Nursing non stop..... advice please

Jennifer - posted on 09/10/2010

@Jennifer Mallarapu- that doesn't sound like colic to me, it sounds like gastric reflux. Both of my last two boys had it and it was pure hell until they were on medications. Does she arch her back and scream? Flinch if you go down the stairs quickly while holding her? Ask the ped about testing for reflux.

Jennifer - posted on 09/10/2010

i'm going through the same thing with my 6 week old daughter, but she's worse! doc told me she has colic too., and all her cries sound the same so i'm never sure if she's genuinely hungry, but she is growing rapidly. she eats aaaallll day and nobody in my family believes it. it's a miracle i'm able to move coast to coast right now >.< anyway, she never sleeps until at LEAST 1:30am, but can be up as late as 3am, then sleeps until 6am. just try to bear through it as best you can, and don't take caffeine because that can contribute to the problem as well.

Nicole - posted on 09/09/2010

This is totally normal! It will get better! Oh, and WOW!!! You have a 6 week old that sleeps from 10 to 6?!?! That is awesome! You, and your breast milk, must be doing an amazing job during thoe cluster feedings! Go you! Don't get discouraged, it will get better. But, in the meantime, get a sling, wrap or carrier that is breastfeeding-friendly. That way you can give what your 6 week old needs during his cluster feedings and still have free hands to tend to your 21 month old. You can find instructions to making your own wraps online, too.

You are doing an amazing job breastfeeding and this will get better!

Jesy - posted on 09/09/2010

It sounds like he is going through a growth spurt. It's totally normal and will pass soon.

Cassandra - posted on 09/09/2010

My 7 week old daughter had been doing this since she was about 2 weeks old. It is called cluster feeding. Babies ofter do it before they take a long nap, such as your son does. I have a 2 yo little boy and my daughter was cluster feeding no joke from 12pm to 8pm. It was killing my whole day. My doc said it will subside by the time she is 3 months. sounds like forever I know but it has gotten better. Now she only does it from like 1-6 here and there. I bought a ring sling so I can go and do and still nurse her if I am out. It has helped alot. Hang In There!!!! It Will Get Better!!

Dora - posted on 09/09/2010

It sounds like he may be going through a growth spurt.

Jennifer - posted on 09/08/2010

Totally normal and I survived it with each kid by using the sling. They are increasing the supply and the only way to do that is to "teach" the breast to produce more. Marathon nursing is how they accomplish this. Mine typically do it around 5 weeks and it last about 6 or 7 days. With the 3rd kid, we were in the middle of a move with my husband out of town and I was PACKING frantically while nursing her in the sling from 3 to 8 pm every night.
Keep at it, it will only last about a week and then you can resume your normal programming!

Maria - posted on 09/08/2010

6 weeks old is when a typical baby is at their peek in fussiness! My point is - it will get better.

Here are a few things you can try...

Try wearing him in a baby carrier during this time.



I had a milk supply problem with my first and it started when she started sleeping all night long and i was dieting - she wanted to eat all the time too because she wasn't getting enough. You could try waking him up or night feedings a couple of times a night - it is not typical for a BF baby to sleep 7 or 8 hours in a row so early - your body makes more milk when you are resting.



As you said he may be overtired - so you could try encouraging more sleep earlier in the day.



Are you using a pacifier? Has his dad tried to rock him with the pacifier?



I also have a 21 month old and a baby and when I nurse the baby I close baby gates and doors so the older is stuck in the same room with me, the baby and her toys. Then I can interact with her as she plays and she is safe and the baby can eat.

Alex - posted on 09/08/2010

I was on that smae situation till i bought a sleepy wrap. now my 2nd is alomst 6 months and my oldest is 2.5yrs. my second loves bf and sleeping in his wrap (at home or out of the house), my oldest loves it because i can play, bake, bath, or put him to sleep (while holding his brother, I love it because i can spend equil amount of time w/ both my children and it help to be descret in public while bf the baby. I alwo get soooo much more done during the day when i have both my hands free. My husband also loves using it to carry my oldest when we go out since we only have a single stroller. my hubby is 14inches taller and 100lbs heavier than me. I found it on line took about 4 days to get adn was about $40.00. I now have my ML making one for my best friend since her sons are about the same age as mine and she saw it and loved it.

Julienne - posted on 09/08/2010

Definately sounds like he is cluster feeding.. my little one did it for a stretch similar to yours and it lasted around 2-3 weeks. I spoke to a BF counsellor through the Australian BF Association who reassured me that it was normal and to feed as she wanted. We always demand fed and determined when the 'daddy' was home she was not just 'comfort feeding etc' when she would suck and root for him as well.

