I breastfeeding and my 3 week old is nursing for hours at a time. She isn't nursing the entire time. She is sucking a little and falling asleep. Every time I try to pull her off she starts to root around or cry. The only time she is content is when she is on my nipple. She acts like she is still hungry, rooting, sticking out her tongue, etc. I don't think she could possibly be getting any milk and I am afraid my supply is low. My breasts feel very soft and I can't express hardly any milk. She will go on like this for hours at a time like this. I am at my wit's end. Please, any advice. Ah, and there she goes again.
Thankyou everyone for all your advice. We went to the pediatrician on Tues and she gained 3 oz since the tuesday before. Her continual eating has subsided a little. I went to Kangaroo kids, that place is great. I think I am having a problem with my letdown, especially last week when I was at my whit's end. I am pumping after nursing to increase my supply. I get 1-3 oz depending on when I pump. My husband is giving this to Aiko in the evening to help out when my supply is lower. Again, I just want to thank everyone for your support. I am a first time Mom and am trying to figure out all this stuff on my own. It is good knowing that I'm not the first one to experience these things.
L., she might be very hungry if you are not producing enough breast milk- you might need to supplement with formula, I would call you doctor ASAP. Drink A LOT of water, and then see if you could get some info from a lactation consultant.
This happened to me with my first child, and the rest as well. I had to supplement with all of them!
Goo Luck :)
my son was a sucker too - have you tried letting her suck on your pinkie? i know it sounds wierd (and of course you want to make sure your hands are very clean) but my son ended up sucking his thumb, he just hadn't figured it out yet at that age. the pinkie worked wonders - i know it's probably not "kosher" but you have to do what works. but if you can get her to suck on your finger at least it's a different feeling than your nipple, so it could be a baby step towards self soothing. good luck!
It is normal for babies to want to suck all the time, but you are going to go crazy if you do it. Go buy the book "Baby Wise" and buy a pacifier. The book will get you on an amazing feeding schedule, so you will know that your baby is getting what she needs. This also helps her start sleeping all night sooner. The pacifier will help your child's sucking reflexes.
First you must decide if she is having enough bowel movements. And, are they yellow and seedy? Make sure she is doing enough in her diaper, and you'll know she is getting enough from you. If all that is good, my babies also liked my pinkie in their mouth (my nail trimmed all the way down, and hands very clean). It is still part of you to suck on, and something different. From there, you can try different pacifiers. Good luck! Kudos for breastfeeding so much!
Yes, this is normal, she is going through a growth spurt. Keep letting her suck and in 48 hours or so your supply will increase. Meanwhile try to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Also, some babies spend longer nursing than others.
I disagree with a lot of the advice you were given. Babies have a need for non-nutritive sucking (some stronger than others). It does not necessarily mean she is hungry, she may just want to suck. You can try pacifiers or your pinkie. If you are concerned about supply you can try adding more protein and oatmeal to your diet. They are known to increase supply. Also the herb fenugreek. It is early to be expecting to get very much when pumping. Your body is still establishing your milk supply and your baby is getting all of it. Also so women have a harder time letting down to the pump. I would not start supplementing with formula already. That will just slowly lead you down the path to weaning. Remember your body will produce enough milk to keep up with your baby's demand. I would also caution you against the book Babywise. It is not written by a doctor and some of the suggestions have been proven to be dangerous to your baby's health (failure to thrive).
La Leche League can be a great support. Contact a group near you. Good Luck
hello! my 7 week old did this for a week or two. i even thought about giving up bf. then i was afraid of how i would calm her down when i needed to. now we are into the front carrier.
i guess i do not have any good advice except- this too shall pass. i did start to supplement with a bottle at three weeks. i felt like she was sucking me dry and not getting enough(she probably was). the consultants at the hospital scared me to death about "nipple confusion". i asked my mother in-law to do the first bottle so i did not have to witness it.
i do not know if i have helped any. we even made up a song about myself being the human pacifier (it is to the tune of rem's superman). it helped :)
Hi, first of all, at 3 weeks babies are having a growth spurt so they tend to constantly feed. Secondly, how many wet diapers is she having? That's how you will know if she is getting any milk. Also, you can try taking fenugreek. It's an herbal pill that you can buy at whole foods or anywhere else they sell herbals. I had low milk supply and started taking fenugreek. I took it the entire 12 months I breastfed my daughter. Ask you doctor about the fenugreek. You can also take metropol a perscription to boost your milk supply, if that is the problem. But chances are, she's just growing. Good luck. V.
L.,
I've only had a chance to skim the other responses, but I think I have a couple of things to add to what I did read.
