More confusion for me, Help pls she is feeding every hr!

[Babyluv]

Hi Ladies,
I posted the other day about bin feeding almost constantly between 7-11ish pm and was told it was cluster feeding, which sounds right because she slept 5 hrs that night but since yesterday around 7pm she has been doing this non stop, all through the night and up until now it's been hrly feeding and she has been really unsettled, not wanting to sleep in her bassinet and is really only settling when held. I'm not sure if her feeding is out of whack or I don't have enough milk. She was feeding every 3-4 hrs approx 20 mins each side and is now feeding 15-20 mins one side and sometimes 5-10 mins max if at all the other side. A cpl of ppl have said get a dummy, bought one today, haven't used it yet as I'm apprehensive about it & a few ppl have said maybe it's colic as she's been crying alot so try infacol which I haven't tried yet as I don't really wNt to give her medicine.
Can someone please help me with this, I'm having a tough time, don't like my baby being upset & I'm worried her feeding has been messed up & unsure how to help her get back on track.
I got to the point last night I wanted to give up on BF but I really don't want to do that.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Firstly hun, it's not easy having a bub attached to you all the time.
I think the length of the feeds each side seems ok but there might be something else going on, do you burp her in b/w sides?
DD2 was always a bit off from say 7pm - 9:00pm the one time i am busy making sure tea is on the table, getting DD1 dressed for bed etc and i was loosing my mind.

However this is the time she would have been most active whilst 'inside' and i think it took her quite some time to get used to being OUT IYKWIM. instead of feeding her all that time can you try feeding her to sleep in a carrier then walking around, do you have a baby swing? That made a huge difference for me as she would settle ok in that.

I'm not sure if i'm helping but couldn't read and not reply... hopefully Barb or someone has some more answers for you.

[Lulu]

Maybe pull her off after 10 mins on one side, then give her a really good burp/backrub, cycle her legs before giving her the other side. I would sometimes do a nappy change in between as well to stretch it out a few mins to let the tummy settle.

Hang in there - I wouldn't give her medicine at this stage either xoxoxo

[Babyluv]

Yea I do burp her in between and she does big burps and I do a nappy change between sides. She seems uncomfortable, arches her back at times, tucks her knees up and screws up her face & screams and usually will burp when i try burping her. she is still wanting to feed every hr, surely she can't be hungry, the crying stops when I am cuddling her and comforting her but then when I think she's asleep and put her down she cries again. Am I doing the wrong thing by holding her? I can't bear to let her cry. Could she be more comfortable lying on her tummy on me than on her back in the bassinet?
Sorry for all the questions she's my first & I'm not sure what to do.

[Lulu]

No no no, it's fine - it can be soooo hard with your first. It's awful when they really cry. I'd say she still has some wind that is getting through even after she has burped. When it works its way to the gut/bowel it can be really uncomfortable - hence arching back. She wants to suck to soothe the pain, but it can get into a viscious circle of more feed on top of the burps yanno?

Have you got a sling? Try that, if you can let her sleep on you - her tummy will be more comfortable as well.

Of course it's not the wrong thing to hold her - and if anyone tells you comforting a yelling bubs is spoiling them, I'll be over there chasing them away with a broom.

Oh btw, I'm not sure how old she is, but babies are notorious for 'waking up' around 1-2 weeks after birth.

[Shades]

This probably won't help but my son wouldn't sleep anywhere except on me for ages, I got no sleep until I figured out how to feed lying down and we began cosleeping. Other than that if I wanted him to sleep while I got anything done it was in a baby carrier or nothing. If he was awake he was feeding, and he would only sleep in contact with me.
There was nothing medically wrong with him, he just had to grow out of it... Hope you find a solution that works for you.

[Traveller]

I agree with Lulu, it sounds like she still has some wind. Try lying her on your knees with her head slightly below her tummy (after a feed) and pat her back. After 10 - 15 seconds. lift her upright and rub her back upwards. That is often a good technique for bringing up trapped wind. I also second the suggestion of a sling. Holding your baby is what nature intended you to do, and tbh it's perfectly ok for you to just sit with her all day if that is what makes you and she happy.

[Lulu]

Right up on the shoulder was just about a failsafe for me. It's also IMPERATIVE that you keep up your fluids, and EAT.

Get yourself a 'feeding station' - it's either bed or the couch. Gather the remote, phone, big drink and some nibbles (no OJ or 'farty' foods lol), books, magazines and plant yourself with your feet up, and bubs close or on you xoxoxo

[Babyluv]

Thankyou ladies
She is 2 weeks old.
I'll try those techniques to get rid of the wind before I try infacol. She was really settled a couple of days ago, would sleep in her bassinet etc but she has cried all night last night and all day today any time I try to put her down.
So should I try to keep her feeds 3-4 hrly rather than feeding her every hr like she has been wanting?

[fuzzy]

Hi yes I agree too - it sounds like wind, i.e. a sore tummy. Sucking will make her feel better. You can also pump her little legs up to her belly - this can release a lot of farts. I have used infacol - didnt help at all. I think a more natural product is Brauer's for colic and I have heard positive things about it too.