As I said it only lasted 2-3 weeks for us and I just had to get accustomed to never achieving anything in the evenings.

Jessica - posted on 09/07/2010

Maybe your baby is going through a growth spurt. The best thing you can do is just let him eat. I know how you feel, like maybe you are not giving you other kid enough attention, right? I am currently breastfeeding my 8 week old daughter and I have a 18 month old and a 4 year old boys. Try to find things you can do while breastfeeding instead of worrying about what you can't do.

Donna - posted on 09/06/2010

dont worry, yur son is probably just going through a growth spurt. I remember I pumped alot in the beginning so my husband could help feed our daughter. I remember she took down as much as 7 oz in one sitting. Yur baby is completely normal. If you dont wanna be glued to the couch, try pumping

Sheree - posted on 09/06/2010

I agree with everyone else.. it sounds like a growth spurt. My daughter did the same thing, and will still do the same thing when she goes through another growth spurt. Ours usually last about a week. Good luck and keep going!!

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 09/06/2010

6 weeks is a huge growth spurt time. It's definitely normal. Consider yourself lucky that your baby sleeps from 10-5:30. My 16 month old doesn't even do that! :) Have you thought about getting a sling or a wrap? You can put baby in that to nurse and you can still get up and move around. The moby wrap is good for smaller babies. I think you can find out how to use your own fabric to make this wrap if you search the internet.

Cassie - posted on 09/06/2010

Its normal, me & my daugter just lived on the sofa at one point and its actually starting again! Hes just growing, all i can say is eat plenty and LOADS of fluids :) x

Jennifer - posted on 09/06/2010

I am in the exact same place as you are! My couch has become my dome! My daughter is 20 months and I feel as though she gets less attention from me, I feel guilty! My youngest is 8 weeks and recently she had just come through a growth spurt, where I was feeding almost exactly the same times as you had said! Now it has become a lot more easier, and I've only started to demand feed. Before, I fed on routine to build up my milk and now its hundreds! She's in a great routine, following the same feeding pattern everyday, and sleep is wonderful.
Don't give up. You're doing a fantastic job!!!

Teresa - posted on 09/06/2010

Totally normal. I can't imagine how frustrating it is w/ a toddler as well though as my girls were 6 when their brother was born.

Jenni - posted on 09/06/2010

Around 6 weeks babies usually have a growth spurt it could possibly be that? If so it's very important to feed on demand.
It could be for comfort as you suggested. You could try a pacifier if you've ruled out a growth spurt (although not all babies are into those).
Also are you sure he's crying out of hunger? I would try every other possibility first before you decide he's hungry. The need to sleep is often mistaken for hunger. I know you've had another child already but all babies are different and some are harder to read than others.
As far as routine vs demand goes some people make the mistake of thinking a routine means you're holding your baby off from feeds or 'scheduling' him in a way that fits you. You can still have a baby-led routine. It'll help for the most part by taking the guess work out of whether he's tired/hungry/needs comfort. What I did with my daughter is feed her when she wakes in the morning. Put her to sleep about 1hr30mins after she wakes for a nap. Which is around the time she would start showing me tired cues. I followed her lead. Normally she would wake 3 hours from her last feed but if she woke up 2.5 hours i would feed her. I never pressured her into a schedule I just kept the 3 hour-routine goal in my head. Some days she would follow it, some days she wouldn't. Eventually she began following it on her own. Now she's like clockwork (nearly). If she suddenly started demanding more I would assume it was a growth spurt and feed her as such.
I remember the first 2 months were endless feedings though until she discovered her thumb. I have a 2 year old so it was rather difficult as well. I feel for you! He will eventually settle into his own routine just keep track of it so you can spot it once it emerges it'll take a lot of the guess work out.

Tanya - posted on 09/06/2010

Sounds like a growth spurt to me and it also sounds like he is filling up because he is sleeping long streches at night for you.
I suggest investing in a well made sling that you can nurse your son in and still chase your toddler around. It might also help your little one with not wanting to nurse as much because he is still close to you and can smell your milk and be happy.

Celeste - posted on 09/06/2010

What you're describing is totally normal. Your baby is probably going on a growth spurt. Rest assured, it will get better and will not be forever! Keep on what you're doing! It'll get better!

Gabriela - posted on 09/06/2010

I suggest one of 2 options: get very comfortable on your couch and breastfeed as long as he likes, or try to get your baby in a routine and teach him how to self settle. You can try a book called "Save Our Sleep" by Tizzie Hall. She has a website you can check out before buying the book. Good luck!