Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

My son is almost 6 weeks old and literally will not stop BF'ing. He wants to BF every 10 minutes! He will fall asleep at the breast, and I know it's not that he's hungry because I have sufficient milk production and he is gaining weight appropriately.

I would suspect it's just a growth spurt, but he has been like this since birth. Please help. I am going crazy, and going to work once a week has been my only saving grace.

Does anyone have suggestions? I don't want to give up BF so soon, but the days I am home, I feel like an udder. My entire day is spent with him at the breast, or when he's not, with him wailing.

Signed,
First-Time Mom

Re: Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

I suspect that he's either not getting enough or he's just using you as a pacifier at this point. I would try pumping and bottle feeding and see if that satisfies him. Does he take a paci?

Re: Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

He won't take the paci, and he's been weighing in above target at each of the pedi appointments.

So, I think he is using me as a paci, but I'm not sure how to break the cycle. I will try what you suggest with the pumping and bottle feeding. Thank you for the suggestion.

Re: Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

DS went through a growth spurt at 6 months and he cluster fed A LOT! That being said, if you think he has eaten enough, try giving him a pacifier to see if he is ok with it. If he is really hungry, the pacifier will not appease him. DS had this need to suck from when he was born, so we gave him a pacifier early on.

Re: Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

Could it be that he is falling asleep before he is full? Check out the Bravado website... they have a lot of really good articles on subjects like this. GL!!

Re: Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

keep trying the paci - some babies just have more of a need to suck for comfort beyond what is needed nutritionally!

My kids took a while to get the hang of it...i would just hold it there for them...and it really helped instead of using me all day and all night!

Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

Maybe try a few different kinds of pacis. DD never took to them but some she hated and others she would at least take for a little while. Sounds like he's comfort nursing with you as his paci.

I remember in the early days when DD would fall asleep nursing and I wanted to put her down, I would keep her pressed to the boob and carry her to the rock and play and pretty much only take her off when she was all the way in the rocker. It was the most successful way for me to put her down when she fell asleep that way.

He's still a little young, but around 8 weeks I started a routine of eat, play, sleep with DD. That got her into the habit of going to sleep on her own as opposed to nursing to sleep. It was really helpful and we still pretty much follow that at 8 months. Unless she's really overtired or something else is wrong I do not nurse her to sleep. I really value my "free" time when she's napping!

Re: Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

No advice because my son was the same way. I felt like a lactating dairy cow for the first 8-10 weeks of his life and also thought that was the only way he viewed me. He was only happy/not crying when on the breast or fully asleep. I literally sat and nursed all day (or listened to him crying till I put him back on) He is 8 months now and it did get better but in those days even trying the pacifier was almost never as a replacement for the breast he just wouldn't take it.

Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

DD was the same way, after I went back to work she was fine and doesnt nurse as often. I think you LO just needs a little time.

Re: Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

Another great website - kellymom.com.

There's a treasure trove of info about breastfeeding over there.

Breastfeeding issues (if this isn't the right forum, let me know)

I was told theyhave growth spurts at 3 , 6wk and 3m and 6m.
Hope this passes quickly