.

I'm worried about Co sleeping and don't want to do it. I have a bedside crib but I think it's too big for her so have been using carry cot.
Also don't understand how bedside cot works. Babies are supposed to sleep with their feet at end of cot so have been putting her feet at the end towards my head.

Due to the way it had to be set up eg not level with our bed I'm unsure how to use this as an extension of our bed to feed her when we eventually get to that point.

Can anyone help. So many times I've questioned what I'm doing and why. Partner is v supportive

Aww it'll pass, but at the moment LO just wants to be close to you. My DS fed on the hour every hour & would only sleep on my chest for the first two months tired was an understatement!! But I don't regret it & he eventually just felt more confident on his own then. He's 13 months now & it's just absolutely flown.. So make the most of a little baba that wants to cuddle!

I certainly will. I want to enjoy every second. At the moment getting my milk up for her is a priority and a worry for me. X

Have you looked at foods which will help your milk increase? Porridge worked for me. I love it and craved it when pg and bfing but it gave me incredible squirter boobs.

My advice would be to feed, feed, feed. Just hole up in bed with snacks and drinks and boob her into submission. Look up safe cosleeping and set your bed up accordingly. When she sleeps you sleep. Cosleep.

Do you have a sling? They are fantastic for babies like this. Ds was a baby like this. His.moses basket was used exclusively as a storage facility for nappies, wipes and spare clothes. And snacks for me lol.

I came downstairs every day with him and I just really really wish I had stopped in bed those early weeks. The sling saved my sanity. I could pop him in that and have a rest from the bfing and have my arms free to make a drink or clean my teeth!

The using you as a dummy thing? She isn't. She is stimulating your supply. The more she sucks the more milk she is ordering in. She knows she needs to order more milk as her needs are changing day by day. So don't let anyone tell you differently. It is exhausting I know but it won't last forever I promise.

So my advice is safely co sleep, eat milk inducing foods, if she wants to suck let her. But if she will go in a sling for a couple of hours it will give you a bit of a break plus your boobs will fill and she will get a more satisfying feed when she does wake, which might help her sleep a couple of hours giving you time to rest and your milk supply chance to catch up.

Tiktok on here gives excellent bfing advice if she is still around. Maybe put a shout out in infant feeding where she hangs out.

Thank you I've ordered a sling. She's definitely not using me as a dummy.

I don't want these early days to end I don't mind not sleeping so much everyone says it gets easier I am not wishing for it to. The only thing I want is more milk for her. X

But if you are in better shape physically and that includes sleep then you will be in a better place to deal with bfing. You are doing amazingly well to keep persevering. Ff is a perfectly good way to feed a baby but I completely understand why bfing is so important to you.

Definitely try the sling. And don't get too hung up on her weight. When we are talking oz's at a time it's the difference between their bladder being full or empty. A gain is good but a small loss is normal and to be expected. It should be noted but not obsessed over. If she is having wet and dirty nappies and is well in herself, showing no signs of dehydration then keep going with bfing. Topping up with formula can actually cause supply issues so you start by giving an oz, then 2 then your supply dips a bit more so you give 3 etc.

Also expressing can cause issues with your supply and is fucking exhausting. If the milk is in your breast and she can access it by feeding then I would drop it. She is the best thing to stimulate ypur supply not a pump.

Definitely start a post or ask for this to be.moved to infant feeding. There are regular posters in that section of the board who know a lot more than me and probably the hcp who are advising you especially if you are under pressure to give formula top ups. It was the threads I read on there that got me through the first 6 weeks and I feel a bit cautious repeating the advice I was given in case I get it wrong.

If you report your thread and ask for it to be moved to infant feeding mnhq will do it for you. I would maybe ask for your title to be amended slightly to include bfing issues. Hope that helps and I am very jealous of the snuggly newborn stage.

Well done on the weight gain!

Definitely not bothered about it getting easier I just want her to stay tiny forever. I am happy with the advice I've been given. She is going on he boob when she wants and as often as she can. I am not supplementing booby feeds for formula and using pump to stimulate and keep supply up.

I know it may not be for the best but until it's there and I am totally happy that it's established supply that's what I am doing

Sounds like you're doing a fab job! I didn't bother pumping because my DS was feeding so much. Your supply will meet LO's demand. As long as baby is putting on weight. I didn't have leaky boobs either, but didn't mean I wasn't making enough milk. You'll get there! Just keep going as you are

Thanks for the encouragement. Starting to feel more positive about milk supply after a couple of good pumps today. It was just in the wee hours when I only got a few mls that I got stressed and upset. Trying to stay calm. Cannot recommend the BF support I've had highly enough they came round again today. Provided reassurance.

