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New to BF and frustrated

loriann091loriann091 member
in Breastfeeding
I tried to look this up in previous posts but no luck, so I apologize if this is repetitive.

Anyway, my daughter is a week old and - luckily - has made breastfeeding pretty easy from the get-go. However, the last two days she has been doing something different. Typically, I have to wake her to feed her. Very rarely does she wake to eat on her own. So, I try to wait to do it every 3 hours instead of 2. When I feed her, she will go for at most 5 min per side and then pull away or fall asleep. I assume she's full, so I'll put her down. Then about 10-15 minutes later she fusses and will eat for about 2 more minutes. She does this for a stretch of a couple hours, then she'll have a great round where she eats for about 20 minutes total and is out like a light. This is especially tough at night when I really want to feed her and go back to sleep but she makes it into an hour long session with only eating for, at most, 15 minutes of that time.

I know this is new to her, and me, but I was just hoping some veterans might be able to give an insight into what's going on or what might help get through this hump. :)
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Re: New to BF and frustrated

  • eleolin8eleolin8 member

    Ive only been feeding for 5 weeks now.  At 1 week old, my LO was feeding every 1.5-2hrs for about 15-20 min total.  I was told not to let them "snack" and do everything you can to keep them awake to continue feeding.  My LC said to rub their feet, burp intermittingly and do a diaper change in between sides.  My LO would always poop while eating so I quickly learned not to change his diaper before feeding him.  Now at 5 weeks, he eats every 3 hrs and I do my best not to let him snack.

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  • bkramer08bkramer08 member
    My daughter is 14 weeks and from day one we have struggled to keep her away for feedings. First few weeks I would do everything I could to keep her awake to do 20 minutes at least on each side. I would tickle her arms, rub her ears, or tickle her feet. Anything. Now she only does one side a time but will go 30-50 minutes each feeding. I would avoid snacking
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  • loriann091loriann091 member
    Thanks for your replies! I will try harder to keep her awake. I've been burping & changing in between but like @eleolin8 said - she'll poop while eating so I try to wait to change her til after. Should I just try to keep her busy so she doesn't want to snack (i.e., rocking, put her in the swing, etc.)? I feel bad because I feel like she wants to eat but I know she had enough and will just spit it up. How long did it take before your babies stopped the "snacking" or "comfort nursing" phase?
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  • bkramer08bkramer08 member
    I always try just rocking her and give her the pacifier if I feel as though she is already full. I try and give it 10-15 minutes and if she is falling asleep then I know she is full and just tired. My daughter actually didn't start snacking until recently and she is 14 weeks. But the first few weeks we really struggled for her to stay awake while nursing. Still struggle with it but I know the spots that I have to keep tickling (ears and chest) to wake her.
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  • eleolin8eleolin8 member
    my LO has not really comfort nursed at all.  Just couple times when I put him down to sleep and he ends up crying too hard I offer one side (when he isn't really hungry) and he passes out after a minute or two.  I only do that when he doesn't want the paci.
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  • MrsStangerMrsStanger member
    When you notice her start to nod off you can always stimulate her suckling by tickling her cheek. unzip/snap her outfit to give her a bit of a chill.
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  • 1sttimemomma20131sttimemomma2013 member
    At a week old there's a growth spurt too which could be why she's wanting to nurse more. Watch the baby not the clock. (Best piece if advice I ever got). My daughter is now 9 months and still wakes often to "comfort nurse." Remember nursing is their everything right now..food, water, comfort. :)
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  • Boehrig2Boehrig2 member
    Is there a certain time of day you notice thus more? My LO would cluster feed before bedtime. Lots if on and off eating.it went on for several weeks right around the age you're saying. I'd have my hubby bring me dinner or eat just before and I'd post up on the couch and watch a movie. It IS harder when it's at night.
    I'm of the mindset to watch the baby not the clock, too.
    Were you medicated at all in birth or now? Medicated mommas can pass drowsiness onto baby, hence needing waking for feeds. If you weren't, consider NOT waking her and waiting for LO to tell you he's hungry. DD only cued me to feed her every 3-4 hrs, even as a newborn. I worried at first, but her poos were good and weight gain was too.
    Keep on! It could all change in another day!
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