Breastfeeding...help!

Cici3913 · October 2014

So my baby is 1 week old as of yesterday. During the day she will breastfeed every 3-4 hours and goes to sleep right after her feeding and sleeps until it's time for her next feeding. At nights starting around 10 she wants to breastfeed nonstop. She just wants to switch from one breast to the next. Last night she did this from 10pm-4am. I've read about cluster feeding...but this seems excessive. Does anyone have any advice?

Cici3913 · October 2014

@carolineheider‌ she takes about 20 minute breaks in between but it definitely seems like it's just straight through!

2ndGeneration · October 2014

You need to be waking her during the day so that she nurses every two hours or so. Then, let her sleep after the last evening feeding (like at 8 or 9 or so) so she takes a longer sleep stretch then.

She's got her days and nights reversed. Having her nurse and be awake during the day will fix that.

My dd was born Tuesday and is a bit reversed too. In fact I'm going to wake her up shortly to nurse-I did this all day yesterday and last night was not bad!

lesliegolem · October 2014

My DD did the same thing! Think it was a few months before she nursed mostly during the day and less at night. Good luck!

Cici3913 · October 2014

Thanks everyone! What do you do if they won't wake up to feed every 2 hours during the day?

venussapphire · October 2014

Have you tried a pacifier?

DD would want to just feed and feed all night long. She was full and had lots of diapers. She just wanted comfort. It was magic when the midwife suggested a pacifier. For us it didn't cause any problems and she stopped wanting a pacifier on her own at 8 weeks.

tugglek23 · October 2014

I have to feed Dylan (3weeks) every 2 hours during the day as well. We wake her up and strip her down to make sure she stays awake. If she starts falling asleep while feeding, I'll mess with her feet or rub her head. Wakes her up and makes her continue to feed. She still is up every 1.5 to 2 hours at night but we started off like you waking up every 30 minutes. So progress is happening! You can do it mama!

PineApple85 · October 2014

DS1 went through this around the same time and I think it was comfort nursing but it passed in a few days. I nursed through most of it and when I couldn't stay awake any longer SO or MIL took over cuddling him while he was swaddled and woke me when he needed to eat again.

The first several weeks are the hardest but follow your gut and do what feels right for y'all.

MuchlyGen · October 2014

People have given some good advice, of things that may help but I wanted to throw in my own reassurance - the BFing thing, for me, got way easier around 3 weeks. Baby will get bigger and this phase won't last forever. Right now she's going through near constant growth spurts. She will grow and they will space out more, and on the nights where everything feels rough and like it will never end... just remind yourself that nothing lasts forever, and that in even just a month this hard part is going to be a memory.

You are doing great!

Cici3913 · October 2014

venussapphire said:
Have you tried a pacifier?

DD would want to just feed and feed all night long. She was full and had lots of diapers. She just wanted comfort. It was magic when the midwife suggested a pacifier. For us it didn't cause any problems and she stopped wanting a pacifier on her own at 8 weeks.

She just gets extremely mad when we try to give her a pacifier.

Cici3913 · October 2014

I will definitely try feeding her every 2 hours today. Thanks everyone for your help

venussapphire · October 2014

Cici3913 said:

Have you tried a pacifier?

DD would want to just feed and feed all night long. She was full and had lots of diapers. She just wanted comfort. It was magic when the midwife suggested a pacifier. For us it didn't cause any problems and she stopped wanting a pacifier on her own at 8 weeks.
She just gets extremely mad when we try to give her a pacifier.

lol it's probably for the best then. Some kids have a huge problem stopping, so yay for not even starting.

Cici3913 · October 2014

See I was going to wake her up and get her to eat every 2-3 hours but then everyone kept telling me not to wake a sleeping baby. But that seems to be the only way to get her on a better eating pattern. She's been waking up today when I wake her every 2 hours to eat so maybe tonight will be better

I'm definitely overwhelmed with this new responsibility and I just want to get it right! So I really appreciate all of your replies

mrsodonnell12 · October 2014

I'd start waking her to eat every 2-3 hours during the day and continue to nurse on demand at night. There is actually something in your milk at night that encourages sleep and helps baby get on track for days vs night- pretty cool!

You are only a week in - it will work itself out! Hang in there mama!

Breastfeeding...help!

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