feeding too often

[fruitjuice]

Should I be demand feeding? Last night she fed every 2 hours and it was sooooooooo hard. she's only a week old - will this ever stop? how do i implement a good routine? Should i only feed every 4 hours and try settling/dummies instead?

[misskittyfantastico]

Demand feeding is the best thing you can do for your baby:thumbsup: You are giving your bub what she needs when she needs it.

New babies need to feed regularly because they only have teeny tiny tummies - also it builds up your milk supply.

My DD was a very frequent feeder until she was about four months so I KNOW how hard and awful it can be....what got me through was feeding her laying down, focusing on nothing else but my baby and trying to remember that nothing lasts forever.

As for routines? When babies a new, nothing is routine....just try and relax and enjoy your baby....routines sort themselves out.

:hugs: Keep up the excellent work:thumbsup:

[Natsmummy]

Keep demand feeding - your baby is only a week old! Things will eventually settle down and in the meantime your baby needs as much nourishment as he/she can get from you! A baby of that age has a stomach about the size of a golf ball (if they are lucky) which means that they need to feed (& wee & poo!) very often.
After about 5 weeks my son started to only wake once or twice a night most nights and for the last few months he hasn't woken at all (except if he has gotten sick and needs the comfort).
They key is just to remember that the sleepless nights won't last forever.

[draught]

In answer to your question - YES you should be demand feeding. At one week old they need to feed often - it helps them to fill their little tummies as has already been said, but it also helps you to establish your supply. Babies do not understand routine until they are about 6 months old really - and even then they are fairly changable! I am not sure who invented the "four hour rule" but very few babies will feed to this timetable - in the first few weeks they will average about 6 - 10 feeds a day (and remember that average means it could be more, it could be less) then it will settle down to 6 - 8 feeds a day, etc. That number of feeds doesn't mean that it will be evenly spaced though - you could do three feeds one hour apart and then have a baby who sleeps for 4 - 5 hours then feeds, has a two hour gap, etc. (See - no routine at all:laughing: )

I know that the two hourly feeding is exhausting at this stage, but if you try to stretch your baby out to 4 hourly feeds all that is likely to happen is that you will have a stressed, tired, hungry baby and an unhappy mum. She will start to space them out a bit more before too long - in the meantime take care of yourself, and sleep whenever you can, including during the day. Get someone else to do everything else - cooking, cleaning, etc. Drink lots of water and eat well - fruit, vegies and lots of meat to keep your energy up. (I also found that cake didn't hurt me to feel better at this point:o ).

Congratulations on becoming a mum! Keep up the good work.

[Lillasmummy]

I agree with the other mums, keep demand feeding it will soon settle down and your bubba will be much easier to settle etc. My DD fed around the clock 2-3hrs, but then after about 3 weeks she only woke once or twice during the night.

Hugs to you, being a new mum is soooo hard, but trust me it will get easier and the sleepless nights will end.

[stellarella]

its really important to demand feed for milk supply and your bub is only one week old...it will settle down, promise.

dont try to start a routine, it will only cause you and bub stress at this point in time, bub will develop own routine. DS used to feed every hour for about the first 4 weeks :eek: now he has decided himself it will be 4 hourly, longer at night. new bubs have tiny tummies, think marble size, so need lots of refills.

have you considered keeping bub in bed with you, i found this wonderful to just feed wjile lying down, i didnt lose much sleep at all, didnt ever get out of bed at night. also for days i used a sling...

ps, im typing with one hand while feeding, sorry

[*Chels*]

Its only been a week
Babies like to feed and feed often!!
I would discourage a dummy because its just something u will have to wean off later on and also could cause nipple confusion,
Just keep doing the demand feeds-it will make sure your supply will be boosted and bub is getting all they need!

[pookiesossige]

Yep, keep demand feeding!! :thumbsup: I mean, what's the alternative? Feed her, have her happy for what, two hours then screaming in hunger until you feed her in another two hours time? Both you and bub would be exhausted and unhappy with each other at the end of the day and that's not good at all, no-sir-ee :no: . Just feed feed feed and remember that as she grows and matures, she'll slip into a routine of her own. It will just be what works best for her- and that's the best kind of routine you can have, not one imposed on her from a book.

The first 6 months are to be dealt with day to day, meeting your bub's needs and watching her grow. Don't listen to family members who like to make looking after bubs in these early days a 'business' with a 'right' way to do things and a 'wrong' way. No such thing!! Just do what works and keeps both of you happy and content.

By the way- congrats on becoming a mumma!! :smiliedance: