I need BFing reassurance please.

DS is 3 weeks old and I am EBF. For the past three days he has been eating constantly and I am just so sore and tired I don't know how much more of this I can take. He cries uncontrollably when he gets hungry (no warning signs, sleeping one minute then hysterically crying the next), yet he fusses at the breast. I cheated last night and gave him a bottle of pumped breastmilk because I didn't know what else to do.

Do you think this is a growth spurt? Will it end soon? Please help me with any suggestions on how to get through this. I really want to continue breastfeeding but I don't know how much more of this I can take.

Thanks for reading.

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

You are doing a GREAT job and you didn't cheat by giving him the bottle of BM...not at all!

Look, BF is really difficult in the beginning! I was ready to give up around 10 days, but I did not, thankfully, and I am still going 5 months later!

Yes, it does seem like you're nursing 24/7 in the beginning--in fact, you probably are! It does get better before you know it. I don't have any tips or tricks, but just to persevere. Trust me, you'll be SO proud of yourself!!

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

I promise this won't be forever. No one in my college dorm was breastfeeding.

Really, the first six weeks can be miserable, but hang in there, it gets SOOO much easier and you are doing such a great thing for your son!

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

It really does feel like that in the beginning. DS is 9 weeks old and I EBF. (Actually I made the mistake of not introducing a bottle of BM soon enough and am having problems getting to take the BM from a bottle). It will get better.

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

Hang in there!!! I was ready to throw in the towel in the beginnig too!!! DS nursed all the time. I ended up just sleeping in the glider with him in my arms for the first month and a half. Then he started getting fussy on the breast. I discovered that I had an oversupply of milk. I was told that to nurse from the same breast for 2 feedings at a time. The problem corrected itself within 2 weeks. You might look into finding BFing support groups in your area. It is always nice to be around others that are going through the same thing.

And giving him a bottle of breastmilk isn't cheating!!! My LC told me that as long as DS was latching on okay even 1 bottle a day was fine.

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

I read somewhere that it is common for babied to go through a growth spurt at around 3 weeks which will make the baby want to eat more. Sounds like you are doing a great job!

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

I can't give you much advice but I just wanted to say hang in there!! My DS is 4 weeks tomorrow and I know how frustrating it can be. Just keep thinking, it WILL get better!!!

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

You're doing great!! You have to power through it and it is tough but it will get better.

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

it will get easier!!!
looking back i don't know how i managed, but I am so happy i kept going.
Its very hard, but its worth it.

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

A bottle of pumped milk is in no way cheating at all! Your son is probably just going through a growth spurt. By nursing a lot he is helping you to increase your supply. It will definitely get easier and the soreness should ease up. If not, definitely seek out the help from a LC, I know that LIJ has a free breastfeeding mothers support group that meets twice amonth.

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

You are doing an amazing job!!! Don't give up - DD does this too when she has growth spurts I promise that they DO end. If you have to give her pumped milk you do - she is still getting the BM - don't feel bad. I found that taking DD out for things like walks distracted her and so I could space out the extra feedings. The growth spurts don't last long.

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

I look more foward to being preggo again, ms and heatburn...then those first 8 weeks of BFing. It was so bad...I would just cry.

Believe me it gets so easy. Pumped milk isn't cheating, sometimes you just need them off of you for an hour.

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

Just wanted to join everyone else by saying you're doing great. The first few weeks are so hard, but the reward it so wonderful. Once you get past the first few weeks, breastfeeding gets so much easier. You're doing great!

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

It sounds like a growth spurt and should end in the next couple days if you let DC BF as much as they want. The pain should also start to go away very soon...

I swear it gets SOOO much easier! I wouldn't know how to care for DS if he was bottle fed. We're going away tomorrow for the weekend and no formula to pack, no bottles to bring. Nothing to think about on the food front except for some fruit and cheerios!

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

Thanks to everyone for your encouraging words! I'm hanging in there!

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

Definitely sounds like a growth spurt!! You are doing an awesome job!!!!! Dont give up... I promise it will get easier!!

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

Babies usually go through a growth spurt at 3 weeks and again at 6 weeks, so it sounds like your DS is going through one. Like others said, the first 6 weeks are the most difficult and it feels like you have a baby attached to your boob 24/7. It also hurts a lot because your body is getting used to the whole procedure.

You are doing a wonderful job! It does it easier over time, but in the meantime you're probably feeling like you're a slave to your baby and will never sleep again! I found that at the 3-month mark, there is a major change and breastfeeding becomes incredibly easy! But in the meantime, hang in there! It is a very difficult thing you are doing, but an amazing that your body is nourishing your son!

Re: I need BFing reassurance please.

ditto to everything everyone said!!!! you will be amazed at how fast this time will end up going by and you will look back on it and be so glad you stuck it out!! it's soooo hard being the sole provider of life to another human being, but it's so amazing at the same time!!

i am nursing two (at the same time) and when they were both going through growth spurts i thought i would die or have a nervous breakdown. i just had to keep reminding myself that it will be over soon and that i was giving them exactly what they needed to grow and be healthy!!! the lactation consultant i went to told me to repeat a mantra every time i nursed. it might sound silly but each time i started nursing i took a deep cleansing breath and repeated my mantra. i won't tell you mine here, but anything that makes you feel good will work.

you are doing great!!!! feel proud!!!