Does cluster feeding throw EASY schedule?

[pod]

Hi there
dd is nearly 16 weeks and is roughly on a 4 hour EASY - I say roughly, because although she eats at 7, 11, and 3, at the moment I am then feeding her after her catnap (about 5 or 6) and again after her bath (about 6.30).  she also has a DF at 10, but doesn't take very much.  She's started waking twice in the night for food at about 1.30 and 4 or 5 and so I wonder, looking at all those feed times, whether '4 hour' is really a misnomer and am I confusing her by cluster feeding, leading to more night feeds?  She never used to wake so early at night - I did do an upping my supply exercise but it doesn't seem to have made much difference.  Should I do this again?  Should I try and pat/shh when she wakes at 1.30?  I must admit I'm so knackered I tend to just feed her as I know it settles her.  I have been reluctant to drop the post catnap feed just in case this causes more NWs, perhaps I should just try this?  I know she *should* be able to go 6 hours at least at night now but she's nowhere near that!   
Help??!!

[pod]

Just wanted to update on this post as last night dd had only one feed last night at 4am - hooray!  She did wake a few times but I think just because she'd migrated to the edge of the cot and bumped herself - I moved her away from the edge and she fell right back to sleep.  So feeling much more positive today. 

I am still interested to hear views on whether the cluster feeding fits in with the 4 hour EASY.  Also, although I am now regularly feeding her at 7,11,3 etc. she tends to be on SAEAS which varies every day because she sleeps for different lengths of time - should I be sticking to strictly 4 hourly Es or putting the E after an S??!!!  Her A time is comfortably 2 hours.  Hope that makes sense?  May be a question for another board??!!

[Samuel's mum]

Pod - sorry you aren't getting many responses here. Sometimes the weekends are quieter.

Sounds like she is ready for only the df and one night feed so you could try pat/shush if moving her from the edge doesn't work next time.

When you do the pre-bath and post-bath feed are they from different sides or the same side both times? Does she then go to bed at 6.30? The danger might be that she's getting 2 lots of foremilk if you are switching sides and she wasn't that hungry in the first place.
If she's fed well at 3 do you think she is comfortable lasting to 6.30 and having one good feed?

[pod]

Hi Samuel's mum - thanks for the reply!  I have tonight ditched the post catnap feed, partly because I forgot at first and then when I remembered thought well lets give it a go ... I think the two feeds are generally from 2 different sides, so yes you could have a point about it being foremilk only.  Her bedtime feed tonight was a good long feed for her (she feeds very quickly anyway), and from both sides.  We'll df her again at 10 and then keep fingers crossed for the night!

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Hi Pod, sorry been out all weekend. I see your not online now but 16 weeks=Growth spurt doesn't it?

Is it possible? As this made my lo wake 3 times 1am,3am,5am normaly just 4 am

Hope the night goes well for you
Kate x

[~Natalie~]

Pod,

I do the same with a cluster feed before bed but we don't do a DF.  My cluster is 2 hours apart because he goes to be at 8.  My LO is 5mo and I am worried to drop the feed after his catnap because he does sleep through the night.  When he was around 16 weeks he had a growth spurt which led to him wanting nighttime feedings, I think there were two for two nights.  Maybe because you do a DF you should drop the one after the catnap since you feed her so soon before bed.  I would guess it is a growth spurt which hopefully will then just resolve itself in a few nights. 

Hope you had a better night

Natalie

[pod]

Thanks for your replies!

Hadn't realised there was a gs at 16 weeks 

Last night we skipped the post catnap feed and she took only about 1oz at her DF, but then woke at midnight and 2am - she then didn't have another feed till she got up at 6.30. 

We are also in the process of weaning her off her swaddle so maybe some of the NWs are to do with that - I just need to be on my guard not to feed her unless she is actually hungry.  But will now also be on my guard for a growth spurt!!  They just keep on coming!!

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

I took my ds out of swaddle for a couple of days and he started to wake again, he's now back in it as he has a much more restful sleep.

Thank God for the Swaddle!!

Kate