4 days old and questions already!

[carls]

Hi girls

Sorry its been so long since I've posted, but I'm already exhausted and need tips!

For the first day or two James was feeding 4-6 hourly, and now that hes woken up a bit, his feeds during the day are around 3 hours, but come 9pm - they are anything from an hour to 2.5 hours if I'm really lucky - then towards the more sociable hours of the morning they are more spaced out. Nothing is really standard or routine - i just feed him if he gets restless and crotchety and he is always willing to be fed! He only feeds for 20 minutes solid, or 3 lots spaced out - for instance - feed for 15 minutes, nappy change, feed for 15 minutes, sleep for 30 minutes, feed etc etc

Is it ok to be feeding him so much? I dont know how else to settle him - he gets so fussy and cranky and feeding him seems to be the only way to make him sleep so I can sleep!

With all those feeds I'm going through half my daily quota of nappies between 9pm and 3am!!!!

Please help!

[Crazy Monkey]

Hi Carls,

Firstly congratulations on the safe arrival of James...
At this age, I would just be following your DS's needs... The best thing to do is feed as often as DS needs it, this will help regulate your supply...

Things will start to settle in a few weeks... I found the first 4 weeks the hardest, until I was able to pick which cry means what... Just when you think you have some sort of 'routine' happening, DS will completely change things... Just go with the flow and follow your motherly instincts..

Good luck

[Jaileth]

No advice yet - sorry carls, but had to say Congratulations!!! :)

[drewid]

Hi :) I was just thinking about you this morning and wondering if you had had your bub yet! Congratulations!! I love the name too :)

It is TOTALLY normal to be feeding him that much. Don't worry, that constant feeding phase passes very quickly (although it won't feel like it). If thats the only way he settles, then go for it! Do what works :)

[draught]

Congratulations!
And yes - what you are doing is completely fine - normal even! It will settle down in a few weeks - promise - but in the meantime sleep whenever he sleeps and feed whenever he wants - you cannot overfeed a breastfed baby and it is the perfect way to put them to sleep and calm them down.
And keep asking questions - we love to share our baby knowledge, as you know!

[Supermum]

Normal normal normal Carls. There is nothing standard or routine about a newborn. They all have different needs and it takes some time before they settle into a routine of sorts. Then just when you get the hang of it they move the goalposts!

Congratulations on the safe arrival of baby James.

My DS fed every 2 - 3 hours for the first couples of months. My DD every 3-4.

If he wants booby - give him booby. It will settle down and try to get some sleep when he does. Put him on the boob and have a nap together.

Good luck.

[Manxie]

Hiya Carls

Congratulations on the arrival of James.

When my DD was newborn I just fed her everytime she cried which was very often. It also used to take for ever and it felt like I'd just finished and we were starting all over again. I'm sure Janet F will come and reassure you. Its just natures way of ensuring that bubs gets what he needs and that your supply builds up.

I promise you things will settle after a few weeks:D Just go with the flow and concentrate on your little man. Forget about everything else and remember to sleep when he does! Routine dosent exist at this stage so dont worry about it.

Good luck and keep those questions comming.:D

[carls]

Thank you! You have put my mind at ease!!! *sigh of relief*

:)

[AM]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Sounds like you have a very clued up bubba, and you certainly are doing the very best thing by feeding on demand, and allowing unrestriced access to the breast, thus ensuring your milk supply is established properly, giving you a great base to work from.

Enjoy you baby!! :)

[giggles]

Congratulation Carls! great to hear from you. have missed reading your posts :D

I agree with everyone else.......it does feel like it is never going to end at that stage but it does....you both just have to slip into each others groove and all will be calm.

Enjoy your time with your beautiful James and I look forward to hearing more from you guys.

[rynosmum]

Congratulations Carls ! What a handsome looking little bubba !!

Feed him as often as he will take it. I used to find that I could get some sleep if I fed him whilst lying down on the bed - he would snooze and so would I. It's their only real comfort at such an early age and they start growing so quickly and need all the sustinence they can get !

