Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

I nursed both babies, so I never really "knew" how much they were getting. That said, my second baby nursed every 2 hours until she was 5 months old. This included overnight. I was out of my mind with exhaustion and convinced there was NO way this was normal. But, one thing I've learned through my own experience and hearing the experiences of others: pretty much anything goes when it comes to NB.

But, she was gaining, had plenty of wet and dirty diapers, and seemed satisfied after each feeding. She just needed to eat more often.

When you give her a bottle, there should ALWAYS be just a little left (I feel). This means she's getting enough at the time. If she's sucking down 3 oz with nothing else left, chances are she needs more. The amount the pediatrician told you is really just a guideline of averages. Some babies need more, some less.

I promise it gets easier and just as you get this wrinkle ironed out, another will present itself.

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Jen, what you describe is TOTALLY normal newborn behavior. Like everyone else said, she's way too young to start a routine - my advice is to let her take the lead. YES, there are some days that I'm tied to the glider with Yael, feeding every hour or so. But then, there are days when she only wants to eat every 3-4 hours. When they are such itty bitty babies, they often go through many, many growth spurts, followed by sleepy stretches.

It's also possible that she likes to suck - some babies have a particularly strong sucking reflex - Yael does, and I've tried to give her every binky under the sun, but she won't take any of them. I don't let her pacify on me, though, because her suck is SO strong that it hurts. As soon as I see that she's no longer eating, and just falling asleep, or just sucking lightly, I unlatch her, and then I rock her to sleep instead.

Don't worry - this is all normal - let your litlte one take the lead, and before you know it, she'll start a little routine for herself. For us, 6 weeks was the turning point - Yael started sleeping through the night, started napping more consistently, and fell into a little routine. Of course, it changes every few days when she's growth spurting, but she usually falls right back into it on her own

Oh, and for the night - try the miracle blanket

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Posted by Bxgell2
Oh, and for the night - try the miracle blanket

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Posted by JennyPenny

Posted by Bxgell2
Oh, and for the night - try the miracle blanket

What's the miracle blanket?

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Posted by twinkletoes807

Posted by JennyPenny

Posted by Bxgell2
Oh, and for the night - try the miracle blanket

What's the miracle blanket?

I forgot to mention this in my earlier post... do you swaddle DD? It worked like a charm for my DD. Here is the miracle blanket website with an instructional video so you can see what it's all about! HTH! Miracle Blanket

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Posted by JennyPenny

Posted by twinkletoes807

Posted by JennyPenny

Posted by Bxgell2
Oh, and for the night - try the miracle blanket

What's the miracle blanket?

I forgot to mention this in my earlier post... do you swaddle DD? It worked like a charm for my DD. Here is the miracle blanket website with an instructional video so you can see what it's all about! HTH! Miracle Blanket

I swaddled her a few times, but she likes to have her arms up by her face and would try desperately to break out. I think i'm going to try it again, though...

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

My son is 3 1/2 weeks old and is BF. He eats every 2 hours. It's exhausting. But I also have no idea how much he's actually eating.

I've recently started pumping, although I only get to do it once a day since my son is always BFing.

I usually get enough for a 3 oz. bottle and my DH feeds him this in the evenings, but it doesn't seem like it's enough. So like you, 3 oz. isn't even enough for a 2 hour nap.

He's gaining weight, has plenty of wet and poopy diapers, and willingly eats, so I guess he's just a hungry little bugger.

But your question, and all these answers, helped reassure me.

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Hi Jenny,

Its hard in the beginning, trying to figure it out.

My DD was hungry often, eating like every 2.5 hrs at that age. I too wasn't sure if it was hunger, but she would be very satisfied after eating then go to sleep. My peds told me to feed her when she is hungry, so I did that. Even during the night, I would feed her every 2-3 hrs (bottle, FF fed). It was exhausting but she needed it, she was and still is a BIG eater (and a big child).

