Comfort nursing - Help!

[ShelbyMay]

DS is about 2 weeks old. I know that newborns nurse a lot, but he wants to nurse ALL.THE.TIME! He is gaining weight just fine (pretty rapidly, actually) so I am not concerned that my supply is low. I think he is often just nursing for comfort. The problem is that he wants to nurse SO much that my nipples just can't take it!

He won't keep a pacifier in his mouth. Will only tolerate the swing if he's already good and asleep when we put him in it. Hates the vibrating bouncer seat. Wails in the co-sleeper. The car will sometimes lull him to sleep, but we can't live in there!

He is really only content when he is latched on to my breast and snuggled against my body. While I understand this, I am so sore, and I also have a 2.5-year-old to take care of. I don't know what to do when he won't be comforted any other way. :(:confused:

Has anyone else been through this and found a solution?

[jennylou]

Wear him. :)

[ShelbyMay]

Forgot to mention that he doesn't like the sling. :rolleyes:

[Mickey&B]

In the begining I found that it was easier to just keep my 3 yr old entertained. I put together a bunch of different boxes (big plastic tubs with lids that I stored under his bed) filled with things like art supplies, cars, blocks, links ect. and when he would need to be kept busy for awhile I would just pull out a box. I also kept snacks, drinks in the fridge at his level so that when he needed something and I was nursing he could easily just open the fridge or the cupboard and grab something. It's really tough in the begining and it feels like you'll never get into that groove but it belive me you will.

[tgr68]

I had/have a comfort nurser. I basically did as Mickey&B suggested. Have lots of activities, drinks, snacks, etc. easily accessible to your other child. Get a stack of books, magazines, etc. for you, kick back, and let him nurse as long as he wants at this point.

Right now it's hard, especially if you other child is begging for attention at all. Just hang in there. You will get settled into a routine that will work for all three of you! Also, if you ever need to vent, whine, need support, etc. feel free to join us over in the BFing Help and Support (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44627) thread.

[Scooter]

One of my twins is a comfort nurser, won't take a pacifier or the thumb, and I also had a 2 yr old. I did a lot of quiet activities early on with her while I nursed sitting next to her on the bed. Books, puzzles, crayons, whatever.

Slings never worked for any of my newborns. Do you have another carrier? Mine liked to be upright against my chest, the Moby wrap is perfect for that for newborns but a mei tai also works if it comes up high on the back of their neck. With my comfort nurser I just wore him like that a lot. It distracted him because there was stuff to see, but it usually lulled him to sleep. And if he's fussy but dry and fed, I'd put him in a carrier like taht and get all 3 of you out of the house for a walk. Nothing like distracting them to make them forget they want to nurse. ;) It will get easier!

[jennylou]

Yep, try a wrap or a MT. :)

[wine_o_girlie]

Could he have reflux? I have heard that sometimes babies with reflux nurse all the time because they think it might make them feel better (soothe their throat I guess).

[Ohana]

Have you tried other types of pacifiers? DD2 refused the first dozen brands we offered her and only wanted to suck on my pinkie. She finally accepted the NUK latex ones.

[ShelbyMay]

Could he have reflux? I have heard that sometimes babies with reflux nurse all the time because they think it might make them feel better (soothe their throat I guess).

He hardly ever spits up, so I don't think so.

He was awake for 5 hours last night/this morning and wanted to nurse the entire time. I just couldn't do it that much b/c of the soreness, and he cried and cried. :(

[isign]

DD was this way in the beginning. Now, 4 months later, she's found her fingers when she needs to sooth and life is much better. We do still nurse for comfort/snuggle time, but it's no where near as often as we did in the beginning. I know it's hard having another little one. DS is 14m older than his sister. We did a lot of cuddling while DD was nursing and watched TV, when I swore we wouldn't. For DD, the front up and down carriers work MUCH better than the sling, which DS loved. I've put DS in his stroller, DD in her carrier and out the door we went. She fussed for a while, but was lulled to sleep by our walking. Made me feel better just by being outside. Good luck, it will get better.

[aprilshowers]

Have you tried Lanolin, APNO, Soothies or something else to help your nipples? Maybe that will help you tolerate the nursing better. I am at 8wks now and I remember at 2wks it seemed like I'd be in pain forever but now nursing is my only downtime.

[Allegra]

I had one of those but no older child so I just nursed her constantly. :) The slings, MT, wraps also worked for us.

[wine_o_girlie]

He hardly ever spits up, so I don't think so.

He was awake for 5 hours last night/this morning and wanted to nurse the entire time. I just couldn't do it that much b/c of the soreness, and he cried and cried. :(

I do not have a child who had reflux but I believe there is something called "silent reflux" that does not involve a child spitting up. I am sorry I am not more clear on this but it was my first thought when you mentioned the constant nursing and fussiness. Have you spoken to your Ped?

[BTB]

All babies physiologically reflux at this age due to immaturity of the gastroesophageal sphincter. So normal in newborns it can hardly be considered 'pathologic'. Sure, there's kids that symptomatically reflux - at all ages - but it's not really that common, just a currently 'trendy' diagnosis. Truth be told, this all sounds normal to me. And, ShelbyMay, what worked when DD did this was to have DH soothe her so I could get a break. There was something about being near me that made her want to nurse, and if she couldn't smell or see me, she settled down pretty quickly. Congrats and good luck. :)

[cactus]

My DS wanted to nurse A LOT at the beginning too (and still does at about 3.5 months), also didn't like to be put down, and also didn't like the sling. He hated (and still does) anything that put him in the cradle position.

I second all those who suggested wearing the baby in something that allows being upright--ours loved the Ergo with the infant insert with his legs "frogged" and also the Moby. Now he's into the Bjorn since he can face out. But seriously, we still have to wear him around pretty much all the time. Good luck!

[solongtogo]

Could it be his growth spurt? Or has it been like this for the entire two weeks?

[ShelbyMay]

Could it be his growth spurt? Or has it been like this for the entire two weeks?

This started when he was around 5 or 6 days old. He was nursing about every 2 hours and sleeping relatively well (you know, for a newborn) before that.

[j*east]

DD did this for a while and I just went with it...I definitely remember those marathon multi-hour sessions. We moved when she was 2w old (not by choice) and I sat around allllll day long, nursing, nursing, nursing. I totally hear you on the soreness, but for me, I'd rather be sore than let her cry. Plus, I figured it was good for my supply. Hang in there--it got better for us as DD got older and could be soothed other ways.

[maplekitty]

DS did this too in the beginning, and my nipples were so sore I would cry everytime he latched on. I was applying Lasinoh like every 15 minutes. It just....gets better, like around 2-3 months old, your nipples just toughen up and it doesnt hurt as much.

As for DD, we just spent a lot of time doing quiet activites - playdough was a saviour, more tv watching than i care to admit, but I just had to. it doesn't last forever, eventually they start to get more independant and you feel like you can go out more often.
It's okay to be a hermit for the the first few months. DC1 will not know or remember that they didnt have as many activities outside the house for that short amount of time, its okay.

[suzfuzsunflower]

My son did this. Literally would nurse every 15-45 minutes during the day for months (at least that I remember). I sat on my couch all day. I'm concerned that my next child will be like this, because I have no idea what I'll do with my older son while the baby nurses.

Once he got over the constant nursing, he nursed every 2 hours until around a year old. Most babies that I read about on here were going much longer stretches, but every child is different.

I have no advice, but just wanted to say that I've been there and it will get better.