Hoping someone can help me with some advice or your experiences. DS is three weeks old. He was born two and a half weeks early and the only way I could get him to latch was to use a nipple shield. Last Monday we started feeding with and without them, and now he can latch straight onto the nipple most of the time. I saw a lactation consultant and also started feeding from one breast per feed, only offering the second if he seemed like he wanted it. A number of times he was full from one breast only. Since birth, he has been almost like clockwork and up four-hourly for feeds. With the shields, feeding, changing and settling was take anywhere between 50 minutes and an hour and 15 minutes.
Over the last few days, our feeds and settling times have stretched out to an hour and a half to two hours each - he just sucks and rests at the nipple for ages, and take so long to settle to sleep. He has woken after just 45 minutes of sleep three times today, and looking over my diary from the last couple of days, he has had a few three-hourly feeds too. He wants to feed constantly, but doesn't seem satisfied and is pulling at my nipple very soon after latching. It's like he's starving but can't/won't suck, or like I don't have any milk for him.
I know this sounds like a growth spurt, but the fact that it coincides with the weaning off the nipple shields has me worried and confused. Why were our feeds so quick with the shields, and getting longer without? Why does he latch on, then pull away so distressed almost immediately? Why does he suck for over an hour, and not seem full?
How confusing for you!
Have you tried giving hte ABA a call - 1800-686-2-686 - they may have lots of great advice ad support for you. Do you have support from a lactation consultant?
Long feeds are pretty common at this age. Are you switching sides during this time or is it all on one side? Swapping back and forth during a long feed is one way to get more milk into them, rather than waiting till they're 'finished' first.
How many wet and dirty nappies? That's the best way to tell how much milk is going in.
Sometimes they fuss at the breast and want to feed all the time for comfort and security as much as for nutrition. It may also be related to the sleep thing (if getting overtired).
The 45 minutes of sleep is a real pain, but, also normal. a baby's sleep cycle is 40-45 minutes. Ideally they'll sleep through 2-3 at a time, but sometimes babies will wake as soon as they get to the lighter phase of sleep again and that's it! You can try resettling, even going in at 40 minutes and standing ready to resettle as soon as they stir. OR else try different ways of sleeping - like using a sling or carrier.
Growth spurt or something else?
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