Baby Is Hungry All the Time

Hi- This is totally normal, your baby is not using you as a pacifier, she is acting like a normal breastfed 2 month old. My kids rarely went three hours without nursing at that age except at night. It seems they nurse all the time but lucky for your she's sleeping a very long stretch at night, because of this she has to make up for it during the day. Neither of my girls would take a bottle and yes, at times it is overwhelming. All I could do was have whoever was with her keep trying with the bottle and do the best they could to comfort her. Sometimes they just cry. The bottom line is breast milk is more easily and quickly digested so they eat more often than formula fed. If you start supplementing with formula you will eventually start producing less milk and it will lead to early weaning. If you want to continue nursing the good news is this phase will pass, like every other childhood phase, and she will be much more easily consoled while you are away. Hang in there and try to get some advice from pro-nursing people, La Leche League or a nursing coach. The idea that breastmilk is not enough for her is ridiculous. Consider how in the world we are all populating this planet, it is extremely rare that a baby doesn't thrive and benefit hugely from being breastfed. Good luck, you can do it!

This is totally normal. My kiddo ate every 2 hours like clockwork for 9 months EXCEPT when he was cluster feeding (right before a growthspurt, and that was 30 minutes of not nursing, and then 30-60 minutes of nursing, 30 minutes of not nursing, 30-60 of nursing, rinse repeat), and at night.

Like yours, mine was a good sleeper.

Sure, maybe SOME babies go 3 hours, but most also don't sleep sleep 7-10 hours a stretch. So maybe if a baby "should" be going 3 hours between feedings then they "shouldn't" be sleeping more than 3-4 hours either until 6mo-1year??? I'll take cluster feedings and good sleep any day of the week if given a choice! Babies don't have wants yet, they have needs. Children have wants. You have some time to go before your newborn is a child.

Also -

Your baby *obviously* isn't using you as a pacifier for 2 reasons:

1) She's doubled her weight in 2 months (just imagine how much food YOU would have to eat to double your weight in 8 weeks!)... so she's EATING, not playing around ((babies who nurse as "pacifiers" aren't actually eating, they're nibbling but not really sucking/drinking))

2) She's far too young for it. Yes, she's getting comfort from you... but a- that's a good thing, and b- that's different from pacifying. To break a habit, you have to have a habit to begin with. She's too new for habits. She's JUST learning, and what she's currently learning from you is that if she has a need it gets filled. ALSO a good thing, because that builds trust.

So hang in there mama... you're doing the right things. If you need a little bolster for following your instincts (which sound great)... google "feeding on demand". The 2 of your (and daddy!) sound like you're doing fantastic.

((And if it makes him feel any better... I was in school when my wee one was little. When I had classes, kiddo did NOT eat. My mum -super experienced and amaaaaazing with kids- could only straw feed him, and barely any then... mostly just as a distracting factor. He just changed his sleeping/eating habits so that he was asleep most of the time while I was gone (sigh), and awake and nursing when I was there.))

She is "cluster feeding."
This is normal and common in infants/babies.
It means, that YES they get hungry and feed even every single hour or less. They are growing/developing monumentally and need it.
24/7.
This is arduous, sure, but that is how breastfeeding is. It is no cake walk.
My kids had GINORMOUS appetites... latched on well and solidly, and cluster fed a lot.... and they grew like weeds and blatantly displayed hunger cues.

It is probably a growth-spurt. Since she is approaching 3 months old.
In an infant, a growth-spurt typically occurs every 3 weeks... then at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months and so forth every 3 months.

She is really young... only 2 months old... and I know its not easy or pleasant... but many babies will ONLY drink from their Mom. Not all babies will take a bottle. Many babies will only drink from their Mom.. or just wait and wait for their Mom to return and not feeding at all.... until their Mom comes home.
ALSO, the 'evening' time is when most all babies... naturally get clingier. It is instinct. It is night time and that is when a baby is usually all tired/sleepy/over-tired and hungry. And they look for/want their Mom.

