I am confused about these odd NWs

[scucci1979]

My lo is 17 weeks old and is a pretty good sleeper at night. I have introduced a DF two weeks ago, hoping it would extend her night sleep.  Anyways, since this past Sunday, she has been waking up more frequently every other night. I am confused. I don't know if it is a genuine hunger, if it is pain, if it is gas. My DH works nights so I have to deal with all the NWs bymyself.  The funny thing is that priort to the DF, she used to wake up two times a night.  When I introduced the DF, she started to wake up once a night.  Now I have noticed a pattern, every other night she wakes up every three hours.  Also, she used to be a great morning eater

She is paci free so I don't know if the second night waking is because she wants to suck.

Could these NWs be due to teething, DF, gas/pan, or wants to suckle

Here is how our week went:

Sunday: DF 10pm, 1:15am, then 6:30(took 2ozs)
Monday: DF 10pm, 3:40am
Tuesday: DF 10pm, 1:20am, 4:30am
Wednesday: DF 10pm, 2:30am
Thursday: DF 10pm, 1:15am, 4:30am (took two ounces)

Any suggestions will be appreciated

[scucci1979]

She usually drinks between 4-5ozs at her DF.  Sometimes, during the day, it is such a struggle for her to drink 4ozs. I think she is more intersted in the world then food. Her morning and mid afternoon feeds usually take me 45 minutes. She doesn't have any props.  She has been paci free for three weeks now She does have a lovey.  We are working on extending her naps. Big improvment-having been using w2s for the past 2 weeks and still going at it.

Here is our EASY routine.

Wednesday: wake up at 7:20am
E-7:45 5oz
A-150min
S-9:14-11am
E-11:15am 4oz
A-141 min
S-12:41-1:55pm
E-2:30 3oz
A-145 min
S-around 4:15pm-5:45
E-6pm 3oz
A-1:35 min
E-2ozs
S-7:15-7:30pm
DF, 10pm- 41/2ozs, 2:30am-5ozs

Thursday-we were out for the afternoon. below are rough A times.
wake up at 7am
E-7:30am 3 1/2 oz
A-150min
S-9-9:40(no nap extension)
A-50 min
S-10:30-11:15
E-11:20-12:30(struggle to get her to eat)
A-130min
S-around 1-2:07(went out for the day)slept in car seat
E-2:45 -3 1/2oz
A-1:30min
S-around 3:40-4:25
E-6pm- 3ozs
A-135min
S-6-6:30(woken by me)
A-
E-7pm 3ozs
S-was in criby by 7:30 but fell asleep at 8:10pm(was a little OT)
DF 10pm 4oz, 1:15am 3oz, 4:30am 2ozs

Friday
wake up at 7:10am
E-7:30-8:30-4oz
A-150min
S-8:57-10:15am
A-45 min
E-11am-11:45am 4ozs
A-45 min
S-11:59-12:48(no nap extension)
A-12:48-1:27  l left her in her crib hoping she would fall asleep by nothing.
E-2:30pm 3oz (getting OT)
S-2:50-3:30pm
A- 130min
S-5pm-6pm
E-6:10 4oz
A-140 min
S-7:30-8pm(did matra cry and fell asleep at 8pm) OT
DF-10pm 5oz, 1:15-2:30(Fussed) Fed her at 2:30(2ozs only)

Today is a pretty good day so far
wake up at 7:35
E-7:50am 5ozs
A-150min
S-9:25-10:55am
E-11:20(took forever to finish 4ozs)
A-150min
S-12:47( it is now 2 and she is still sleeping.
This is where I am at. I have noticed her NWs are between the hours of 1-3 and 4-5am.

Thanks for looking at this

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Just a thought - for some babies, the dreamfeed actually messes up their sleep cycle causing MORE NWs.  If you're concerned about how much she's eating, maybe take a look at the bottlefeeding board for suggested amounts for her age....

[TDR'smom]

Congrats on being Paci free!!  You are braver than I am!!!

How many oz is your lo taking during the day?  For us, dream feed never really worked. It just caused more night wakings.  Have you tried skipping the dream feed to see what time she will wake?

[* Paula *]

I agree with PP's the DF can work either way.  It can either help them sleep longer in the night or it can interrupt their sleep cycle and cause more NW's.

Have you tried cluster feeding to see if that helps at all?

[scucci1979]

She normally goes to be between 7-8.  I was reducing the DF time to 9:30.  The last two nights with the 9:30DF, she woke up once.
When I cluster feed her, she takes 4ozs the first hour, then 3ozs the next.  Does that sound right?
Tonight, I will skip the DF and see what time she wakes. If she wakes up twice, should I even bother with the DF?

thanks

[TDR'smom]

If she wakes up twice, should I even bother with the DF?

If she is waking 2x with or without the dream feed, I would skip the dream feed and get some sleep!  That's what we ended up doing!

[* Paula *]

Yes if your lo is taking less at one cluster that sounds about right as you are just aiming to tank them up.

Good luck, keep us posted on how the night goes.

[scucci1979]

At what age do I stop cluster feeding?

[scucci1979]

I didn't do the DF. I clustered at 5 and 7. She woke up at 11:30pm, drank 5ozs and went back to sleep. She started to fuss around 3am but went back to sleep until 7am.  She didn't want to eat at all this morning. Only drank two ozs.
 I will see how tonight goes.

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

They often seem to outgrow the cluster feeds on their own - after a few months.  I can't remember exactly when though. 

[scucci1979]

When I cluster feed her she only drinks a few ounces.  Is it even worth doing it?

[TDR'smom]

When I cluster feed her she only drinks a few ounces.  Is it even worth doing it?

What times have you been doing the cluster feed?

[scucci1979]

 Her afternoon feed is around 3pm and I usually cluster around 5 & 7.  During her catnap, which usually begins around 4:30-5pm, I top her up before she sleeps-that is when I begin to cluster. 
I am not sure if I should just feed her at 7 & 9, but she is asleep by 7:30pm
I was looking at my notes and noticed that when I DF her around 9:30, she wakes up between 2-4. If I don't DF, she wakes up between 12-1am. 
Do you think if I continue to stop the DF, she will eventually wake up later.

thanks

[* Paula *]

I would continue with the cluster feeding if your lo is still taking it.  That way you are getting a bit more milk into your lo.

As your lo gets older the night feed wil eventually move later and later and then will just turn into the morning feed.