Sorry! More questions...

[Marley&Me]

I have had an emotional day and need a break. Bub has fed every 2 hours today and is very unsettled. DH has her now and he wants to give he a bottle so I can just get some rest.

Question: I have 50ml of EBM can I top her up with formula? Say around 30ml?

[PumpkinZulu]

Yes, you can. But if she's already unsettled, formula might unsettle her even more. Are you able to feed lying down, just relax in bed with maybe a book or a movie?

ETA I remember how draining those first few weeks are. Remember that Marley is feeding often to build up your supply to her demands, so it's a good thing really Both of my girls have never gone more than 2 hours without a feed until DD1 was 10 months+.

[chody47]

If it were me and I needed a break I'd just feed the EBM and leave it at that. Hopefully that'd keep her happy for at least an hour and then you can BF again....

[Marley&Me]

Yeah, even EBM she downs in 2 minutes and then just vomits half of it up

[Heaven]

You can, but if it were me I wouldn't. She is feeding frequently to build up your supply to what she needs. They also often cluster feed in the evening to prepare for longer sleeping at night, so it's a good thing really. If you want to breastfeed then the best thing to do is just keep feeding, formula can interfere with that and might just unsettle her more anyway as it is much harder on her little tummy to digest.

[black_rose]

I would avoid formula if you can, use what you have and have your dh cuddle her and keep her upright for a bit to see if it helps keep it down while you rest.

[Babyluv]

Can you lie down and feed? Maybe go to bed and lie down with her and let her feed as much as she wants and you can rest.

[Arcadia]

Are you able to feed lying down?

How are her nappies? Is she alert and clearly drinking (suck-swallow, suck-swallow pattern rather than suck-suck-suck)

If you are confident she is getting enough milk I would start block feeding her and offer one breast in a two-three hour period and then swap. You want to minimize the foremilk and get her to start taking more hind milk which will help with settling.

I have block fed both mine and it really helped the windy, unsettled periods.

Some babies are more sucky than others itms?

[MLR1901]

Maybe she's got upset tummy, you can try alcohol free gripe water, or lying her on her tummy on a pillow on your lap.
Your DD is less than two weeks right? So she may not even get through 20ml of formula top up, but if hunger is the issue it will help.
Is she burping ok?

The lying down feeding does help, even if DD will use you as a comfort and ask your DH to just keep checking on you so that if either of you fall asleep he can move your DD in her sleep place

[Eenee]

Yeah, even EBM she downs in 2 minutes and then just vomits half of it up

Drinking amounts out of a bottle is no indicator of how hungry babies are as some just drink it just because, hence the vomiting it up as they are overfull. Also you'd be surprised that even though the vomit does look like so much they do keep some down. My two were really spewy bubs and if I'd used that as a gauge I would have led me down the wrong path.

Bub is still so little so stick with the feeding she is just doing what is normal to increase supply like others have mentioned, I know it's tough I've been there but it does get easier!

[Lily Dust]

Firstly Tasha, you are doing a wonderful job hun a really great job, don't you forget that. And please never be sorry for asking questions, especially if it means that you find some comfort on this tough journey. I know just how you are feeling not that that helps atm but my DS feeds every 2 hours too and it is hard work and he spews just like your little one! It is also very hard, stressful and painful when it is your first BFing experience/ journey, but I promise you, it DOES get easier and she will stretch the feeds out and be more settled.

Is your let down fast?

I reckon you can do this BFing thing though deep breath, positive thoughts and go kick this BFing every 2 hours butt

[little_O]

Do you have a slow feed teat on the bottle? She might be getting too much at once?

Also infants friend is good for windy bubs.

I second what others say about the vomitting when overful. Dd use to always spill when she gorged herself.

[Babyluv]

I second block feeding.

[JLeigh29]

I just wanted to give you some and tell you how great I think you're doing. BFing is demanding and HARD at first and you're doing pretty darn well if you ask me! I've been reading your posts but didn't have anything extra to contribute - I think you're getting great advice. I remember the early days with DS were so overwhelming. So much new information to process, so little sleep, so many new experiences to try and savour and so much discomfort!!! The sleep deprivation really messes with your brain and I personally found it completely drowned out the 'unbridled love and joy' I was supposed to be feeling. I felt like an unappreciated house cow, lol! But it did get better.

