Feeding between 8 and 11 times a day

Sophie is feeding between 8 - 11 times in a 24 hour period. At times, she is demanding a feed every hour and will take both breasts.

The HV said this is fine, just go with it but I wondered if anyone else has gone through this. I feel a bit like a milking machine at the moment.

I've also been told I need to eat better as I've actually got back to less than my pregnancy weight already and according to my lovely HV, I should be about 1/2 stone heavier than I am with breastfeeding. I'm happy to scoff away but I find it hard to get the time - sounds daft doesn't it but Sophie can take a while to settle after a feed and sometimes has crying periods and I find it very, very hard to sit and eat a meal with her screaming next to me. It really stresses me out so I skip food if she's agitated. 😢 I'm trying hard not to but I'm hoping if I can eat properly, my milk supply will ramp up.

I can express about 2oz from each breast but apparently she needs about 4oz now so hence taking both.

I'd really appreciate some advice from others who have/are breastfeeding

I don't know that letter her feed every hour is good for either of you... When I started doing that with Aaralyn (thinking she was hungry when she cried) I got very sore and crackly, bleeding nipples. I spoke to the nurse about it and the Dr and they both said I shouldn't be feeding her as often but to try to get her to do longer feeds when she was nursing...

It took a little while (month or 2) before we got a good routine going but it was smooth sailing after that... I hope for you too hun!

Thanks Tammy. Yes, it's unusual for her to want hourly feeds - she generally goes around 3 hours between feeds but has odd days where that's just too long for her. The HV said to go with it for those days but obviously I couldn't do it day after day as I'd never move out of the chair! 😲

I tried a nipple shield as I had the same problem as you mentioned but that gave Sophie really bad wind and caused her to posset more as the shield kind of 'fills up' with milk and it shoots out of it! 🙁 So I'm enduring that wonderful shooting pain when she first latches on now 😢 but it's fine once she starts to suckle.

I am determined to persevere with this but she's not putting on a great deal of weight right now (another 2 1/2 oz in a week) as I'm not eating well enough for my milk supply - trying to address that too! It's not easy being a mum is it 😬

Quote:
I am determined to persevere with this but she's not putting on a great deal of weight right now (another 2 1/2 oz in a week) as I'm not eating well enough for my milk supply - trying to address that too! It's not easy being a mum is it

It sure isn't!! Try the snacking while your feeding her like Alex said and just do the best you can! I think you're doing great just putting forth the effort 😀

Soon you'll be forgetting about this challenge and moving on to the next one... all in the name of love 😍 It's not easy but so worth isn't it!

MY HV advice would be give her a plug!!! thats what she told me to do when Joseph was eating 5-6oz every 2 1/2- 3 hours(day and night) and on the 2nd satge milk at 3weeks!!!!

Alex said:
MY HV advice would be give her a plug!!! thats what she told me to do when Joseph was eating 5-6oz every 2 1/2- 3 hours(day and night) and on the 2nd satge milk at 3weeks!!!!

They told me that with Aaralyn too and she hadn't had one before, she didn't even want one.... then I did give in and give her a binky (dummy) and I wished I hadn't which is why I didn't suggest that...... yet 😉

She has a dummy already but spits it out when she's hungry and nothing will get it back in! I don't mind a dummy as it can soothe her. Jas was a thumb girl from birth so didn't need one. The only problem with a dummy is when it falls out and she wants it! 😬 I am trying to show her where her thumb is as she can't lose that 😀

Fed both breasts each feed last night and got a 6 hour stretch followd by a 5 hour one. That's a first. Bit sore though already 🙁 I will keep you posted 😀

hey sweetie

im going through EXACTLY the same

charlie feeds at least once an hour and takes both boobs, i feel quite bad because i keep nicking my boob back before his finished because i have to do something 😊

if it wasn't for my slings id be screwed because i cant seem to put him down for longer than 20 mins

i should take a piccy of myself right now charlies latched on in his sling and im enjoying hands-free breastfeeding time on the pc 😀

I was told (by several people) when I mentioned that I was always BF Martha every hour - that it was normal and the attitude was get on with it!
My milk never 'came in', I could express for over an hour and would be lucky to get an oz!
I 'persevered' for a month, and then was made to feel guilty by other BF Mum's as they felt I had no reason to!!
Nice to hear that it is not 'normal'