She never seems satisfied

[courts&munchkins]

This is the longest I have breastfed for so I don't know if this is normal breastfed baby behaviour but dd never seems satisfied. Ever. She still feeds hourly, sometimes more than hourly. She doesn't spend much time playing or discovering the world. Her happy times last no more than 15 mins and then she is screaming again, trying to get on the boob. She sucks on her hands constantly like a maniac trying to devour them. If I offer her a knuckle she tries to attack it and then gets really upset when no milk comes out of it. She won't take a dummy. She doesn't nap properly, waking after 20 mins wanting to feed again.

Our day consists of feed, she gets tired feeding (probably because of her tongue tie) so she falls asleep, sleeps for 15-20mins, wakes crying wanting to feed again (if I try and distract her she just cries louder burrowing her face into my chest) then she might play for a little bit but then wants to feed again.

I expected constant round the clock feedings as a newborn but she is nearly 4 months old, I was hoping she would start to become more of a baby who I could interact with instead of constantly being attached to my chest. I am so worn out, I feel chained to the couch. My house is never clean, the washing is always behind. And my boys are acting out because they never get any attention. I was just hoping it would get easier by now.

The thing is her behaviour is a complete contradiction to reality. She is constantly acting like she is starving but she is fat, she is huge. She is a kilo heavier than the boys were at the same age. Everyone comments on her size, it annoys me so much. My mother thinks I am overfeeding her, that I should just not let her on, but I have tried everything to stop her crying and the only thing that will is my boob. She just goes balistic trying to latch on anything else around her. She is obviously getting more than enough milk. Why is she so unsettled??? I am worried about her development, she seems to be a bit behind other babies but she spends most of her day feeding instead of being interested in the world around her. She isn't getting a chance to learn anything. Are breastfed babies just more unsettled??

I am just so confused, she behaves like she is starving constantly yet she is obviously not because she is so fat. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I just can't seem to get this breastfeeding thing right. Will she ever go a full hour without being attached to my boob???? Oh and of course she is crying again and trying to chew her hands off... I only fed her half an hour ago.

[onthefly]

You're right, she's not starving! Sounds like you're doing a great job.
Babies go for the breast for all sorts of reasons - she may have an upset tummy or reflux, be feeling unwell, be overtired/stimulated (very likely if she's not sleeping well), and so on.
Do you have a sling or carrier you could pop her in? sometimes just being close helps them. Is anyone in the family unwell? You might also want to get her checked out for reflux?
It isn't because she's breastfeeding, it's just that she's using your breasts in the way they were designed - for comfort and security as well as food.

[DANNIIM]

DS2 was exactly the same big fat and unsettle all the time, it drove me completely bonkers. I even went to the extreme of putting him on formula only to have to step back and relactate because that wasn't the issue. I got him tested for diabetes and all because he was just thirsty all the time and even now at 2.5yrs he still drinks what ever it be cows milk or water like there's no tomorrow so i have just put it down to him being a big drinker... guess some kids are just like that.

[BellyBelly]

Hugely off topic... but you know you've been doing this job too long when you skim the new posts, see this thread title and expect it to be spam. Doh.

[Lenny]

You are doing well to keep going xx
I was going to say that maybe having a sling might help. I never learned to feed my kids properly in the sling, but being near me was enough for DS2 and he was far more settled when he was at least 'beside' my breasts, if he couldn't be feeding.

Have you talked to someone about feeding a toungue tie?

I doubt that you need to worry about her lack of interest in the big wide world. She's got 2 brothers who are going to help her out there! There's plenty of time for that soon.

[Barb Glare]

Don't ever doubt that she is learning everything she needs to learn at the breast. She doesn't need *time* to learn - at the breast it is all part of the package - comfort, food and learning. You are doing so well to meet her needs.
Has anyone suggested you get the tongue tie snipped? It obviously isn't affecting her weightgain, but it can have later implications and would be easy to deal with.
Is there a family history of allergies and intolerances?
I was wondering, does she have both breasts at a feed? It is normal for them to go to sleep at the breast. But many mothers wake thm a bit - a nappy change and a burp and give them the other side. You many find that keeps her going longer.
How does she sleep overnight? It sounds like in the day at least she finds it hard to sleep through one sleep cycle, and feeds again. Getting her to have some good stretches of sleep - even if in the sling at first, may help