I went through the same thing with my daughter (who is now 10 months old). She would feed for 1 hr 45 min, and then be ready to eat again 15 min later (and seem to sleep most of the time she was latched on). I barely had an opportunity to shower, eat, sleep ...
I know this can be very frustrating, it was a source of a lot of stress for me for the first 8 weeks of my daughters life. Here is what I learned from my own experience:
-- The first 3 weeks are the hardest. If she is gaining weight, she is probably getting enough food, so you don't have to worry about milk supply. In my case, my daughter lost so much weight in her 3rd week that she went back to the weight she was at the hospital. So I ended up having to supplement with formula
-- Kangaroo kids is a great resource for nursing moms. I think everyone who works there is a trained lactation specialist. If you can get there, they will give you free consultation on anything related to breastfeeding such as whether the baby is latching on properly (my daughter was not) They will also come to the house if you can't get to them. They have pumps that you can rent if you decide you need to increase your milk supply by pumping, but don't want to commit to buying a pump right away. They also have a nursing mom's group that meets weekly that is a great support group (you can and are encouraged to bring the baby). And if you haven't been there, they are a great consignment shop, and have couches where you can sit an breastfeed... They were a great resource for me.
-- I also had a hard time keeping my daughter awake the entire time she was latched on. Suggestions that worked for me: take all of her clothes off (except the diaper of course), change her diaper when you switch sides, tickle her under her chin, feet, anywhere, anytime she falls asleep.
--Your stress level will affect how much milk you produce. So (and I know this is way easier said than done) you need to come up with a way to enjoy the feeding process, and know that everything is going to be OK (even if you end up having to supplement with formula). I realized that I wasn't enjoying being with my daughter, and it wasn't doing either of us any good.
If it turns out that your daughter is losing weight, and you need someone to talk to, I'd be happy to share more of my experience. (I think you can contact me by clicking on my name)
Good luck!
A.
Tell your pediatrician..... she is hungry. A baby only knows basic needs at that age. You might have to supplement with a bottle.
I breastfeed my son, and I went through the same thing around the same time and was scared I wasn't making enough milk, but was adament that I not suppliment with formula. I called La Leche League, and they assured me that babies go throught growth spurts at approxamately 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. The growth spurt lasted (I think) around 3 days for my son.
Let her nurse all she needs, and keep her awake during feedings. I scanned quickly just a couple responses and saw someone suggested tickling her cheek or foot and unswaddling her, all good ideas to try! The nurses in the hospital also gave me a cool damp washcloth to rub my son's cheek if he was falling asleep on me. This worked best for us! (He would get mad, but at least he was awake to eat!) Keep working at it.
The more you nurse, the more milk you will make. The best advice I got was to never suppliment. This robs your body of the chance to know your baby needs more. Believe me, your breasts WILL produce more if it is demanded by your daughter!
Just be sure you drink plenty of liquids to replinish every time you breastfeed! Remember, if you are thirsty, your body is ALREADY dehydrated!
God bless you for choosing to breastfeed! Best to you!
L.,
Normal? Well, maybe. Tolerable? Probably not. I agree with the mom that recommended the book Baby Wise and a pacifier. Instead of sitting around trying to let her breastfeed, put her in a front pack with a pacifier and take her around with you while you accomplish your other tasks. I think the problem we face is that we "give in" to our first born's needs much more than we do for children after that, because we just can't! So, decide what YOU need to do and do it. Your baby will be fine, but you might need to supplement with formula too.
D.
Mom of 17, 14, 9 year old children - all breastfed
That can be normal, but it gets better, I promise. If you are pumping in the morning then try pumping less or just stopping altogether. My DD used to nurse so much she would spit it up and then she would want to nurse all over again. It was very frustrating. Don't cheat with food or formula until the Dr. says it is okay since it can be a possible cause for asthma and allergies.
It has only been 3 weeks so don't freak out yet. It could be she is very small and just can't suck strong enough to empty the breast quickly. Or she is a big baby and just needs more food...sucking will stimulate your production. Don't worry about not producing enough...your breasts are constantly producing milk so she is difinitely getting fed. Drink lots of water and eat more healthy snacks to help your body produce. Nursing Tea helps, too and it is at Whole Foods and maybe the grocery store now.
When she is falling asleep get her used to being taken off and put down. She will cry, but you can try swaddling her, nurse for 5 minutes and then put her down again. Just keep doing it so she gets used to it. Try to wait 3-5 minutes and leave the room if you can....go get that water your craving and potty break!
