baby need food or just want comfort?

[mylittlebubs]

i'm fisrt time mummy and my baby is 6 days old. Since he was born i started breastfeeding. I only started having lots of milk 4 days ago though and my baby seems to be hungry all the time and i always spend an hour just to feed him before trying to get him to sleep.
anyway, the doctor said i only need to feed him 30 min at each time ( 15 min for each breast ) but it doesn;'t seem to be enough for him because he still cries and put his hands in his mouth and suck it, so i have to start another round. and i know i still have milk for him when i do that, then i would give him a little bit of formula milk and that's when he 's happy and go to sleep.
i' m feeling stressed because i feel like i'm doing the right thing for him not letting him get hungry. Oh! doctor said that he just wants comfort from me by sucking my nipples will make him happy.
what's your opinion on this?

 

[Margerle]

Sorry but doc is wrong in this case. Studieshave show the benefits of demand feeding for mom and baby.

For mom:
Reduces engorgement as baby is constantly drawing fluid off the breasts.
Releases loads of oxytocin which helps the uterus contract, & clamp down open blood vessles.
Oxytocin is also the love hormone and helps bond you to baby.
Prolactin receptors are developed in the breast tissue. The more receptors the more efficient the milk production.
Breastfeeding has also been shown to help relax mom and baby during a period of great change.

For baby:

Comfort comfort comfort. Baby just spent their entire existence totally climate contolled, constantly in contact with you, and fed 24/7.
You are developing trust with the baby. TRhey learn to know your taste and smell, and your touch.
They need to learn and practice sucking to do it efficiently.
Sucking regulates milk production as baby is hitting growth spurts every few days for those first 6 weeks.
Nipples will make him happy - what's wrong with that?

 

[ColtonsMom]

For baby:
Nipples will make him happy - what's wrong with that?

I haven't BF but I've always heard that BF babies should be fed on demand. I've also heard many many woman say they felt they're baby was on the breast 24/7 during growth spurts, which like Margerle said is like a constant thing during the first few weeks of their lives.
You sound like you're trying hard-dont give up! Sometimes I wish I had BF my LO.

 

[mommytashaX2]

I don't think your Dr. is completely correct. Your baby may be eating more now because he is growing and because breast milk is not as heavy as formula, you will need to feed more frequently and for longer periods of time. It may seem like a lot now, but over time, the feeds will space out and will not take that long as your baby's tummy grows and he becomes more efficient at getting all he needs in less amount of time. I think because you are topping up with formula, he may be expecting to feel that same 'heavy/full' feeling that the formula provides which is why he is eating as much and for as long as he is. Even though it seems like so much right now, you and your baby are bonding and that is the most important thing.

 

[Hevz]

Nope....in this case Drs don't know everything

I have done "Breastmates" training and have read a great deal on the subject too, baby needs to be able to feed on demand in order for your milk supply to keep up with baby's needs and for you to breastfeed successfully. As long as baby has plenty of wet and dirty nappies, and is putting weight on nicely there's absolutely no need to worry so try and relax and enjoy it....the high demand doesn't last forever but is an important part of establishing breastfeeding. Baby (and you) is still getting to grips with the whole thing so be patient and try not to stress

Newborns sometimes seem to breastfeed almost constantly sometimes....this is completely normal but can be a little tiring. Take the opportunity to sit cuddled with your gorgeous little bundle, put your feet up and be waited on hand and foot

 

[lynz]

i also found the first week or so tiring when i started to breastfeed as my baby also appeared to be hungry all the time but she would have a good feed and then just fall asleep with my nipple in her mouth and when i tried to put her down she would wake again and act hungry. When i spoke to the midwife she suggested using a dummy. I was a bit reluctant at first as i had heard about babies getting nipple confusion but it was the best thing i have done now i feed till she loses interest and keeps falling asleep put her down and when she starts to cry again give her a dummy, she soon settles.
Babies are calmed by suckling whether its your nipple or a dummy

 

[1st_baby]

My boy is 3 months and still feeds on demand lol lil buggers

hang in there hun your baby will get the hang of things

 

[ryder]

For baby:
Nipples will make him happy - what's wrong with that?

I haven't BF but I've always heard that BF babies should be fed on demand. I've also heard many many woman say they felt they're baby was on the breast 24/7 during growth spurts, which like Margerle said is like a constant thing during the first few weeks of their lives.
You sound like you're trying hard-dont give up! Sometimes I wish I had BF my LO.

This is one of the reasons I will NOT breastfeed... I think I would go mentally insane if I had to feed constantly off the boob...

I really do give kudos to women who can actually do it successfully.

 

[Anababe]

Aw hun, i was like this with my baby, as long as you feed from each breast until your LO has had enough then thats fine (meaning until they come off the breast themselves and your not breaking the suction). If you take him off yourself then change breast he may get too much fore milk and not enough hind milk, which is what will fill him up! I was doing this for ages, kept changing over, then wondering why he was always starving. Also, my son would seem to be feeding constantly, but i soon realised that he was using my breast as comfort aswel as feeding. He would happily go to sleep suckling, but not feeding. THis is something you shouldnt encourage, as not only can it cause sore nipples but you dont want your baby getting used to needing that comfort to be able to go to sleep.

Of course i mean this when your baby gets a little older, at 6 days old, pretty much all he will do is eat, sleep and fill nappies lol i got so down as i felt like i was just a feeding machine and when this little baby wasnt feeding, he was sleeping! hehe

But honestly it gets better! I absolutely loved breastfeeding and will do it with all my babies!

Good Luck hun, you will get there!

xxx

 

[mylittlebubs]

If you take him off yourself then change breast he may get too much fore milk and not enough hind milk, which is what will fill him up! I was doing this for ages, kept changing over, then wondering why he was always starving. Also, my son would seem to be feeding constantly, but i soon realised that he was using my breast as comfort aswel as feeding.



xxx

yesterday was better, i only breastfeed him and then he went to sleep and woken up in half an hour for another feed. i feed him about 15-20 min. from each breast and he seems happy enough. when he stopped sucking , i took my nipple out of his mouth and he was fine.
i think there's a lot more we have to learn with each other, me and him.