Not feeding enough during the day and making up for it at night!

[nsmum]

DD is 15 weeks - the last few days she is not taking much during  the day for a feed despite doing everything I can (taking her to a quiet room - shoving the breast in despite her resisting/holding off to closer to 3.5 hrs to feed etc), and now she is waking up at night to feed to make up for it. She doesn't take a bottle - i have tried and tried so what else can i do? How can i make her feeds longer/better during the day? I'm also worried about supply as she is only taking one breast during the day at the moment and only for 5/10 mins max?

[clarriebear]

Hi there

I'm not much ahead of you, DD is 18 weeks, but I know that around 3 months she drastically reduced the amount of time she fed for. From half an hour or so to 5 minutes. I couldn't believe that she could take enought in 5 minutes to last her, but she is doing plenty of wet nappies and growing. It is possible that you lo has just become so efficient on the breast she doesn't need any longer. 

[clarriebear]

PS forgot to say, increased nw could be growth spurt.

[lidiayy]

Does she normally wake up for a feed at night?

DD is 16 weeks old and still wake up once to feed. Our bedtime is late (9 pm) and we don't DF.

She takes only 10 to 12 min to eat and I was also concerned about it. Now I know that she has become really efficient because she's been streching feeds to 4 hours.

HTH

Lidia

[nsmum]

During the day she does suck strongly but only for 5/10 mins and last few days sometimes only one  breast...whatever I do i can't get her to take more. She was waking once at night but now 2 - 3 times (last feed between 6and 7pm) but I don't know what else to do to make these days feeds more efficient.

[Miss Kate]

You could try offering her the breast about half an hour after a feed just to see if she really is still hungry... If she refuses it, then you can pretty much say she must be getting enough during her feed. Also, as a PP mentioned, it could be a growth spurt as they do go through a pretty big one around the 4mth mark...

Hope it all works out for you!

[nsmum]

I just fed her then and she was about 8/10 mins on one side and about 3 on the other..so does that sound normal for a baby of 15 weeks? sometimes her night feeds seem to be much longer than this? Also how do you tell if she has drained the first breast?

[clarriebear]

Hi

I find the night feeds take longer than the day feeds as she is more relaxed and not looking around at things. I tend to give her the second breast if she gets fussy at the first one, sometimes I think the flow becomes too slow. It gets much softer when empty. We had a few nights of continuous waking but mainly back to 2 nw, one around 1-2 and one around 4-5.

Angela

[Tobysmum]

My baby is 16 weeks tomorrow and I am having similar issues.  He has generally always been a quick feeder - between 5-10 minutes.  I would consider 10 minutes to be a long feed - usually it's between 5-7 minutes and he only ever takes one side (very very occasionally he will take both).  I am thinking he must be getting enough as most of the time he'll go between 2.5-3 hrs.  He was only 4 pounds 14 at birth (full-term) and he's now probably about 12 pounds (perhaps more).  Generally he's been feeding twice in the night (feeds at about 7.00pm then dreamfeed between 10-11 and then in the night - perhaps around 2.30 and 4.30/5.00 although no set times).  For the past 2 nights he's been waking every 2 hrs and the only way I can get him back to sleep is to feed him (which is what I've always done when he wakes in the night, rightly or wrongly I don't know?)  Because he was so small, I've been reluctant to not feed him.  The past 2 nights were not great - I was thinking that it was a growth spurt but he's not feeding more regularly in the day.  I am thinking it may be a habit.
So it looks like we have similar issues - would be interested to hear what people say.

[nsmum]

Hi Again,
I have just had the worst few nights. She has been up every few hours - although I should mention she has a cold (have put a vaporizer in her room and saline up her nose) - i wonder if this is impacting on how much food she is getting. I'm just not getting any decent stretch of sleep (from her or me) and it's killing me because I have a toddler to get up to first thing. what I don't understand is that a few weeks ago she was waking once or twice in the night - doing a big 6 - 9 hrs stretch then back to 4 hrs - now it's all gone pear shaped and i'm not sure why. I need help...and sleep

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Hi and hugs to you nsmum & Tobysmum, I know what it feels like to get those sleep deprived nights 

It really looks like the two of you are going through the '4mth GS'. When we had these the days were pretty uch the same but lots of nwing's. Have either of you tried EAEAS, it works really well when a GS hits and gets those extra calories in lo during the day. This GS for many is quite a big one so my advice would be just feed feed feed as much as you can to get through it.

nsmum - Your doing really well so don't feel like its going 'pear shaped' thats what we all think when a GS comes. Just go with the flow and hopefully it won't last too long.

Tobysmum - Your right to feed in the night as you have, well done. The nights are hard but are the best for your supply, its always best to follow your instincts and by the looks of it you've got it spot on.

Kate x

[nsmum]

Thanks - i was ready to fall in a heap. Do you think colds can impact on the feeding? Also why is she feeding more in the night but not so much during the day? During the day she hops off the first breast sometimes less than 5 mins and won't go back on but goes on the 2nd breast...but at night she will spend 10 mins on both..i'm worried about her not getting enough of the hindmilk?

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Yes, i would say it could affect feeding for sure. She maybe getting used to the fast flow and getting impatient for the next letdown. Have you tried breast compressions, they will help to keep her interested.

Things will get better i promise! If you knew some of the things i've been through, you would be supprised that im still going strong at 7.5mths yay!!!! So just keep thinking that you WILL get through this and you will.

'Positive Thinking'

Kate x