How can I get one month old to go two hours between feedings? - Page 3

[NewMom610]

Originally Posted by DaisyMae08 

Well, the appointment went well.  She said to try other ways to soothe him first when he cries sooner than two hours are up to see if he just wants to snuggle or is tired and needs a nap, etc. but not to obsess if I can't get him to wait two hours to eat.  In other words, if he's really hungry to feed him, but to make sure there's not another reason why he's crying. I do think that sometimes I mistake tired for hungry, etc. and it has become an easy way to get him to quiet down...but really, I don't want to be a human pacifier.  I DO, however, want to feed him when he's hungry.  I just need to make sure I get the cues straight, I think. Two weeks ago he weighed 7lbs 9 oz and today he weighed 9lbs 11oz!!!!

Meh.  My son is 7 and a half months old, and he still nurses every 2ish hours.

I do not like the term human pacifier.  There is so much more to breastfeeding than just nutrition.  Sometimes they need to suckle just for comfort.  I always compare it to how I like a Hershey Kiss when I'm stressed, overwhelmed, or need a treat.  Babies sometimes just need a few minutes to calm down - a little taste if you will.  Plus, the extra suckling is good for your supply!

Don't let anyone make you doubt yourself.  It is very easy to get wrapped up in what others think you should be doing.

[DaisyMae08]

Originally Posted by Llyra 

An alternate point of view, if you'd allow me? I don't mean to be pushy-- I just remember how frustrated I was in the early weeks, with the constant feeding, and how a wonderful mama on here put it all in perspective for me.

The beautiful thing about breastfeeding is that you don't have to get too worried about what baby needs, because nursing is the answer. In those early months, nursing is the solution to just about every ordinary reason baby might cry (other than being wet or dirty, and a few others of course, but I'm generalizing to make a point)-- bored, tired, lonely, hungry, thirsty, overstimulated, sad. Nursing solves them all.

Down the line, their needs get more complicated. But for now, you really can trust baby-- if nursing soothes baby, then nursing is the answer. And you're not a human pacifier-- a pacifier is a substitute for you. I understand how you feel-- my twins once logged 22 1/2 hours on the breast, in their sixth week. (I was keeping records, because DD2 was low birthweight, so I have all these charts of how long they nursed on which days.) But small frequent feedings are the biological norm for human infants, and I think it introduces needless frustration and misunderstanding into the mother/baby relationship if you are always trying to delay feeds. She'll space when she's ready to space.

So if it were me, I wouldn't get too concerned about trying to soothe in alternate ways, if nursing works. Why argue with what works? There's no good reason for baby's health or well-being, that feeds need to be spaced.


 

Thank you.  This post makes a lot of sense to me, and makes me feel pretty darn good about what I'm doing. 

[PatioGardener]

I may have posted this earlier, but I think it is worth posting again. Written by a pediatrician, it explains newborns and nursing so well. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/note.php?note_id=162106522337 pm me if you can't access it.

[lrgs]

Originally Posted by Llyra 

An alternate point of view, if you'd allow me? I don't mean to be pushy-- I just remember how frustrated I was in the early weeks, with the constant feeding, and how a wonderful mama on here put it all in perspective for me.

The beautiful thing about breastfeeding is that you don't have to get too worried about what baby needs, because nursing is the answer. In those early months, nursing is the solution to just about every ordinary reason baby might cry (other than being wet or dirty, and a few others of course, but I'm generalizing to make a point)-- bored, tired, lonely, hungry, thirsty, overstimulated, sad. Nursing solves them all.

Down the line, their needs get more complicated. But for now, you really can trust baby-- if nursing soothes baby, then nursing is the answer. And you're not a human pacifier-- a pacifier is a substitute for you. I understand how you feel-- my twins once logged 22 1/2 hours on the breast, in their sixth week. (I was keeping records, because DD2 was low birthweight, so I have all these charts of how long they nursed on which days.) But small frequent feedings are the biological norm for human infants, and I think it introduces needless frustration and misunderstanding into the mother/baby relationship if you are always trying to delay feeds. She'll space when she's ready to space.

