How often did your newborn feed ?

[CinderToriella]

I know newborns feeding can be all over the place, but i am getting a bit flustered over my newborns feeding , she is a week old and seems to want to feed all the time , it was every 2 hours or so now its more often sometimes she has a feed then wants one 30 mins later etc.Is this ok?

I dont think she is feeding the whole time on there as she falls asleep or relaxes then starts up again.

Is it ok to feed them as much and as often as they want on the breast?
Also

she is getting frustrated from my milk supply, i know that the breast is never empty and it isnt as i hand express it to check and milk comes out but when they are emptier she doesnt like it and cries and pulls on and off ,i am worried she isnt getting enough?

Thanks all

[onthefly]

Congratulations on your little one!
Very frequent and erratic is very normal

The best indicator of input is output - how many wet and dirty nappies is she having?

Yes, it's fine to feed her as often as she wants. Babies come to the breast when hungry and thirsty, but also when they're unsettled, upset, uncomfortable, grumpy, seeking reassurance... and the list goes on. There's nothing wrong with meeting their needs at the breast - you'll find with a bit more time that you can learn to distinguish when she's really hungry and when she just needs cuddles or whatever (and the breast can remain your best friend when they're unsettled). Give yourself (and her) plenty of time to work things out - it's still such early days.

Right now - if output and weeight gains are fine - then just go with whatever your first instinct is.

[Laranna]

Sounds really normal! DD did (still doing) this. Every couple of hours with some snacking in between.

As for getting enough, keep an eye on her output. Plenty of wet and dirty nappies will tell you that she is!

Keep up the great work

[~Kim~]

She's still figuring it out hun, it's so hard to know what right or normal isn't it?
My little guy fed everytime he squarked so often that was 20 times a day/night.
Are you trying to wake her (ie change between sides/wet washer on her hands/rubbing her cheek) to get her to feed a bit longer?

[mbear]

Yep, soundsreally normal...

YOu cant overfeed a breastfed baby hon, so dont worry about offering the breast too much - especially at such a young, young age.

Like others have said....plenty of wet nappies.

Babies at such a young age are going to be sleepy anway....as well as in your breastmilk is a hormone that gets released, that makes baby sleep....and you sleepy. So its only natural that she may fall asleep at the breast. Maybe she's not actually hungry...rather wants to suck/and go to sleep....

Its all trial and error hon...your both learning this.....it will take a little time, but you both will get there...

[lindsaymaree]

Sounds exactly like my little one! We were seeing a lactation consultant regarding problems with attachment, and she told me...

"if in doubt, flop it out"

This was my mantra with Austin for the first few weeks, after which he got used to the boob and settled into more of a 2-3hrly pattern during the day and 4+ during the night!

All the best, sounds like you guys are doing great!

xx

[CinderToriella]

Thanks everyone for your advise it makes me feel a lot more comfortable in just offering her the boob when ever she wants it

She has been having a lot of wet and dirty nappies but over the last 24 Hours only noticed maybe one or two dirty nappies and only lots of wet wet nappies ,should i be concerned about the lack of dirty nappies or can this happen sometimes?

its been over the last 24 hours also that she seems to be getting really frustrated with my milk supply even i know that milk does come out when they seem empty,she gets really annoyed and starts pulliing the nipple around and crying .

[Pandora]

Bf babies can go up to ten days with no dirty nappies. It's wet ones that are important

[skybie]

Yep no poo for days is totally normal! DD2 went through a stage where she'd only go once a week...but when she did, my god she did!!!

DD2 does the pulling off thing too, i think because they arent as full and let down takes longer and she gets mad that its not coming quickly enough, if i realise i try and hand express to the point of let down and then put her on and she seems to be happy enough.
Also maybe try feed her in a different position, sometimes that can help too.

Your doing such a great job hun,this BF gig isnt an easy one, but definetly worth it!

[Laranna]

Yep my DD poops every third day roughly, although she did go yesterday and today!

