hungry vs just wants to suck vs wind pain

I remember going through this with DD1,but just in the last 24 hours my new DD2 (1 week old today) has started getting me confused as to whether she's wanting more milk,or if she just wants to comfort suck, or if its actually wind pain and so thus potentially giving her more milk could make her feel worse. Fortunately,unlike her older sister,most of her wind pain seems to be lower tummy, she usually burps pretty well,and only has a small amount of vomiting/posseting. She farts all day even in her sleep, but sometimes she has a good cry before she gets it out!

anyway, I guess what I'm really asking is do I just keep offering milk whenever she roots around even if she's not actually hungry? I've done a couple of late night cluster feeding sessions, I know they are necessary and quite common! obviously being extremely tired I am second guessing myself!

AW hun :hug: she sounds just like my DS was at that age (and for the next few weeks). I found it really hard to tell what was going on with DS and whether he was hungry or wanted comfort from the pain and tbh I don't think I ever really worked it out.

We ended up with a dummy quite early with DS because he just seemed to want to suck all the time and at times that seemed to help but I remember still being confused at times about what was going on. I'm not suggesting you introduce a dummy btw just saying I know how hard it can be to work it out.

I would keep offering milk until you are sure she is no longer hungry. This won't last for long and you'll get to know each other and her feeding will settle down. Maybe try burping her more frequently during a feed but not over your shoulder but kind of in the lower tummy over your knee or arm itms?

For now, just let her do her thing. It's a lot of hard work, but she'll work things out in time and it'll get easier for you :hug:

thanks Kaz :)nice to have someone affirm you're not the only one who gets confused!!

SO confusing hey. I say just roll with whatever she asks for.
I will add that my DD when she was about 3months old was always fussing, and she kept making this loud grunting, groaning sound. People told me it was just her learning a new noise, but eventually I realised she was in pain from me overfeeding her! She was getting way too much foremilk. So I just fed her off one boob for several feeds, then swapped. Problem solved!
I don't think that's what's happening with your baby though, i think your baby is just being normal!
But if you hear that pushing grunting groan noise, you'll know what might be the problem!

How are you going today hun? Those first weeks can be exhausting and confusing can't they :hug:

How often does she feed when she's not cluster feeding? What about nappies?

thanks all :) been doing better the last couple of days :) she seems to have a windy period either mid avo or late evening so tis good to notice the pattern there! she cluster feeds at least once if not twice a day! during the day its around 3 - 3.5 hours between other feeds.,. at night though shes been sleeping longer, so makes the cluster feeds worthwhile hehe! she slept in 4.5 hour stretches the last two nights!!!

It sounds like things are going better already. Well done hun!!