How do I know if the DF is working (or not??)

[Shellha]

My DD is 11wo today and is EBF. I have been giving her a DF since birth but am ow unsure if it is of any benefit. I usually feed around 10.45 and then she will wake anywhere from 1.30-3, and again 3 hours later. Sheis essentially feeding 3 hourly around the clock.

My question is, how do I know the DF is working? And if I were to stop, what sort of 'improvement' would I expect.

Thanks

Shell

[Fiver]

At 11w that is probably to be expected. Some people find the df works, others not so much so. The only way to really tell is to not give it and see what happens

[Me.and.my.two.boys]

My LO is a little older but I find that he wakes anywhere between 1-3 for his first night feed. If I do a DF it's usually closer to 3 so it pushes it out an hour or so but not enough for me to warrant doing it every night. I don't bother now. I used to do it with DS1 because he would STTN with the DF.

I agree with Amanda, the only way to see what will happen is miss it one night.

[ZacsMumme]

Glad to see this thread. T does this too. Only reason I do it is because I can do it before I go to bed rather than him wake me an hr later doesn't seem to make much diff to the next NF though

[Shellha]

ZacsMumme, this sounds just like us! The reason I posted is that when we went to the UK at Xmas iwas so jet lagged that I couldn't stay up, so I was asleep by 9 and she woke at 1 anyway, which incidentally was the longest she had ever gone without a feed. Like you though I feed before bed so that I am not woken 15 mins after going to sleep.

I am going to keep going with it though as I did it with both my boys and it worked well. I am hoping things might even out around 4 mths when we move to 4hrly feeds.

We also have reflux issues and I have never cluster fed as a result (she won't eat if not hungry), so I am wondering if she's a bit hungry during the night.

[ZacsMumme]

Shellha. Mines a refluxer too I do think they are a bit different with their feeding though really. I know mine wont take more than 120 mls or so at any one time and feeds better at night x