Help My Daughter Wants to Nurse ALL the Time!!

Welcome to parenthood! This all sounds pretty normal, including the feelings that your husband is having. As long as your daughter is continuing to have plenty of wet and dirty diapers and seems to be growing properly, there's probably nothing wrong and she's just going through a growth spurt. You might want to call your doctor and ask about the seemingly constant nursing to make sure there aren't any issues with your diet or the baby's feeding, but most likely everything's normal and it's just the first in a long succession of stages when you'll feel lost until you learn how to deal with it. Take heart!

Hello!
Unfortunately, as everyone has said, this is normal. Not very much fun, but this will pass! One thing to watch for is her weight gain, you may not be supplying enough for her current demand. I know at this stage we ended up supplementing with one bottle a day because my son was so hungry. We returned to strictly breastfeeding about two weeks later. It was not a big deal, we wanted to make sure he was getting what he needed and transferring back was simple. Plus, it helped me keep my sanity and enjoy his first month. If possible, have dad give her the bottle so she learns that you are only there for breastfeeding, it will help with "nipple confusion" later. Hope this helps! Hang in there!

Relax! It is very normal and very temporary : ). She is going through a growth spurt and will do so again at about 6 weeks and 3 months. The extra nursing (usually only lasts about 48 hours-3 days tops) signals your body to began producing more milk according to your baby's new needs. It usually takes your body about 48 hours to respond and kick in with the extra milk and your daughter will go back to nursing normally, maybe just staying on a tad longer to get the extra milk she needs to keep on growing. Just rent a couple of movies to get through those days and plan on eating microwaved food. You and your husband will survive and things will return to normal until the next growth spurt. Do not start feeding your daughter formula even though it is tempting-that will only slow down your body's response and make it take longer to increase your milk -so just relax and 'go with the flow', it will be over soon. God designed your body to work just that way : )

This is normal. Both of my sons did the same thing. I know it might not really help to hear this, because if you are like I was, you are feeling desperate. All I can say is, this time will pass quickly and you will look back and hardly remember this whole "crisis". In my opinion, try to just "go with it" as much as you can and eventually, your little one with need you less as a human pacifier. It really helped me to sleep with my sons, nursing and sleeping made it easier to at least get some rest.

Hi J.-I remember adding up all the breastfeeding I was doing and it was like 9 hours a day for the first month or so--that is totally okay! Pick some movies you want to see, sit back and enjoy your time with her. She'll be pulling away from you and looking around before you know it. In terms of soothing her, check out the dvd "Happiest Baby on the Block." You can get it at any baby/mommy/book store. It has a lot of great tips. In terms of colic, remember her body has to adjust to the food you're eating and that might cause gas or all kinds of changes to her system. Make sure you have water and snacks by your side and then be with your daughter. It's a wonderful thing you're doing. Best of luck!

I don't really have any specific advice except that I have so been there! Those first few months are so hard but it does get better! I think that the key is to let her nurse when she wants to. It is not only her source of nourishment but her way of being close to you. This makes it hard on Dad though since they sometimes feel left out. Let him know that until you and your baby have breastfeeding well established that he can be there for you and baby by helping you around the house etc. so that you can concentrate on breastfeeding. Try to remember that this will go by so fast and some day soon you will look back longingly on this closeness. I would also strongly consider joining La Leche League. There are groups in our area where you can meet up with other breastfeeding moms and get help with any questions or problems that you are having. Here is a link to groups in our area: http://www.lllusa.org/COWY/CO.html
Second, you can post your question on the La Leche League forums (http://forums.llli.org/). You will get so much great information and advice.

Hi

As hard as it is, this is so normal. As pp have said, she is having a growth spurt. Just plunk yourself down on the couch and let her nurse as much as possible. In a few days, she will probably stop nursing as much.

It is also completely normal how she is reacting to Daddy. At this stage in her life, you are "IT"! As she gets older, she will get to know her Dad as well, but newborns need their moms alot.

Both of these stages are so short, so as hard as it is, try to enjoy this intense mommy time. I do understand though...I have a 7wk old myself (as well as 4yr old twins and a 6yr old). It will get easier, I promise!

