8 days old and nursing constantly - Question

Re: 8 days old and nursing constantly - Question

• PurplePeep

  November 2009

  At this point babies don't have the ability to self soothe. They need their mamas.
  

  Maybe try giving her a pacifier?
  

  

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• madameladauphine member

  November 2009

  DS was like that when he was born.  It was exhausting, and frustrating at times but I just fed him if that's what he wanted.  It took him a few weeks and he started spreading the feedings out to every 2 hours, and he is now just starting to go 3 hours.  I think if she's hungry you should feed her, not make her wait.  Also, I think she's too little to start a routine yet.  Just go with the flow

  

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• dragon_chica member

  November 2009

  Your DH is absolutely positively WRONG!  Like pp said, at this age she canNOT self-soothe and you shouldn't have her CIO to "toughen her up" either.  You also can't form a routine with a newborn it just doesn't work that way.  Your job as the parent right now is to feed her when she's hungry and let her sleep when she wants to.  If you're EBF she will eat more often than FF because BM gets digested quicker.  Hence why she seems to constantly be eating.  I didn't realize this either and thought I had to follow the 2-3 hour rec but that's mainly for FF.  So if you find that she's hungry an hour after you fed her than feed her. 
  

  

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• MrsErinnElizabeth

  November 2009

  Congrats on your LO!!
  

  She won't be 'in a routine' for a looong time, so you'd better let your DH know   My DD is different every day.  Sometimes she sleeps great at night, sometimes she sleeps all day and is a total night owl.  She sometimes eats every two hours, sometimes every three, and occasionally every hour on the hour.  I just give her what she wants...I could never deny her food if she was hungry!

  She will get better at feeding and start to space her feedings apart before you know it.  Until then, just try to follow her cues and know that it won't last forever.  Neither will her tiny cuteness, so savour it! 
  

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• rianals member

  November 2009

  Nursing as often as she is also helps build your supply.  Getting a good start is so important and can be really beneficial for BFing in the next few months.  She might be eating nonstop right now, but with a little time, the two of you will develop a good routine.  Keep up the great work and try to enjoy these early days.

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• nikalina

  November 2009

  You aren't over doing it.  My DS3 was like that too. 
  

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• SymphonyGirl member

  November 2009

  You are not overdoing it.  Sounds like you are doing on-demand feeding just how it's supposed to be done.  Since today was different than usual, I would guess it's a growth spurt.  During growth spurts you feel like the baby is permanently attached to the breast for a day or 2. 
  

  

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• mattandbekah

  November 2009

  both our LC  and pedi told us to expect this, that it could be  growth spurt or cluster feeding. stick it out...you arent doing anything wrong
  

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• mb~zf

  November 2009

  mattandbekah:

  both our LC  and pedi told us to expect this, that it could be  growth spurt or cluster feeding. stick it out...you arent doing anything wrong
  

  this.  I know you're frustrated but try to wait it out.  Olive did the exact same thing to me the last two nights and now all of the sudden she has just slept almost 4.5 hours tonight.

  Try using a breast shield to give your (o)(o)s a break.  It has saved mine the past couple of days. Lots of lanolin too.

   Good luck and ((hugs)). 

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• Heather1979 member

  November 2009

  Hi!!! OMG congrats- I missed when you had LO! (Plus I've been living over on the preemie board mostly)

  How are you?

  It sounds like it could be a growth spurt... there were 2 days so far that were like this with Olivia

  I think (but I'm no expert) it's too early to say she needs to self-soothe, I know when I move around, do a diaper change, etc. that wakes her up enough to feed for a longer time. (If she doesn't go for at least 20 minutes she's up in an hour or so to eat again, but if she eats for 20 or more she can go beyond three hours- weird huh!?)

   

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• SusieQ1982

  November 2009

  dragon_chica:

  Your DH is absolutely positively WRONG!  Like pp said, at this age she canNOT self-soothe and you shouldn't have her CIO to "toughen her up" either.  You also can't form a routine with a newborn it just doesn't work that way.  Your job as the parent right now is to feed her when she's hungry and let her sleep when she wants to.  If you're EBF she will eat more often than FF because BM gets digested quicker.  Hence why she seems to constantly be eating.  I didn't realize this either and thought I had to follow the 2-3 hour rec but that's mainly for FF.  So if you find that she's hungry an hour after you fed her than feed her. 
  

  this
  

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• cmrand4 member

  November 2009

  their tummies are so little when they're newborns that they can't really hold much milk and yet digest it so quickly.  It's good to feed whenever LO seems hungry (even if it's just for soothing) because it's good nursing practice for both of you--getting the hang of it takes a lot of practice for babies too. By 6 weeks i noticed LO got a lot more efficient and down to business .  my LO also would fall sleep a lot--if you want   you could strip lo down to diaper and bug him with caressing to keep awake for a bit more feeding if nursing sessions seem too brief (less than 15 mins?). Week old newborns can be very sleepy so try to get some rest during that time so you can recuperate too.   around 3 weeks you'll notice LO becomes a lot more wakeful.  Enjoy this time bonding time and getting to know your new child! Congrats!
  

  

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