Always at the breast?

[naturegirl419]

My 6 week old daughter always wants to be at my breast if she isn't sleeping. Is this normal? Sometimes I think she just wants to comfort suck, but she won't take any of the pacifiers we have. She doesn't seem to like them too much. She fusses if I don't put her on my breast but otherwise isn't very fussy except for in the evenings during 'unhappy hour(s)' and even then she's not too bad.

Maybe this is normal at this stage but I just thought I'd ask since it can sometimes feel a little claustrophobic. Should I be doing anything else or just giving her my breast?

I should also mention that my milk supply seems fine. She usually has a full milk mustache when she pulls away and I can pump 2oz per breast which I think is fine for this stage.

[Limabean1975]

Normal. Some babies are just like that. IME, there's not a whole lot you can do to change it....my first was like that! And continued to be boobie-obsessed through toddlerhood.

[karika]

It sounds like your daughter is helping establish your supply. It is a good thing to allow a baby under a year old to establish the nursing routine. This will prevent problems with supply in the future. The more letdowns you have while nursing, the better. This will make sure there is always the right amount of milk. If a baby stays latched on for an hour or more, I usually have 3-5 letdowns. I think 6 weeks is too young for comfort suckling. I believe comfort suckling is more an after 12 mo sort of thing. Let her stay latched on as much as possible (yay she won't take an artificial nipple IMO they are not good for a baby. I believe in a bottle fed baby they have value since that is the only way those parents allow the child to have its sucking needs met, but for a boobie baby let em have a nip). I stayed on bed for 3 mo with dd2, it felt good to have a babymoon. When your child gets older and starts sitting and crawling, then the need to be constantly attached will lessen. I think it is wonderful you are allowing your baby to have what she needs.
Here are some baby needs defined.
http://www.continuum-concept.org/cc_defined.html

[alegna]

Normal.

-Angela

[Super~Single~Mama]

Sounds like a growth spurt to me! She doesn't want the paci b/c that won't increase your milk supply, she just wants the boob! Try reading a book while nursing, it makes the time go faster!

[naturegirl419]

this support and information is all really helpful guys....

[Norasmomma]

There are a number of growth spurts and 6 weeks is a biggie. Sounds normal to me, my 6 month old just went through a couple weeks of non-stop nursing.

I do believe though that older babies do have times of comfort nursing. My son is teething and popping off the boob. Both my kids did this when they were teething, but at 6 weeks no way.

[annettemarie]

Moving to Breastfeeding

[Ellien C]

I'm going through the exact same thing at 6 weeks. (Birthdate March 15). It's really tough. Right now I have him in a sling trying to get more than 45 minutes sleep for him. He's much better with more sleep. I keep offering pacifiers and he sometimes takes one for a little while. We've tried 3 different kinds and the newborn avent ones seems to work best in that one-time in 10 he might take it. My older daughter didn't take a paci ever and it was hard.

[sarahdavida]

yes - although it seems extreme, it can be perfectly normal...just make sure she has a good latch - I had a little issue with that with DS when he entered into his second month - somehow, his latch got lazy and I, being inexperienced, didn´t realize it - so he started nursed continuously and cried when I would try to unlatch him and he´d be desperate to get back to it - and I think it was because he wasn´t getting the normal amount one would think for the time he was on there - but even when I fixed his latch, he wanted to nurse forever!!!

just try to be patient, get some good books/magazines around you and keep eating and drinking :-)))

[ClaudiaTh]

Yep, normal