Cluster feeding/human pacifier-don't know how long I can do this

[Anonymous]

You need to sleep in the morning, the afternoon, whenever by whatever means necessary pronto. Make your DH read this. Make your mom or your friend or whoever help. Sleep is great for your breastmilk supply and it keeps you from losing your mind. Very important.

[Anonymous]

Why do you have to hunch over? Are you trying to use a boppy or other nursing pillow? I always found those pretty useless. Get a huge pile of regular pillows of varying firmness, and experiment with bringing the baby closer to you in a variety of different chairs, beds, etc.

Also, google "laid back breastfeeding" for more information on positions. http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/pages/recipe.html

[Anonymous]

Will the baby take a pacifier at all? We used them since birth with both kids and neither of them had any problems with breadtfeeding/nipple confusion. At least that might give you a break for a bit to sneak in some naps.

[Anonymous]

Are you using a nursing pillow? I recommend the my Brest friend--get a used non-Velcro one for ~$15. Boppy didn't work for me.

Change the "I can't change positions" attitude--you MUST change positions and be comfortable. If it involves unlatching and relatching baby, so be it.

Def learn side lying and laid back nursing. They will be a godsend. Contact a la leche league leader for help with them.

BFing gets easier every day. You've come VERY far in a short time. Stick it out a few more days, you and baby can do it!

[Anonymous]

Get a lc to come to your house - put baby on breast - put formula in syringe and everytime baby sucks breast shoot in some formula. It sounds like he's trying to up your supply, but isn't getting quite enough yet. My post partum doula was also an LC - she had me doing a bottle a day from the beginning since I knew I needed to go back to work. I would pump milk and use it and if I couldn't deal with pumping then it was formula. I went on to ebf until 8 mos when I weaned so we could ttc.
Do you have anyone who can come help you? Mom ? Mil? Friend? Please also talk to your ob - you are in the worst of it right now, but you have to take care if yourself too.

[Anonymous]

I agree with all the folks saying side lying and laid back nursing. It's an amazing cuddly thing, even when they are cluster feeding, and if you are in a big bed, you can catch a few winks of sleep.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Ive had an lc come to the house, had a consult at e bf center and have another one. They have helped and the lc had me lying back, but baby now won't nurse in that position.

I had a long labor and an emergency c section so I know that makes it more difficult, but he literally just sucks/cries all night now. And I know he is eating a good bit because sometimes he will break the latch and milk will dribble out. We also top off many feelings with a syringe per the lc until he gains weight.

LUCKILY supply isn't an issue - I can get 50mil from a 15-20min pump. And when I said bottle feeding I meant pumped milk. I will not use formula unless medically necessary - I can pump plenty.

Those who went through this, how long did it last? My husband goes back to work tomorrow and I have no idea how ill survive. Never mind me going back sooner than I want. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Definitely get a post partum doula. I used Royan Miller. She was a huge help.
Are you using a pacifier? I promise that it won't cause nipple confusion!
Have you tried nursing while laying on your side?
Can you sleep with baby on your chest while you sit up in a chair?
Do you have an ergo or a ktan or a similar carrier?
Do you have a swing or a bouncy seat?
You can try the carseat on top of the dryer while it runs on no heat.
Have you looked at the happiest Baby on the block video or book? The S's are a huge help. Swaddling especially.

I had a similar experience with my first. I didn't even like him for months. It's such a tough, tough time. It will pass and you will love (and believe it or not actually like) your kid more than you can even begin to imagine.

Hang in there. It will get better.

[Anonymous]

You need to prioritize your sleep. Ignore those who say otherwise.

Since your pumping supply is good, have your husband take the baby when he gets home from work and go to bed yourself. Have him take the feedings from let's say 8 to 1 or so to give you at least 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep, maybe more if the baby goes longer.

Personally, I supplemented as my milk supply didn't come in until 10 days. And I had my husband use the formula for the night feeds, and found they lasted my son longer. I would go to bed at 10, and my husband woke my son at 11:30. He would sleep until about 3 then, even in the early days, so I was getting 6 hours of sleep a night.

[Anonymous]

Op here, I've thought about a pp doula - will they come at night to observe that behavior?

I have a baby k'tan but baby isn't yet 8lbs. I'm taking it to the bf center to make sure I'm using it right. I slept with baby on my chest a few nights ago and it was great but after that he just rooted and cried

I have the bf center now in a little bit and hopefully they can help me. But i gave considered a postpartum doula but didn't know if they'd work at night to see the behavior change...

[Anonymous]

Op it ll go away around 5-6 weeks , my son is 12 weeks and that's when it stopped. It's hard hang in there.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks. Don't know how I can survive 6 weeks of this. It is starting to manifest itself as an upset stomach. Probably just my gut reacting to my husband going back to work tomorrow

It doesn't help that the baby I bring with me to the breast feeding center isn't the baby I have at home. I wish he were because the one there is easy. Then we get home...

[Anonymous]

Just try to co-sleep and nurse. Dr Sears says it can be done safely. You need sleep.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you trying other things to soothe him, or just assuming he's hungry and wants to nurse? Are you swaddling, sushing, swinging, using a pacifier? Your husband can walk him/her up and down and up and down the hallways. I ask this because that is a mistake my husband and I made, always assuming he needed to nurse when really we didn't know how to properly burp him, soothe him, swaddle him, bounce him or anything else to help him.

[Anonymous]

Mostly I can just offer reassurance that this will get better. I went through similar periods with my baby but they passed quickly.

The only advice I will offer is that nursing should never make your back hurt. I did this too and it was a mistake. I solved it by nursing in the following ways:

1. Sitting on a couch with two pillows behind me and with a nursing stool and a breast friend pillow.
2. Sitting with my back straight up against the back of a chaise and my legs drawn up to support the baby.
3. Mastering side-lying nursing seriously made a world of difference.

Keep trying different positions.

Good luck - hang in there.