XP with PAL Newbie question/ramble

PrincessDi80

Sorry if this is a bit convoluted.  So in the hospital the nurses told me to make sure I BF Lillian every two hours during the day and every three hours at night.  And to BF for 30 min, 15 on each side.  I have tried to stick to this as best as possible.  But here are some of the challenges: Sometimes it is really really hard to wake her up for a feeding. Either it takes forever to get her awake or she falls asleep mid feed.  In the hospital she successfully fed for 30 minutes straight each time.  Now that we are home I am lucky if we can get to a full 20 -25.  What normally happens is that DD feeds fast and furiously for the first 10 min or so.  Then she either needs to be burped, gets the hiccups, needs a diaper change,  starts falling asleep.  Then is is a struggle to get her to feed on the other side for another 10-15 min, this can take an entire half hour, sometimes she also needs to stop to produce a BM.  She can't simultaneously nurse and poop.  During the day I don't mind so much that the feedings take forever, but at night it is so hard for me to stay awake and the feedings wind up being so close together because the process is so long.  Sometimes if she only feeds for 20-25 minutes, she feeds again 20 minutes later for another 5-10 min.  At first I was worried about her not eating enough, but she has PLENTY wet/dirty diapers each day and at her first pedi appt on Monday she was already above birth weight (she was discharged at 6lbs 1 oz on Friday and by Monday she was 6lbs 9 oz, birth was 6lbs 7 oz).  So any advice?!?!  Today during her afternoon feed she nursed straight on the left side for 17 minutes!  I was so excited!  I stopped her to switch breasts and then it literally took me 30 minutes to get her to nurse for another 10 minutes. 

Valleybugt

My midwife gave me the best piece of advice when I started nursing after DD was born.  NEVER wake a sleeping baby.  Unless your LO has issues that would cause them not to wake, they will wake up and eat and it will be just fine.

Timed nursing is one of the worst pieces of advice you can get.  Just let her nurse on one side until she is done, and then offer the other side.  My DD almost never takes both sides at once and  she is a chunky 20 lbs at 6 months.

larrysdarling

Follow your baby, not the clock. What you're experiencing is what early bfing is like. Constant feeding, every two hours sometimes less. I spent the first few weeks feeding for about 10 hours a day. My baby took an hour to eat each time. It is not a quick process. They're sleepy, they pee and may poop a ton, they're not great at latching, your nipples hurt. But, if you can hang in there it gets much much easier. It's so worth it. Just try to take it one feeding or day at a time. It sounds like it's going well, actually, so keep up the good work!

J'sLisa

Congratulations on your baby and BF'ing!  We're still going strong at 15mos and it has been some ride! There are plenty of moms who BF only 1 side per feeding, so don't worry if your newborn falls asleep after 15min.  Just make sure you start with the other side the following feeding.  If by chance she starts to feed the 2nd side, I'd start the next feeding with that side too.  I watched the clock and kept a log of feedings and poops for the 1st 4weeks.  In retrospect, it wasn't necessary, but you need to do what makes you comfortable.  Your daughter is gaining weight, so you're doing a great job!  I agree with the PP to not wake her during the night.  You could try a dream feed just before you go to bed.  Good luck and this board will be a huge help and support!