Ds using me as a pacifer

Soon to be Mrs Stephens! · January 2012

My Lo is using me as a pacifer. He is only a week and a few days. I want to be here for all his needs. I want to comfort him if thats what gives him his comfort I mean he is only a little over a week he is so new to the world and wants to be on his mama and I understand but is this something that isnt ok to do. I mean I obviously cant whip out my boob whenever he wants. thank god we didnt have company tonight and what would i have done if we did and I cant imagine when he wants to do this at 3 in the morning when It gets worse. he wants to be on me all day.ive tried a few different pacifiers but he wasnt fooled and he just cried. anyone else have this problem.what do i do?

shotzie · January 2012

It can be exhausting when you feel like LO is always on your boob - but it's also totally normal newborn behavior (like you said). It's not bad to let LO comfort suck, even comfort sucking is good for your supply, actually. You can try letting him suck on your or DH's pinky and see if he'll go for that instead of the paci. I know it's tiring, but like so many phases, this too shall pass.
The other thing is - are you sure he's just sucking for comfort? Newborns need to eat frequently b/c their stomachs are tiny and breastmilk is easily digested. Eating frequently is what builds your supply and tells your body how much milk to make for LO. It's normal to feel like all you do is nurse in the beginning. It's also normal for newborns to cluster feed - especially in the evenings. They may want to nurse every 45 min or every hour or they may nurse for two hours straight! That's all normal and will ease up with a little time. The first 6 wks is generally the hardest and most exhausting, but then it usually gets easier.

julievernarsky · January 2012

I had thought this too at some point. My little girl started doing this in the hospital, so we let her suck on our pinkies. However, in more recent days I have discovered that if she is really full she won't suck on anything else either. Maybe he isn't getting enough or really is hungry? If you know, absolutely know, that he has gotten enough and there is no way he can be hungry, I'd keep trying with the pacifier. The other bit of advice I got from my mom, was to dip the pacifier in a little breast milk and have your significant other give it him. Don't give it to him yourself since it gives mixed messages. We tried that our little girl took a pacifier for the first time doing that. We haven't had to use the pacifier since though. Sometimes they just need to learn to take a pacifier but you can always use your pinkie too.

CharlieTheUnicorn · January 2012

Totally normal, and totally ok to feed on demand (even if you don't think he is hungry.) My girl pretty much eats from 7-8 ish at night sometimes until 11 or 12, switching sides every 15 minutes or so. Cluster feeding is a great way to build up supply and ease engorgement. Baby is more important then company, so if you did happen to have guests over they just have to deal. A blanket will make it so they can't see anything. I do agree with pp that your DH's pinky works in a pinch if you really need a break, I've also found putting baby in a sling and doing house work will sometimes put them to sleep without sucking. This to shall pass, good luck!

Soon to be Mrs Stephens! · January 2012

Thank you so much!

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