my baby wants to nurse a lot...?

Question

All she wants to do is be right there on the boob. She is only 2 weeks old and she just started this yesterday. Just wants to nurse all the time. I know that she is getting something because time to time I take it out and squirt just to see, and sure enough there is always something there. But she is doing it so much that I feel like I am going empty. I tried to give her a passie but she gagged on it. But she is very grumppy now and I am not sure what to do. Any one have this problem? Any suggestions?

Answer 1

The first big growth spurt is at 10 to 14 days old and you just hit it! Make sure that you sit down with a glass of water and try to eat well so that your supply keeps up with her, it will also keep your energy level up. You might keep a book, phone and the remote near your nursing spot with a full bottle of water.

One this to remember with babies (even if it is hard at the time) is that "this too shall pass" She will nurse hard for 4 days and then will settle back down. Expect another marathon around 6 weeks. I strongly rec. that you DON"T supplement. Your body has what she needs. IF you start putting formula in her (in addition to potentially messing with her latch) your body won't keep up. You can always lay down and take a nap while she nurses. The passie doesn't work right now because she wants the calories to grow!


The phases come and go, give it a week and see how she is. Then decide what you want to do next.

Answer 2

and she isn't even at the ususal 3 week old growth spurt yet!! Sounds like she's just figured out what makes her happy and she wants it right there with her all the time> lucky for her if you can provide it. Babies being breasfed on demand is the best, for the baby. If it works for you that's obviously great too. She will probalby give you a break once in a while (you can always hope!) and if it's only lasted a couple of days, she is probably just having a growth spurt. When she's done with this growth spurt, she will probably sleep for many hours for several days to catch up on all the sleep she's been missing by eating all the time! Babies at 2 weeks are changing so quickly that I always said that as soon as you figure out their "schedule," it changes. They do typically go through a growth spurt at 3 weeks old (whatever that means for you!) and ususally want to eat much more when they are growing, and then sleep more too because growth actually occurs while theya re sleeping. When she's not growing, her food consumption will go way down because babies really don't need to eat much when their little bodies aren't growing.

Answer 3

If you are really devoted to bfing her then do not give bottles at this stage. The babies get used to the easier (at first) flow and then they prefer it over you and then your supply may begin to decrease. Wait till more like 4 to 6 weeks to introduce bottles if you have to go back to work in order to allow your supply to be extablished.

She is going through a growth spurt or getting ready too. Keep in mind that when the baby sucks, the nipples are sending the message to the brain to make more milk, which she is fully intending to consume!!!

This time is so short, take a rest, nurse lying down, or at least in a very comfy chair. Rest, girl...you've earned it.

Most of all, listen to the baby, she knows exactly what she needs. Definitely take pride in the fact that your body made her and now you have the right and privelidge to nourish her with your body.

Oh, my 3 never wanted the paci either.

Answer 4

Don't force a pacifier on her if she doesn't like it. This feeding on demand is just what babies do at this age, so don't give up now. Breastfeeding is the best thing in the world for her, and she is just growing and needs a lot of nourishment. I know you feel like you are going empty, and perhaps like a dairy cow, but trust me, this won't last long. My daughter never used a pacifier and breastfed on demand until she started solids, and she's always been in the 95% percentile. My daughter was kind of grumpy at that age and it seemed like we couldn't do anything right. If she isn't hungry, try walking around with her, rocking her, and singing to her. The only position our daughter was happy to be held in was with her belly down across our forearm. This feels good because it will release the gas in their stomach (not too soon after eating though!) Your daughter may be gassy, we got some Mylicon and gave it to her after each feeding and it was a world of difference!! Good luck and hang in there, I really miss those times already!!!

EDIT: PLEASE don't supplement with formula as other answerers are suggesting, this is a growth spurt and one of the most important times to breastfeed. Hang in there. Join the La Leche League if you need breastfeeding support!!!

Answer 5

Hello:

I breastfed my daughter after she was born and she was a BIG eater. My daughter weighed nine pounds one ounce when she was born and she loved to nurse constantly! PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST BEFORE DOING THIS,but in my case I supplemented her with formula to give my poor boobs a rest!

The reason why babies especially newborns nurse so frequently is because they have a strong urge to suck,and breastmilk digests faster than formula does,so that is why babies who are breastfed,need to be fed more often. It sounds like you are doing a wonderful job,but once your hind milk comes in or the,"cream,"as they call it,your hind milk is much richer and creamier and it will satisfy your baby's hunger.

The most important thing to remember is to nurse as often as she wants to eat because the more you nurse her,the more milk your breasts will make! Even if she is sleeping and you need a break,pump your breastmilk into bottles so you can give it to her later,if you don't feel comfortable giving her formula! It sounds like she is going through a growth spurt and that is perfectly normal,trust me! I too felt like a Dairy Queen nursing my daughter for what seemed like twenty four hours a day!

Like I said earlier,once your milk supply is established,your baby will get full,even though it doesn't seem like it right now. Plus,your daughter is loving the contact of you holding her and feeding her and she loves the warmth and closeness that a mother and baby share when the mother nurses her baby.

I hope that I have been helpful and please remember that if you need to take a break from your baby,you can always pump your breastmilk into some baby bottles. That way if grandma or daddy are babysitting the baby for you,they can give her the expressed breastmilk that you left for her in some baby bottles.It will give you a chance to go for a walk,take a shower,or just get out of the house for a few hours! ;-)

Answer 6

Lots of babies have growth spurts at about 2 weeks. The reason she is nursing all of the time is to increase your milk supply. After a few days, your supply will adjust and she will return to her normal feeding scedule. It's important to let her nurse a lot during those few days so that your body gets the signal to produce more milk.

Answer 7

My daughter was the same way. She grew out of it. But, when they are that young, you may just want to go along with whatever they need.
The other woman was right about that pacifier. Try a smaller one maybe. Some babies just don't like them.
You won't go empty if you are drinking enough fluids. Your body will make just enough for what your child needs.

Answer 8

Try to get her on a schedule - not a really structured schedule, just so she can know what to expect. Read Secrets of A Baby Whisperer by Traci Hogg. She recomends a schedule of Sleep, Eat, Activity. That way, your baby also does not get used to the boob to fall asleep, either. I used this book for both of my babies, and it worked very well. I breastfed my son for 16 months, and I am currently breastfeeding my 14 month old. (She's down to twice a day.)

My little girl wouldn't take a paci either - she started sucking her thumb when she was a few months old. The plus side is we're not crawling under the crib to find the paci in the middle of the night like we were for my son, the down side was, she wouldn't take a bootle, either.

Answer 9

You could always supplement formula to give you a break. My son was large at birth...almost 10 pounds and was eating like crazy so I went straight formula...It would have made getting through the day impossible if stuck to breast feeding. Nothing wrong with formula my son is doing great eating, gaining weight, milestones are on time. If you are constantly breastfeeding and she is only two weeks old..that is also going to delay your recovery time if you can not get some pure rest. Also make sure the pacifier was a newborn pacifier they have ones with different sized nipple....look at the avent ones that is what we use and they come in diff sizes for different months. So I would say breastfeed in morning and maybe before bed....during day bottle feed either pumped breast milk or formula. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

She is probably growing- and you just have to catch up with her.

Remember the milk in the first part is more water and the milk in the back is more cream.



Maybe express some before hand and give her more cream? This may help you make more yourself.