Day 7 today - can you help with ???'s

[Melsy]

Hi guys,

DS#2 was born exactly one week ago.  I am really trying hard with the breastfeeding thing as DS#1 only made it to 9 days before I switched to formula (3 more days and I beat my record!!  )  I just have some questions and am kinda short on time, have been trying to read thru as many of the FAQ's as possible but sometimes hard with 3.5 year old running around.   


1)  I never know when I am supposed to switch sides.    I know we are concentrating on single sided feeding more now, but how do you know when one side is "empty" so to speak and to offer the other side?? 

2)  Any ideas how to keep his hands away from his mouth so that I can actually attach him??  I have everything all lined up, ready to pop him on, then in goes his hands into his mouth and we have to start again.    Am reluctant to swaddle for the feed, cause trying to make that part of wind down routine, plus MW at hospital thought it might turn him into a "snacker" cause he kept falling asleep really easily when swaddled. 

3)  Topping up -    To me, it seems like we have a really good feed, lasts say 45 mins including a nappy change half way just to make sure he stays awake.  He seems content.  Get a yawn, swaddle, do all the going to sleep stuff.......... then he won't go to sleep. And to me, it seems like he is rooting, looking for more.  So have been giving him a little more, cause I am desperate for him to go off to sleep so I can try and get EASY going.  Example-:  Feed him at 8ish am, feed took 45mins or so, had nappy changed etc.  9ish yawns so swaddle and sit quietly etc.  Nothing - not going off to sleep.  So 9.30ish gave him a bit more cause he was sticking tongue out and arching backwards.  It is now 10am and he is STILL not asleep.  He has been awake for over 2 hours!     Which for a 7 day old seems like WAY TOO LONG in my book!!  Do I need to do pat shush???  Is it a feed issue or sleep issue??

Better go - I have more questions but will post later.

Melissa

[liacarmen]

I'm not an expert - but I think at a week old anything goes! If he's rooting, I'd feed him since you want to get your supply up and established. I wouldn't worry about a snacker yet, you've got plenty of time to worry about that developing. I think it's pretty common for newborns to want to nurse pretty much all the time they're awake - not so EASY! You're doing great work, keep it up and don't worry about a routine or creating bad habits yet.

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Hi, i had simular problems with ds#3. I got some good advise but not till he was nearly 5 weeks old, so this should be much easier for you.

'Cluster Feed'
What you do is try to fit 12 feeds in 1 day. To do this i fed every 1 1/2 hour from the start of the feed, 10 mins each side.

eg: 7am feed - 8.30 feed - 10am feed so by 7pm you've done 9 feeds. The nights i just let him wake up to feed.

Its really hard but at least you know what your doing and you have an hour inbetween feeds, which is more than your getting now. It takes about a week till it really makes a difference but really worth it. Your milk should be flowing by then.

Hope this helps Kate

[Jennerific]

1. i don't think you need to switch sides unless you feel like your baby is not gettin enough; we didn't start double side feeding until after 4 months

2. take the arm closest to you & tuck it under his body as you hold him close. using your opposite hand, tuck his other arm down so that you're holding his arm close to his body as you're holding him to feed. we had the exact same problem (always wanting to have 2 fists in his mouth at the same time), if you can't get the outside arm down at least concentrate on tucking the arm closest to you under & it should help

3. its not uncommon for very little babies to stay awake for long stretches of time. it sounds like its something you just need to relax on for now... i know its hard when you want to get EASY started but in my experience (with Liam & he's my first so i am no expert!!) it took about 3 weeks to get into a routine that worked. for the first 2 weeks i more concentrated on separating Eating from Sleeping & just went with the flow.

good luck!! not sure if any of this will help you; just hang in there, you're doing a great job & i think its wonderful you're trying to BF this time around. its really a great experience