You'll soon get used to having those boobies out all the time !:D

[Peaceangels]

Congratulation's Carls on the safe arrival of James! (what a cutie!).

Was only just thinking the other day that I hadn't seen you around in a while, well there was a good reason for that!

Hang in there, it takes a while for newborn's to get into the whole "breastfeeding routine", I'm sure things will settle down for you soon.

Meanwhile as the other's have said, sleep when he does (even in the day).

[Sarie]

Congrats Carls!
Like the others have pretty much said, if it's working keep it up!
He's beautiful!

[Nickster]

Congratulations Carls on the safe arrival of baby James!:)

It sounds like pretty normal baby behaviour to me - they like to "cluster" feed in the evenings apparently because that's when your supply is at it's lowest, and it serves the dual purpose of filling them up and helping boost your supply.
Just feed him whenever he needs it - like Draught said, it's the perfect way to calm down a baby too and get them to sleep. Ain't mother nature grand?

I hope you're getting plenty of rest.

Oh, and another tip - make sure you have a little "feeding station" all set up - y'know, comfy chair/bed, with tissues and breast pads and a GOOD BOOK that you can read with ONE HAND nearby! Worked for me!

[WeThree]

Hey Carls~CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
He is a beautiful bubs btw :)
Like the other girls have said, it all sounds pretty normal atm :)
A newborns whole world is booby, so they like to be fed pretty often, i found all my bubs particulary fed more in the few hrs leading up to bed time, it felt like they were on there pretty much 3-4 hrs straight most nights!
Im glad to hear you are doing ok, enjoy your gorgeous bundle of joy! :)

[reAllytee]

Congrats ! :D
Sounds like bubs is pretty normal this is the start of it remember its all about the food & his mama !

[Mummabear]

some days I felt like I barely had enough time to go to the toilet between feeds. It's all perfectly normal and natural.

Make sure you sleep when you can and ask for and accept all offers of help. No room for pride as a new Mum (except in bubs of course :D )

[nemosmum]

Congrats Carls!!!

So how does it feel to be a Mummy at last?
Pretty unreal huh :D

Oh and btw just keep feed feed feeding :p thats how I settled O LOL he used to feed night and day every 2 hours for 3 or 4 months :eek: so get used to it!!!

Sxx

[Seekrit]

so THAT'S where you've been.

Congratulations :)

[TwoBlue]

Hey Carls

Congrats on the safe arrival of James !! What a little cutie :p

I agree with all the advice already given..
E is 7 weeks now and things are starting to settle into a pretty good routine so rest assured it does happen :)

hope to hear more from you soon :)

[carls]

Thanks for all your advice girls. Some midwives came to visit and taught me some settling techniques for between feeds and its worked wonders. I'm now getting a lot more sleep - still broken, but a lot more!!

:)

Oh and youre right, its all about booby!!!! Typical male!

[Crazy Monkey]

Glad to hear you are getting some sleep...

[kuz78au]

Good stuff about you getting some more sleep! Woo Hoo! It makes such a difference doesn't it! I have a newborn too (he was due on 8/1 but he came on 20/12!) and I always feel like I'm falling through the days...but even as early as now I'm finding it getting better and better as each week passes!

I totally agree with everyone's posts and wanted to say that your bub is sooooo adorable! Awww! :p Congrats!

[our little treasures]

My dd fed every hr when she was a few weeks old then it sorted itself out i fed her whenever and she eventually fed 3-4 hrly.. However I HAVE a 5 mnth old who b/f and yes every hr still we tried changing his feeds but only led him to be upset and wake all nite so went back to feeds every hr and at least he feeds and goes back to sleep.. At nite he now sleeps occasionally 3hrs but we have increased his solids.. He was just off 10pnd so maybe that is why?? He is still very big for his age.... I go with the flow however when hubby gets home its HERE YOU TAKE HIM FOR A WHILE!! I feel for dd as she gets brushed aside for his feeding and there is only so many times you can say come sit with mummy and have cuddles while i'm feeding she wants to be outside with me in the sand.lol.