Newborn question from FTM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds very normal, OP, and it will get better in a few weeks. Just a couple thoughts. First, are you sleeping when he sleeps? I know easier said, than done. Second, are you helping establish clear day and night? For example, keeping feedings dark and quiet at night and encouraging more feedings, aka "stacking" in the evenings? That won't produce miraculous results (nothing does), but it might help on the margins.

Hi PP,
Yes, thus is exactly what I'm doing. I think that us why he is sleeping longer at night. I could do better with sleeping when he sleeps but with the excitement of having a newborn and wanting to spend time with my husband who us home with me (he usually travels for the most part) I haven't been doing that as much as I should. Definitely keeping all night feedings in the bedroom with dim lighting and all day feedings in living room with music or tv and shades up!

[Anonymous]

Get some formula and get some sleep.

[Anonymous]

Pp with the 9 day old - do you have any help? If not, can you commandeer someone? I'm glued to thr couch breast feeding so I have someone else doing laundry , grocery shopping , cooking etc - your only job right now is to feed the baby and recover yourself
You will be great and you are doing an amazing job!!!! Keep it up and soon it will get better!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was born 9 days ago. In the last 3 days all he goes is eat. Every hour to 90 mins, really - then cries. All I go is Breastfeed ... All day. We change his diapers quickly and consistently, he eats on demand and he goes not have a fever.

What else could be wrong? I can't nap or even get a break because all he does is eat, and cry. Strange thing is, he slept 4.5 hours last night...fed then sleep another 2.5. What am I missing??

Any advice??? I'm so exhausted.

I read this and thought it might be an attempt at a humble brag- I'm still very excited when my 8 month old sleeps >4 hours! Your situation sounds pretty great/ normal and I don't really understand what your question is. Are you concerned about the crying or the frequent feeding? My DD cried all the time until she was about 3 months old. The first few weeks/ months are hard and it's just the way it is- especially if the ped thinks things are okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get some formula and get some sleep.

Why on earth would you suggest this to a mom who appears to be doing great at breastfeeding??

OP, keep it up. You're doing great. I know it's enticing to stay awake when baby sleeps but you really need to sleep then. Prioritize sleep above everything else other than nursing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
It's hard to keep up with...

I'm starting to wonder if I should add a little formula? Or if I have enough milk? It seems like I'm producing enough but hearing him cry kills me. I can't get anything done. I feel like I'm starving him but all I do is nurse.

Oh honey. Let that idea go. Of course you can't get anything done. Your job right now is to breastfeed and cuddle your baby. That's it! In those early weeks, it was a banner day if I took a shower AND ran the dishwasher. Your baby is still so, so tiny. It's exhausting but everything you are describing is totally normal and WILL get better. Lean on your spouse, friends, family and don't think twice about it. Hang in there!

[Anonymous]

OP, deep breath. This too will pass. In the scheme of things the cluster feeding is only a very short time. Keep doing what you are doing -- you are doing GREAT! He just needs to nurse. It will calm down and you will have time to do other things - just stick with it. This is the best thing you can do for him.

[Anonymous]

Mine was an inefficient nurser. i kept longs at at 4 weeks, he was nursing 10 hours a day (10 hours of every 24). But he soon enough figured it out and well before the time I went to work at 10 weeks, he was a normal 20 minute every three hours nurser (or bottle feeder).

Now my second at 41/2 months has the opposite problem (doesn't like to nurse and only does it sleepy, so I am pumping and bottle feeding sometimes, which is driving me crazy). I'll take the inefficient but happy nurser any day over this,

[Anonymous]

Sleep deprivation paired with the utter terror of being responsible for keeping a tiny creature alive...it's the worst. Like seventh circle of hell. I remember being stunned that people could sustain so many days of feeding constantly, not sleeping more than 30 minutes straight, etc. What you're going through is totally normal and like PPs said, it will get better. If you can hand off even one feeding to someone else - husband or grandma or generous friend, do it. Even a couple hours of sleep can give you the strength to carry on a few more days until supply is up and feeding evens out. I tried to pump a few minutes after every feeding to build up a little bottle for that volunteer feeding, and I also used formula here and there. Do what works for you, but try to be gentle to yourself, too. You're in a delicate state, recovering from a huge event and trying to get to know your baby. Know that there are a lot of us who won't judge if you do opt for a formula bottle to get some sleep! Good luck and congrats it'll get better, mama!

[Anonymous]

Op my 15 week old did this thu week 11 it was horrible but now everything is fine and a schedule beginning to emerge. My first never had cluster feeds so like you I questioned my supply, but when the dr weighed him at the 1 month appointment he went from 6 lbs 2 oz at end of our hospital stay to 9 lbs. he is 17 lbs Now and still eats frequently but no more cluster feeds thank god

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone!

[Anonymous]

Have you tried the Happiest Baby on the Block method--swaddle, sway, suck (paci might help), sssh (white noise) and side laying (left side in particular)? One of my fussy babies loved white noise so I would put loud static on the radio, swaddle, hold her so she was resting on her left side and bounce on an exercise ball. That was the only thing that seemed to help. And people other than me could do it.