3 week old feeding every 1.5 hours!

valk_scot

If he's gaining weight he's getting enough.


You on the other hand? The advice we used to be given (20 years ago!) was if at all possible clear the decks, get someone else to do the housework/shopping/cooking and go to bed for a couple of days with the baby, a large jug of water, some nutritious snacks and a pile of books. Stay there and rest for 48 hours and do nothing but feed and sleep. The theory was that it gave your body a chance to catch up with the milk demand, far too many new mothers think they should be able to do a full day of normal activities during this period while really their bodies are having to get used to a whole new thing and that takes huge amounts of energy. Obviously it's more difficult if you have other kids to look after but this is a time to really prioritise getting breast feeding established.


If you're getting badly engorged then think about getting a battery or electric breast pump. Madela/Mandela (sp?) used to be the best. It's useful in many ways, you can relieve engorgement pain and build up a small stock of frozen milk for when you want some time off later on, or for emergencies. Also if you're engorged the baby may not get a good latch straight away, it helps to take a tiny bit off with the pump just to soften the nipple area. Once you've got breast feeding back on an even keel again and want to pump for the freezer then give the baby the first breast, wait until he's on the second side then pump from the first, then from the second once he's entirely finished. And you always have more milk in the morning when your body is rested, I could never get a spare drop off in the evening!


All of what you're going through is perfectly normal though so don't worry, you're doing fine. Don't try to do too much though and remember to keep hydrated.

SmlSave

Hi hun, every 2 hours was normal for my DS to start with and he wouldn't take a bottle full stop. I found 6 weeks was the turning point when things started to get easier and he went longer between feeds.

I remember being so sleep deprived that I was in tears most the time! I must be crazy to be doing it again :rotfl:

You are doing wonderful ss3n08 :T

ss3n08

Thank you smlsave. Here's hoping for the magic 6 weeks. 2 weeks to go xxx

nonnatus

Not much helpful advice I'm afraid (mine are both lovely big teenagers now) but felt I just had to comment to let you know you're doing GREAT!


It doesn't last forever, each feed is one less. Try to live TOTALLY in the present, don't think back to yesterday or worry about tomorrow. Just focus on the brilliant work you're doing, creating your lovely new family.


I remember that total exhaustion like it was yesterday!

flossy_splodge

As a very new Grandma (baby is 4 weeks old) please listen to the advice about damn the housework, cooking etc just rest and look after yourself.
I can't get my DD to listen, she seems to think she should be superwoman and it's worrying me that she is expecting too much of herself.
Those of you with modern partners willing to step up and give a night feed if poss or take tiddler off for a break for mum - LET THEM!
It's a very draining and emotional time getting used to being a mum, be kind to yourself and the baby will be more settled. They're amazing creatures with one hell of an ability to suss if you're anxious!
Good luck to you all.:j

poet123

If you are happy breastfeeding that is great, but if you think it is not for you or just too hard, that is not a failure. Whatever gets you through as a happy new mum is what is best for baby. If one formula doesn't suit, there are others.

mucklebones

ss3n08 wrote: »

20 hours a day! We had some trouble with feeding during the first week which led to lots of tearful calls to the midwife and visits to a breastfeeding group but yes he is latching properly. I find that if he does go maybe 2.5 hours (for example if he has been in the car) my boobs are enormous and engorged. I could understand if it was 'spurts' but this is everyday and has been everyday from day 1 xxx

20 hours a day seems normal to me. Its a shock to the system thats for sure, it gets easier after about 4 months. (worst case scenario ) Hang tough your doing great. x

System

Not much to add from me as I only fed my kids for the first couple of months of their lives but one thing I learned was if I didn't have enough fat in my diet my babies were always hungry and crying to be fed all the time.


The midwife advised me to go on at least semi skimmed milk from skimmed milk and my babies went longer between feeds.

Tanswell88

From an exclusively breasted baby what you are saying is normal.

Emmala

Just wanted to say I know how you feel and yes it sounds perfectly normal! My eldest is nearly 11 now, but when he was born he fed all the time, never slept during the day (luckily only woke up once for a feed in the night, but he had to sleep some time!) and was always, always hungry! He still is, actually! I was exhausted after a long labour and blood transfusion and he didn't latch very well either so breast feeding wasn't easy for either of us (and not at all what I thought it would be). I still have the sheets of paper with my scribble on...days of when he fed and for how long......it was truly awful and not helped by my midwife being off and having a succession of them telling me what I wasn't dong right and giving conflicting advice re shells, pumps and everything else. I was a basket case and on the verge of a breakdown and it was only when the health visitor came in at two weeks and gave us a big dose of old fashioned common sense that I began to see that he needed a bottle feed. My milk was like thin grey water and bless him, he was hungry. Really hungry. When I had my daughter two years later I really understood it, as in complete contrast my milk was really creamy looking.


The trouble is, we're meant to just be 'perfect' mothers from the off and there is a huge amount of pressure on first time mums to do the right thing, but the right thing for one mum may not be the same for the next!!


It sounds like you are doing an amazing job, and as long as the breastfeeding is working for you and you want to continue than sod the housework and just feed and sleep when you can (cant do it as easily with the next one!!). The only thing I'd say is that if you know you're going back to work then it's really worth getting baby to take a bottle with breastmilk in it, as this will make it SO much easier when you go back . A friend of mine didn't do this and when she went back to teaching had major issues and spent lunchtimes dashing to nursery to breastfeed a frantic baby! Also, this means that dad can do the 10pm feed so you can go straight to bed after the 7pm ish one to recharge before the first night feed.


If you do go down the formula route, my three all had and thrived on Hipp Organic (after my disastrous start to breast feeding I went on to combine feed all of them, it worked for us).


Do what you believe is right for you, your baby and your partner and you won't go too far wrong. Every couple of weeks it gets a bit easier, I promise (advice from a wise friend!) xxxxxx