Does anyone supplement with one bottle of formula?

[A pair of Charlies]

Definately sounds like growth spurts to me. Have faith in your body, feed on demand or at least every 3h from start of last feed during the day - might get a stretch of 4h between feeds at night. Feeding on demand really helps establish your supply to his demand (the amount he needs to grow!), especially important in those first 6 weeks. I did a cluster feed during the evening from the start - 5ish and 7ish I think in an effort to tank up for the night too.

Some FAQs for you:
 * http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64627.0
 * http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=66001.0

HTH & let us know how you get on!

Charlotte

[aidenmc]

Well last evening he took a while to settle. Seemed hungry all evening and I questioned my supply - having supplemented the night before. What I think happens with him at times is that he is hungry and tired all at once and struggles to do either activity (nursing or sleeping) well. This morning I was so happy to have gotten him to sleep using pat/shush in his crib. He had a nice long nap (sadly the baby monitor got unplugged and I heard him crying only when my 5-year old went upstairs, heard him and opened his door - only hoping the poor thing wasn't crying too long - I felt terrible!). Anyway, this afternoon he kept drifting off after nursing only on one side. But then he would not settle to sleep for long. So, we were essentially nursing every hour and a half this afternoon - ugh! I really need to find a way to extend his feeds - they are often this frequent and only get to 2-3 hours when he has a good long sleep.

Anyway, this evening has gone better - dh resettled him to sleep at 5:30 after another short nap - he stayed down till 7:00 and then took his best feed (no supplementing yet). He woke when i put him down but was able to get off to sleep with my hands on him. I definitely think I had much more milk available this evening (possibly because of his extra nursing last evening?).

Do you have any ideas on how to extend the time between feedings? I can't hold him off if he is hungry. Is the only way to keep waking him when he drifts off on the breast?

[A pair of Charlies]

Hugs honey     

Okay. How long do the feeds last? Can you post a recent EASY showing what time wake up is, when BFs are, when naps are (what time and for how long)?  Just so I can get a larger picture to see if there is anything I can see there.

In the meantime, how about offering both sides at feeds (if you aren't already)? And trying some cuddly skin on skin feeds when you can along with switch side nursing. I'd continue to feed on demand when you can during the day and to include a block or cluster feed in the early evening so babe gets a feed from both sides before bedtime.

Okay. Falling asleep at the breast was a real problem for me with DS. He used to feed for about an hour at a time and, GSs aside, could go 3h between feeds but that 1h long feed was a nightmare because he was constantly dropping off to sleep the whole time, with me waking him back up again, etc. Tricks I found that worked for me; taking him off the breast and sitting him up on my knee facing me (his eyes would pop open a bit), or changing his nappy part way through the feed, or removing a layer of clothing so he wasn't quite so cosy warm. I had to be really tough on myself though - to get him to the hind milk each time.

Do you think it could be that he's not taking enough at each feed?

Also want to check; no signs of reflux - not crying during the feed or unsettled so finishing the feed quickly or crying out about 40mins after a feed?

Let us know?

Charlotte

[aidenmc]

Hi Charlotte,

I post what I can remember of yesterday. What seems to be happening now is that we are getting decent naps and feeds in teh day but the nights are a mess.

So, we went to a friend's cottage yesterday - here is what i recall

E - 7:30 (in bed - he usually wakes only briefly at this time and like to go back to sleep till about 8:40; also night and morening feeds are erratic in time and amount - will discuss below)
S - 7:40-8:40
E - 9:30
S -11:00 -1:30 - fell asleep in car
E - 1:30 (feeds seemed solid and it was clear when he'd had enough, but sometimes would only feed on one side)
S - 2:00ish (can't quite remember) - 4:00
E - 4:00
S -5:00 - 7:15
E-7:15 (one side)
S -8:00 - 1015 - fell asleep in car after brief cry
E - 1015
then he woke at about 12:40 and was up and down until 4:00 when dh gave him a bottle if expressed bm (he gobbled it). ds the woke again at 5:00 and i took him into bed where he grunted and nursed off and on the rest of the night. i know i fed him at 7ish and we then woke for the day at 8:40

So, the feeds and naps are getting better during the day. I find that it is now clearer when he's had enough and just wants to sleep - he seems to no longer ask for boob when tired (although he does when gassy) and prefers a swaddle. sometimes the soother and a tight hold. He has some 45 minute naps and others up to 2 hours.

But i am wondering what is going on at night and whether days and nights are mixed up. He tends to grunt most of the night and doesn't sleep as long as during the day. He doesn't do much full out crying, just occasional fussing and very noising grunting and growling. I think he doesn't have as much deep sleep either. He ends up in my bed much of the night because i am too tired to be up with him trying to get him to sleep in his cot. But i am sleeping poorly with him beside me and i think it is perpetuating the problem.

I think he gets very windy at night and is also not taking full feeds. I think i need to get him out of my bed and do a better job of getting full feeds in and being sure to burp him well.

Do you have any ideas? The nights are becoming pretty difficult. DH wants to do the 10pm feed with the bottle and to put him to bed, to give me more sleep. I guess that's one place to start.