So if it were me, I wouldn't get too concerned about trying to soothe in alternate ways, if nursing works. Why argue with what works? There's no good reason for baby's health or well-being, that feeds need to be spaced.


 

 Such good advice! OP, does your baby take a pacifier? I wasn't necessarily planning on giving one to YDD but it turned out, she really needed one........it helped a lot. Glad today went better......such a big weight gain! Good job Mama! It can sometimes be tough to pick up on baby's cues, especially if they are subtle.......I remember writting a simillar post when my DD was only a few weeks old.......doubting if I was reading her cues and meeting her needs. Not just a worry of first time mom's.........happens to all of us as we get to know our babies.

[sosurreal09]

OP I think your baby is TOO YOUNG for a paci.

I also don't think pacis are good for kids.

http://www.kidsgrowth.com/resources/articledetail.cfm?id=94

http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/myths/10pascif.htm

[lrgs]

Well, we would have gone crazy if we hadn't given our DD a soother, she needed it...........you can link all you want that they aren't good for kids, there will be just as many links out there saying they are fine. They are endorsed by the AAP. I don't want to change this into a soother debate......not fair to the OP. The OP's baby may be too young.......my sleep deprived mind had me thinking baby was 2 months old, it's hard to say, I think it varies by baby......how bfing is going, how the soother is used, etc. For us it was a lifesaver.

[sosurreal09]

My intention was not to make you feel judged or anything. All kids are different. I just personally don't think they are good and provided some info on my reasons. If OP decides to use one that is her choice. I am afraid of nipple confusion at this age though.

[lrgs]

I agree that's possible, like I said, I knew this was about a 4 week old when I wrote my other post but for some reason got it into my head that the baby was 2 months old. Again.....IMO it varies by baby.

[crystal_buffaloe]

Are you wearing the baby? She might just want to be with you, next to you, close to you all the time -- it might not be that she wants to nurse all the time. (And skin-to-skin contact boosts supply, too.)

Or it might be that she really has very high need to suck. We introduced a pacifier, but some people are opposed to their use. I was in an overwhelmed, nursing around the clock kind of fog and it helped to save my sanity. Next time, I'm not going to be so stressed out about what I "should" be doing and how often the baby "should" be eating, and maybe we won't have a pacifier at all, but for now, for my DD, she sleeps with a pacifier and I'm okay with that.

It also made my life a heck of a lot easier when I quit watching the clock and started watching the baby. I honestly couldn't tell you how often DD ate from about 6 weeks to about four months (when I started keeping track again for a sleep journal, but that's a different story!) Plus, it's one less thing to think about and keep track of -- everyone asking all the time "When did she last eat?" and "Could she be hungry?" is just kind of stressful.

[DaisyMae08]

Who is the author of that first link?  The second one, I can see, is a list put together by a lactation consultant and I'm sure has merit.  I couldn't figure out the validity of the first.  Regardless, I could post several links advocating for pacifier usage and its role in reducing the risk of SIDS, etc.  Everybody needs to do what is best for THEIR baby and what they are comfortable with.  As far as I can tell, there don't seem to be too many issues in childcare that are black and white, so we all must do the best we know how for our own children.  And that is what I intend to do for my little guy.  You can tell from his weight gain that I certainly haven't been depriving him!  HA HA! 

[sosurreal09]

Originally Posted by sosurreal09 

My intention was not to make you feel judged or anything. All kids are different. I just personally don't think they are good and provided some info on my reasons. If OP decides to use one that is her choice. I am afraid of nipple confusion at this age though.

Did you not see this? I am not trying to offend you.

here is info on the authors and editors for the first site

http://www.kidsgrowth.com/advisory_board.cfm

my MW was heavily against the use of pacis which was what swayed me in the first place

[DaisyMae08]

I did see that, thank you.  I was just asking for clarification about one of the sites posted.  My comments were more of a general nature since I think everyone probably does things a little bit differently and no one needs to feel badly about that as long as our kids are well taken care of.  It really had nothing to do with the pacifier stuff.  Sorry if that was unclear.