He wants to feed as often as every hour and sometimes more

[Sair]

I made a post somewhere else worried about Noah over eating. I have people in my life telling me he is eating too much and then I decided to google demand feeding and read that if an infant is crying for food in less than an hour to make them wait. I thought demand feeding was all about watching for the rooting signs and hands to mouth shaking head side to side etc. Well sometimes I get this every half hour or 15mins sometimes every 2 hours but usually every hour. Now I am worried I am doing the wrong thing again. Please tell me I am doing it right..

[Trillian]

have you tried to rule out any other reason for him crying/being unsettled? It may not always be that he is hungry, but he could have a pain in the tummy (in that case feeding can make it worse), he could have just wet his nappy, be tired or just want a cuddle. When you pick him up when he is like this, does he go for the boob and try to nuzzle in? or does he settle soon after you've picked him up?

When you say he does the hand thing - I was told once that it can also mean they have a bit of wind - I don't know if this is right or why they would even do it, but maybe you could try a few different things and if all those don't work, then give him more.

These first weeks can be so tricky when we are getting used to them and what their cries/actions mean, but you really are doing a great job and don't ever be afraid to ask a heap of questions if you have them.

[Sair]

Thanks Sherie, he does seem to go for the boob when he is picked up and it made me so angry when my mil was holding him and it had been a rare occaision of 2 hours since the last feed and he was looking for a boob and I said it was time for a feed and she wouldn't give him back saying I needed a spell . I am just worried I accidently got him into the routine of feeding frequently if I misread his signs in the first week.

[Trillian]

I don't think you got him accidentally into a routine - demand feeding is exactly that and they are too little to know that it was only 2hrs since their last feed etc - they just know that they are hungry and need feeding kwim? I guess your MIL was the "only feed 4 hourly type" then?

[aussienic]

You are doing it right

Although as a previous poster said.. Always make sure it isn't something else if he is asking for a feed in less then an hour..

I would change his nappy (if wet) have a cuddle or a little song and if he still upset offer the breast. If he just has quick drinks at these times he could simply be thirsty

it is all trial and error and in another week or so it will all click into place..

[shellbell3]

I would go with what others have said, see if it could be anything else first and then give the breast.
I found in the first couple months I was feeding often, esp in the evenings my DD would cluster feed, she's be on there constantly. If you don't see it as a problem than just keep doing what you are doing, he may not be hungry he may just want the breast for comfort, I found alot of the times my DD just wanted to suck to settle herself or to go to sleep. Just follow his lead and do what works for the both of you, I say if it calms him and makes him happy than it can't be bad.

[Sair]

I didn't even think of the fact he could be thirsty. Good point. I just had an appt with the MCHN and she said it doesn't seem to be a problem in her eyes and it is quite normal for the first few months of life. Phew! With his rapid weight gain I was starting to get concerned so thank you all for the reasurrance. Now just to work out a way to have a tube going from my nipples to his mouth that can extend so I can get other things done too

[Tobily]

Totally normal for a breastfed bub!
I remember Toby going through a horrendous growth spurt at 2-3 weeks where he fed every hour around the clock. No fun but totally normal. Trust your instincts you're doing the right thing to feed him whenever he wants.

[~Jo~]

Whats the mantra?? 'If in doubt, get booby out!'

Sounds like you are doing a fantabulous job!

Jo

[Sair]

I like that mantra, the Dr has another idea about that though. I am apparently overfeeding my little Noah because he has started vomiting after most feeds Oh well, I will just keep doing what I am doing, it can't be that wrong, he is a happy baby and a fast growing one at that...

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Having a 3 week old baby certainly keeps you on your toes, doesn't it. Is Noah your first?
It's pretty common for breastfed babies to feed 8-12 times in 24 hours - sometimes even more! Our minds quickly turn that into *every 2- 3 hours*. But that's not usually the case. In a 24 hour period babies tend to have one long(ish!) sleep - at 3 weeks that probably 3 hrs - 4 if you get really lucky, and one time of the day when they tend to want a cluster of feeds - several feeds in a very short time.
What have Noah's weight gains been like? Does he have settled periods? What have his wet and dirty nappies been like? (sorry for all the questions, but it helps build up a picture.)
Sucking is a powerul need for babies. So they tend to suck when they are hungry and suck when they are tired, and suck at other times as well. It's hard to iron out what's what in the early days. As time goes on you will get to know Noah's needs more easily.