I experienced a similar issue with my 6 month old daughter. I used a pacifier to try to calm her down which, in hindsight, I feel was a bad idea. I found that I wasn't producing enough milk to satisfy her. Please, seek a lactation consultant right away to see if you have a similar issue. Terena at North Suburban's Healthy Beginnings was able to weigh my daughter before eating, after eating at one breast, and then after eating at the other breast to determine how much she was able to transfer. It's possible that you may not have an issue producing milk; however, Terena even went over soothing methods and much more with me (a novice with no experience with a baby and no relatives to help). I believe the fee is either $25 or 35 for those who did not deliver at the hospital and free for those who did. Good luck, and I can honestly say that you'll look back in a few months on the experience and smile. It's hard to feel that you will when you probably just want to cry right now from the frustration. :-)

It sounds like a growth spurt. they happen at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 mos and 6 mos. it is their body asking your body to make more milk cuz they are growing. my baby has had them right on target so far, he is 8 weeks now. for about 4 days it seems like all you do is breast feed round the clock, then things settle down into some sort of routine... if thats what you want to call it... By the six week mark, thibgs with breast feeding really start to click. Hang in there..Now mine will even take breast milk from my hubby in a bottle:)

I heartily agree with the other responses - I remember being very stressed out when Grace wanted to nurse constantly, but hang in there all is and will be well!! For nursing support, you will also find breastfeeding clubs at your local hospital (there is one at Boulder Foothills and I'm sure there is one closer to you)... Some other things that were great for us in the area of baby soothing (Grace was never too into a pacifier either) were the Happiest Baby on the Block class - we took the class before Grace was born and the soothing techniques really worked for us. My husband was especially good at them and was VERY proud to be the "magic soother dad" - this is also a class we took at Boulder Foothills Hospital and is offered at other hospitals and some maternity stores) You get a DVD with the class which you can also buy separately but I highly reccomend the class. Also, my husband took the Boot Camp for New Dads class and liked it so well he went back to be a "veteran dad" facilitator after Grace was a little older. (she is a happy 14 months old now). He took the class at Good Samaritan in Lafayette - You can find their info at http://www.bootcampfornewdads.org/. Lastly, I read all kinds of books about baby soothing and helping baby sleep and the one that was best for me was "The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems" (I couldn't pass it up with a title like that!!) I used it more for sleeping advice when she was a little older than your little girl, but it has advice to dispense for all stages of baby development. Good Luck and congrats on your little girl !!

Totally normal. At two-three weeks they go through a growth spurt and require extra feedings. Expect the first month to be non-stop feedings. She will eventually get on a regular feeding schedule and it will get easier. You have a newborn on your hands so expect to be catering to her every need for a while (and there are many!). Give yourself a break and know that you are adjusting to parenthood as much as she is adjusting to being outside your womb. Both are intense and it can be just as frustrating for her as it is for you and your husband. This time goes by so fast and before you know it she will be saying her first words and walking and won't want ot cuddle in your arms as often as you would like. Try to enjoy this time as they start to become independent alot sooner than you think! As J. D said, get the Happiest Baby on the Block book (or DVD if you don't have time to read the book). The best soothing advice you will ever get. I used the book as my bible for the first 3 months of my daughter's life. And also reach out to other breastfeeding moms (or La Leche League, or lactation consultant at your hospital) for advice, encouragement and support. Hang in there...nothing is abnormal about your current situation. Just love on her as much as you can and try to hold back your frustration as best you can for her sake (and for yours!). Take care.

I don't have any knew advice that has not already been said, but hang in there! The DVD, "The Happiest Baby on the Block" saved our life as well. Also, both of my children went through this stage however with my first son I was not producing enough milk for him so he was starving. My second has plenty of milk and still went through this so you never know. But, it may be worth a trip to a lactation specialist. I went to the one with Rose hospital. They are great and they can let you know if you are producing enough milk for your little one. You will feel like a cow for 2 hours! The things we moms go through for our little ones! :)
Lastly, I can't stress enough the importance of talking to friends that are going through the same thing. If you don't have any friends that are in the stage that you are right now your can always join groups or classes. Consider the women in your birthing class or I joined a group at Rose hospital called mommy and me. It was one morning a week with all new moms and we just talked about anything and everything. Take care and enjoy this time because it will be over before you know it!