Not hungry when wakes up

[amayzie]

Oh- actually- by all means keep breastfeeding- you are possibly better not to panic to much and just offer the breast feeds- expressing is too much like hard work!! I can get the breast feeding ladies to have a look too! So you usually breast feed for the most part? I saw the oz and assumed you usually bottle fed...

[RachelC]

What happens when you feed at the night wakings?  Does he conk right out immediately after feeding?  I am wondering if you could take him off prior to getting a full feed and attempt to move those calories back to the daytime.  I would also stay away from the solids until you get this sorted a bit more.

[EnzoMama]

Yes Amayzie, I do breast-feed most of the time, I expressed milk this afternoon to get better gage on how much he eats. I was thinking (wishfully) that maybe he is just very efficient and I am underestimating his intake;)

We have been giving him bottle with expressed milk at bedtime to ensure he eats enough and to make sure he takes bottle, so daddy can feed him once a while. He does take bottle but certainly prefers breast.

RachelC, yes he usually goes right back to sleep after feeding or if he is still awake I put him in crib and he usually falls asleep on his own. If he does not go down easy, it is because he wants to eat more. Once I feed him more, he goes down easy. I put him down as soon as his sucking slows down but most of the times he unlatches once he is done eating and lets me put him in the crib without a fuss.

 Than you for your support ladies.

[amayzie]

Remember too Enzomama that the amount he takes in the bottle may not be an indication of how much he has on the breast- my guy drinks hardly anything when i leave a bottle, but i'm sure has more when he's at the boob..  but your guy might be different!! It is great to give him a bottle though so DH can feed him- Gets you out of the house!!

[EnzoMama]

You are right Amayzie, I have noticed it before.

[RachelC]

Are things generally the same since you first started posting??

Great that he is able to fall asleep on his own after the NF.  Maybe you could time how long they typically take and try taking a minute off the feed time every 3 days (with bottle fed babies we usually suggest cutting out an ounce every 3 days).

[EnzoMama]

RachelC, I have not been successful with shortening the feed while on breast-he keeps rooting if he is not done. Any suggestions there?

So, we have been working on NWs last 4 days. My husband would respond to our baby for three nights. We have read in one baby book to water down the milk if we think baby is just eating out of habit to shift the calories into the day hours. Our baby took in only about 1.5 oz of breast milk during 11 o'clock NW and less then an 1 oz breast milk during 2-3am NW in general. No problem falling asleep right after and would not wake us till morning-around 6:30. Still was not that hungry at the morning but his 7am and 11am feeds were definitely better. So, it sounds to me like he really does not need that much milk at night, right?

Last night, I dreamfed him EBM via bottle, so I can see how much he takes in then. He took in 4oz of EBM, then turned away and slept. Did not want more. Woke up at 2am. I tried not to feed him and settle him back down for about 30 min-no success. After giving him bottle with milk/water mixture, he drank 1oz, which would mean 0.5oz EBM and fell asleep. Woke up this morning at 6:20. Again, not starving. Ate better at 7am.

So, now I am wondering what to do? From everything I am seeing, he is able to go very long time on very little milk. What should I do to encourage him to sleep continuously? Should I continue doing what I am doing now? Should I dreamfeed and then try Wake to Sleep before 2am? I am puzzled and really appreciate your advice. I do not mind feeding him if he is hungry but it seems to be habitual, am I right?

[RachelC]

Hmmm, sounds like he may be ready to go through the night.  I would suggest starting a new thread on night wakings.  Katy and I will still pop in over there if we're needed