My little one had a nap today which let me nap. The Bf lady can get her down but I've either been pumping or cuddling all day. Still wouldn't change it for the world and definitely, definitely not complaining. We've had some good skin to sin today and I know as she is suckling she is helping the supply.

Thanks Mum of 1 14... forum people have been great and reassuring particularly in the wee hours. Xxx

Pumping can be really demoralising in the beginning first. I.got hardly any to start with. For me it did get easier as I went along. One thing that really helped increase the amount I could pump was to look at DD or even pics of DD as I was pumping. Not sure why, I presume it's to do with some kind of hormone that regulates milk production. Also the ritual of sitting down to pump with a cup of tea and a biscuit preferably chocolate covered seemed to help too. Even if the tea and biscuit one doesn't work it helps it to become a brief respite instead of a chore. Switching boobs frequently can help and from memory pumping was easier after a hot shower slightly hazy memory owing to sleep deprivation at the time!! Hope it gets easier and I hope you have someone telling you at least daily that you are doing a brilliant job.

Whoops cross post. So glad to hear you are feeling more positive today. Sounds like you have great support around you.

Penguin 13 I do and thank you for the tips trying to get hot drinks and pump. Hard when double pumping

Sorry I haven't been back.

Great news about the weight gain and that you are still getting support in rl.

Just to say - it's "normal" to get less milk in the evening when you express. Due to hormones, you are likely to get more in the morning. I rarely got more than an oz in the evening compared with 4oz per boob in the morning.

Also not sure if it's been mentioned as haven't had time to read the full thread but what you express isn't a reflection of your supply necessarily - some women can't express at all yet manage to breastfeed with no issues.

What you have had to do is such hard work, you are doing an amazing job

Also - not possible before you pump every time of course, but in the evenings in particular, a warm bath before you pump where you immerse your breath in the warm water can stimulate supply. As can a warm flannel on your breasts as you pump. If she is sleepy on the breast, it may be worth googling breast compression (jack Newman)

As others have said, kellymom is great for up to date info re breastfeeding too

Yep we've been doing breast compression . Greet tip about the flannel. I can't see I till manage a bath at this point but will try s hot flannel. X

And yes have been getting much less 9ut in evebibgs

You're doing so well. Well done missus!!

Aww thanks for the encouragement

Just popping back to say well done and lovely to see all this breastfeeding support. You are doing so well!

How's it going with the cot and sleeping at night?

Hey OP just wanted to drop a line to say that what comes out when you pump breastmilk isn't an indication of what the baby gets. Baby will most likely be better at sucking and getting the milk out than a pump will. Is your baby having enough wet and poopy nappies? www.nhs.uk/start4life/breastfeeding-feeding-well (sorry if you mentioned this already).

We're in week eight now and I think I average about one day a week where the baby and I just stay in bed most of the day, laze about and she gets fed lots. Breastmilk is more easily digested than formula so that's one reason breastfed babies will feed more frequently and it's perfectly normal (albeit tiring).

My baby won't be put down either but is just starting to allow more time in her bouncy chair and changing mat. I got a sling & Ergo carrier for home and shops, it makes life a lot easier. There is light at the end of the tunnel... or am I seeing things? :D

Well done OP, you're doing great. My second is a few months old and I'd forgotten all about the not wanting to be put down thing. I ended up with her at the side of me in bed, on top of duvet, out of sheer desperation. She started to go down in the crib better after a few weeks. It was the only way I'd get any sleep. She's still not great at being put down, but you are right, this time is short and precious.
You've done brilliantly with the feeding. I know everyone says it, but it does get easier. The early days are tough... I'd forgotten how tough sometimes. My LO will feed and feed and feed sometimes at night and it's hard. You're tired and emotional. Keep up the good work.

I get a bumper crop of expressed milk in the morning but not much on the evenings so worried supply is low or dips. Thanks again everyone for checking on us (too many names to write)

Off to try a cat nap but I know she will wake.

She will.go in cot ocassion ally. Xxxxx

Expressing is not an indication of supply. Some people can't express at all but feed very successfully. It can also be harder to get a letdown when expressing if you're getting stressed about it.

I know I don't think I'm stressed just disappointed. I've been reassured it's normal though but just want yo know my milk supply has increased and fully established so we can get along as a family feel a bit tied to the hose/pump at the mo.

We have had a skin to skin day today after it didn't work too well the other day. Stayed upstairs and fed and skep skin to skin. X

I think milk production is higher in the morning so is entirely natural for it to dip. The best thing you can do is feed feed feed