8.5 month old waking up 3:30am - 5:00am range

[VnessMorris]

Hello ladies,

We have been quite successful with EASY with our DD since she was 4 months.

However, Just recently,she has had NWs in the 3:30-5am range (for about 2 weeks now). She usually starts with a loud cry that eventually turns into a mantra cry. We usually give her several minutes to try and settle herself back to sleep; this worked in the past but not anymore

Her eyes are closed while she cries but she eventually sits up. My husband thinks she may be hungry and gives her a bottle (she usually downs 5-6oz, a full feed). Just this morning at 4am, I went in to her nursery to try and soothe her with my voice. It didn't work. However, she stopped crying when I picked her up. My husband fed her with formula (5oz). She always settles back to sleep right after the bottle and diaper change.

Not sure if the bottle is slowly turning into a prop? Is she waking at 4am because she now wants the bottle? I'm hoping that maybe there's something we can do with her EASY routine before we try the dreaded PU/PD?!

Also of note, we just recently increased her activity to approx 3:30

Here's a sample of her EASY routine from yesterday:
7am - BM
8am - solids
9;45a - nap for 1:15 (A was only 2:45 as she was uber cranky)
11:15 a-BM
12:30p - solids (BM top up @1pm)
2:50p nap for 1:25 (A of 3:40)
4:15p - BM
5:45p - solids
7:50 - Formula and BT (A of 3:35)
NW at 3:30am

Anything we can tweak?.
I appreciate any help we can get!!

V.

[VnessMorris]

Sorry, correction: my husband has been giving her diluted 50% formula that totals 5-6oz during these NWs.

Thanks!

[jessmum46]

I'm guessing that wasn't an entirely typical day for you, could you post a more 'normal' day if there is one?

Is she teething at all?

How much milk does she have in total in the day not including the night bottle? Just wondering if it genuinely could be hunger given she settles so well after a feed?

[VnessMorris]

Hi jessmum46!

Thank you for the reply!

Today, DD only woke up once at 5am. She took 3oz of the diluted formula but she settled right back down to sleep after her diaper change.

I'm guessing that wasn't an entirely typical day for you, could you post a more 'normal' day if there is one?

Here are her routines for the past few days:

Sunday:
12am - NW, 6oz diluted & diaper change

A - 6am solo play in crib for 15 mins and back to sleep
E - 7am BM
E - 8am solids
A - 2:40 (due to 6am solo play?)
S - 1:25
E - 11:07a BM
E - 12:50p solids and BM top up
A - 2:30
S - 1:40
E - 4pm BM
E - 5pm solids
A -4:05 (we had visitors over)
BT - only 2oz of formula before asleep at 7:20pm (not her usual 4-6oz)

Saturday
5am - NW, 4oz diluted formula, diaper

E - 7am BM
E - 8am solids & BM top up
A - 3:10
S - 1:15
E - 11:30am BM
E - 12:30pm solids
A - 4:00(!!)
S - 1:20
E - 4:50pm BM
E - 5:45pm solids and BM top up
A - 3:38
BT - 8:30pm 2-3oz of formula

Friday
NW 11:20pm BM only
NW 2am 5oz diluted & diaper change

WU - 6:40am
E - 6:50am BM
E - 7:50am solids
A - 2:55
S - 1:25
E - 11am BM
E - 12 noon solids and BM top up
A - 2:40
S - 20 mins (in car seat)
E - 4pm and 5pm (tried to use boob to get her CN but she was against it)
E - 5:45p solids
A -5:25 (!!)
BT - 7:25pm with formula

Thursday
NW 4am, diluted 6oz formula and diaper change

E - 7am BM
E - 8:15am solids & BM top up
A - 3:10
S - 1:25
E - 11:40am BM
E - 12:55pm solids
A - 2:30
S - stroller nap 30 mins
E - 3:40pm BM
E - 5:30pm solids
A - ~4:00
BT - 7:30pm BM

Is she teething at all?

Yes she is teething. She had no trouble sleeping through the night during the last 3 teething sessions so my husband and I sorta ruled it out this time...

How much milk does she have in total in the day not including the night bottle? Just wondering if it genuinely could be hunger given she settles so well after a feed?

She drains both breasts after waking up from night sleep/naps. The last time I did a yield test, both breast yielded a total of 5-6oz. That was awhile ago so I'm not sure how much BM she is taking in on a daily basis.  If she does not finish her solids I top her up with BM.  She usually does not take in much after a solid meal.

Other factors: Wonder Week Leap 6; she's now cruising; she just started to pull herself up to standing

My husband also gets up at 5am for work....not sure if this is a factor too?

Thank you for your help!
V.

[jessmum46]

Noise/disturbance at 5am may be a factor.  I guess what I notice is that you swing from some very short A times, especially first thing to some super-long ones.  A combination of OT from long last A and UT from short first A may be contributing to the early mornings.  If she has bad naps I would try an early bedtime and work towards getting a consistent first A of a good 3h and possibly more

[VnessMorris]

Hey jessmum46,

Well, just as you first thought, it looks like a caloric deficit was causing these "NW" between 3:30-5am. I did another yield test and sure enough I pumped nowhere near the 6-8oz DD needed per feeding As a result, we are supplementing with formula and watching how much she eats in solids per meal. I'm also cutting down on "snacking" so she can eat a full solid meal at lunch and dinner. I tried this for a week (hence my absence on the forum) and so far, she has STTN 4x . If she does wake up between 3:30-5am, she just mantra cries for a couple of minutes before settling back to sleep.

I just feel so guilty about not getting her enough breastmilk

Thanks again,
V.

[jessmum46]

Oh hun, I didn't mean to make you feel guilty Please don't, we all beat ourselves up about almost every aspect of our parenting and what we need to be doing is saying "we are all doing a great job in the best way we know how"   I'm glad she has been more settled at night but please don't think you've starved or deprived her in any way. 

FWIW the yield test isn't really thought any more to be an accurate measure of how much you are producing as babies are so much more efficient than pumps.  If you want to keep on breastfeeding rather than supplementing the best way to up your supply is offer often   So maybe a top-up after solids or 30 mins after the main feed?  You can also check out the FAQs on the breastfeeding board where there is one on low supply with some great ideas xx

[VnessMorris]

For me, it's  sad that she no longer needs as much feeding from me; it's a sign that she's growing up and I know I am selfish in wanting to keep her "my baby". I wish I could increase my supply and continue to breastfeed but I go back to work in less than 3 months. I just wasn't ready to wean her like this so suddenly and quickly .
So long as she is a happy and healthy little girl that's all that matters!
Thanks again for your help.

[jessmum46]

(((Hugs))) I've felt very sad weaning both of mine even though it was the right decision for us at the time xx