Should I add in another feed? If so, when/how?

[christiewi]

My DS (about 4.5 months) is on a 4 hour EASY and has been for about 2.5 or 3 weeks, I believe (can't quite remember  ).  He began worse NW about 2 months ago, but the past 6 nights have been horrible (I have so many other posts going right now, it's not even funny  ).

Sometimes he is really hungry when he wakes up at night, other times he is clearly not.  Just the same, do you think I should add an additional feed somewhere to try to help with the NW?  Here is his routine:

8:00ish: Wake, feed
10:00: Nap
12:00: Wake, feed
2:00: Nap
4:00: Wake, feed
6:00: Attempt a cat nap, though it hasn't been working lately
7:00: Bath
7:30: Eat
8:00: Bed (though he often isn't asleep until 8:30ish)

His NW vary, but last night it was 12, 2:30, 4:30, and 6:30.    His feedings haven't been great for a while...I think maybe just because he is so interested in the world and wants to go play.  Do you think I should add one or more?  If so, where?

Thank you so much!

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Just watching for replies, hope you don't mind

[christiewi]

Haha, I would never mind!!!  I love going through these things together! :-)

[flutie]

Would a dream feed help?

[christiewi]

Not sure...I've tried a dream feed twice in the past and both times he ended up waking up all night.  I haven't tried for a few months, and he is already waking up all night anyway, so who knows.  My gut kind of says to skip it, just in case its something else and I can forgo adding in another thing I'll have to wean him from later, plus I worry about how hard he is to settle once awake (he's spirited ;-), but maybe it is worth a shot.  Is 4.5 months already close to the time when BW says to wean from it?  If that point is still a few months down the road, that might make me feel better about it.  Another thing is that he's not eating very agressively lately (at all), so a big part of me thinks even if I do get him to latch on, he'll suck for 2 seconds and be asleep.  Hmmm.  Might still be worth a go though!!

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

God Christie your head must be spinning. I know mine is reading your last post. lol

Kate x

[christiewi]

LOL!!!!  Kate!!!  I am actually BEYOND humored at myself right now!!!  I swear, I am like a kid without sleep and on a sugar high...I can't think straight, and I'm starting to have a laugh attack at just how ridiculous I've been lately!!  Nothing I say makes sense, even to me!!! :-)

New plan: stop obsessing over every second of the day or trying to find the immediate solution and just let things work themselves out as best I can.  I'm sure my DS AND DH would like their normal mom/wife back! lol!!!

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

im crying with laughter, how funny!!!!!!

All joking aside i USED to obsess about weight gain, god im so over it. And funny thinking about it thats when feeding became much easier.

You know i think i've hit the nail on the head!!!!!!

[EllenS]

Wow! what awesome naps - I would have robbed a bank to get 2 2-hour naps!  6pm is probably too late to get a catnap in.  I might try cutting that A time short - maybe go for the catnap around 5:30, then feed at 6 and 7:30.  Might work, might not. 

[carly-g]

I agree with Ellen.  My supply is lower in the evening, so that 6pm feed might help give him the calories he needs to make it through the night.

[liacarmen]

I agree too, toss in as much feeding in the evening as he'll tolerate - maybe he'll give you a few more z's.

[christiewi]

LOVE the awesome suggestions!!  Thank you so much everyone!!  We did a 3 hour EASY today, which got 2 extra feedings in, plus we bottle fed EBM for the final feed, so I know he got a good amount.  I'm so hoping tonight goes better!  I will do the 3.5 hour EASY routine tomorrow and see how it goes!  I really do think he is just out-of-control overtired.  He was like that as a newborn and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was wrong with him, then once he finally caught up he was an angel to be around.  I think spirited LO's just REALLY get crazy without their sleep! lol!  So, instead of working to extend his naps when he wakes early (usually just over an hour), I will get him up and run with it!  I will keep you all posted!  THANK YOU AGAIN!!! :-)

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Morning Christie, how did your night go?

[christiewi]

Hi Kate!  First of all, SUPER cute picture!!  I have been trying to change mine, but it says all my photos are too large. :-(  I'll keep working on it.  Your LOs are ADORABLE!!! :-)

The night was OK...better because I am FINALLY normal again!! lol!!  I want to make a new post just to let everyone know that psycho Christie is gone for now...yay!! :-)  Noah still got up at about 12:15, but I did shh/pat until 1:15 and he was asleep again.  He woke up at about 2:20, so I fed him.  He ate OK, but not a lot.  Then he went down well and got up again at about 4:30.  I fed him again and he went down well again.  Then up for the day around 7:45.  So, not bad!  I don't think he was really hungry at 2:20, but I decided to work on one NW at a time, so for now, it's the midnight one I'm working to cut out.  Hopefully tonight will be less time shhh/patting, which will give me the energy and encouragement to keep it up!  I have high hopes!!  Also, I pumped last night and only got about 3 ounces (double sided), so I hope that's not a bad sign...

how was YOUR night?  I hope it went well!!

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Thanks, Noah looks weel cute. Its lovely to see them all changing, isn't it.

Thats how my nights were, like you say one nw'ing aat a time and you WILL get there. 3oz is good for first pump remember you body isn't uesd to pumping that bit extra, stick with it and your volume will grow.

I gave Zane some Calpol last night as i wasn't sure if he had ear ache, he'd been rubbing it all night and was a bit grumpy. Anyway he slept till 7am 'shocked' and when i say slept till i woke him up. When i fed this morning my boobs were like rocks, he fed for 20 mins first side 10 mins the second and then he pushed my boob out of his mouth with his tounge. OMG thats a first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, i pumped after that and got another 2 1/2oz out WOW OMG WOW!!!!!!!! Don't know if you got the message but im still in shock now.

Very shocked Kate x