There is no 'rule' that a baby that age "should be able to make it 3 hours between feedings." If you go according to that... you will be continually frustrated. Because a baby is not like that... each baby is different... and they do not all have the same feeding needs nor growth percentiles.

Be happy, that your baby already has slept through the night. For now.

Also, although she is gaining weight... I would make sure that she is latched on well... otherwise she will not be getting enough intake. And make sure you are producing enough milk.
Also make sure she is nursing long enough... to get to the hind-milk. And nurse her for as long as SHE nurses for... not you. Don't unlatch her, until SHE is done.

all the best,
Susan

I have to totally agree with the other ladies who said eating very often is very normal! No breast fed baby can make thru the day eating every 4-6 hours! Never, never, never! And she is probably taking in more during the day to make up for the wonderful amount of time she is sleeping at night. She has to make it up somewhere. Listen to Kari and SH's advice.

Also, just wanted to address what happens if you get a cold or the flu, etc. Continue nursing! It will provide invaluable protection to baby! Baby probably won't even get what you or the rest of the family get because of the amazing protective antibodies your milk will provide.

As far as bottles-give the playtex nurser with the latex (brown) nipple a try. Very much like the breast as it is very soft and with the drop in your husband can squirt just a tiny amount of milk in her mouth so she knows why this different nipple is being given to her.

Breastfed babies do not read "How to Breastfeed" books :)

She is obviously thriving on your milk, so I would ditch the bottle for now and just nurse her on demand. She is probably going through a growth spurt. And breastfed babies can be VERY picky about the bottle. Mimijumi makes the best breast-like bottle I have ever seen and as a peer breastfeeding counselor for nearly 10 years, I have seen LOADS that look like they would work, but don't. This is there site: http://www.mimijumi.com/.

This however, tends to work very well on a baby that refuses the bottle: Your husband can try feeding her with a straw when you are away from her. Have him warm your milk and then dip a straw into it about an inch deep. Put your finger over the top end of the straw so the milk stays in the straw. Place the straw in the front of her mouth and release your finger. The milk will flow out. This is also a great technique to avoid nipple confusion.

Peace!

.

Do not supplement formula. I know of some women who do this and it's not the answer. It might keep them fuller but it's not as healthy for them as breastfeeding and it hurts the bond between you and baby.
I nurse on demand. I am not a believer in putting a baby on a feeding schedule because babies hit growth spurts, they teeth, they get sick... all of that causes them to eat more often. Our son nursed quite often because he grew so FAST. Our daughter doesn't eat as often or as much as our son did. However, when she hits her growth spurts or is teething she will demand to be at the breast more often. Some women choose to let their child cry for a while before they put them on the breasts, and I will sometimes do this if I really can't stop want I am doing, but I prefer putting them at the breast when they want the breast, especially if I know they are going through a growth spurt, teething, or are sick. Your daughter seems to be growing really quickly! My son was big like you are describing your daughter to be where on the other hand our daughter is much smaller. She just turned 7 months old and she is about 15/16 pounds, hence the reason she doesn't demand the breast as much as our son did. I would say your daughter is wanting the breast so much because she is growing. She might be pacifying a little but it sounds like she is NOT for the most part. You are doing the right thing by keeping her at the breast on demand. It should get easier as she gets older and when she is not going through growth spurts. They will go through a spurt for a while when they want the breast ALL the time and then have a little time where they are not so demanding of you and then go through another spurt where they are at the breast all the time again. That reminds me too... I never supplemented for our son but there were plenty of times I feared I was not producing enough and thought maybe that is why he cried all the time and wanted to be at my breast all the time. He kept gaining weight just fine so I knew he WAS getting enough but it kept scaring me. If this happens to you just stick it out without supplementing. Your baby will get enough to eat. They may get fussy but the more they are at the breast the more they tell your body to produce. They will be fussy for a while and if you let them nurse they will stimulate your body to produce more. When your body starts producing more they will stop being so fussy until the next growth spurt where they will again get fussy so you will again have them at the breast more so they can again stimulate your body to begin producing more.

