What the heck is going on???

[eternamariposa]

My newborn, not quite 2 weeks old yet, is making me a little crazy. She wants to nurse pretty much non-stop, like every 1 1/2 hours or so, can't stand to be put down, etc. My problem is as she nurses constantly she seems to have a really hard time with excess gas and getting her poopy out. I can feel the gurgles in her tummy when I hold her. But she has yellow seedy stools, lots of wet diapers, and is gainning well already above her birth weight. There is no green frothy stuff like I would expect for OALD and no mucous or blood like I would expect for a food intolerance. What gives? Should I try to make her hold out a little longer between feedings? Is this just normal for some ebf babies?

[EmilyG]

She could just be going through her 2-week growth spurt and trying to build up your supply.
Or, sometimes when my lo has a tummy ache, she wants to nurse, then fusses at the breast because she isn't actually hungry. I think she thinks all things tummy related are fixed by nursing, lol.

[PatioGardener]

Completely normal! Congrats on your baby and for getting your breastfeeding relationship off to such a great start!

IMO, you are meeting the needs of your baby and teaching her that you (and food) will always be there when she needs you - this will pay off in the long run when she feels confident, self-assured and feels no need to eat more than she needs (because she isn't forced to wait hungry).

Breastmilk is absorbed and digested within 90 minutes (estimates vary from 45 - 90 min) so it is completely normal for baby to need to eat every 90 minutes. And as for poop issues - she's still learning how to poop, so you can expect some discomfort/fussiness with pooping for now - it is a pretty complex process to heave to learn!

Keep nursing on cue, Mama! You are doing great! Have you mastered nursing while lying down yet? That will help with the exhaustion of having a newborn too.

[eternamariposa]

Originally Posted by EmilyG

Or, sometimes when my lo has a tummy ache, she wants to nurse, then fusses at the breast because she isn't actually hungry. I think she thinks all things tummy related are fixed by nursing, lol.

Totally! And this is so confusing for me. When dh is home he is the perfect test to see if she is really hungry or just cranky, but when its just me pretty much everything about life makes her want to nurse, blankets grazing a cheek, her own hands, anything and everything lol. And usually even though I know she wants to comfort nurse with a gassy tummy that will likely be made worse it seems better to just give her the less full breast to comfort herself rather than letting her get a bunch more gas wailing. But I don't know for sure if that is right you know?

[eternamariposa]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

Breastmilk is absorbed and digested within 90 minutes (estimates vary from 45 - 90 min) so it is completely normal for baby to need to eat every 90 minutes. And as for poop issues - she's still learning how to poop, so you can expect some discomfort/fussiness with pooping for now - it is a pretty complex process to heave to learn!
.

I feel like I know this, or should at least, since she is my second nursling but nothing about my first nursing experience was normal we had a ton of issues so I think the insecurity carries over. Plus, everyone plays up the supreme digestability of bm compared to formula so much so that seeing her have some trouble seems like its "wrong" somehow, like breast milk is the perfect food so it yields only perfect results if you do it right.

[PatioGardener]

I'm impressed that at 2 weeks postpartum with a second child that you have the energy or time to post on MDC, so I think you are doing great!

It's really easy to forget how 'new' they are when they are born - and we tend to blame ourselves for any issues that comes up - even normal development! I can totally understand your insecurities if you have had BF issues in the past. The troubles you are describing seem like normal baby behaviours to me - so keep up the great work You guys are both doing great!

[kismetbaby]

I only have my recent experience with my first to go on, but sounds totally normal to me!

My DS wanted to nurse non-stop for the first 4 weeks of his life and if he wasn't nursing and/or we put him down he screamed. I spent so much time worrying that I was doing something wrong or that something was wrong with him. . .but if I could go back and do it again, I'd just wear him in a sling and let him be attached to my nipple as much as he wanted! I think it was just his way of coping with the world. Our BFing relationship got so much better when I decided to stop looking at the clock and just let him lead. . .just trust that he knew what made him feel better and if that was being held and being nursed non-stop then so be it. I stopped worrying that this would cause "problems".

And now he's a 3 month old who still loves to nurse, but also loves to interact with the world and doesn't have to be attached all the time

Of course, if you suspect that she is truly uncomfortable, you could explore changing your diet (in case something you are eating is bothering her, but in that case I'd expect her stools to be green or mucousy). She might also be experiencing some reflux. . .have you tried keeping her upright after she feeds?

Keep up the good mama work!

[eternamariposa]

If it were reflux then wouldn't she be spitting up?

[MamaPhD]

Yeah, it sounds normal to nurse every 1.5 hours at 2 weeks old. Don't worry about nursing being too often at this stage. I would only worry if it became too infrequent (<7-8x per day) then it might affect your supply. Please don't try to space out feedings arbitrarily. BM gets digested pretty fast as others have said. Feed on demand.

As far as gas, have you tried gently rubbbing her tummy? Are you burping her? I would also look at what you are eating that may cause gas, too.

[kismetbaby]

Originally Posted by eternamariposa

If it were reflux then wouldn't she be spitting up?

I couldn't say for sure --perhaps others can speak to this-- but I know reflux can cause them to feel uncomfortable and want to nurse a lot to soothe it.

But it really sounds like normal newborn needs to me. IMO some gassiness, tummy bubbles are normal as there systems get used to working in this new way. But as PP said you may want to make sure you are burping enough, and do tummy rubs and gently bicycle her legs when she gets gassy/fussy.

I would just feed on demand . . .her needs will change quickly and often.

[gkb2215]

The marathon nursing sounds completely normal. As for her being gassy, I did two things that both worked to some degree: (1) frequently rubbed her tummy, gently, slowly, and clockwise; and then gently pressed her knees back towards her chest. This would get the gas and everything else out, and she'd be much happier; and (2) I cut dairy out of my diet for about 6 months, until reintroducing it and finding that she seemed not to be so sensitive.

Good luck and congratulations!

[jess152]

Originally Posted by kismetbaby

and do tummy rubs and gently bicycle her legs when she gets gassy/fussy.

This helps DS too. DH will gently work his legs and the farts just fly out!

I have realized in the last two weeks that I'm no longer allowed beans or cauliflower...it just keeps DS up all night with an unhappy, gurgly tummy. Maybe you're eating something that doesn't agree with her.

Are you burping her well after feedings? My DS sounds like a drunken sailor with some of the raunchy belches he comes out with! He is always visibly relieved when they are out!

And as for frequency, DS here can happily nurse every 45 minutes!! It's an insane schedule, but he's making up for lost meals at night because he sleeps for long stretches at a time. My first DS was 24lb by about 6 months, so I expect this one to be a porkchop too!

It may seem taxing now, but in the long run, all that nursing will leave you with a plump, healthy baby. Hang in there!

[_betsy_]

I vote for normal.

Heck, my 1 yo still nurses every 1-1.5 some days/nights!

Hang in there!

[BaaBaa]

normal! my dd nursed at least ever 30 minutes at that age. now at 18months she nurses every hour at night some nights. and every 2 during the day.

[JessicaS]

The seedy stools are normal breastmilk stools.

As your supply adjusts they will slow down on the nursing a bit. Babies tend to nurse more or less, naturally adjusting their nursing in order to increase your supply.

What you are describing is pretty normal.