Mind if i join you?

Hi Mums and babies

I joined so fem in june- ish 2008, had m/c in August 2008 and fell pregnant again in Jan 09. Little man came 3 and a half weeks early on 14th August (due 8th Sept). He weighed in at 6lb 9oz, so not bad for an early baby. He had a few problems what with the very quick birth and being early and was in scbu for almost a week. We named him Max.

He is now 4 weeks old and after being in special care, had a brilliant 3hrly routine. He now wants to do his own thing and the 3 hourly business has almost gone, its more like every hour and a half to two hours. I am breast feeding and have been topping up with formula during the night feeds, in hope that he'll sleep just a little longer - this was recommended by the midwives at hospital. Im absolutely exhausted by the end of the day and have started to dread the night feeds. It just feels like Im feeding constantly throughout the night.

Do any of you have any tips or ideas. Am I confusing him with the formula milk, what am I doing wrong????

Thanks everso

Donna and Max x

A big thank you for all your replies...

Thank you so much for all your replies, you have all been really helpful. We had a better night with Max last night, although I must say with bedtime fast approaching, Im still dreading it!!

Thanks again and good to see some names I recognise from last year - I remember Elizabeth from expecting!

Love Donna and Max 4 weeks x

Hello

hi Donna!

Firstly huge congrats on the arrival on Max

As the others have said the first few weeks of breastfeeding are pretty hard work as they seem to want to feed all the flipping time! I remember when my boy Euan was 1 week old and he fed for nearly 6 hrs non-stop, i was so so so tired and fed-up I was nearly in tears. But i promise it does get easier.

Like Elizabeth said breastfeeding works on demand, so when he's feeding lots he's actually building up your suppply, also babies tend to have a growth spurt at around 3 weeks so that may have also affected his feeding.

I've had my fair share of probs with breastfeeding, including mastitis and thrush, and have had to give Euan a couple of bottles of formula in order to give myself a break. But I have to said I found it such a pain in the bum and in the middle of the night its way way easier to stick him on the boob rather than having to heat up a bottle etc......but then i am a bit lazy!hehe.

Do you have a pump at all? I used mine loads in the beginining whilst i was settling into breastfeeding to give myself a bit of a rest. I totally reccomend getting one as it wont effect your milk supply and means someone else can feed Max and give you a break.

Also i found getting out and walking Euan in the pram helped push the times between his feeds and stopped me going completely mad stuck in the house He always sleeps in his pram and it gives you and your boobs a break!
He will get better with his feeding as he gets a bit older, although we still have nights when Euan wants to feed every 2hrs, but the feeds are a lot shorter now.

You might find this website helpful http://www.laleche.org.uk/
and ask your MW or health visitor about breastfeeding support groups in your area, i went to one and found it great chatting to other mums and asking their advice and its also fab for meeting peeps and making new friends

Sorry for such a long babbling message, but finally you're not doing anything wrong!! its really hard work all this mummy business and you're doing a fab job

take care

Kate and Euan 12 weeks today

Hi hun

and welcome to you and max!!

this will be a quick reply as i really need to get to bed lol

sounds like you have had a similar start as Siri and i had - we were 2 weeks in intensive care here in norway.
but the midwives did not recommend formula - entirely the opposite - i had to pump every 3 hours, even when she was only able to be tube fed the bank milk (my milk didn't come in until a week after due to complications for me) - and then after the hospital just to let her feed whenever. boobs work on supply and demand - he is working to increase your supply - if you stop with the forumula and keep on with the breast milk, even though it will be more tiring to start with, you will have more milk because of it.
here they call them 'ke dager' which means 'increasing days' though sometimes it has felt like we have had more like 'increasing weeks' lol
siri has always had just breast milk - and while for the first 4 months pumped the other boob while she ate on one then hubby fed her the other half of her meal - it just about kept my production up. in hindsight i would have just fed her myself. much more efficient.
siri has always eaten through the night- but now when she does each meal only takes 10 mins - from her waking up to her going back to sleep.
yeah it's pretty knackering, but it's well worth it. and personally i think bottles are more hassle lol.

i would not be surprised if part of the reason he is eating so much is to comfort himself after his rough start - do you have a wrap? has anyone spoken to you about kangaroo care?

sorry i am being so abrupt, i should have been in bed hours ago lol.

but my main advice - stop the topping up, it wil just have an adverse affect on your milk. if you want to keep breastfeeding - just have him on the boob as much as possible - comfort time, feeding time, whenever he wants. it's all there to get the production going.

ok, i must sleep, lol

huge hugs to you and little max

elizabeth & siri (8 months)
xxxx

Hello donna and max

and welcome!!!
I'm sooo glad to hear that after your bad luck, you now have a wonderful baby boy!!!! Even if he has had an eventful life so far!!!!
I remember the early breast feeding days (and nights) when it never seems to end!!!
Lydia seemed to eat all day ever day, I used to go out the house to make her stop!!!!
I don't believe that you can confuse a baby by mixing formular and breast (I was told to express and give Lydia expressed milk every night from 10 days to give myself a break, and allow hubby feed Lydia)!!
I fully understand about the night feeds ... can daddy help you out??? Babies are used to eating when ever they want in your tummy, and it can take a while for them to adjust!! I fed Lydia on demand until I started weaning her at 6 months ... all babies are different (not much use to you ... I know)!!!
Anyway ... I just wanted to say hi, and that I look forward to hearing more from you!!!
Good luck with everything,
Janice and nearly 9 month old Lydia
xxx.