Feeding constantly - Help

[threeofthem]

Im hoping someone can help me. DS is 3 weeks old and was feeding every 3-4 hours and would do 5-6 overnight but the last few days he rarely will go 2 hours without a feed and is taking an hour or more per feed. My nipples feel they are going to fall of. He is latching on properly - have had this checked out.
He doesn't seem to empty either boob and can be slow to suck when he gets sleepy.
Can you express this excess milk and give to him after boob?
I am thinking of giving up because it is taking so long and the other 2 begin to get ratty during the feed. they are 2 and 3, but I don't know if I should or how to do this or if it will get better.
If it does get better how long does it generally take.
Any advice is welcome Thanks

[MrsTwith3]

If you are committed to b/f bub then just persevere for now. It sounds like a growth spurt.
Just before that happens they feed and feed and feed to build up your supply ready for the growth spurt.
It will pass. I know how hard it is to have toddlers around whilst trying to feed a little bubba.
I hope your sore nipples start to feel better soon once bub slows down a bit with the cluster feeding.
All the best to you.

[Milk_Monkey]

:hugs: Just try to take it one day at a time, or one feed at a time! I had a horrible time breastfeeding my son, and just as bad with my daughter for the first few months, but im so glad i persisted.

If he is falling asleep, maybe try tickeling his feet or tummy to wake him a little. Or, if you can bear to, try to prolong his feed just by 5 mins so that he is really hungry.

Are you using a dummy at all? DD wouldnt take one til recently and still isnt all that interested. But my son would feed for hours on end, and the dummy was a godsend. Sometimes they just want to suck and you need a break.

As for the other children, i remember a couple of threads on how to keep them occupied. Bubbles were a popular option. Save a dvd or special toy for them to play with only at particular feeding times. For DS i used to wrap up gifts for him. Nothing special, just his crayons with some printed out pictures to colour of seasme street characters or the like. That way it was exciting because it was a present to open, plus something to occupy him. Chalk is good too. Or you can pick up sticker books for a couple of dollars. Its just handy while you and bub build up a routine.

[threeofthem]

Thanks for the replys
I keep on telling myself one day at a time, but there are moments when this doesn't work - mainly in the middle of the night. I will try the prolong of feeds a bit and hope this helps.
Milk-Monkey I like the idea of gifts - it is ds1 birthday tomorrow so that would work in well. I try to keep them occupied but at times it doesn't work - the joys of a 2 and 3 year old
thanks again

[SuperGranny]

hello threeofthem, I made story time feed time. We all sat down together and I read story after story for quite awhile. It was good and relaxing, and had everyone in the one place. At three weeks you are only just getting established with the feeding. My babies all seemed to average a three hour gap between feeds, sometimes longer, but I only fed for ten minutes each side. I had never heard of 'hind' milk until coming here to bubhub. I would suggest, (dont do so if you dont feel comfortable) trying to make the feeds a little shorter but more often. That might give your nipples time to recover and also the milk time to build up. If you are comfortable expressing after the feed, there is nothing wrong with giving that to bub to give you a rest from feeding also. The story time became a good thing for sort of setting a time 'limit' . After a couple of story books the feed was usually over. Worked very well for me. Good luck, Marie.

[3cherubs]

Hang in there threeofthem :hugs:
My DD3 at that age fed every 2 hrs and at night all the time. It took 6 weeks before my nipples were fine, but all went well. She is 18 mths and still boobie feeding today.

It does get hard, but please do not give up..:)

[wocket]

it sounds like a normal feeding pattern for a bub of that age. it gets easier and the feeds will naturally get faster with longer periods in between. make sure the attachment is ok so you've got no blisters. Try watching the telly or reading a book during the feed if the bub isn't making eye contact.

[Lillynix]

Yep sounds normal to me too and it will pass.

My DS fed every 1-2hours around the clock for the first few months, it was tiring and hard work but it paid off in the end.

Please keep going with the breastfeeding, you're doing a great job and I understand how tiring it is for you, but it is well worth it, I promise. It won't last forever and you'll look back one day and be thankfull that you kept going.

Also, don't be fooled, if you give up breastfeeding in favour of formula feeding or even using EBM, there is NOTHING to suggest that his feeding habits would change. He may very well (and it is the most likely scenario) keep feeding as often as he is now, but it will mean more work for you in that you have to prepare/express bottes, and hey, why do that when you can just whip out a boob ;)

[OJandMe]

I'll be honest.

When G was born it was the same. He'd want to feed for 45-60 mins every 2 hours... O and J would go absolutely feral and tear each other and the house apart. They were 2.5yrs at the time.

In the end it was just soooo stressful. My letdown kept getting effected because I was constantly taking G off to sort out O and J.

I switched to bottles of EBM during the day, and breastfeeds at night. Substituting day feeds with formula if I ran out of EBM. I did this for 4 months, before switching to formula fully.

I found bottle feeding during the day sooooo much easier, as G was actually getting milk, he fed quicker, was more contented, slept better and DH could do feeds too.

Do what is best for yiou. I found bottle feeding EBM a much better daytime alternative for our house.

Now with J2... completely different feeder, breastfeeding all the way, with no problems and no intention at all to stop anytime soon.

Bottle feeding G was a huge mother guilt for me.. but is was what our household needed.

[threeofthem]

Hi thanks for all of the replys, I am up for any advice at the moment. We have has another really unsettled day - the poor kid or poor other kids. dd is generally great when it comes to feed times but ds is finding it hard. Ds2 has has balls thrown on is head, kicked and measures with a tape measure. I will soon go insane and this is with dh at home I don't know what will happen when he has to go back to work next week.
I think we will see how it goes for a few weeks and hopefully in that time ds will get used to the idea that he needs to share me (lets hope)
thanks again

[wocket]

I found a sleeping solution. We're in the smae boat i think, letting the bub lead us with sleep/awake time, but if they can't get to sleep by themselves they get overtired and unable to sleep for hour and hours. If it's any help to you checkout my thread...

http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=238885

My solution was posted towards the end.

*HUGS*