Author Topic: New here. Bf help  (Read 5112 times)

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Offline Sharps83

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New here. Bf help
« on: October 15, 2016, 16:28:25 pm »
Hello
Just want to know I'm not alone. I'm bf. Find it ok really however my 2 week old is feeding about 2hourly in the day then crazy cluster feeds from 6pm till 11pm. My boobs are killing me. She just won't settle after a feed. Any tips?

Offline *Ali*

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2016, 17:28:35 pm »
Hang in there. It will get better!

Do you have support like a partner or your mum?

Are you able to just hang out at home in your pjs?
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline Sharps83

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2016, 18:40:13 pm »
Yes my husband is great but not much he can do. He goes back to work Monday and I'm dreading it.
I've expressed so he can do a feed. How many ml do they take? ,

Offline *Ali*

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2016, 22:24:32 pm »
Good to hear you have a supportive partner. Amounts vary greatly at this age. It's worth looking up paced feeding.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline Shiv52

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2016, 12:35:18 pm »
 Hugs and more hugs.

The first 4 weeks are so tough with BFing but I always found it got much much better after that.

Have you lansinoh for your nipples? 

How is the baby wind wise?  Do you think that's stopping her from settling?





Offline Sharps83

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2016, 16:06:33 pm »
I try to wind her after each feed. She sometimes burps and other times doesn't.
She just grunts all. Ugh long.
Yes I have the cream which I'm using.

Offline Shiv52

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2016, 09:19:28 am »
It's early days.  You're doing great xx

I found mine needed to sleep inclined to help with wind. But it did get better at 3/4 weeks.

Bottle wise I found if I left 3/4oz of milk that was all she'd take. In those early weeks I'd cluster feed until 9pm then do straight to bed. DH kept the baby downstairs and got her changed and Jammies on then fed about 12 and then resettle so I got a good stretch of sleep. I got fed up quickly with expressing though so I still went to bed at 8/9 and DH brought her up when she woke and I literally fed in bed and then he resettled her.  are you able to feed lying in bed yet?  That made a huge difference to me.

Remember this first month is about establishing your milk supply and feeding 2 hourly is normal.

How long is she feeding for?  Can you hear the suck suck swallow?





Offline Sharps83

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2016, 14:56:56 pm »
I'm struggling to express for some reason. I was getting 100ml now it's Bearly 50ml. I've tried lying down today it was ok but not confident. I am dreading night time as I am so so tired.
I think she is feeding well I can see milk on the sides of her mouth. She is feeding for different times from 5-30 mins.
We gave a formula last night

Offline Shiv52

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2016, 15:39:01 pm »
I never expressed more than a couple of mls at this age and it's absolutely no indicator of what the baby is taking. Just be wary that the odd formula feed won't affect supply but you'll need to pump to keep up supply if you do it more often.  I always found you hit a brick wall at 2/3 weeks as adrenaline has worn off And you're just exhausted. Keep pushing through xx

Are you getting enough sleep?  Really do just sleep when you can.

Feeding lying down takes practice but it's amazing when it clicks. This baby was my smallest so it took us a while to get the hang of it and it was so frustrating especially at nights xx





Offline Sharps83

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2016, 17:49:09 pm »
I'm trying to nap in the day when she does do getting 2 hours. I feel a total failure.  Can't express. Ow, giving her a fomuka feed. I hardly see my hubby as soon as he gets in from work I come to bed. I didn't expect it to be this hard.

Offline Shiv52

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2016, 18:09:53 pm »
Hugs lovely xxxx

With my first DD I felt exactly like you did. People and midwives said BFing is so easy blah blah and it wasnt. It was so hard. Ever since then any time I know anyone having a baby I tell them BFing is so tough the first few weeks. But get through those and you'll be amazed how easy it is. My best friend told me she'd have given up if I'd hadn't had said that before she gave birth.

You are doing GREAT 😘😘.   And honestly bottle fed babies can wake and need fed just as much. BFIng is just hard as it feels like it's all on you.  So many hugs. I remember feeling so useless. Tiredness is just the worst.






Offline Sharps83

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #11 on: October 20, 2016, 19:13:38 pm »
Thank you. Everyone says it gets easier. I am just waiting to turn that corner x

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #12 on: October 20, 2016, 19:20:39 pm »
It absolutely will. I promise 😘

And do not beat yourself up at all if you give the odd bottle of formula. You do what you need to do xxx

But in the meantime relax and do nothing but have a cuppa and eat biccies x





Offline Shiv52

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #13 on: October 20, 2016, 22:19:15 pm »
Just checking back in.  Hope the evening didn't go too badly and you've managed to get to bed xx





Offline Sharps83

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Re: New here. Bf help
« Reply #14 on: October 21, 2016, 15:22:02 pm »
Hi
Last night was better. Hubby gave a bottle at 1am. Helped me sleep and feel much better today. Plus she has gained 1lb2oz in a week x