Newborn want to start off right

[Raroo]

Hi I have a 4 day DS whose proving to be a real screamer. Really want to start off right. I try feed every 3 hours sometimes every 2 1/2 but so far he wakes up hourly from about 11 till 4am screaming. Should I feed each time or am I right to think that's crazy and maybe he's in pain?? He has quite a lot of gas at this time. Any leads? Also please advise how long he should be awake for because at the moment it's literally five mins here and there. Thank u!

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

Congratulations on your little baby!  Xx. Are you breastfeeding?  If so, the first few days are a bit like this I'm afraid, lots of growth spurts and cluster feeding. It will get better as your milk comes in properly. I remember feeding dd2 for like six hours one night when she was about that age. I just settled in bed with lots of cushions and made dh bring me food. I slept when she did.

[Raroo]

Thanks for reply! Ok so will just ride out the next week or so and then try keep on the EASY track!

[Mackjack]

Hi there,
I'm on my second baby currently 4 weeks old. Just wanted to add (as you seem to feel like you're feeding all the time!) - yes, they do feed a lot at first but quite often, when they do the rooting thing (banging their head on your chest looking for a nipple/teat) it can also mean they've got wind so you could be right about the gas. So if you've just fed and you feel like DS can't really be hungry, try giving him a really good wind to see if that helps.

[Raroo]

Thank you mackjack! I took note of that and it's true. Saved me and him some unnecessary feeds!
I really don't want to do any accidental parenting. My older DD, now 2, we started on EASY at 5 weeks and
I had already done some damage which was hard to repair.
Am I bein unrealistic to expect LO not to fall asleep when I am feedin; he is now 12 days old. He sleeps alllll the time so obviously when I feed he just carries on!

[Mackjack]

It's really hard to keep them awake in the early days - my LO is more awake but still nods off on the boob at 5 weeks. If, like me, you're worried about associating feeding with sleeping just do whatever you can to wake him a little before you put him down for a sleep. I often have to do a nappy change after a feed - or even if he doesn't need a change, just take his nappy off as that's the only thing that really seems to rouse him

[Raroo]

What about night feeds? LO falls asleep on the breast. If I wake him by nappy change he screams and won't settle for about an hour

[Mackjack]

Good question actually - when I night feed sometimes my LO goes down awake and settles, sometimes he goes down asleep. I just assumed it was ok for them to go down asleep as they'll not be nightfeeding forever. What do others think?