AroundTheBlock wrote:
Also, there is NOTHING WRONG WITH FEEDING A BABY FORMULA. If you have questions about how much your baby is eating...please for the love of God see your pediatrician. In fact the Golden Rule is when you have any question ask your pediatrician. Do not ask the internet.

DCUM is a fine place to ask for advice, actually. I've gotten great advice here!

As with anything else (and even as with asking doctors believe it or not!) you do need to apply critical thinking skills to everything you read or are told. But that goes without saying.

OP it has been a few years since my breastfeeding days, but what you describe sounds like a growth spurt. THey usually happen a 2-3 weeks, 5-6 weeks, 2-3 months and 5-6 months. It's about 3 days of non-stop, every hour and a half feeds until you feel like your tits are going to fall off... followed by (at day 4 of the growth spurt) a baby who nurses and then falls asleep for 4-5 hours and you freak out saying "Why isn't he waking up to nurse?!"

How can you tell things are OK? My rough guide -- (of course after being sure your baby is gaining well, urinating etc) --

-- when the baby cries, are you sure it is for food? Is he making the "rooting" signals with his mouth?

-- Do you get the sense that the baby is more or less full after he nurses, at least for a little while?

-- Do the "hungry times" come around late afternoon; evening? That's when your body is probably making the least milk. Baby might seem inconsolable at these times. It is important to just keep putting him to the breast though, that's what helps your body step up production. 3 days should do it. I would give the baby to my husband if it had only been an hour since his last feed, and ask him to take the baby away, out, do anything to distract him for another half hour or so to give my body a little more time to make some more milk!

-- try to just nurse with one breast at a time. If the last nursing was on the left breast, and it has been less than 3 hours between feeds, have the baby start on that side again first for a few minutes. Then switch to the right breast for the full feed.

If this IS a growth spurt, you should start feeling like you are making more milk to satisfy your baby today or tomorrow.

No, there's noting wrong with formula. But if you give it, you interrupt this cycle, is all. Just one feed won't do much to interrupt it, but one formula feed a day will. Hang in there!

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.

OP, beware of the slippery slope of supplementing if you don't want to always have to supplement. PPs are right that your baby is building your supply — so if you supplement then your body won't eventually make that milk the baby is asking for. It sucks, but it's totally normal and it doesn't last very long. Just drop all expectations that you do anything other than rest and feed the baby. congrats!

AroundTheBlock wrote:I have a 12 week old baby. Our daughter ate nonstop for the first two weeks. While I don't like giving advice to strangers about how to raise their newborn...here's a few things that MY FAMILY figured out.

1. A newborn is new to everything. This include the world, lights, breathing air, etc. Remember that.

2. The job of a newborn is to eat, sleep and poop. That is it.

3. Unless there are weight gaining issues allow the baby to eat and sleep as much as possible.

4. All babies cry and it's fine. In fact it's the only way babies can exercise.

5. There are only four things to check if a baby is crying. After those four there is nothing else you can do as a parent. 1) Is the baby hungry? 2) Is the baby gassy? 3) Is the baby trying to sleep? 3) Is the baby uncomfortable - diaper, holding, etc?

Also, there is NOTHING WRONG WITH FEEDING A BABY FORMULA. If you have questions about how much your baby is eating...please for the love of God see your pediatrician. In fact the Golden Rule is when you have any question ask your pediatrician. Do not ask the internet.

Thank you for your very thoughtful response.

I have been to the pediatrician for his newborn check and to the LC in the practice twice already, actually. His weight was a concern the first week but at our appointment on monday he had gained very well.

I am not asking the "Internet" I am asking DCUM - which is a forum for parents seeking advice from other parents. Anecdotal advice. Please, don't try to make me feel like an idiot.

I have a 12 week old baby. Our daughter ate nonstop for the first two weeks. While I don't like giving advice to strangers about how to raise their newborn...here's a few things that MY FAMILY figured out.

1. A newborn is new to everything. This include the world, lights, breathing air, etc. Remember that.

2. The job of a newborn is to eat, sleep and poop. That is it.

3. Unless there are weight gaining issues allow the baby to eat and sleep as much as possible.

4. All babies cry and it's fine. In fact it's the only way babies can exercise.

5. There are only four things to check if a baby is crying. After those four there is nothing else you can do as a parent. 1) Is the baby hungry? 2) Is the baby gassy? 3) Is the baby trying to sleep? 3) Is the baby uncomfortable - diaper, holding, etc?

Also, there is NOTHING WRONG WITH FEEDING A BABY FORMULA. If you have questions about how much your baby is eating...please for the love of God see your pediatrician. In fact the Golden Rule is when you have any question ask your pediatrician. Do not ask the internet.

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.

. See if working harder at burping him helps. Mine typically cried from gas that needed to be released (from one end or the other). We had to really make an effort at burping or she would end up gassy.

You could also do a weighed feeding with a LC to make sure he is transferring well.

My son is 12 days old and I am right there with you. He cluster feeds every hour or less from about 9pm until 4am. He is fussy during these hours in between feedings. Luckily he is better during the day, but still eats every 1-2 hours. It is insane and all I can tell myself is this shall too pass. Seems like its pretty normal....not that it makes it any easier. My DH goes to work Monday and I am so scared.

There's nothing wrong. Just keep feeding him as he requests it.

He's fine, you have plenty of milk and do not need to supplement unless he starts to show symptoms of dehydration. He's just ramping up the noise, which they pretty much all do at this age. It's irritating as fuck, but the baby is your sole concern at this early point. I mean take care of yourself, but let everything else slide.

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.

This is normal. Keep it up, momma!

So sorry OP. Such is the life of a new mommy, unfortunately. Do you live near Virginia Hospital Center? They have a breastfeeding support group there that is wonderful (and open to anyone, regardless of where you delivered). I remember discussions like this coming up when I attended. You will get lots of support from other moms who are going through what you are.

If he really is crying that much (not that I doubt you), he might be colicky. There is a book called Colic Solved (available electronically on Amazon) that is helpful.

Also, any chance he has some food sensitivities? Check with your pediatrician.

Good luck! Congrats on the new baby. It will get better!

He's building your supply - I have a 9 day old as well and she ate from 10-12 straight then finally conked out. My first cluster fed like this too - it'll get better in a few weeks. In the meantime, keep doing it bc sounds like you are doing a good job of tanking baby up for done decent night time stretches

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.