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Infant feeding

Two week old feeding every hour. Any suggestions please?

7 replies

neolara · 11/01/2007 21:15

My DS is two weeks old and for the last four or five nights has been feeding approximately every hour to an hour and a half. He feeds for 10 mins or less before nodding off to sleep and is then impossible to wake despite tickling, taking clothes off, nappy changing etc. I'm pretty sure it's not growth spurt related as it has been going on for a few days now and also because he can go two and a half to three hours during the day. He's latching on correctly and my milk supply is good (I fed my DD for a year so I'm pretty sure that this is right.) As I have a two and a half year old, waking up this often isn't sustainable and I've been getting about 3 hours sleep night. I saw the health visitor today who weighed him and he is still quite a lot below his birth weight. She sent us off to the hospital where a doctor said I have to just feed him more. So..., does anyone have any ideas how I can get DS to feed for longer and less frequently? Any suggestions gratefully received.

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SachaF · 11/01/2007 21:21

I have a baby the same age and had a similar time last week. I introduced a dummy as he was basically suckling for comfort and not for food. My midwife agreed with this tactic. He now is still using the dummy, and feeding better and lasting longer between feeds.
Hoping he doesn't become to accustomed to the dummy - I am trying not to use it during the daytime but I am sure it is far more hygenic then him sucking my little finger lots!

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nwgreenmum · 11/01/2007 21:53

I had the problem of feeding every hour or so with my dd (now nearly 5 months) when she was in her first few weeks, and I solved that with a dummy. She was really only comfort sucking, and I had really painful nipples so I didn't need the extra attention .

I don't know how well it will work for you at night though - when she had it at night it usually fell out fairly quickly, apart from the nights where she had shifted so that her head was really close to the side of her moses basket. And when it fell out she just woke up again. It did have the advantage of DH being able to take some of the load by putting the dummy back in.

I haven't worried about dependence - I never gave her the dummy routinely but have used it whenever we were somewhere that other comfort is not possible (travelling in the car, doing school run when she doesn't feel like the buggy) and she isn't dependant on the dummy.

I think you should see your HV or GP again if that is the best that the H doc can offer...

Hey this is my first post on MN, and I have probably been completely longwinded, unhelpful and badly spelled

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motherinferior · 11/01/2007 21:55

I'm sorry, honey, but at the moment I think it's just feed, solidly, round the clock. I know it feels as if he's been around for ages but he's only two weeks old.

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NotQuiteCockney · 11/01/2007 21:58

If he's not yet back up to his birth weight, introducing a dummy doesn't sound like a good idea tbh. If he needs to suck, he should be sucking on you, particularly at this point.

Is he gaining weight? Is he generally well? Is he producing lots of wet nappies, and lots of dirty nappies?

Are you sleeping in the same bed? Is it an option? It's what got me through the first few months with both my kids.

Can you try to keep him awake before he falls asleep on the feed? this page looks ok on ways to wake a sleeping baby.

Breast compression might also be an idea? Here is a page on that. It will encourage him to feed more effectively.

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chocolatekimmy · 11/01/2007 22:12

Sounds normal to me - stick with it. It won't go on forever, you will soon find you both get into a better routine.

And what else are you here to do other than look after your newborn at the moment?

Good luck, sure you will be glad you perservered.

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Hattie05 · 11/01/2007 22:12

Hi and congrats on your new born!

I agree i don't think dummy is the answer, esp as you were referred to hospital about weight gain. Feeding on demand is the answer i'm afraid.

As i've just had my second also (7 weeks), it has reminded me how quickly problems we think we have disappear and get replaced by different concerns/worries almost on a daily basis, as they grow and change soooo much in these first few weeks. If i were you i'd try and relax about it and just feed frequently as it really won't last for long. I know at the moment it seems impossible, but just force yourself to forget about the unnecessary jobs around the house etc and just feed your baby and give your older one the attention they need and then get rest whenever you can! Say no to visitors unless they are offering to do your house work or cook dinner .

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neolara · 13/01/2007 15:45

Just wanted to say thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. I think I needed a bit of reminding that it's still very early days and I should probably just go with it at the moment as DS still hasn't regained his birth weight. I'll just have to call in the reinforcements to help look after DD. If he is still feeding as frequently in a few weeks time, I'll try a dummy and see if this makes a difference.

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