Wants to feed all the time

[Bad Mummy]

Abi's six weeks old on Tuesday, in the past couple of weeks she's become really unsettled, wants to be held and fed all day and night, not just in the evenings any more. The biggest break she has is about an hour. She even wants to nurse while she's asleep, won't take a dummy and wakes up as soon as I put her down. Her poos are green and sticky and they look like they've got chopped spinach in them, she's also been pretty spewy, vomitting once or twice after every feed.

I've been waitting for the magical six weeks for things to get better, but they're getting worse instead.

[Miss E]

honey, just when you expect things to get easier... try not to worry too much, like all these things it will pass. Chances are she's trying to increase your supply which is pretty normal at around the 6 week mark. Are you able to try and spend the day in bed with her and let her have free access, it could help your supply to catch up quickly and would probably make for a nice relaxing day too

I'm no expert on the poos, but my DS had green poos for months and months. It worried me for quite awhile and I did a lot of research but I couldn't find any consensus on why it happens, some say it's because bubs is only getting foremilk not hindmilk, it may be excess iron, it's nothing etc. Every time I asked my MCHN about it she wasn't worried so I just let it go. In the end he started having more and more yellow poos (prob not until about the 5 month mark though) and it just changed.

[MantaRay]

Hun, it sounds like you are having an exhausting time

As Miss E has said, the time around the 6 week mark can be a really tough one, as it marks the first period of rapid development (often called a growth spurt or wonder week). Frequent feeding at this time is common. Babies do feed an average of 8 - 12 times in 24 hours at that age, and often lots more during these rapid development phases. There is not much you can do except get as much rest as you can and forget about everything else like housework. Many mums find that co-sleeping can help them get more sleep also.

Another thing to consider is that some mums with oversupply find their babies feed all the time and have green poos. Some other signs that this is happening are big weight gains and lots of wet nappies. Mums often mistake it for low supply because their baby is feeding so often. If this sounds to you like what might be happening, you could try feeding from one breast for two or more feeds in a row to see if that helps. Also, oversupply does usually settle down around the 6 - 12 week mark, so this still is likely to get better on its own.

Sometime reflux babies also feed often, and certainly dislike being put down. If Abi screams every time she lies on her back, during nappy changes and in her car seat, then it might be an idea to see a medical professional to investigate reflux further. The good news with reflux is that the best thing you can do is to continue breastfeeding, and small feeds more often usually work best. So you are already the right things!

If you would like to talk through what is happening to see if it is normal 6 week behaviour or perhaps oversupply or something else, the breastfeeding helpline on 1800 mum 2 mum (1800 686 2 686, drop the last 6 for VOIP) is a toll-free call and operates 24 hours a day. The counsellor will be able to ask you questions to help you figure out if this is just normal 6 week behaviour or something else.

[Bad Mummy]

Thanks guys, I'm feeling a little less insane now, probably because DD1 has gone to bed and DD2 isn't crying.

I don't know if her poos are foamy but based on the stains on her nappies they do seem to be watery. She is also a big wetter. We use cloth and I'm already boosting them with DD1's bamboo boosters and they're very wet when I change her. She's gassy, spewy, she pulls off while nursing and sometimes clamps down on.

So I'm starting with the block feeding thing. Does anyone have any idea how long it might take for things to get better?

[entreat]

Sounds like Jack, except your girl spews more than he did. Jack was diagnosed with reflux & was put on Losec tablets 11 days ago... I have a different baby. He's much happier & will actually smile & talk to us loads more than he ever used to (this has really changed in the last 3 days). He's also stopped his need to feed every 1.5-2 hours because he just doesn't feel that heartburn pain anymore.

Our Pediatrician said the feel the burn so want to sooth it with a drink, but the sugary foremilk makes the acid worse, which makes the reflux happen more, and burn more, so the feeds get shorter & shorter every day (Jack started with 4 hourly feeds during the day, and usually only one night feed - 7 weeks later, he was feeding every 1.5hrs in the day with mornings being 1hr, and 2-3 night feeds). The squirming at the breast is a combo of anticipating pain, and refluxing during the feed (try to position baby more upright, or at least with her head higher than her bum). The issues at the back-end of the baby are due to fermenting sugars in the gut building gas. Jack had a lot of mucus & bloody mucus due to the gas causing him a bit of damage to the intestinal walls. He also had fresh blood because of the acidic poo, combined with gas build up, tearing his sore bum.

Ask you Dr (who may say lactose sensitivity - ask for a poo test) or ask for a referral to a pediatrician. If it is reflux, you can use mylanta (but get a diagnosis first) to sooth the burning throat, and the Losec (prescription med) will lower the acid levels in his stomach. It's taken 11 days to see major changes in Jack - but I'm so glad I have my baby back.

Xx