cant do 3 HR EASY for 10 Wk oldbecause of Bf sch.

[Ireps]

Hi everyone,

my LO is 10 weeks old and still has the same feeding and sleeping patterns as he did when he was a week old.

I posted on the prop board that we are finally getting him to sleep without rocking and carrying him but the naps only last 40 minutes or so because he eats every two hours.

so for exampe, this morning he fed at 9am, we played for 30 minutes or so, then we started to wind him down by bouncing rocking him cuddling for 10 miuntes and then playing the sound machine for 10 minutes, he was asleep by 10 (BY HIMSELF yah! I showered!!)

 and up on the dot at 11 starving...

I'm at a loss on what to do, how to do it...

I'm not sure if I should post this here or on the EASY board? if i need to repost please let me know

thanks so much for your help and input and for having these boards!

[Ireps]

he wakes up hungry...I'm not sure how I would add time...I dont ever wake him and I often try to get him to sleep again but he wont have any of it..

[Ireps]

hmmm...i'm not sure i want to schedule feed though if he is crying and hungry...
have other moms done this?

[First Time Mom]

Yes, I did it when my lo was 6 weeks old. I just added 15 minutes here and there when I could and eventually I was at 2.5, then 3 hours. You do need to be flexible and listen to their needs, that's why EASY is considered a routine and not a "schedule". I remember we were on 3 hour in the morning and as the day went on the time between feeds shortened to 2.5 hrs. Add a cluster feed and a dream feed in the evening as these help as well. When bfing we have to remember it's not like ff, we can't "measure" our output and not everyone makes the same quantity of breast milk and not all los drink the same quantity (stomach sizes do vary!), that's why it is important to be flexible.

[Samuel's mum]

that's why it is important to be flexible.

I would definitely agree with this advice. The beauty of BW is that you devise a pattern based on your own LO and their needs and what they are telling you. And hopefully you can find a way to match this with what works for your family too. It is a routine not a schedule as first time mom says. Don't feel badly about your situation - it can change and a surprisingly large amount of bf mummies feed every 2 - 2.5 hours at the beginning.

I would caution you against stretching him too far as very hungry babies can feed less effectively (they are sometimes described as having a 'more chaotic latch') and in doing so can also take in additional air/gas/wind and become frustrated quickly. In a worst case scenario they can become so desperate that their ineffective latch prevents your breasts getting the proper stimulation they need to develop their supply. I think you could certainly experiment with adding some time as suggested by starting with 5 minute intervals and see what feels right. If you are trying to stretch him then consider what might fascinate him like music, new touch sensations etc. But take baby steps - even 2 minutes a day certainly adds up.

I would also agree with considering adding in a cluster feed in the evening and a dreamfeed. It's an unusual time to start them but it might help in your situation.

Your breasts are also used to producing the amount they do at the moment so you could also consider pumping at the end of feeds to try and develop your supply and ensure there's a little more for him there. You could also have a go with a little bit of EAEASY to try and get him to take larger quantities and have longer naps - then he might break out of the cycle himself.

It's also relevant as to whether you are single-sided feeding or double-sided. Which are you doing? Also how long is his actual feeding time - does he break off naturally himself?

[Ireps]

thanks so much for your responses...I have noticed that he will have about two feedings a day that have streched beyond the two hours. I have always done single side feeding...what I have noticed in the last three weeks though is that my little one only feeds for about 5 minutes  and will not take more no matter what I try, infact if I try to encourage him to eat more he gets very agitated.  (which is why i wonder if i will be able to cluster feed---he only seems to eat when he wants)

however he sems to be gaining weight steadily...doctor wasnt worried, he is 12llbs, 7oz and was 6lbs 18oz at birth.

so confusing.

any suggestions on cluster feeds?

thanks again

[Ireps]

and how can I feed him more amounts...I have tried to extend feeds but he starts to cry and fuss if i keep him at the breast after he has had his 5 minute snack.
my lactation consultant was no help in this regrad.