Breastfed babies eat often, and more so when having a growth spurt.
Have you tried Second Nature brand bottles? They really ARE much more like the breast, baby has to suck to get the milk, and they use the same muscles as when nursing...my youngest wouldn't take bottles for a long time, but he needed to every so often because I was not always there, I read about this new brand that had just come out and tried it and he would take it, so that sole me on it :) They sell them at babies r us and Target

She's probably a comfort nurser, as was my first. I would just ride it out...she's so young that she may change her behavior tomorrow or next week without you trying anything. And she could be going through a growth spurt, so she may be hungry. She is awfully little for someone to decide how often she needs to go between feedings. Only she should decide that at this age.

Remember, she's not nursing to eat necessarily , she's also getting comfort from you.

And when all of her needs have been met, crying in the arms of someone who loves her is very different than crying alone. It is also night time when you are gone which is a fussy period anyways. She probably just wants mom.

That's okay.....that will change...or it won't. I just wouldn't try anything other than meeting her needs. She will change on her own.

Hi W.. Congratulations on your baby. Good for you for trying to juggle breastfeeding and your work. That is amazing.

From what I remember (my little one is 19 months), I went through the same thing practically that you are for the first three months. My LO wanted to eat constantly as well. And, You are fortunate your little one wants to sleep that much at nite. That is truly a blessing. I hope you rest a bit as well when she does :)

As I am not an expert, but I think three hours between feedings for breastfeeding babies is not always the case. I would like to recommend that you go to:
www.askdrsears.com -- there is a special section on breastfeeding. Or to www.laleche.org -- a great site to support breastfeeding mothers.

But most of all, know that you are not alone, and you have lots of support.

How much is she eating during feedings? When you pump, how much does she eat before she falls asleep or stops eating? What type of nipple are you using?

At 2 months she should be able to make it about 4-6 hours between feedings, easy. If she's falling asleep at the breast each time you go to feed, then yes, she's using you as a pacifier. Same goes for the bottle.

When she's feeding from the bottle, if you are using a step 1 nipple, she might be ready to move up to the next size. She might find that feeding is a lot of work for little reward and get tired of sucking before her belly is full. At 2 months she should be eating somewhere around 6oz at a feeding.

Good luck!
C

Sounds like she is going through a growth spurt and most likely at 2 months she is and will want to nurse more. Breast milk is metabolized better, quicker and more efficient than formula. It's tough during a growth spurt at times when they are so little, but it doesn't last long. Drink lots of water and get plenty of rest. You might want to try a different bottle/nipple combination too. I always had good luck with the playtex nursers and the Born Free bottles. Hope this helps.

The Breast milk might not be filling her enough. You might want to introduce regular bottle for every other feeding or the feeding that your husband does. My daughter was jaundice at birth so I had not choice but to do every other,. For some reason breast milk can make the jaundice worse.

How long has this been going on? Eight weeks is a classic time for a growth spurt--www.kellymom.com has great breastfeeding information.

The fact that she is going 7-8 hours at night is a great stretch! BUT she has to make up those calories somewhere. My daughter was a frequent nurser for the entire first year. Her frequent nursing helps build your supply for the next level of growth.

I suggest you look into Dr. Harvey Karp's 5S approach. It will give your husband some easy techniques to help sooth your baby.

She IS "using" you as a pacifier. Suckling is a soothing instinct for a baby. She is "asking" for what she needs to calm herself. She only has needs at this age, not wants. You're other option is to use a pacifier, but that can interfere with milk production.

One other thing to try is nursing one side per session. If you have an ample supply, she may be getting a lot of foremilk (watery) and not enough hindmilk (fatty) which can make her gassy and move through her system much more quickly. If she breaks latch, or you break latch part way through, burp her and put her back to the same breast. Offer the second breast. Be sure to alternate which breast you start with.

It is important to remember that not every child is the same. I had an abundance of milk, but my daughter RARELY went three hours during the day without nursing--and, yes, she was eating not just pacifying. I've known babies that could easily go four or more without issue. Use what you hear as a guideline...not as a measuring stick.

Supplement with formula to fill her up.