3 week old wants to nurse non-stop

Christel679

This morning from about 3am until now DD has wanted to nurse constantly.  She has done this several times this week.  DH says he doesn't think I should let her, but I can't just let her scream and she won't take a pacifier.  What can I do?

Jaffytaffy

I feel your pain, mine's been nursing nonstop since 1 am, and she did the same thing last night.  I can't even remember what sleep feels like, lol

cindyhow

She is probably going thru the 3 week growth spurt and  cluster feeding, it's hard but baby nursing all the time will up your supply to what they need!  Can you nurse side-lying - it's really helpful to be able to do doze and rest eyes while baby is nursing.

Get comfy on the couch with baby and nurse as much as you can during the day - anything else can wait.  That may help if she tanks up during the day to sleep a stretch

Read some info at kellymom (and have DH read too!) and hang in there, it does get better!

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurt.html

sensoregurl

Just hang in there momma! Those first 6 weeks are so hard, but it really does get easier. She's most likely growth spurting - she's growing and hungry! You're doing the right thing :-)

two-pink-shoes

That was pretty much the hardest week of having a baby.  I promise it will get better.  Just keep feeding her.

avbliss

I think all of us who BF have been in your shoes. It is however really important to establish a feeding routine (NOT a schedule). Start out with nursing her every hour and a half, then gradually space it out to every 2 hours, then every 2 1/2 hours till finally you come to every 3 hours at around 2 months. Of course at night let her sleep till she wakes you. It can be tough to let baby cry a little, but try to distract her with other things, and remember crying doesn't always mean "nurse me". It is the easiest way to get baby to stop crying because it's comforting, but be sure to check every other possibility before turning to nursing. This constant "snacking" is the easiest way to kill your milk supply, not to mention if baby is only getting fore milk and never getting to the good hind milk that's not good either. I went through this till DD was 4 weeks, and finally a friend gave me the above advice and it really did help! Good luck, and I promise this is also just a phase that will pass, sleep does come eventually!

 

*The three week and six week growth spurts will make feedings closer together, but shouldn't result in constant nursing. 

two-pink-shoes

avbliss:

I think all of us who BF have been in your shoes. It is however really important to establish a feeding routine (NOT a schedule). Start out with nursing her every hour and a half, then gradually space it out to every 2 hours, then every 2 1/2 hours till finally you come to every 3 hours at around 2 months. Of course at night let her sleep till she wakes you. It can be tough to let baby cry a little, but try to distract her with other things, and remember crying doesn't always mean "nurse me". It is the easiest way to get baby to stop crying because it's comforting, but be sure to check every other possibility before turning to nursing. This constant "snacking" is the easiest way to kill your milk supply, not to mention if baby is only getting fore milk and never getting to the good hind milk that's not good either. I went through this till DD was 4 weeks, and finally a friend gave me the above advice and it really did help! Good luck, and I promise this is also just a phase that will pass, sleep does come eventually!

 

*The three week and six week growth spurts will make feedings closer together, but shouldn't result in constant nursing. 

This is terrible advice IMO.  Let your baby eat whenever she's hungry.  Constant nursing is actually very good for your milk supply.  I still feed DS on demand, not by a "routine".  Sometimes he'll go 5-6 hours between feedings (usually just at night) and sometimes he'll eat every hour for a while.

cindyhow

Snacking can kill supply????,   DD nursed frequently/constant/snacking, whatever you want to call it in the early weeks, and I it did not kill my supply. She's hitting the 6 month growth spurt now and wanting to cluster feed each night for the past week and I've been fuller again now in the mornings, so my work pumps have increased.

Quoting from kellymom:

Weeks two through six

How often should baby be nursing?

Frequent nursing in the early weeks is important for establishing a good milk supply. Most newborns need to nurse 8 - 12+ times per day (24 hours). You CAN'T nurse too often?you CAN nurse too little.

Nurse at the first signs of hunger (stirring, rooting, hands in mouth)?don't wait until baby is crying. Allow baby unlimited time at the breast when sucking actively, then offer the second breast. Some newborns are excessively sleepy?wake baby to nurse if 2 hours (during the day) or 4 hours (at night) have passed without nursing. Once baby has established a good weight gain pattern, you can stop waking baby and nurse on baby's cues alone.

Knitty

avbliss:

I think all of us who BF have been in your shoes. It is however really important to establish a feeding routine (NOT a schedule). Start out with nursing her every hour and a half, then gradually space it out to every 2 hours, then every 2 1/2 hours till finally you come to every 3 hours at around 2 months. Of course at night let her sleep till she wakes you. It can be tough to let baby cry a little, but try to distract her with other things, and remember crying doesn't always mean "nurse me". It is the easiest way to get baby to stop crying because it's comforting, but be sure to check every other possibility before turning to nursing. This constant "snacking" is the easiest way to kill your milk supply, not to mention if baby is only getting fore milk and never getting to the good hind milk that's not good either. I went through this till DD was 4 weeks, and finally a friend gave me the above advice and it really did help! Good luck, and I promise this is also just a phase that will pass, sleep does come eventually!

 

*The three week and six week growth spurts will make feedings closer together, but shouldn't result in constant nursing. 

This is horrible, horrible advice. If you're going to starve your baby, please just switch to formula.

 

This constant "snacking" is the easiest way to kill your milk supply, not to mention if baby is only getting fore milk and never getting to the good hind milk that's not good either.

I know the book where you read this, and the author is totally ignorant of the biology of the breast and the mechanics of milk production. Feeding more frequently boosts your supply. And feeding more frequently also means they're getting more hindmilk because the fat in the milk is just like cream in a bottle of cow's milk. It floats to the top and sticks to the walls of the ducts the longer it sits. The more recent the last feeding the higher fat the first drops of the next feeding will be.

Crying is a late sign of hunger, try looking for her turning her head in to you,  smacking her lips, opening her mouth, being generally more alert and restless. But don't expect to be able to easily see them during a growth spurt, they'll be easier in a week when the growth spurt is over.

This is not hearsay or tradition like the old wives tales the author who wrote this advice relies on, it's science. There is a scientific journal dedicated to nursing https://jhl.sagepub.com/ we gave facts to work with now, and we *know* snacking boosts supply.

two-pink-shoes

OMG, I didn't see that she advocates letting a hungry baby cry.  That's just mean.

LittleLove29

Christel679:

This morning from about 3am until now DD has wanted to nurse constantly.  She has done this several times this week.  DH says he doesn't think I should let her, but I can't just let her scream and she won't take a pacifier.  What can I do?

Your not alone! I'm right there with you We were up ALL night last night. I've just been going with the advice I've gotten here. Three week growth spurt and let her eat! We've been doing some side lying and watching A LOT of movies this week lol oh and of course been getting a lot of bump time in. Although I am reaaally tired I'm excited that she is doing so well and hopefully getting my supply going and not having to pump which I hate. Heck when she is feeding every 1 to 2 hours who has time to pump.