BFing, when will it get easier?

goodgollie

Hi girls, I'm kind of new here.  I haven't been on the bump much since DD was born, but have a question for you today:

DD is 3 weeks old today and is still having problems latching onto one side and staying awake during feedings.  Often, she is rooting between feedings due to falling asleep during the feeding or sometimes even if I feel like she got a full feeding.  Granted, she is a tiny baby (probably 5.5 lbs now) but it takes me about 45 minutes to feed and change her at night.  I have to feed her every 3 hours and I'm starting to feel super tied down and a little depressed, or maybe its sleep deprivation. I don't want to give her a bottle because she is getting better about BFing (it used to take us at least an hour from start to finish) and don't want to confuse her or make her lazy at the breast.  I EP'd with DS and hated it because I was pumping AND giving a bottle.  I really wanted to avoid that this time but honestly it almost seems like it would be easier at this point.  I know if I stick it out that it will keep getting better, right?  When will it be safe for my DH to start giving her a bottle once a day?  Should I feed her again even if I fed her an hour previously if she is rooting?  

goodgollie

I just wanted to clarify that I do feed her sooner than 3 hours if needed, I just don't want her to get in the habit of snacking.  I do literally everything I can to keep her awake during feedings but usually to no avail.

kitkat145

Breastfeeding starts to get better after 6 weeks. At this point all you should be doing is nursing and resting. Sorry, I know it's probably not what you want to hear! I would literally be on the couch for days in those early weeks. Get your husband or someone else to help you out and put your feet up and breastfeed. If your baby is hungry and you just nursed an hour ago, absolutely feed again! She is building up your supply and she is sucking which is pretty much all babies that age do. It'll get better, jut hang in there!

cottonlily84

My DD was like that, falling asleep before she got full.  She would eat enough to just not be hungry then pass out.  The snuggle time just makes them so comfy and drowsy.  I'd have to waker her and make her take the other side to get something in her.  She would take an hour to feed and burp then want to eat again in 1-2 hours.  I was so exhausted.  BFing was my full time job at that point.  I was ok with that until I realized she wasn't actually getting enough milk therefore not gaining weight.  All that work and I felt like I was doing more harm than good. 

Breastfeeding keeps getting easier imo.  When she was 8 weeks old I looked back on the first few weeks and had no idea how I didn't give up!  Every day you learn something new, every feeding you learn what does/doesn't work for you and the stronger our preemie babies get the better chance they have to get good at BFing.  That's a key thing.  In the beginning she would just tire out and fall limp; now she will (slowly!) nurse til she's done.  I went back to work when DD was 10 weeks old.  I was pumping at work but to get enough for her sitter the next day I'd have to pump at home too, plus was nursing her as usual.  It was impossible.  So now I pump all day, she's growing, I'm happy, DH helps, it's a perfect fit for us. I know EP isn't what you want to do but what I'm saying is do whatever works for you and the little one.  I never even thought about EP but it's what wound up being perfect for us after trial and error.  That's why it does get better, because you have more time to learn what works better for you.

What I've heard is 3-6 weeks to introduce a bottle.  It gives them time to establish good latch and BFing techniques but isn't so long that they will refuse anything else.  Of course all babies are different.  For us 3 hours was about twice as long as DD would go between nursing so I have no advice there.  But I would burp her between breasts, take blankies and socks off, change her diaper, turn on the lights, etc. to get her roused a bit to do the other side. 

urbanflowerpot

It's going to be a little while - like kitkat said and probably not what you want to hear With prems the newborn phases lasts forever. There might be days you hardly do anything other than BF but it will be better and get easier. You can't encourage any bad habits with it at this point so please don't worry and if she's rooting again in a half hour then that's when she needs to eat. They nurse so slowly that by the time they're done eating I think they're already getting hungry again from all that work! Nipple confusion is a real thing so you're right to be cautious.

Have a look at the links on our preemie mom blog (link in siggy).

I hope things get easier for you soon!

haziedaze

I felt like I was nursing all the time for weeks. He came home at 35 weeks adjusted so it's been a long road. Every step along the way has helped. It's funny though, he got much more efficient and had an easier time latching just in time for his 3 week growth spurt. We're just recently able to do cradle position and he's self latching, but now he clusters like crazy when I get home from work.

Try to go on demand as much as possible. If LO likes to cluster (eat every hour or so for a few hours) then hand off to dad or anyone else to take a pee/stretch break after each session. The good news about cluster feeding is that it helps them get more hind milk which allows them to sleep a little longer.

Overall it's about coping as best as you can. Wear LO in a sling, moby, or other carrier in between so they sleep as long as possible and you can get a few things done. Set up a nursing station in your favorite spot with everything you need within arms reach (water, snacks, burp cloths, remotes, computer, phone, etc). Hang in there!!!

For me it's more than worth it for the satisfaction I get watching my little guy chunk up. I brought him home at 4lbs 14oz and now he's hard 12lbs 9oz- all on his mama's milk! I worked hard for those lbs!!

Wally3

FOr me it got easier around 6 weeks - which was about the time DS was due.  My LC said it would get better when his head got bigger then my boob. That happened around that time.