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EAT => Bottle Feeding => Topic started by: KCW on September 13, 2005, 06:42:35 am

Title: timing dream feed... dropping a feed...
Post by: KCW on September 13, 2005, 06:42:35 am
Hello everyone!
I'm starting the df tonight and I'm wondering if there is a specific part of the sleep cycle I should be aiming to get this feeding into (for ex: 1.5 hours after last feed so dd is more awake or 2 hours after so she is in deep sleep, etc.). 

I also have some scheduling questions.  As of now dd's routine is as follows:
Eat at 7, 10, 1, 4, 7, and 9 then to bed.  She'll usually wake between 2-5 for a feed (we're starting the df to push this one a bit later, 6-7 hopefully).  She takes good naps and falls asleep on her own.  8 lbs 1 oz at birth, 9 lbs 4 oz at 3 weeks.  In the new book (p. 95) Tracy recommends 6 feeds plus a dream feed for 6 wks to 4 months, and I realize that since dd is just 6 weeks today that we'll have to keep the six daytime feeds for a while, but I want to cut it to five + a df soon.  I'm bf about half the time, although she'll be completely on the bottle by 10 weeks or so, so adding ounces during the day and such is very possible.  How soon is too soon to drop a feed?  What can I realistically expect adding the df to accomplish in the next couple of weeks?  Is there a time guideline regarding how long between the last feed and the df?  We want dd to get to bed around 8-8:30 (we sometimes don't get home until 8 ), and dropping a feed would make that possible, with a df at 10:30 (even that's a bit late for us) but with 6 feeds + a df it seems as if there isn't enough time in the day to squeeze them all in and get to bed at a decent hour.  Any suggestions?  What are/were some of your schedules like?  Also, can anyone tell me why to stop cluster feeds at 8 weeks?  TIA for responding! :D
Title: timing dream feed... dropping a feed...
Post by: Mariek on September 13, 2005, 10:17:33 am
Hi Kaycee

Firstly, it sounds like you're doing a great job with your lo.

Can you tell us how much she weighs now and how much she's having at each feed. With you asking about dropping a bottle it will depend how much milk she's actually taking on board in the day.

I'll try to go through your questions in order:

1) How soon is too soon to drop a feed?

As I said above it depends how much she's getting in the day. If you want to drop a feed you have to try to get the other ozs in somewhere in the day. If you drop it too early you might find she wakes up more overnight to top up.

2) What can I realistically expect adding the dreamfeed to accomplish in the next couple of weeks?

In theory if you add the dreamfeed she should go a longer period through the night without waking to be fed..... that said our babies don't generally agree with theories and each one is different. With my DD doing the dream feed meant she wouldn't wake in the middle of the night (2-4am) but she did wake earlier in the morning (about 6am). I would just feed her again then and pop her back down for an hour or so.

3) Is there a time guideline regarding how long between the last feed and the DF?

Again, it depends on your lo and how quickly she digests her feeds. If the last feed is a breastfeed then it will be quicker to digest than a bottle feed. I would suggest leaving it slightly less time than she normally has between feed (ie. if she normally feeds every 3 hours do it after 2). Basically with the DF you're trying to tank her up so she's got plenty in her tummy to keep her going overnight.

HTH. Let us know how you get on.

love
Title: timing dream feed... dropping a feed...
Post by: KCW on September 13, 2005, 14:53:52 pm
I'm not sure what she weighs now, she'll go to the doc at 8 weeks.  If she's gaining around an ounce per day (right?) she's somewhere round about 10.5 lbs.  When she has a bottle she'll take the whole four ounces, and she'll normally nurse for about 20 minutes.  Seven feedings = 28 ounces-ish.  Maybe I could go to six five ounce meals (when she's completely on the bottle) and let her take what she will...  it just seems like an awful lot for such a little creature! 

I tried the df last night at 10:30.  She was like a floppy dolly with lips glued shut!  So I thought 'I'll give her 30 mins to cycle through to lighter sleep'.  No go- still a boneless child with lips stuck together...  15 mins later, same story, so I went to bed.  She woke at 3:30, starving of course!  Maybe I should just cluster a bit and let her push the 3 am feeding back herself, and if she hasn't done it by 10-12 weeks start giving her the pacifier to push it back...

Sorry for rambling on, it's just so nice that somebody else understands!  I get so tired of trying to explain the concept to my mil...  Thanks again.
Title: timing dream feed... dropping a feed...
Post by: Mariek on September 13, 2005, 14:59:49 pm
Hi Kaycee

Sometimes I can take them (and you) a while to get used to dreamfeeding. There's definitley a knack of getting the right time (or rousing them just enough to get them to take the bottle).

Try rubbing the teat/nipple across her lips and waiting until she opens her mouth slightly then popping it in, or try rubbing the cheek nearest to you  (that should encourage the rooting reflex so you can pop the bottle in). To get her to strike up sucking if she stops try stroking the palm of her hand or rotating the bottle a little.

HTH

love