Expert: Bridgette Wagner - 6/24/2006

Question
Help...  I am the mother of a 3 week old baby boy.  I am breastfeeding him exclusively, however, he doesn't seem to be satisfied after feedings.  He is gaining weight and has 5 to 6 soiled diapers per day (that is in addition to his wet diapers).  He will feed on average 16 times per day, often for 30 minutes to an hour at each feeding.  At night he will often cluster feed (5 feedings in a row).  When I try to set him down, (after he has fed) he will put his hands in his mouth and scream to be fed.  I am only getting 1 to 2 hours of sleep per night and I can't figure out why my baby gets hungry 10 minutes after feedings.  I don't think this could be a growth spurt -- as it has been going on for two weeks straight.  How can I help my baby feel satisfied as well as getting some much needed sleep for my husband and myself.  

Answer
Welcome to the world of newborns!

As reluctant as I am to say it, what your baby is doing is very normal for a newborn.  A lot of the nursing at night could be comfort feeding -- your baby sounds like he might be one of those that gets a strong comfort from the breast so rather just stay on.  Are you co-sleeping?  It may be helpful to bring the baby into bed with you for those night nursings.  Once you master nursing laying down life is so much easier!  You can then just latch the little one on while you're 1/2 alseep and then both drift back to sleep together.  

If you're concerned about the safety of co-sleeping be reassured that it is a wonderful way of making your child feel secure, especially at this young.  Just check your bed out to make sure there's no creaks your baby could slip through.  What I did is put my son in between my husband and I and put a pillow on the other side of blocking my husband so that my husband wouldn't accidently roll over on him -- although it is VERY rare that anyone ever does that.

In case you haven't mastered nursing while laying down, this should help: http://www.mother-2-mother.com/tut-layingdown.htm

Please be assured that what your newborn is doing is very normal.  Since he is gaining fine and having enough wet/soiled diapers I do not think it is an issue of your milk supply not being enough.  If you can tough it out for a few weeks I promise you it will get easier and he will start to cut back.

Best of luck and hang in there!  You're doing a wonderful thing for your son!

      Bridgette W.