Does anyone frequent the Breastfeeding board? question inside.

Starry Again · September 2012

I am just curious how they are with drive by idiot questions or if I need to establish a relationship first. I will ask my question here as well but I imagine most people aren't in BF mode yet.

Question:

My milk is in. The baby is amazing during the day, feeding every 2-3 hours, normally 15-20 minutes per boob each time. Otherwise she sleeps or has 10-15 minutes of happy wakefulness on occassion.

The past two nights (her only nights at home, ha!), she has spent 12am-4am screaming her head off and has fed 3 times within those 4 hours (about 30 minutes each time). I don't mind being awake but she just seems so miserable, like nothing I do can soothe her, just wants to scream. Then at 4 she has stopped and slept until I wake her 3-4 hours later.

Anything wrong with my approach? I just hate how unhappy she is... not sure if I should be trying to feed her more in the late evening to get her to be more content, or if many babies just have an "unhappy period" and hers happens to be late night.

Rochell · September 2012

hungry? colic? dirty dipe? burp? those are my guesses - when I BFed my first LO he didn't cry "just bc" - there's usually a reason behind it ..if anything call a lactation consultant

Calabaza78 · September 2012

I am pretty sure the breastfeeding board has lots of drive-by questions, but I'm not really sure if there is a regular group on there or what.

It sounds like you are off to a great start breastfeeding, and that is great! To me, it sounds like she might have her days and nights reversed if she is going longer stretches during the day and sleeping a lot afterwards. Day/night reversal is common. I'm sure you're already trying this, but try to keep things light and not too quiet during the day, and quiet and dark when she wakes at night (hard when they're screaming at night-- I know--but using dim lighting and avoid tv, etc.)

It's also normal that there would be a fussy period at some point in the day. For a lot of babies, it's the evening witching hours, but if Juliet's internal clock is a little off, maybe it's occuring in the middle of the night for her. It sounds like she is doing her clusterfeeding then, which is a great signal to your body to produce more milk because she'll be having a growth spurt soon. I think there are a few big growth spurts in those early weeks, and a lot of fussiness can be attributed to that. Hopefully her days/ nights will work out soon, because otherwise, things sound totally normal from what you've said.

Have you read or watched Happiest Baby on the Block? I found that enormously helpful when going through the fussy periods. Babies start realizing they're not in the comfort of the womb anymore, and they miss the tight confines, white noise, and gentle swaying. Swaddling and white noise (along with a lot of nursing) became my best friends during those fussy times. I spent a lot of time sitting in front of the oven vent fan with a swaddled baby-- it was ridiculous how that loud wooooosh sound was so comforting to him. Maybe you can try some white noise at night when she's up?

You're doing great! Hang in there! It gets easier!

DottyBlue · September 2012

I have asked a couple of questions over there (pumps, etc) and they are really responsive and pleasant. Definitely ask them.

Is it possible that for some reason your supply tanks between 12 and 4 a.m. and she's upset because she's not getting enough to eat? Are you drinking/eating enough leading up to the 12-4 period?

Good luck!

Lacey2shoes · September 2012

I would ask on the bf board, even if you haven't been before. And maybe call an LC or find a LLL meeting near you (they are amazing for support and meeting people in the same situation, even if you don't need help). Anyway, DS would cry a lot in the late afternoons/evening and would cluster feed like crazy, but not as young as your LO and definitely not so late at night. It's normal to have less milk as the day goes on, but you should have lots during the night. Be super sure about not needing to burp. And, another thing that stuck out at me was that I think you said your LO bf 15 minutes on each breast, every feeding? Is there a reason that you're switching breasts? The hindmilk is really important to get, so maybe if your LO isn't emptying one breast fully he isn't getting that fatty part and gets hungry a lot sooner. Maybe try one breast per feeding. GL!

Starry Again · September 2012

Yes we are big fans of Happiest Baby on the Block. The only parenting book I read . What finally saved us last night was a great swaddle.

Thanks for all the advice so far.

Starry Again · September 2012

Lacey2shoes:
I would ask on the bf board, even if you haven't been before. And maybe call an LC or find a LLL meeting near you (they are amazing for support and meeting people in the same situation, even if you don't need help). Anyway, DS would cry a lot in the late afternoons/evening and would cluster feed like crazy, but not as young as your LO and definitely not so late at night. It's normal to have less milk as the day goes on, but you should have lots during the night. Be super sure about not needing to burp. And, another thing that stuck out at me was that I think you said your LO bf 15 minutes on each breast, every feeding? Is there a reason that you're switching breasts? The hindmilk is really important to get, so maybe if your LO isn't emptying one breast fully he isn't getting that fatty part and gets hungry a lot sooner. Maybe try one breast per feeding. GL!

Thanks. We are switching breasts every feeding. So let her feed on one, burp / change if needed, other breast. It seems like there are mixed messages on whether you should do it this way or just do one each... but this is a good idea.

First feeding this morning she only did 19 on one breast and 6 on the other, so I decided to do 10 min of pumping afterwards and got .25 ounces so I know she is getting something! Lots of wet / dirty diapers too.

gusabbey · September 2012

The hospital I delivered DS1 at has an AMAZING BF support team. I have memorized their hotline, and they are so great at offering advice. I would give them a call. The LC that runs the program has 12 children of her own...shes an expert 443-849-3428. I called her about everything...even non-BF related issues!

numberonemama · September 2012

I would def ask over there. If nothing else, contact a LC or post on kellymom.com (I think that's the BFing site that my GF swore by).

Mrs.G123 · September 2012

What are you eating? Is it super bland? DD did this her first night home. I think she just had gas. Do you have mylicob gas drops? We used those a ton at first.

DelilahGirl2010 · September 2012

Try calling your local La Leche League Leader....they are always very helpful and you can just google LLL.

Randi1986 · September 2012

My son did the same thing, the doctor attributed it to Colic like symptoms. I found out that he had really bad gas and difficulty passing it. We started him on a powdered probiotic supplement and it was a life saver! We gave him a 1/4 tsp twice a day in a little water or even mix in a bottle with breastmilk. He was a totally different baby. He stopped the awful screaming and slept much better. I have had 3 friends with the same problem now, and the probiotic worked for all of them too. If you're interested the probiotic we used is Natren- Life Start, it need to be refrigerated. My mother is a OB nurse and lactation consultant and she was so amazed by the turn around my son made once starting the probiotics, the OB floor now gives out pamphlets for the Life Start at the follow up visits (our hospital does a post discharge check up) and she says it has helped several family's that way too.

ThatWasAHoot · September 2012

Our son needed gas drops all the time. Maybe she has gas issues?

Also, does your hospital offer any sort of lactaction clinic? They will help you at those for free and you weigh the baby before and after to make sure they're eating enough.

irish city girl · September 2012

We had the same issue with DS1. Turned out he just wanted to eat from 12-4 for a week. It eventually got better. We figured out he had his days and nights mixed up (he was taking a 4 hour nap in the afternoon). So the doctor told us to not let him sleep more than a 3 hour stretch during the day. We also started turning off lights and turning down the sound on the tv in the evening to help establish that it was sleep time. Hope that helps a little.

daizey · September 2012

I sent you a PM, but mine does this too-I also was worried and contacted a lactation consultant at m hospital who said it was cluster feeding-totally normal, expected, and a good thing! She said as the transition to your milk completes itll happen less, but may start again in a few months and last a few days again...

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