My daughter was awful about this. She just craved that closeness and nursing, but my son was a breeze. Try to enjoy it because now my DD is too busy to be held and I do miss it. She weaned early and my son weaned at 16 months...go figure!
Write back if you have more questions.
I tried to nurse my now 2 year old and we had the same thing. Come to find out two things: a) I didn't make nearly enough milk and b) she was allergic to what milk of mine she did get. I could pump for an hour or more and get less than an ounce. It was just so frustrating! Do what you feel is best. You're her mommy and you know her better than anyone!
Hi L.-
Your situation sounds exactly what I went through with my son. I ended up switching to formula because he wasn't satisfied and it was SO stressful and frustrating. It was very dishearting to me because I was really wanting to breastfeed. I recommend you talk to your pediatrician to make sure she is gaining enough weight, because it could just be a growth spurt and your breasts have to adjust to how much she is needing.
Good Luck!
Hi L., it's hard to know what's 'normal' with breastfeeding since I think no 2 experiences are alike, but I will say that my son was also happiest when he was sucking on my breast. Especially for the first 2 months. I would rarely have time to shower between feedings b/c he was always on there! I can say it will NOT affect your milk supply, your body will know to produce as much as your baby needs but you can get additional information and support by calling La Leche or the hospital lactation team where you delivered. I called my hospital more than once to talk to the lactation specialists and they were great. Good luck, it won't last forever!
My son was like that at that age as well. It gets better as they get older. If your baby will take a pacifier, try one now or they will always refuse one. I waited too long, and now my five month still won't take one. There are many moments when I wish he would. You probably can't express any milk because your baby is emptying them. Good luck.
I understand how you feel like a milk machine... that is how my first born was too.
I dont necessarily have any advice, except try to stay sane. Easier said than done, right?
I guess, just enjoy being there for her now. Enjoy the down time in a sense.
You can also try to drink some Mother's Milk tea to help increase your supply. And keep in mind, you need to keep your calorie intake up too.
Good Luck... this is only a phase.
Hi L.,
Yes you are a human pacifier. I have had 3 babies and nursed all of them. I can tell you that with the 1st one I went through the same issues you did. I did use a pacifier for the first 3-4 months with all of them and they all continued to nurse just fine. Don't worry too much about "nipple confusion". You could probably also use some cream for the chapped condition you are probably in. One last thing that we did was give one formula bottle at bedtime to keep them full for 4 hours and then continue to nurse all other times. This gives you a short break and lets someone else have a chance to bond. You need your rest and she needs to learn to eat at one time instead of grazing. None of my children developed a habit with the pacifier. I also used a supplement when I thought that my production began to slow called Fenugreek. You can get that at the healthfood store/GNC. Congratulations on your little rose-bud! P.
Hi L.,
My son was like that. My only advice is to look up La Leche League in the morning and call them. I think they know everything there is to know about breastfeeding. I'm sorry you are going through that. I know how maddening it can be! Bless you and your baby!
L. C.
My first daughter did this and the best way to get her to eat and be done with an hour was to breast feed without her being wrapped up in her blanket all warm. Also during growth spurts she would still want to nurse more so I took advantage of it and laid down with her and took a nap. Good luck it does get better.
Pumping/expressing is not a very good way to determine supply - especially in the beginning - because it is not as stimulating and just does not feel as natural. The only way to tell whether she is getting enough is by her diapers and her weight gain. If she has at least 6 very wet diapers and 4 poopy diapers, she should be getting enough at that age. At 3 weeks, she is most likely having a appetite/growth spurt. Babies seem to want to eat more often than normal during a growth spurt, and your breasts will feel empty more often. It can last for a few days to a week. My first month seemed like one long growth spurt. The good news is that, once it's over, you're supply will be increased and she'll be taking in more at each feeding and going longer between feedings. As for the hours of feeding, she also may be falling asleep before she finishes eating. Try keeping her awake for as long as possible during feedings by rubbing the top of her head or rubbing the palm of her hand...or even changing her diaper or burping her. When you need a break - try using a Soothie pacifier. You may need to get someone else like her dad to give it to her. For the first month, my son would not take a pacifier from me but would always happily accept it from his dad.
I breastfed 3 and my advice would be to make sure she isn't all warm and cozy when she nurses. Tickle her foot when she starts to fall asleep to get her going again. Or rub her cheek. Switch sides at 30 minutes. After that give her a pacifier. She just likes to suck and that will comfort her. Plus get her wrapped up good and tight when you lay her down. I am not a fan of pacifiers but I didn't like to be one even more. I nursed my first for 4 months and my second and third for 10. You need your rest and the stress it causes is going to affect your milk production.
Best of luck. It does get easier.
C
