can't cope.

[KatyR]

My LO is 12 days old and has tonight fed on and off for four hours. He wont settle in his Moses basket so has not slept either. I'm at my wits end....its now 2am and he has fallen asleep in my arms finally. But if i put him down he cries and sucks his hand which have so far shown me he is hungry.
i am exhausted and concerned that he isn't getting enough milk from me. Have been thinking of just giving up. Formula would be so much easier.....and would mean i could sleep. What should i do?? Is this normal??

 

[staralfur]

The first few weeks are basically one giant growth spurt and clusterfeeding is very normal.

It's also normal for a newborn to not settle in a crib/bassinet. They're so used to being all compact and warm in the womb that it's quite a shock to be in their own space.

My advice would be to look into safe cosleeping. We started at 2 weeks and it saved both my sanity and our breastfeeding relationship.

Formula is not guaranteed to be easier; many formula fed babies clusterfeed during growth spurts as well, and then you're dealing with making bottles, sterilizing, etc. I think cosleeping and breastfeeding is really the best way to optimize sleep in the early days.

As for worrying whether he's getting enough, I totally understand. I constantly worried about that as well. The biggest indicator is diaper output. Is he having a normal amount of wet/dirty diapers? If so, then he's getting enough.

 

[Breadsticks]

I agree with everything staralfur said. The first month was so hard with all the cluster feeding but it does get much easier I love not having to worry about bottles now! She has pumped milk at daycare and with daddy but I never really do the cleaning since I'm not home for those feeds.

Anyway, you are doing great!

 

[luna_19]

This is definitely normal. If you don't feel comfortable co sleeping what we did was take turns staying up on the couch and having him sleep on our chest. We couldn't get him to sleep in his bassinette until maybe 4 or 5 weeks old

 

[sobroody]

My daughter has been doing this too. She is 3 weeks. So i totally get how u feel. However, i combi fed my 3yo from a week onwards, he had formula at nightime only as i had sore nips and he fed constantly. I can tell you it wasnt easier and he did the same with the bottle which was even more of a pain ! try to stick at it and things will improve, remember its early days and he will sort a routine and will get used to his basket.

 

[Perplexed]

My aunt told me she combi fed one of her LOs. At night she would give her formula because she was told it would help her sleep better. However, she cluster fed through the night on formula and would drink for 5 mins from the bottle then fall asleep for 30 mins and it would go on and on. So much formula was wasted this way.

So easy to doubt with cluster feeding my LO does this also. Last night we were up till 4 and its the same as you said she feeds falls asleep and if i put her in her crib she wakes up again hungry. It makes me worry but shes producing plenty of dirty nappies every day so shes probably getting enough.

It is one of those things that we just have to power through till it passes. Thats what i keep telling myself. Hang in there mama!

edit: im personally looking to get a sling or carrier to wear lo in. she seems much happier when close to me so i think itll help!

 

[Calif]

There are really tough days but they will pass. Right now my baby is sick and can only feed 5 min snacking throughout the day. I can't even imagine preparing so many small amounts of formula and washing the zillion bottles. It will get much easier than formula, trust me.

 

[KatyR]

Thanks ladies, we made it through the night! Got some sleep, about an hour in the end but its better than nothing! Midwife visited us today and weighed him. My LO had gained 10oz in a week so I'm not worried about whether he is getting enough now! Thanks for your replied, kept me sane in the early hours!

 

[Breadsticks]

Glad he is gaining so well!

Keep doing what you're doing, mama

 

[Perplexed]

So glad LO gained! Great job mama power through!!

 

[Miss Redknob]

It is very hard in the beginning. My DS was such a night owl when he was born and I use to fall asleep sitting up during the night. You and bub will get through it xx

 

[cat_reversing]

if possible have a babymoon, let someone do everything else around the house, making food etc and you just spend time looking after baby, feeding, and sleeping when baby does. call in some favours if you have to but give yourself time to settle. Make sure you eat and drink well yourself and get comfy on the sofa for those extra long nursing/resting sessions.
If you want to keep bf it's best not to ff during the night as this is when you make the most prolactin which makes the milk, bf is supply and demand - the more baby suckles the more you make.
Keep going, it'll pass.

 

[calliebaby]

Have you tried swaddling?

 

[CVR1986]

Katy, I have had to combination feed. At first Lauren couldnt latch due to 100% tongue tie. Once it was snipped I was determined to breast feed...but she will literally feed all day with 10 min breaks every hour.
As much as I want to EBF I just cant...do what is right for you and bubs. Lauren is more satisfied with a bottle...but I now replace 1 formula a day with a bottle of breast milk and put her to breast often.