I'd advise that DH (and anyone else) can help by doing ALL the housework so you don't have to lift a finger outside of feeding. He can take over nappies, bathing, cuddles (awesome bonding time) etc so that anytime you're not feeding (yep, lying down is great), you can doze/rest/do whatever you want. He can be your personal valet and make sure you always have food and drink, comfy pillows, the TV remote and anything else you so desire! That way, getting your supply sorted and keeping yourself at least a tiny bit rested can be your priorities.

Look after yourself.

[MummyNaomi]

I also wanted to give you some hugs - exhausting isn't it?

My DD was a very robust breastfeeder, in her first 3 months of life I felt like I was constantly breastfeeding her, especially around 4-8pm when I was usually quite exhausted myself.

I just wanted to add that when babies throw up or 'spill' milk, it often looks like its much more than it actually is. DD was a big spewer until about 6m, constantly had a spew after every feed and I seriously wondered how much she was keeping down, but in reality a spew is normally no more than a teaspoon or so, it just runs everywhere so feels like its half the feed hehehehehe

I also found laying down feeding in bed a way to balance a constantly breastfeeding baby while still getting some decent rest/sleep myself. Took me a while to get the hang of it though as was most comfortable feeding sitting up with my breastfeeding pillow arranged in a particular position etc (Creature of habit much?).

Hope you get some rest, its amazing how different and refreshed you do feel when you are able to fill the sleep tank.

PS. We took DD to a chiro from 2 weeks old as she was such a spewer - made a significant difference. Just a thought

[PumpkinZulu]

I just wanted to give you some and tell you how great I think you're doing. BFing is demanding and HARD at first and you're doing pretty darn well if you ask me! I've been reading your posts but didn't have anything extra to contribute - I think you're getting great advice. I remember the early days with DS were so overwhelming. So much new information to process, so little sleep, so many new experiences to try and savour and so much discomfort!!! The sleep deprivation really messes with your brain and I personally found it completely drowned out the 'unbridled love and joy' I was supposed to be feeling. I felt like an unappreciated house cow, lol! But it did get better.

I'd advise that DH (and anyone else) can help by doing ALL the housework so you don't have to lift a finger outside of feeding. He can take over nappies, bathing, cuddles (awesome bonding time) etc so that anytime you're not feeding (yep, lying down is great), you can doze/rest/do whatever you want. He can be your personal valet and make sure you always have food and drink, comfy pillows, the TV remote and anything else you so desire! That way, getting your supply sorted and keeping yourself at least a tiny bit rested can be your priorities.

Look after yourself.

I SO agree with this!

[foreva*your*mummy]

Tasha, I read your other post and absolutely feel for you, I also want to say like everyone else that you are doing an amazing thing. I have had 3 children and never successfully breastfed any of them. It is something I really struggle with and wish I could do better so the fact that you are getting all this advice and still trying your hardest to make it work is an amazing thing. Keep going and you should be so proud of yourself.

[RhiChiChi]

Hey Tasha,

My DD was the same, in the early weeks, feeding 2 hourly to get my supply up. Overnight was so difficult that we ended up cosleeping on the sofa bed. She would feed as she liked whilst I rested/slept/dozed. We did this on and off for the first 4 weeks then it settled down and she she fed more efficiently and had longer periods between feeds and slept longer.

I knows the bottle seems like a good idea but from my first bf experience and seeing my sister with her newborn son, introducing a bottle of ebm or formula top ups can make things more difficult in the long run. I know it might seem blunt but if you want to stick with bf then I'd just pop on your baby as much as they seem to want it, which will seem like all the time at the moment. I promise you, it will get easier.

Have you read timeline of a breastfed baby and also the wonder weeks? These were both my godsend in the early days whist trying to get bf established. It really made sense not just from a feeding POV but also from a general baby POV. They really just want to be with you all the time, so even if you aren't feeding them, sometimes they just want cuddles which can be mentally and physically exhausting when all you've done is feed, feed all day long. I also found just going for a short walk with bubs in the pram helpful in that i didn't feel stuck at home all day.