It's not a problem to feed him every hour if you are OK with that. It will help your milk supply. His pattern will quickly change.

Warm Regards
Barb

[Sair]

Hi Barb, yes a 3 week old does keep me on my toes in a zombie like fashion anyway. Noah is my first, we will see if he turns out to be my last

Noah's longish sleep has moved to nighttime now I think which works out great for his dad and I. Last night I went to sleep at 12 (after a mega cluster feed ) then was up again (I think) at 3 ish and again at 6 but for an hour that time to try and settle him and again at 8:30am. I have side car-ed the cot although he sleeps best next to me so I pulled him into bed at 3ish, that way he can feed as he wants and I hardly wake up for it.

Noah was born at 3790gms left hossy at 3500gms 3 days later had a gain of 150gms then another gain of 150gms 5 days later, then 200gms the following week, he gets another weigh in tomorrow. He has settled periods more often now this last week, he is even seeming more alert and just wanting to watch the world and see what is around him. I am trying to establish a pattern of eat, play and sleep for the day and eat and sleep for the night and it looks to be working to an extent although sometimes it is eat, play, eat some more, play some more, eat again and then sleep. I did buy a dummy although hesitate to use it often and find I still put him on the boob more often than not.

Now the nappies are another issue altogether, the wet ones are fine as far as I can gather, I really need to keep a diary again. He has been having major issues with trying to pass wind and bowel motions and acts almost colicky with bringing up his legs, the only differences are he doesn't cry, only whimpers and it is at anytime in the day or night, like 6am this morning. The bm's are very tiny amounts as well, like the size of a 5 cent piece when they used to be big and curdlike. But that is the jist of what is happening.

I am for the most part happy to continue with the constant bfing although it is taking it's toll on my energy and my poor nipples, lets hope I can at least keep it up for a year
Thanks for your help Barb I really appreciate it!

[Tobily]

I am for the most part happy to continue with the constant bfing although it is taking it's toll on my energy and my poor nipples, lets hope I can at least keep it up for a year

Don't worry sweetie I promise you he won't be this demanding of your boobs for a year. Hang in there it will get easier. You're doing great

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

It sounds like Noah is being a pretty normal 3 week old. He seems to be doing all the right things. Bit hard for feed, play sleep at that age. I think you can't go wrong with an extra feed when he seems irritable - it calms as well as feeds. The more milk he has, the more he will poo. Good on you! As you can see, their routine changes from day to day and week to week. I'm glad to hear he has some more settled times.

Even though you feel like a zombie, try to get out - get a bit of exercise, go to ABA meetings or a mothers group.

Regards
Barb

Warm Regards
Barb

[Rebeebrown]

Sarah,

It sounds to me like you are doing a wonderful job! Instinctive mothering is what it is all about when it comes to breastfeeding. My first baby fed hourly and I quickley learnt to surrender. It was all that made him happy! I bought a babasling which he could have access to the breast when ever he liked and this allowed me to get other things done. When it comes to your little Noah wanting to be fed again in under 1 hour, I remember reading an article on the Australian Breastfeeding Assn's Website a few years ago now, so don't quote me verbatim, but the jist of the article was this..... if baby wants a top up in under an hour it is likely that they are requiring a top up of the sleepy hormone abreviation CCK or CKK which peaks in breast milk approx half to one hour after a feed. If you put baby back to the same breast they were feeding on the hind milk will contain this hormone which will help to settle and keep baby asleep for longer! So I took this on board and if it was under an hour I went back to the same breast if over an hour thought of it as a new feed and so new breast!

It might be worth getting onto to the Australian Breastfeeding assn and getting their info booklet for grandparents it very gently gives them the accurate and up to date info on how things have changed in terms of what we know about infant requirements and breastfeeding, since thier day! It might alleviate some stress for you!

Good on you for sticking with it, there is nothing like the shock to the system that a first baby makes in the early days but let me reassure you it all gets easier! Continue to follow your babies lead, and remember to enjoy it, it really does go so fast, I can't believe that my first child is at school!


To all above who have made posts... good on you all your words are lovely and kind and so positive, it is nice to see so many so positive about breastfeeding and mothering!!!!!

Happy Mothering!
Renee Brown
mother of 3 wonderful boys.... morgan 5, mackenzie 3, mylo 11months and bump due nov 07.
paediatric nurse, and importer of the arm's reach co-sleeper range.
www.mybondingbabies.com