Breast dependent now...

[Sylvia]

So one visit to the LC on Friday has completely changed my ability to breastfeed. It was amazing!! I am using the nipple shield, and perfected her positioning to the football hold, etc... and now she is completely boob dependent...

Now, my question is, she wants the boob ALL the time. She isn't comforted by DH anymore and she only calms down when she is nursing. I've been feeding her whenever she is hungry, etc... usually when she starts making the suckling noises.

Is this common, and is there anything I am doing wrong? Should I not offer the breast to her as much as I do, is it better to let her free feed than to schedule? I feel bad because DH thinks she doesn't like him anymore, etc.. But I want her to be satisfied. I imagine it's just instinct for the baby to want to eat all the time once they discover the breast, and that becomes their primary source of nutrition and comfort.

Thoughts?

[babyjoy414]

Feed on demand...it will establish your supply. She will want to eat all the time, hours on end this is totally normal. It will seem like she is hungry all the time and you will think she is starving. Sit on the couch with her and feed her. Rely on your DH to bring you water, snacks, change dvd etc. She will eat like that for a month or more. In the beginning I found it really hard to leave the house because we live an hour away from most things and it would take us an entire day to run 2 errands. We would have to stop every 20-30 minutes so I could get her out and feed her!! I still feed on demand...I have no idea how much she eats so it is ridiculous to try and say oh she is not hungry. Sometimes she just has a snack and sometimes she just wants to nurse for comfort.
Your DH will get over it, he is in a supporting role right now. He can burp and change diapers. And when she is a little older she will want him but now the most important thing to her is food and that means mama.
I am really glad you met with the LC and are feeling more confident!! :hooray:Yay for booby babies!

[cheeksy]

Tessa was/is the same. Just recently she started self-soothing more or less but she is almost 4 months and still wakes up at night a few times for booby. Booby is the best!

[MammaMia]

I'm so glad that the LC could help! :cheer:

You need to feed on demand. It's totally normal newborn behaviour to be completely boob-centric.

I know it sucks when DH can't comfort her, but it's a phase that she'll gradually grow out of. Reassure him that's it's nothing personal. :wink: Get him to do some skin to skin time (he can take is shirt off and lay her on his chest). That will help with bonding.

Hope that helps.

[cln1812]

Feed on demand. The first 2 months of DD's life, I was BF'ing almost all the time, it felt like. But it will get better after 6-8 weeks, I promise! There are a lot of growth spurts when they're that young--2 weeks, 3 weeks, 6 weeks--but honestly, it felt like my DD had one ongoing growth spurt from birth to about 2.5 months! Just set up a nursing station and concentrate on BF'ing, that's your only job right now. I watched TV and DVDs, read (it helped using My Brest Friend) and had DH either cook dinner or pick something up. Actually, now I miss that time; I haven't been able to read so many books since then. Enjoy it before your baby hits the distractable age around 4 months!

[maine06]

yup, I agree. Feed on demand. There's NOTHING WRONG WITH A BABY BEING COMFORTED BY HER MOTHER'S BREAST. What do you think pacifiers were intended to mimic :winks:

There are pleanty of other ways for your DH to bond with his daughter. he can play with her, hold her, sit with you while you nurse, and stroke her hair, change her diaper, dress her, etc. Just because someone can't feed a child does not mean they cannot bond with that child. He's her father, just having him there and into her, that's what counts.

:hugs: and congrats on the beginning of an awesome BFing relationship!

[Corrie]

Your doing everything right :) and your baby is acting completely normal. If she wants booby, then she needs to have booby, always feed on demand. Your DH can bond with her in other ways like changing her diaper and cuddling and playing with her (even though shes still really young). Breastfeeding is the one thing only you can do, and your doing great!

[carriek]

That's exactly what's happening at our house- Emmery is on me 24/7 either nursing or sleeping. I keep offering booby until it's obvious she doesn't want it anymore (she gets fussy & starts beating up the booby when she's done with it- lol). Then I rock her & she will usually go to sleep.
I think it's sweet that your DH is wanting to be so involved- I feel like my DH uses BFing as a reason to not even try :aww:

[Ky'sMom]

I agree with the other ladies and reiterate it is very normal behavior for a newborn. Ellasyn nursed practically non stop for 6 weeks, then all of the sudden she started noticing other stuff besides boobs. DH also used it as an excuse not to do anything with her in the beginning and now regrets that he didn't attempt to spend more time with her because it was rough for her to adjust to being with him 4 hours a day while I work. They are just now starting to get along better, so kuddos to your DH for wanting to be involved. Let him bathe and change her or other baby duties to get that bonding time in.

Erin

[Aurora]

Congrats on getting BF to work...I'm not sure why you are using the nipple shield but I just want to tell you that if you think you want to nurse without one someday you might want to try to get her off it, I used one when my LO was 5 days old (had a cracked nipple) and he got hooked and I have had to use it on both sides ever since. Not to be a downer, I just wish I would have known that they are addictive!

GL

[eenchoo]

Definately feed on demand! It will establish your supply...I agree with the rest of the ladies, you're doing a great job and I'm so glad that the LC was able to make this work for you!

[Ilah's Mamma]

Well, I have to use a nipple shield too and yes, they are amazing and Ilah wont nurse without one now. I've tried weaning her off of it so many times...But I agree with everyone else, Feed on demand. The LC told me that their tummy's are soo small and breastmilk is digested so quick that they are hungry all the time. Made sense to me. Im glad you are EBF. it's wonderful..

[Irish-Eyes]

And Dad's changing diapers really is interacting with LO and makes a big difference. Here, if DH is here, the diaper is his and he and Lilly have a blast changing diapers now. Before giving birth, I was really concerned about DH wanted to be connected with LO and how to include him when I would be bfing but basically, I bf and he does everything else. The time spent evens out a little (when he is home from work, that is) and she beams in delight when she sees him. He does all burps, diapers and gas relief! :)

[Irish-Eyes]

I think it's sweet that your DH is wanting to be so involved- I feel like my DH uses BFing as a reason to not even try :aww:

I'm sorry, Carrie. :hugs:

[ColtsFan1912]

you're doing right,. shes only a week old it take a while to cut back

[kendallina]

I agree with previous posters- this is totally normal. Also, Lily went through several weeks where she didn't even want to be with DH for more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time, and just when I thought I couldn't handle always having my little sweety on me, she got better and can now play with DH for an hour or more at a time (usually). Right now, it's your job to take care of baby's needs and it's DH's job to take care of yours- have him help by getting you water, meals, throwing the clothes in the laundry, etc.
By the way, congrats on a very successful LC visit! Yay!