My 3 day old boy has been feeding for the last 3 hours straight... is this normal? I'm exhausted and he just starts crying everytime he comes off...

It sounds like he's doing everything right to bring your milk in.

I was an absolute wreck on day 3 and DS was on the boob for 4+ hours. Day 4 was a million times better.

Can you set yourself up on the couch/bed, sitting up with him on pillows like the football hold? I found that saved my sanity a bit because I could get DS attached and then read a book so I wasn't watching the clock.

If you need a break, strip off yours and his clothes, put him on your chest and try letting him suck your finger/a dummy for a bit. Don't use the dummy to fob him off when he's showing hunger signs but you can certainly use it to give yourself a break. Having him skin to skin will also help your milk come in.

Congratulations on your darling boy! You're doing a great job!

My dd did this for the first couple of days, she had my milk in by end of day -hungry baby!! Once my milk came in she settled down and now feeds for about 10 minutes - very efficient sucker!! She snow three weeks old.

She is my second

I think it will get better once your milk is in, here's hoping it comes in soon.

Thanks girls, I figure I can handle it if its normal which it seems to be. I stupidly gave him some expressed colostrum just to give myself a break so hopefully that won't be detrimental. He won't take a dummy - pushes it out with his tongue.

DH has relented on me at least cosleeping with DS for a bit, but won't sleep with him himself. So hopefully we'll get there as it's been 19 hours since I got any sleep.

Oh OP, I feel your pain! Dd did the same on day #2 and also refused dummy/finger. I was a wreck by day #3 after virtually no sleep and there wasnt much i could do except wait it out. My milk coming in made such a difference. Hang in there & be kind to yourself, it's so challenging xxoo

As the others have said, its completely normal. He's just doing what he needs to do to get your milk flowing!

My DD did the same on night 2 and my milk came in the next day.I think I had 60mins of sleep in 24hrs, but it was worth it to get my milk in early and helped us get used to each other.

It is hard though but hopefully once your milk comes in he'll have a big sleep so that you can rest too. Take care x

My DS is 4 days old today and we had a horrid day yesterday too. He fed for nearly 2 hours over lunch.. then was back 1/2 hour later for more. However my milk is here this morning and he is much more settled already

Could you carry him around in a sling and he will be close to your heart and listen to the heart-beat of mum. He could be positioned upwards and have plenty of skin to skin on your chest. This will soothe him and he is there when he needs to feed and is not being put down. Many mums in the early days, wear their babies and the babies are so contented.

That is not a stupid thing to do, it makes sense as you were just trying to give bub as much milk as possible, if you can give it on a spoon or cup that's totally fine and an option. Of course if bub is latching well (comfortably) then "just" bfing would be "enough". Bfing lying down sounds like a good idea too.
All the best.

Thanks for all your replies ladies. He's sleeping now

Hopefully milk will be here soon!

Thanks again.

Just saw some more replies... had been contemplating using my sling so might try that later today.

When milk comes in will my breasts definitely feel different? They feel a bit bigger/fuller today, but nothing dramatic. DS has had milk dribble out of his mouth at the end of the last couple of feeds so am thinking maybe it is in?

This is soooo different to DD I really don't know what I am supposed to be feeling! Lol feel Luke first time mum again!

Hang in there

Totally normal. Your supply should settle down soon. It does take a little while sometimes. You could ring someone from the ABA for support if it you need to?

Your breasts may not feel the same this time round. They already know what they're doing thanks to your DD.

Sounds like your milk is in. Has he settled a bit better this morning?

It is worth considering what is feed related and what is just usual infant behaviour, ie even when bubs are bfing really well they tend to settle best after day feeds and particularly after dawn/in the morning, and then tend to be more unsettled after night feeds, often 11pm/12nd to about 3-4 am or later. This is quite usual for the first 2-3 weeks of life until unsettledness tends to move to the evenings, peaking at around 6-8 weeks.
With full breasts, just check how full before each bf and if your breast is very full and your areola is tight and not flexible it will be hard for your bub to grasp a lot of the areola so you may need to soften your areola/breast with some hand expressing before attaching bub.
Things sound pretty normal and if this bub has been attaching to your breast deeply from birth you may experience less than expected engorgement, so as a pp has said, your milk may already be "in".
All the best.