I wouldnt worry about how long she feeds for - my DD feeds for 10 mins at the absolute most. Usually 5 mins. The longest she ever fed for (when younger) was about 20 mins total.

I would try and stretch her out to 3 hours between feeds though. Or at least 2.5 hours. You can try to do this through distraction - by walking in the pram, popping her in a carrier... I think you will find that once you can get her to the first 3 hour stretch that the next ones will fall into place. FX for you xx

[Lulu]

the hour feeding can take SUCH a toll on the boobies, I'd try to stretch it to 2 hours first. Then go a little bit more but I wouldn't try to go past 3 hours. I'm sure she will settle back in after this little hiccup/burpfactor lol

[Babyluv]

What would I do without the BB ladies, thanks so much your advice it really means alot! It's nice to talk to ppl who understand & want to help. thankyou xox

[studymum]

Some of the symptoms you have given are signs of silent reflux. Arching the back, crying, unsettled, not wanting to lay flat, and especially the trying to feed hourly. About an hour after a feed, the stomach in nearing empty, as it does the stomach acids also increase and it gets painful, they work out that feeding soothes it but only continues to contribute to the problem. Silent reflux starts to emerge around 2 to 3 weeks old. The quicker you get it looked into the quicker you can either eliminate it or get it medicated for. Hope she gets better soon though.

[Babyluv]

Thanks stydymum,
Maybe I need to take her to the doctor!

[Tuesday's Child]

hun. First of all you're doing a great job. Remember to trust your instincts. I found that trying to follow advice that didn't 'fit' us caused more stress than just going with the flow. It's so hard with your first. When DD was 2-3 weeks old she would scream all night and seemed to want to constantly feed. Your DD seems to be behaving similar to mine at that age. Things I found helpful:

Carrying her a sling/carrier to keep her upright which helps alleviate pain and discomfort from both wind and reflux.
Tummy massage for wind - always massage in a clockwise direction or downwards.
Keeping her upright for at least 30 minutes after a feed would help the stomach settle reducing reflux (again a sling is good for this)
She'd sleep on her tummy on DH (a big SIDS no-no, but DH was so nervous he'd only sleep lightly any and it was better than me falling asleep with her on the couch)
And remembering that her digestive system is still learning how to work...it will take time to settle down.

If you're really worried a trip to the doctor might be in order, but, IMHO, often docs are at just as much of a loss as parents with small babies. Although, if she is 2 weeks old are you due for a checkup with a GP or MCHN?

And one last thing, if you can, get a copy of The Wonder Weeks. It goes through the developmental leaps that babies have during their first year. I think the first fussy stage begins around 3 weeks, so it could be developmental too. I found it so much easier to go with the flow and ride it out if I knew DD to be having a leap as I knew it would end (eventually).

[~MummaBear~]

My little man did this too... i was told to try "block" feeding for 3 hours regardles sof how many feeds he wants i put him back ont he same side and then after the 3 hours we swap sides. i am not 100% on how it works, something to do with getting more of the fatty hind milk but it has really worked for him..
he was doing th same thing your DD was doing... another thing i found that helped was a nice warm bath.. he sleeps for hours and hours after a bath.
DS loves to sleep on my chest apparently lying on their tummy helps with digestion and wind pain so i just let him sleep on my chest if he is really unsettled.

And like the others have said hold that little bundle just as much as you want

[MummaSue]

Some of the symptoms you have given are signs of silent reflux. Arching the back, crying, unsettled, not wanting to lay flat, and especially the trying to feed hourly. About an hour after a feed, the stomach in nearing empty, as it does the stomach acids also increase and it gets painful, they work out that feeding soothes it but only continues to contribute to the problem. Silent reflux starts to emerge around 2 to 3 weeks old. The quicker you get it looked into the quicker you can either eliminate it or get it medicated for. Hope she gets better soon though.

I was just going to suggest this babyluv, my DD had silent reflux and it sounded exactly as you were describing. Maybe a wee trip to the Drs just to set your mind at ease would be good.

But all of the suggestions that everyone has given have been great. I found that co-sleeping around this time was our saviour. But keeping your little one upright after feeds is helpful too - do you have a sling? I really wish I'd bought a sling when she was a newborn - I think that this would also have helped.

It's really hard to see them in so much discomfort xxxx

[Barb Glare]

The first few weeks with a baby are tough going - it's never what we expected it to be. Your baby is pretty much following a normal pathway. Babies are often quite "mellow" in the first couple of weeks - maybe getting over the birth, maybe a little jaundiced or having the effects of some drugs their mum took in labour in their system. Just as mum and dad are patting themselves on the back as to what a good sleeper she is, they wake up! And mum and dad get to know what *demand feeding* is - they become VERY demanding. At the moment, just go with the flow - I don't think you need to see problems just yet. Sleep when she sleeps - get a sling like ABA's simplicity sling. In fact - join ABA - it's sort of like an insurance policy against the plethora of unhelpful myths you will face. After a lifetime of being held and cuddled by you (inside you) no baby is going to *love* being put to bed alone and expected to sleep.
Tell me, what have her wet and dirty nappies been like? Colour? Quantity? Have you had her weighed since hospital discharge? How is her weight going?