27 hrs old very unsettled Help

**Shiny95** · 11-02-2011 22:20

Help, it's been 3 years and i'm out of practice
I'm home with my dd just 27 hrs old.
I don't know why she won't settle tonight.
Shes been awake since 6.30pm, its now 11.15pm.
In that time she's been on the boob Several times, only colustrum.
She's been sucking on her hand constantly and smacking her lips. But she can't be hungry after spending 40 mins on the breast. Have i allowed her to suck to long and create alot of wind?
Now she's just really overtired adding to the confusion and frustration as to wether she has wind or is hungry.
Do i offer the breast again???

**MamaC** · 11-02-2011 22:26

A lot of bubs get a bit fractious around this time, waiting for your milk to come in. I suppose the more you let her feed the more milk you will make when it comes in, but at the same time you may not want to let her be on the breast all the time if your nipples are sore/damaged/bleeding etc.

Sorry, I'm not really sure. What does your instinct say? My instinct for my newborns was to always feed feed feed

Oh and

on the birth of your daughter!!

**NonnyMouse** · 11-02-2011 22:36

Congrats!

If your nipples can handle it, I'd keep feeding whenever she wants it. Sucking colostrum is going to give her less gas than sucking at her hand I think. It' s great for stimulating your milk supply, and if you can keep in a dim room, skin to skin, and just feed and cuddle until she settles that'll also help get all those lovely post natal hormones doing their thing.

**MissWinter** · 11-02-2011 22:37

My DD was very VERY similar and turns out she wasn't latching on, and was essentially starving

The hospital had told me she was feeding perfectly, even though I got them to check numerous times...

**2made3** · 11-02-2011 22:43

Oh you poor hun

I remember going through that not long ago with DD.

Only my solution was to top her up with formula, which you may/may not want to do. My nipples were killing me after 4 hours of constant feeding. After she guzzled down 50mls of formula (she was about 40 hrs old) she then slept immediately after for 6 hours straight. She had been so hungry.

Good luck & congrats!

**minties** · 11-02-2011 22:51

If your nipples can handle it then I would feed, feed, feed. I don't think you can feed a new baby too much and it will be great for supply. She has a teeny tiny stomach at this age (think marble size) so frequent feeds are very normal (and colostrum is liquid gold so get it in to her I say!)

Do you have some kind of sling or carrier that she can be upright in? If you do that might help settle her and the upright position will help if she does have a bit of wind. If not then perhaps a bit of skin to skin time with her on your chest, again, slightly upright in case of wind.

Congrats on your new bundle, enjoy those snuggles

**Theophania** · 11-02-2011 22:51

Sounds like she is working hard to get that milk supply in

I would offer her the breast as often as she needs it. For me, on the second day I thought I would go crazy, I thought I was doing something wrong, I mean there was no way the baby needed boobing that often, right??? Ah yeah she did

She was on there almost constantly, I remember breaking down and crying my eyes out cause I thought I was doing something wrong, but I wasn't I had her on the boob constantly and thats what she wanted and needed.

I would DEFINITELY NOT suggest topping up with formula at this stage. She needs to be on your boob as much as possible at this young age. If you give her formula now your boobs wont be stimulated for hours and you will risk upsetting her belly.

Just jump into bed, have some skin to skin and let her at the boob as much as you can

**Shiny95** · 11-02-2011 23:09

Thanks, it's great to have your feedback. We're on the boob again. Hopefully she'll settle after this. Or we could just be starting the cycle all over again. Another question, do u always leave bub on until they decide to pull away?

**minties** · 11-02-2011 23:21

Originally Posted by Shiny95

Thanks, it's great to have your feedback. We're on the boob again. Hopefully she'll settle after this. Or we could just be starting the cycle all over again. Another question, do u always leave bub on until they decide to pull away?

I do try to but sometimes dd would feed forever and my nipples would begin to hurt so I would take her off for a bit. It's better to take a break and avoid damaging your nipples I think. The advice my midwife gave was to 'feed until floppy', so, if bubs has been on for a while gently lift their arm then let it fall, if it kind of flops down then they are probably done, if there is still resistance then assume they are still eating and let them keep going if it is still comfortable to you. Not sure if this is the recommended advice as I've never heard anyone else say it but I found it really helpful during those early feeding marathons.

**BabelFish** · 12-02-2011 00:24

Originally Posted by Shiny95

Thanks, it's great to have your feedback. We're on the boob again. Hopefully she'll settle after this. Or we could just be starting the cycle all over again. Another question, do u always leave bub on until they decide to pull away?

At this age - yes! Wow I remember this so clearly ... so hard and exhausting at first but such a great start to your breastfeeding and what a lovely Mummy you are. If you feel safe and you can ask your partner or someone to watch you, lie down with her while she's feeding and have a little nap together - on a nice firm surface with no covers or pillows. It's luffly