[First Time Mom]

It's possible that he's getting all he needs in that short time, especially if he's feeding frequently. If your doc's not worried and he's gaining weight well then I wouldn't worry too much. I always did the "wet diaper count" when my dd was younger, I always counted her wet diapers (6 per day) as I often worried if she was getting enough, it's hard when you can't see how much breast milk they take!

As for the single side feeds, I would encourage him to start feeding both sides as when he's older/bigger he will probably need both sides and this would increase your supply. If you single side feed and get to 3 hrs then your breasts are going 6 hours between feeds and this is rather long to go. If he won't currently take from both I would start pumping the other side until he does take both.

If you're feeding every 2 hours you kind of are cluster feeding. Once you go to 3 hours I would keep the cluster feed at 2 hours and add the df. If he has 2 feeds that stretch longer than 2 hours you are on a modified EASY with regards to feeds.

How many times does he feed? Perhaps post your routine because by the sounds of it, if 2 feeds are longer than 2 hours and the others are 2 hours I think you're doing fine (considering his age) but it would help to see your routine.

[rachelle]

My baby is 4.5 months and is just now in the last few weeks going 3 hours between feeds.  I absolutely think that if your baby is hungry, feed him!  It's hard at times yes.  I agree that you can maybe stretch it a little at a time, but I would work first on getting to 2.5 hours.  And maybe do it 5 minutes at a time, rather than 15.  Maybe also try a little wake to sleep for naps and see if you can get those naps extended a little bit??

[Ireps]

i'll try and post my routine tonight...
thank you again for taking the time out to help me.

[Ireps]

could you send me links on cluster feeding and dream feeding..i think I want to df tonight if possible. I dont get much when I pump but i have about 3oz.

[RachelC]

Here is the df info, from the FAQ section:
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=65750.0

As for cluster feeding, it would be feeding every 2 hours in the evening, which is what you are doing anyway.  So, as you extend the time between feeds, don't extend the evening ones.  So, when you get there it would be something like feeds at 7, 10, 1, 3:30, 5:30 top off at 7 and bed.  Df at 10

[Ireps]

thank you..I think I am going to try easy tomorrow, on a 2 hr, 2.5hr schedule and then i will post about my day and my schedule here. right now it is all over th eplace esp in the late afternoon evening....bedtime is also later for us because my dh doesnt get home till 8:30.

[Ireps]

so here is our schedule...schedule being used very loosely of course.

LO is usually up by 6:30 and will not feed upon getting up, I have no idea why so he will strech and play for a bit, then I feed him, we have some more playtime and i try and put him down by 8. He will sleep to about 9, eat for not more than 10 minutes, have a great play time and then back to bed until about 11:30...after that though he is all over the place. It is very hard getting him to sleep between 1-5. He usually will not sleep w/o me constantly rocking or holding him. so my afternoons are so unpredictable.
from 6-8 he will have a good long nap and then a long strech of sleep from 10 onwards to about 1. and then unfortunately he is up every hour and a half.

I have in the last few days tried ot strech feedings to 2.5 hours. it has worked sometimes...other times it has been frustrating for both LO and me.

I am trying so hard to implement EASY because I need the "Y" time.

[Anna & Baby Caleb's Mommy]

hang in there Ireps...I was you a short while ago...our 3 1/2 month old ds has had a newborn schedule until just this week...and i'm not ready to celebrate for fear that i will jinx our new nighttime sleep!!!  i have had a hard time conforming to the 3 hour easy...have felt inadequate ...our baby needs to eat every 2 1/2 hours...he's simply hungry...and when we give a bottle instead of bf he only eats 3 oz. max.  he is almost 4 mo. old...    my dh and i do not know what to make of that??? can only assume he's taking more from breast and we are just happy if he's eating during the day and not all night long (which he was until just this week).  it seems he has become a big boy almost overnight so don't fret...i know it's hard but any day now your lo will have a big developmental leap!