She also sometimes gets a bit fussy in the evening feeds so I just switch her to the other side which seems to do the trick.

[lindsaymaree]

Austin would get really fussy during a feed sometime and start pulling and thrashing his arms around, I found stopping the feed and laying down on the rug for a few minutes having a bit of a play or sing would really help. I'm no expert but I think it calmed him down and gave me boobs/nipples a bit of time to re-coup!

[nattyfred]

Hi Hon just want to let you know aswell that you should trust yourself and bubba to work it out together too.. I had lots of ppl commenting on how often V was on the boob and I really felt a bit self concious and felt like judgements were being made on us but she was and is such a boobie loving baby that thats just how much she needed. She is also pretty small for her age so she is not overfed... You will see how much weight she gains every week and that will reassure you that she is getting enough.

I also found I didnt get off the couch for the 1st few weeks as she just needed nursing so much so thats normal too.

It sounds like you are doing really well and its funny your posts are bringing back memories of an extremely challenging but precious time...aaahhh.. True love

[onthefly]

In the first 8 weeks or so you would expect at least a couple of poos per day for a breastfed baby, after that you often see them go longer and longer between poos. Just keep an eye on things - a couple of dirty ones and lots of wet ones sounds fine. When in doubt on these things, call the ABA or talk to a lactation consultant. The ABA's helpline is open 24 hrs a day, so you can call them in the middle of the night if you're having a crisis.

I think babies often go through an unsettled patch around this time (well, honestly, they're pretty unsettled on and off for the first few months!).

Do you have a sling or somethign like that to keep her close - little bubbies often really like that. And do you have lots of support and help at home?

[CinderToriella]

Thanks guys for the really god advise.

I am now offering her the boobie when ever she seems to want it or even if im not sure .
Its such a great exp but i know it will also take time for me and Hannah to work it out together and learn together i would say atm we are working pretty well together just at times its a bit all over the shot

BTW- she did the BIGGEST poo this afternoon just after her bath lol..
But still plenty of wet nappies so I am happy with that

[Jennifer13]

She should still be pooing every day at such a young age (which she is doing). It might slow down as she gets bigger (my DD went 17 days without a poo at about 10-12 weeks!). But it sounds like you are doing fine.

Congratulations on the arrival of Hannah! (this is our favourite name if we have another girl one day).

[CinderToriella]

She should still be pooing every day at such a young age (which she is doing). It might slow down as she gets bigger (my DD went 17 days without a poo at about 10-12 weeks!). But it sounds like you are doing fine.

Congratulations on the arrival of Hannah! (this is our favourite name if we have another girl one day).

Yes def at least one poo a day now .
I know i loveee the name , always have and when we found out she was a little girl there was no questions on the name

[studymum]

i'm still laughing at the 'if in doubt flop it out'

with the fussing and pulling off, i found it to be one of two things, * that they are irritated that its not fast enough letdown /or supply isnt bulging so its not as fast of a flow or * that they are actually are full but still want to suck for comfort and sleep and are getting cranky that it is actually coming out.

as another pp has said try getting your letdown before attaching, so they dont start off cranky waiting. its hard work for them at such a young age to suck for long period so they do get tired easily and if you dont have a gushing flow like when you feel engorged they can get a bit cranky over that but it will pass as their sucking gets stronger. if bubs is falling asleep and you notice the sucking action change, take her off and wake her up, you can try stripping the lower half of the clothes off, apply a wet facewasher to the bottom of the feet, tickling between the legs, a nappy change, even a good rigourous burp by rubbing up and down the back, then try putting her back on.

both mine have done the full but wanna keep going and sucking thing, the only option here really is to give a dummy, you will know if the dummy doesnt satisfy and she is actually hungry cause it will just keep getting spat and she wont settle. having a lc tell me to start a dummy was a godsend, DD1 was so much more settled and fed heaps better and DD2 was born to do the same thing.

[CinderToriella]

did anyone find that how much there bub fed determines how much weight bub put on, like if they fed a lot did they weigh more? prob silly question