Getting a snacky baby onto EASY

[whosboo]

Hi I'm new to this site.  I've been BF exclusively up until Tuesday.  I'm quite tired today so probalby my post wont make much sense, but i hope someone can figure out what i'm asking....

My LO is 3 weeks 5 days old and weighs 4.30 kgs.

I have been trying to get my very hungry - or is it very snacky - baby onto easy.

We started off being 3 hours between feeds, last week that went down to 1 hour between feeds, particularly from noonish onwards.  I then started giving Formula feed on Tuesday after an entire day of screaming with hunger.  He's been taking forumla for the 4pm and 8pm - at midnight he has breast again then sleeps till about 5ish and takes boob at 8 then every hour after that. 

This morning i tried to extend that 8am feed to try get him to take more hind milk - and he slept till 11.  Took a feed at 11 and then we did some cooing in our crib and had a good nap.

With his 2 o clock feed he was giving me hungry cues again - but then sucked for 5 mins and then screamed and bobbed off the boob (which feels very empty) so i tried the dummy which didn't work (normally does if he wants to just suck) and screamed and screamed and screams.  I relented and gave him 2oz of forumula at 3pm and then he was happy cooing baby again - who has now gone to sleep

Does anyone have any idea how i can either get him back to only have FF at the 4 and 8  feed and have a decent gap between feeds for the rest of the day on the breast?

My nipples will thank you if we can come up with a solution!!

Bx

[Harvey and Theos Mam]

Here is a link to help you.

This is for help with a newborn and EASY. It does take time to get the routine as they are still very young, but you will see the benefits soon enough if you persist.

https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=61217.msg447453#msg447453

I used to do cluster feeds @ 4, 6 & 8pm until Theo was 8 weeks old. It took us sometime to get into a dreamfeed as it is a little harder with bf babies unless you give them a bottle for the df.

HTH

[Samuel's mum]

We started off being 3 hours between feeds, last week that went down to 1 hour between feeds, particularly from noonish onwards.

Welcome to the 2nd week growth spurt!! That sounds very normal to me. You don't mention anything about growth spurts so did you know to expect something like this?
The link recommended above talks a bit about growth spurts. They can last up to a week so it could still be happening now.

Is mixed feeding something you'd planned on doing or would you like to return to exclusive breastfeeding? You might want to bear in mind that in these early days if you do supplement it could have quite an effect on your supply so if you do want to continue breastfeeding - even if it's mixed feeding - you may want to about getting help to increase your supply. You may have missed the opportunity of developing your milk supply during this growth spurt by supplementing.

I would really really recommend you talk to someone trained if you would like to breastfeed long-term. Mixed feeding is successful for lots of people but some people have supply problems (especially if they start this early) and end up phasing breastfeeding out entirely.

If you are in the UK there are lots of helplines which are free.
Check out this link:
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=63627.0

They can talk to you about supply issues and give you loads of advice. If you don't gel with the first person you talk to then phone someone else.

Finally do know that some people take a little while before they start EASY. The first few weeks are an important time to get your milk supply established. Do ring someone if you would like some qualified breastfeeding advice.
Sorry if I sound pushy!