breastfeeding help needed

[lynz]

i need some advice please
My little one is 8 wks old she has been breastfed exclusively since day one but lately i am struggling to keep up with her demand for milk
During the day she feeds fine. She will feed then sleep for 3-4hrs but at night time she is continually hungry and my boobs struggle to keep up she will be feeding for what seems like forever from about 6pm till 11pm ish she will then fall asleep and sleep till about 6:30am. I am very reluctant to give her formula as i want to keep her on the booby milk but i cant keep up with her demand for milk in the evenings, trying to keep up with her demand is making us both naggy
Any suggestions

 

[hypnorm]

Ewan used to do this in the evenings from about 4-6pm he would be feeding at least every 40 mins, and i was really keen to try a botttle but hubby kept to going and i managed to get through it, at times i was in tears as i was sore and tired!
It did eventually settle down, but i felt like crap and i said to OH surely there cant be anything left in there for him to suck out!!
Its still quite early days at the moment and you are doing really well but you coul always try introducing a bottle feed say around 8pm and then breatfeed last thing.
It depends what you feel comfortable with as your milk should be quite well established by now.

 

[leedsforever]

no advice hun but just want to say you have done a fab job

 

[HatterasSarah]

You may want to try Fenugreek supplements. Ive heard they do wonders at increasing milk supply. And, they're very inexpensive. If BFing is really important to you (like it is to me), and you don't want to supplement with formula, you definitely should buy some fenugreek. Good Luck!

 

[Margerle]

She's cluster feeding. In other words storing up for a llong night without food or hydration. It's normal, you don't have a supply problem (wet diapers is your indicator), and it should ease up in the next month or so.

 

[B4byAnge1]

Skye still tends to do this, feeds on and off for a couple of hours in the evening but I think half of it is also for comfort...she does sleep for a good few hours though when she is finally finished...it sounds normal to me

 

[Tezzy]

She's cluster feeding. In other words storing up for a llong night without food or hydration. It's normal, you don't have a supply problem (wet diapers is your indicator), and it should ease up in the next month or so.

i agree with marg hun

huge hugs to you xx

 

[claire1983]

it will settle down - but it the meantime at least she is sleeping well from 11 till 6.30 thats great - you must be doing a fab job.

 

[tinytoes]

i agree you could alwysa try one bottle per evening' Just for now?
I did when I used to be too sore and by evening I couldnt handle it any more. So Ted used to get one bottle each evening.
It helped him sleep so much.
After a few weeks he decided he didnt want it anymore. SO we're back on boobie full time, but it really helped me.

There are some formulas you can get that are designed to be used along side breast milk. Maybe try that temporarily?

 

[ajarvis]

I agree with the others it's normal - stressful, but normal. My son did a ton of cluster feeding when he was little. Although in the end he weaned himself at about 16 months so it all worked out, but keep doing what you're doing Especially if she sleeps from 11 til 6!!

 

[Linzi]

We went through this and it was really hard work and quite tying as we couldn't go out and do anything really but he got over it. Keep going if you feel like you can.

xxx

 

[orangeblossom]

She's cluster feeding. In other words storing up for a llong night without food or hydration. It's normal, you don't have a supply problem (wet diapers is your indicator), and it should ease up in the next month or so.

i agree with marg hun

huge hugs to you xx

I agree with both above. Cluster feeding to get her through from 11pm to 6.30am - that is fantastic by the way, well done!!

ob
x

 

[Serene123]

Personally I think if you're not being kept up all night, you should just stick at it. It will get easier. I had to give up I was up allllllll night. Finally got it back but I wish I never gave up. We have days where she demands a bottle and it's horrible. If you can, try and stick it at. You're doing a wonderful job! Why can't you just sit infront of the tele for that time with a cup of tea and just relax while she feeds?

 

[lynz]

Thanks for your replies i am gonna stick at it. It is tiring but im not bothered about me i want what is best for my daughter which is the breast milk. I dont mind if she sucks on my boobs all nite i just dont like seeing her become distressed when she feels there is no milk left. Hopefully it will settle down over the next few weeks