Author Topic: New here. Bf help (Read 5123 times)

Sharps83 · « **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?

*Ali* · « **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?

Sharps83 · « **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? ,

*Ali* · « **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.

Shiv52 · « **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?

Sharps83 · « **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.

Shiv52 · « **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?

Sharps83 · « **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

Shiv52 · « **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

Sharps83 · « **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.

Shiv52 · « **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.

Sharps83 · « **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

Shiv52 · « **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

Shiv52 · « **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

Sharps83 · « **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

Shiv52 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2016, 16:10:42 pm »

Wow that's amazing weight gain!!!!!! You're clearly doing something right. Well done you xxx

So glad you got some sleep too xx

Sharps83 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 24, 2016, 14:51:47 pm »

Thank you
Loaded with cold now, she is very clingy today. Pretty much just attached to my breasts

Shiv52 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 24, 2016, 14:57:43 pm »

Ugh there is so much going round. Is she three weeks yet? There is a pretty big growth spurt round then.

Do you use a dummy at all?

zissi · « **Reply #18 on:** October 25, 2016, 20:31:10 pm »

hey there, how are things now? do you think she is feeding efficiently? any chance of seeing a lactation consultant, just to be sure? especially if your nipples are sore or when baby is very unsettled. baby wearing is great too for unsettled babies. they just like the closeness but don't necessarily want feed all the time. both of mine pretty much lived in the sling for the first 3/4 months of their lives...

Sharps83 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 26, 2016, 12:19:37 pm »

She's 4 weeks tomorrow. I'm going to a lactation class next sat so I should get some advice. She is up at 2 am 4am then 6am. I thought the night feeds weaned down?

Shiv52 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 26, 2016, 13:40:28 pm »

They do wean down for sure but not really this young.

How long are feeds? Productive feeding as in you can see/hear a suck suck swallow as opposed to just the odd Nibble and suck.

Has the soreness settled any?

How often are you feeding through the day?

Sharps83 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 26, 2016, 18:13:32 pm »

Yes the soreness had stopped.
I've stopped writing each feed down but it's about every 2 hours from a range of 10 min to an hour. She does suck and swallow but at night can just nibble

Shiv52 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 26, 2016, 19:54:13 pm »

It could be she is using you for comfort at night if she's not actively feeding. If I'd fed for 30 mins and mine started that I'd take them off and settle. Mine were all sucky babies so after being attached to my first baby 24/7 I introduced a dummy to satisfy that sucking need. The other two had dummies much sooner!! But dummies arent for everyone. But if you've fed and she seems to just be sucking for comfort give DH a kick snd tell him to settle her so you can get back to sleep xx

Sharps83 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 27, 2016, 16:31:20 pm »

We have tried a dummy a few times but she spits it out. She's a tinker.

Shiv52 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 27, 2016, 19:32:27 pm »

Haha!! Wee rascal. With mine I needed to try the dummy during the day during a really calm time to get them used to it.

You're doing great!!!

Sharps83 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 28, 2016, 11:43:23 am »

We tried again last night and success. Only needed it for 5 min but she settled. Weighed today and gained 10oz x

Shiv52 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 28, 2016, 17:26:17 pm »

Yay!!!! Well done!!

and yay on the success. Sometimes they just need a bit of sucking comfort xx

Sharps83 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 28, 2016, 19:25:04 pm »

Yes, she's had it again tonight and settled well. Feel bad as hope I'm not giving her it when she's still hungry.

Shiv52 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 28, 2016, 21:06:21 pm »

Honestly I could always tell the difference. Mine wouldn't settle with a dummy if they were hungry. Or maybe did but 10 mins later were awake. obviously just keep an eye and if it's been 2/3 hours or so since the last feed then feed. But if you know she needs a sleep then don't be afraid to use it to settle her. I found a dummy saved my BFing each time round as it meant I wasn't being a human dummy.

You're doing so well xx

Sharps83 · « **Reply #29 on:** October 29, 2016, 10:49:14 am »

Yes I know what you mean. She def just needs comfort which is great but you can't sit all night.

Shiv52 · « **Reply #30 on:** October 29, 2016, 11:19:06 am »

Not all night!!! Hopefully you'll start getting some bigger stretches soon. Any luck with feeding lying down yet??

Sharps83 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 29, 2016, 18:46:29 pm »

I know. Got her upstairs but she's wide awake feel bad leaving her awake.
Erm tried a few times but we arnt clicking with it. X

Shiv52 · « **Reply #32 on:** October 29, 2016, 19:14:17 pm »

I kept mine downstairs for the first good while and then I took them up when I was going to bed.

She's maybe still a little small but I found once I could feed lying down nights were so much easier x

Sharps83 · « **Reply #33 on:** October 29, 2016, 19:24:08 pm »

Yes she probably is too young she was asleep but woke straight away for another feed. I need to try again. Just when I'm up to change her nappy I just end up sitting in her room and feed. X

Shiv52 · « **Reply #34 on:** October 29, 2016, 20:37:36 pm »

Is she in your room to sleep? I only change nappies at night if mine had poo'ed. otherwise it woke them too much x

Sharps83 · « **Reply #35 on:** October 30, 2016, 10:51:02 am »

Yes she is, I know I'm trying to change her less but tends to poo at each feed. Certainly keeping us on our toes. X

Shiv52 · « **Reply #36 on:** October 30, 2016, 11:00:23 am »

lol I know. I totally forgot that wee stage. Mine did that too!!

How are you finding the feeding now? Is she doing any longer stretches at all?

Sharps83 · « **Reply #37 on:** October 30, 2016, 18:21:55 pm »

I'm settling into the feeding. Not comfortable outside but I've ordered a cover. No. it's quite sporadic. No day is the same. Hourly, 2 hourly then sometimes 4, but is in the day. Hoping it will settle soon x

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Author Topic: New here. Bf help (Read 5123 times)