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March 2011 Moms
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How much longer can this continue?

eturpeturp member
in March 2011 Moms

DS has been eating NON.STOP. So far we have been successful with BFing but I feel like this kid is sucking me dry! I'm not kidding that he has been feeding every 2 hours (or less) for at least an hour each time for the past week. Apparently when DH was a baby he was also like this and because he was constantly hungry his mom eventually gave up of BFing and switched to formula. I really don't want this to eventually happen with us Sad

I know sometimes LOs can be lazy or slow eaters or that they want to nurse out of comfort but I really don't think this is the case with DS. He has a good latch, he is actively sucking and swallowing the whole time and he is easily soothed by a pacifier. He will also make it clear when he is full and just wants the pacifier to suck on by pushing and turning away from my nipple. I also don't think it is an issue of him not getting enough. I've been pumping occasionally and when he hasn't just eaten I can easily get 6 or 7 oz total and even when he has nursed off both breasts (and seems to be full) I can still pump up to 3 oz. I had wanted to start pumping more, not only to get a freezer stash going for when it is time for me to go back to work but also because he seems to be a little bit more efficient eating from the bottle and that way I could keep better track of exactly how much he is eating/getting. With the way he has been constantly eating though I haven't been able to pump enough to get ahead of him being hungry, I always just end up giving him whatever I just pumped because I end up feeling too drained to be able to nurse more. 

I'm wondering if I should think about supplementing with a bottle of formula maybe at night?? His 6 week check up is coming up so I will definitely talk to his pedi if it is still an issue then.

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Re: How much longer can this continue?

  • Magical95Magical95 member
    I would just wait it out. He is probably going through a growth spurt. Keep track of his dirty/wet diapers and make sure he is having enough. If he is I would NOT supplement with formula. If it is a growth spurt it is natures way of letting your body know that you need to start making more milk to keep up with him getting bigger and needing more. If you supplement it won't get that message. We went through this at  a little over 2 weeks old. Good luck, I hope it gets better soon!
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  • lovesBuplovesBup

    imageMagical95:
    I would just wait it out. He is probably going through a growth spurt. Keep track of his dirty/wet diapers and make sure he is having enough. If he is I would NOT supplement with formula. If it is a growth spurt it is natures way of letting your body know that you need to start making more milk to keep up with him getting bigger and needing more. If you supplement it won't get that message. We went through this at  a little over 2 weeks old. Good luck, I hope it gets better soon!

    This. Sounds like a growth spurt. Totally normal.

    eta: It lasted almost a week for us

    My Epic Adventures in Parenting
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  • Maggee206Maggee206
    Please don't give up just yet! I had the same trouble with my first son for about a week, maybe two, and then he got into a regular routine and, even better, started sleeping through the night! When the feedings were happening I thought I would never be normal again but it did settle down....it is also when I realized that there are a lot of things no one tells you about BF (like this marathon feeding, smelling like milk, etc.).  Good luck
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  • mrsbmw09mrsbmw09
    I would wait it out. Sounds like the normal growth spurt between 4 and 6 weeks. DD went through her first growth spurt at 3 weeks old and it lasted over a week for us. I thought I was going to pull every last strand of hair out of my head if she didn't stop nursing. What we went through sounds exactly like what you're describing, longer feedings with less time between them. Don't start supplementing, it will cause your supply to crash and make things harder in the long run. Good luck, it will get better!
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  • mrssburnisonmrssburnison member
    I was feeling the same way, and I had a home health nurse come in and she really helped me out!  I was holding her wrong, and my flow was too fast so she was sucking and piercing my nipple so she would stop the flow from drowning her.  If you try to lay back or lay down flat completely.  And have LO belly to your belly (make sure their ears are above their mouth) it may help.  Maybe not the probablem, but it helped me so maybe its worth a shot.  Good luck.  Don't get discouraged if its something you're really set on. 
    HarLynn's mama
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  • lyzabethlyzabeth member
    I totally had a similar experience and ended up swapping out some feedings with formula to get ahead on pumping. I have her almost exclusively on a bottle now and I've noticed a difference. She's more on a schedule and sleeps better. Do what's right for you. A couple formula bottles never hurt anyone.
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  • melissar617melissar617

    imageMagical95:
    I would just wait it out. He is probably going through a growth spurt. Keep track of his dirty/wet diapers and make sure he is having enough. If he is I would NOT supplement with formula. If it is a growth spurt it is natures way of letting your body know that you need to start making more milk to keep up with him getting bigger and needing more. If you supplement it won't get that message. We went through this at  a little over 2 weeks old. Good luck, I hope it gets better soon!

    This Yes 

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  • eturpeturp member
    Ugh! Believe it or not it is worse today, I haven't even moved off the couch because I've been nursing basically non stop. I hope it is just growth spurt and will pass, I guess it doesn't help that MIL is visiting and sounds like a broken record with "you're going to have to supplement w/ formula that's what I had to do with DH" Tongue Tied
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  • mrsbmw09mrsbmw09

    imageeturp:
    Ugh! Believe it or not it is worse today, I haven't even moved off the couch because I've been nursing basically non stop. I hope it is just growth spurt and will pass, I guess it doesn't help that MIL is visiting and sounds like a broken record with "you're going to have to supplement w/ formula that's what I had to do with DH" Tongue Tied

    Don't listen to her. Unless your pedi says to supplement with formula, don't. Of course it's up to you in the long run. If you would rather just formula feed that's up to you, but if you really want to continue bf'ing, don't give up!

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