Drinks more in night than day

[mummy_bec]

I posted yesterday in night wakings about my LO because I thought that I have a problem with night wakings because I can't get my LO to 4 hours EASY and that probably is the reason.

However after a bit of analysis last night (in the middle of the night there's nothing else to do while feeding...) I realised that my LO is drinking more in the night than in the day so he is snacking in the day which is why I can't get him to 4 hour EASY KWIM? For example, his dreamfeed (at 9:40- he woke early for it) took 40 mins last night - he chugged and chugged and refused to release the nipple. When he finally did he started looking for more so I gave the other side which he chugged and chugged as well. He then had feeds at 1:20 and 4:30 both of which lasted 30 mins and during which he drank and drank and drank. If he is not full he won't go back to sleep - during the 4:30 feed I tried to only give one side - he wouldn't go back to sleep until I'd given the other. To top it off he's taking so much liquid that he leaks from his nappy EVERY night because it's so full so I have to change him in the middle of the night from wet clothes!

Daytime on the other hand. I have to force him to get a 5-10 min feed. He is definitely hungry within 2 - 2.5 hours because he barely takes any milk - I thought he was just a natuarally hungry baby but the times give it away.

All of this is impacting upon every other aspect of his EASY.

So what do I do to reduce those huge night feeds?

I read on some posts about giving watered down milk and reducing the milk content and adding more water as time goes on. I would have to give formula because he drinks so constantly that I never ever feel 'full' but I suppose it wouldn't hurt for just one feed would it? I was also advised about giving water in the day to try to stretch out the feeds.

Would these be possible solutions?

[Samuel's mum]

Please do not give water in this situation. I'm surprised you were given that advice based on your LOs age and the fact you are breastfeeding. Too much water can be extremely harmful for young babies:
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=88759.0
It will also have a negative effect on your supply.

You need to reduce night time calories by reducing the length of your feeds. Time what they are now and just shave the minutes off. He may be harder to settle but it is the only way. If you were to give a bottle of watered down milk I really doubt that would make settling any easier.

At 4 months it is very rare for a bfing mother to 'feel full'. That sensation has usually gone by now.
It might be that he is not going to get to 4 hr feeding intervals - not all babies do. But ideally you can aim for 3-3.5 hours as an improvement on 2-2.5.
This poster has a similar issue:
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=129477.0

[mummy_bec]

Thank you so much for your reply.

I appreciate your advice. I had tried the water over the past few days but he wouldn't take it anyway. Probably more to do with never having had a bottle before rather than the water though...

I will definitely try breast compression for the day feeds to try to get him to take more - (this is a situation I've not been in before, with my last baby I was constantly engorged.) The other link was helpful also. I tried last night to only give a minimum that he would take at night and had some success and today I really pushed the day feeds so fingers crossed.

Thanks again 

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Hi, Switching sides is another way to get in more milk

[deemom]

Mine is doing the same, when she wakes she barely takes anything and then the next 2 feedings too.  Once it gets to the late afternoon, or even evening, that's when she starts taking more including at night every 3-4 hours.  I nursed her at midnight, and then , when she woke again at 3 am,  I didn't feed her but just tried to put herback to sleep.  She was awake for about 30 minutes and then slept till 6 am.  I let her nurse, and then she took more at 8:30 upon awakening-not as much as a full feeding but better than before. 
She's on a 3.5 EASY schedule right now and is 3 months.  Let me know if you have any good ideas of getting them to take more during the day and less at night. 

[mummy_bec]

I'm feeling fantastic because I managed to do 2 feeds at 3.5 hours yesterday and really made him drink as much as possible and last night he dropped a feed! I actually had 6 hours of sleep - in a block the first time in about a month! Already today he is not looking for the feed as early and had a long first nap. The first feed of the day is a bit tricky, coming off the 5am feed, he's just not hungry when he wakes at 6:30. I left him until 7:30. I've been doing breast compression today and don't know if it's helping but he's staying on the breast so somethings working. I have tried switching sides back and forth when he's not interested and that has helped as well. I can't believe how quickly this problem is resolving itself - it just took a bit more will power from me to push past 3 hours with those feeds! 

[Samuel's mum]

Hope today continues to go well.

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Arh thats really good to hear. Well done to you

Kate x

[mummy_bec]

Thanks guys I'm amazed at how quickly it has worked. We had 4 hours between feeds all day yesterday and he STTN last night!

 

[Samuel's mum]

Yay!!

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

double yay!!!