Forget about routines now. The only routine this child needs is to eat, and sleep. Which is going to be MOST of your day. Truly, all I did was feed and change the child for the first 2-3 months. It was purely exhausting and I kept asking if I was overfeeding. DD is now 9+ mths old and I know now, I was NOT overfeeding and am glad I did that otherwise I feel I would have neglected my child's need for food.

A newborn will NOT overeat. She will stop eating or throw up (spit up). So go based on that. Try feeding her often.

Is she going back to sleep in between, sleeping peacefully? That's my main question to you. And congrats btw.

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Posted by JennyPenny

Posted by twinkletoes807

Posted by JennyPenny

Posted by Bxgell2
Oh, and for the night - try the miracle blanket

What's the miracle blanket?

I forgot to mention this in my earlier post... do you swaddle DD? It worked like a charm for my DD. Here is the miracle blanket website with an instructional video so you can see what it's all about! HTH! Miracle Blanket

I swaddled her a few times, but she likes to have her arms up by her face and would try desperately to break out. I think i'm going to try it again, though...

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Jen abby used to do the same thing!!! i finally figured it out! she was always hungry because she wasnt taking enough each feeding becase she was falling asleep. so this is what i suggest

Feed her till shes either 1. not hungry any more or 2 falls asleep. If she falls asleep after 3 oz. get up change her (which will in terms wake her up) and then feed again till shes full and falls alssep then put her down she should go alittle longer in between feedings. abby still now at 2 months takes 5-6oz every 3 hours durring the day. at night she takes 6oz and cereal (dont flame me) at 830pm then sleeps straight through till 4-430am. eats 5-6oz goes back down till 830a.

I also realized ifi miss her window for bed time routine it must start at 8-830 and she needs to be asleep the latest 930 or forget it shes screwed up and will not sleep.

If i lost you anywhere FM me ill retype.
also at 4weeks and 6 weeks she was out of control cluster feeding and cranky 24/7 for a few days each because she was having major growth spurts!

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Posted by twinkletoes807

Posted by JennyPenny

Posted by twinkletoes807

Posted by JennyPenny

Posted by Bxgell2
Oh, and for the night - try the miracle blanket

What's the miracle blanket?

I forgot to mention this in my earlier post... do you swaddle DD? It worked like a charm for my DD. Here is the miracle blanket website with an instructional video so you can see what it's all about! HTH! Miracle Blanket

I swaddled her a few times, but she likes to have her arms up by her face and would try desperately to break out. I think i'm going to try it again, though...

I think most, if not all babies fight the swaddle at first. I know my DD did, but like the PP mentioned, they get used to it and it really helps them sleep soundly. Try to use the Miracle Blanket or a Swaddle Me (at BRU and BBB) and swaddle her for naps and for bedtime at night. It will probably help her.

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Posted by Goobster
My DD hated to be swaddled, or held for too long. She needed to move, movce her arms, rock, etc. ALways needed movement.

I am glad now that she hated the swaddle, she sleeps anywhere and so easily due to never getting into the swaddling habit. Just a thought. Don't force it if she doesn't seem to need it, you may regret it. Same with the pacifier. DD hated it, so glad now that I didn't keep forcing it on her.

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

I think she is hungry...at 1 month Erin was eating 5oz every 3 hours

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

my DD will be one month on the 17th and i am going through something similar as you. and last night - same thing happend to me!!!
i feed her whenever she cries and puts her hands in her mouth (after making sure she's dry and the binky doesnt satisfy her)

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

My DD was born at 6lbs 10 oz at her 8 week check up she had gained 4lbs She was eating CONSTANTLY and was ALWAYS hungry!!!! It's normal, you cannot overfeed her at that stage, so if your instinct says shes hungry than feed her....I literally would finish a feeding and then start another one what felt like right after

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Routine? With a one month old? We didn't have anything resembling a routine until 10 weeks.

Stop worrying so much and keep feeding your hungry baby. Definitely less stressful.

Good Luck!

Re: I need help with my one month old DD- long

Thanks again for all of the advice! Tonight I am going to try swaddling her and give her a 5oz bottle and see if she drinks it all.

Thanks everyone!