So exhausted - frequent 'round-the-clock feeding :(

[Life is Good]

DD has been feeding every 1.5 to 2 hours at night and 1.5 hours during the day. I am exhausted

When I had oversupply back in the day, she would go at least 3 hours between feeds with a good few 4 hour stints over night. Now she has to feed from both breasts, is always impatient waiting for the let-down and fusses a fair bit when feeding. I *think* she is getting enough just based on wet and poo nappies (I will be getting her weighed again on Friday to check that she has gained), but she is quite unsettled and clingy and a far cry from the days of oversupply. I know that at this age they are more alert and wakeful, but I have a niggly feeling that she is wanting / needing more than I am giving her.

At night when she wakes, she feeds and go right back to sleep, so it is definitely hunger and she isn't just waking for another reason.

Regardless of how frequently I offer the breast during the day, she will take it. She never used to be like that.

I am just so tired and managing her (and her feeding) and her brother each day is just getting more and more difficult. I am seriously contemplating starting solids earlier than I originally planned

Is this normal? Is it a phase? Is there anything I can do to get a bit more unbroken sleep?

Thanks so much x

[organic-girl]

Sounds normal, perfectly normal. How old is bubs? Mayb it's a growth spurt? Babies who stretch out to 3-4hrs are uncommon. I sometimes eat every 1-2hrs and I'm an adult...


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Leah and Dan
Lucy 5
Minnie 2
Pippi due 29 sept

YOU are what YOU eat!

[Babyluv]

My dd did this for 6 weeks straight day and night. Apparently it's normal, sleep when she does hun, it will pass.

[onthefly]

oh mate, sorry, but it's really normal at this age. Hopefully it will be a short-lived phase.
It's also possible she's reacting to something - illness, teething, separation anxiety...? Although she's feeding each time, it's quite likely there's an element of comfort feeding in there also. If it's you she really needs right now, then solids might not help you anyway.
Is there anyone who can come and help you out during the day, at least with your boy? Do you bring her to bed with you? That's the only way I've managed to get any sleep and I also hand over to DH for a few hours when she's been particularly bad. DD also stretched her sleeps out overnight for a wihle, then aournd 3-4 months, it was all over. Since then, with a few nights exception here and there, she's fed every 1-2 hours most nights. yay. For us it's been a developmental thing, but also due to prolonged illness over winter (over now, knock on wood) and teething.

[human bean]

The 4 month mark was the most trying and testing time of my first year with DD I can truly empathise with how you're feeling and I didn't have another child to care for too any kind of rhyme or reason went out the window and within a few weeks it all calmed down again. I think it's a pretty big wonder week from memory, I hope you get some rest soon.

[Babyluv]

My dd 1.5hrly feeding period started at the 4 month mark too.

[MrsFabuloso]

I'm sad to say its normal and could continue. At least ime it does! My DS2 is 8mth and is still waking and feeding 2-3 hrly (sometimes more like the past week or so) round the clock. I'm totally buggered.

[Arcadia]

Yes at 4months ds started doing this too! I'm happy to say it's settled back down again at 5.5 months. I think it's growth spurt, developmental and they are aware of breasts as comfort now. Ds gets really excited when he sees my boobs these days lol.

Don't doubt yourself. Do you cosleep? I cant cope unless ds is in bed with me, because then at least it's a quick roll over feed and back to sleep.

this too shall pass!!!

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Babies (and people) can be hungry for more than food. All the signs demonstrate that your little one is getting enough food. it's you he wants. In the daytime he is doubtless active and easily distracted. At night when it's quiet he gets the added bonuses of a long feed and time with mum. It's unlikely that the early introduction of solids will help the situation, and in many cases it makes things worse. if you can still go with it for a while, then it will change. It's a tough gig. (Does it help to know many bottlefed babies do just the same?) Try to get as much rest as you can, look after yourself and this will pass. doesn't make it easy though.

[*Danni*]

I know this isn't much help... But what I can tell you is that my little man at 10.5 months is still feeding every 1.5 - 2 hours around the clock!! Yes some days I feel absolutely exhausted but when I see him so peacefully and contently suckling away I remember that I wouldn't stop breastfeeding him for anything. It is truly a satisfying and wonderful experience and although it can get too much at time I just think that in time this will just be a memory and looking at Things as a whole, they really don't breastfeed for very long and before we know it they'll be all grown up!

Also with introducing solids (which i waited until 6 months despite thinking i wasnt going to make it past 3 months lol)... opposite of what I was being told by people, it didn't change my baby's appetite for breastfeeding at all! And if I tried to offer him solids instead of milk oh boy was I in trouble lol he always was a massive booby monster and continued to be (and still is!!)

And as draining as it can get sometimes, the quiet bonding time breastfeeding provides has become even more precious as time goes by as bub becomes more active and doesn't stay still for longer than a minute. Just remember babies go through so many changes and phases you never know what will happen tomorrow and things change so quickly! Some days my boy gives me an amazing sleep and others not so much. Also his growth spurts lasted almost a week at a time and like you describe it seemed he was never satisfied and always on the boob (constantly at every 15 mins in early weeks growth spurt!!!) and surely it passed and settled down again.

And it's you and you only that can provide this comfort and nourishment for your baby it is a huge sacrifice but it won't last forever! all the best to you on your breastfeeding journey and stay strong!


Sent from my iPhone more than likely while I should be doing something else

[Heaven]

Yes, it's a phase, hang in there