Frequent feeds driving me mad

[Disco]

Ok, DS is now 13 weeks tomorrow. The past 4 weeks I have been managing to breast feed without formula comps, however his feeds seem to be getting more and more frequent. I feel like its not a supply issue, but that it's more that he just likes it for comfort. Even overnight the longest he goes between feeds now is 2 hours. I have tried co sleeping at times and it's no better as he gets really bad wind and it's seems worse if we feed long down. From 2 am onwards he wakes every 40 minutes and I can rarely get him back to sleep without feeding, even though he doesn't want much.
Today I am going to make serious effort to stretch him out to at least 2 hours between feeds. I'd really like to get to three hourly - will this be to the detriment of bf? I fear I may just chuck it in if things don't improve soon, especially at night.

[Rouge]

My son barely went over 2 hours unless he was sleeping. This was over the 12 months he was breastfed. This is pretty normal with breast feeding. It doesn't mean as you say it's a supply issue but it does help with supply. The overnight feeds will settle down. But if you have been comp feeding it will take some time for your bub and your body to adjust. It's hard work, but I'm glad I pushed through as it did get easier I promise!

[sloane]

it may be that the more frequent feeds are because he's trying to make sure the supply is exactly right now that there aren't comp feeds or it could be that he's having a growth spurt & is extra hungry at the moment. or, as you say, it may be a comfort thing. my DS was the same as rouge's - was very much a 2 hourly feeder around the clock (and often more frequently overnight) for many, many months.

you could try stretching out the feeds to 3 hourly during the day but this may mean that he ends up wanting more overnight

i also agree with rouge that it does get much easier - i'm not sure exactly when it changed for us but at some point the feeds became much faster & less frequent & i think i just got used to it as well. it did feel at the start though that i may never leave the couch ever again!! in hindsight though time passed extremely quickly & i can't believe that in just over 4 months i will have a 3 year old.

[~Raven~]

By feeding him 2 hourly during the day, it may work out that he gets enough and goes longer during the night. This was the case with my bubbas.

[Rowellen]

Some advice a midwife gave me when I had DS is "Your job is now being mum. Everything else can wait." That advice has stuck with me & helped to get through the harder days. Both my babies have been regular around the clock feeders. It could be a growth spurt and might settle down in a day or a week. It will pass & it will get easier. Get yourself a good book or some dvd's to help pass the time that you are "stuck" in a chair.

However, if he is just sucking for comfort, a dummy might help in between feeds. Sometimes that is the only way I can get DD off the breast during the night. But even then, sometimes she just spits it out because it's not what she wants.

[Disco]

Thanks for the replies. Most days I am handling it ok, but nights are really hard as hubby works full time and I'm trying not to wake him and my dd, and we live in the worlds smallest house!
Rowellen, I try to heed that advice but it's really hard when you have no one at home all day and another little one to think about. This week my 3 year old has had to ask me for her dinner because it gotten to 6.00 and I have forgotten!
Sloane, rouge - your right I know it will pass quickly. I can't even remember this time with dd it all seems so long ago.
I think I'm panicking because I have to go back to work at least part time when he's 6 months and I can't imagine now that's going to go with no sleep.

Could he be wanting to suck more frequently because of pain from reflux? I have him on losec, but lately he screens after feeds if he is put in a pram, bouncer or on his mat, and vomits frequently.

[~clover~]

I co slept with my youngest 2 (still do) for this reason. There were nights when they slept for 8 hours & nights when they slept for 1 hour between feeds.
It never lasted long, you just need to reassure yourself that you can do this

I never had family hear my babies cry, coz they start to wake, I'd put them on, then that was it. We were both back asleep with in minutes, noone else in the house even noticed.

Every baby needs comfort & they only way they know how to get it is to suck. Not only for the pain relief, but just to know that you are still there. He's still very knew. 6 months is still ages away. Every thing will be completely different with in weeks Its just getting through those hard times

[Rowellen]

I know it's hard. Your 3yo will forgive you Do you have anyone nearby (family/friends) who can help you? I was quite lucky in that I have my parents & in-laws living nearby so when I had really bad days, I could call them & they would come & hold DD or play with DS for a while so I could get some rest or catch up on those other important things like feeding the toddler. I must admit, I started back at work part-time when DD was 6 months & I walked around in a daze for a while but work was soooo much easier than looking after 2 little ones.

[Muraho]

Oh it's hard, isn't it?

My little boy's 19 months & quite sick at the moment & we're back to frequent feeding; it's exhausting!

It does sound normal, but I totally hear you on the fatigue front; have you looked into Wonder Weeks cos it could be a development time too.

Hugs. My mantra was and always will be 'this too shall pass!'...