quick questions............

[A'smommy]

Hello!  I have a few questions:

I have my almost 3 month old on the easy routine.  The book advises to take out one of the cluster feeds (the 8:00 cluster feed) I can't seem to get Ava to adapt to this she wants to eat then.  She doesn't eat very long though.  (5 mins tops)

This is our typical schedule:  I am breastfeeding.

6:15am wake up time
6:15 - 6:45 activity
6:45-7:15 feed
Usually nap at either 8:30 or 9:00 till 10:00
10:00 feed
10:30 Activity
11:30 - 12:45 sleep
12:45 - 1:20 feed
1:30 Activity
2:45 - 4:00 sleep
4:00 feed
5:15 - 6:00 sleep
6:00 feed
7:00 bath
no nap
8:00 feed
no nap (usually a battle will eventually fall asleep @ 9:30)
10:00 or 10:30 DF (depending on when she falls asleep)

Any suggestions on how to get rid of the 8:00 feed.  Should I just keep adding 15 min to it each day so it will eventually go into the dreamfeed.  The problem I also have is that she will not nap or go to sleep until 9:30.  She'll take that nap at 5:15 till 6:00 that is when we are coming home from the babysitters though and the car knocks her out. 

She has been pretty good at night time.  Usually wakes up @ 4:30 to feed.  The night b/4 last she slept thru the night and last night she made noises around 4:00am but when I went in she was sleeping.  Is that normal?  She was crying but in her sleep. 

Any suggestions will be helpful and appreciated.  Thanks. 

[HeatherC]

HI.  The only thing I might try is that after she wakes at 6, go ahead and give her a bath rather than feeding her, then feed her around 7 (bringing the cluster feeds at 6 & 8 together in the middle), and then putting her to bed.  I think if she goes to bed a bit sooner she might not fight it so much.  Does she take a paci/soother?  Do you have a good wind down in place for bedtime-story under dim light, soft music, time with paci/soother?  I just think that if she's waking at 6:15, she might need a bedtime more close to 7-7:30.  It will be ok to put her to bed directly after the last feed, you just don't necessarily want her to fall asleep feeding so you'll want to feed then do some story or cuddle time quickly.

[A'smommy]

That I will try, it sounds like it just might work.  Again tonight feed her at 8:00 and she only ate for 5 min and now it was a chore just to get her to sleep.  Finally got her down at 9:30.  I know she is just overtired, it is just getting her to realize that. 

I will try what you suggested tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

How does all this affect my milk supply?  Maybe I should post this question in BF forum.  But I'll ask here now:  When I pump in at 10:00 I pump almost 8oz.  At my 3:45 pump I only get 4oz.  LO is eating 5 oz at both times I am pumping.  I am concerned about my milk supply not keeping up with her.  I am suppose I am alright though.  Nevermind.

[HeatherC]

Yes, please seek advice in the BF forum about your supply, but I do know that it is common for your supply to decrease during the day.  Is your lo drinking expressed bm from a bottle or nursing?