Daytime weaning awful, waking more at night

[Paulsmama]

Sorry don't know if this should be in bottlefeeding or breastfeeding.  I'd appreciate any suggestions you all might have, I feel like things are spiralling downward.

DS is 3.5 mos, about 14 lbs.  Since just before Xmas I have been trying to wean to bottles in the daytime since I am going back to work in a few weeks.  It is not going well at all.  When DS was 2 mos, he'd get an occasional bottle and take 4-5 oz. no problem.  Now it seems to be a struggle to get him to take 4 oz from a bottle, and he is waking more often at night.  We were feeding EBM in a bottle but over the holidays I had a horrible stomach virus for 5 days and supply dropped so he's been getting 2-4 oz of formula (mixed with the EBM) total a day for a couple of weeks now.  I may end up having to wean to formula because I expect it will be difficult for me to pump at work.  Night feeds used to be single side but now both sides, he has a terrible time latching on one (inverted nipple) and ends up very gassy (maybe this is contributing to the daytime feed problems?).  He also started having huge poops at his 3/4am feeding that blow out the diaper and I have to completely change him.

We used to do around 3-hr EASY eating at 4, 7, 10, 1, 4/5(top up) then waking to eat some time around midnight.  He is now doing something like this:

6/6:30 am wake
7 am E (4 oz)
7:30/8-9:30/10 S (always wakes at 50 min and have to put him back)
10:30 E (3-5 oz, sometimes takes 2 sessions over 45 mins for him to eat)
~11:30/12:00 S (wakes at 40-50 min and have to put him back)
2:00 E (3-5 oz, sometimes takes 2 sessions over 45 mins for him to eat)
3:30/4 S 30-45 mins
5:15 E (3-5 oz, sometimes takes 2 sessions over 45 mins for him to eat)
6/6:30 S
9/10 wake up with gas but eats one side (sometimes will sleep to 11:30)
12:30/1 E (both sides)
3:30/4:30 E (both sides) and HUGE POOP

[RachelC]

{{{{{{hugs}}}}}

How are you doing?

I'm bumping this up so others will see it.

[Paulsmama]

Thanks for the bump, we are doing -- BLEAH.
Our new nanny started today and Joseph is taking only about 1.5-2.5 oz per feeding so is eating twice each A period.  I don't know whether the only way to get him to take a bottle properly will be to give it to him at night too, so he doesn't hold out for the breast?

[Samuel's mum]

hmmmm. Sorry it's bleah. Give new nanny a chance - don't make any big decisions just yet.

I'm not sure whether the night feeds are contributing to gas as it takes varying amounts of time for gas to work through individual babies - however bottles usually contribute more to gas than breastfeeding as a rule.
I think if he's eating so well at night - i.e. quite large quantities -it might be his daytime feeds are affected by lack of hunger.  His poop in the middle of the night - is also a suggestion he is 'reverse cycling' and swapping day for night appetite.  I would maybe consider seeing if you can only get him to take one side and work on trying to reduce the amount he takes at night. Try and settle him using other methods and feed the minimum he'll let you get away with. Once the night feeds have decreased you should find a natural increase in what he takes in the day. What kind of bottle are you using? Or teat? I know it's usually said a baby mixed feeding should use the slowest teat possible but would it help in your situation if you move to a faster flow. I'm getting onto to bottle-feeding terrority here. That might be the place to go next as people will have had your experience - perhaps check out the mixed feeding thread.

Baby's appetites vary - he may hit a four month growth spurt soon and quantities will increase.

I think it depends on what you want for the future. Do you really feel you might need to move to formula? What are your arrangments at work? Do you have a particular goal for your breastfeeding?

[Paulsmama]

Thanks so very very much for the reply.  The new nanny is helping quite a bit -- she also suggested a faster nipple since I have a fast letdown, and she suggested using latex as it is softer than silicone.  Today Joseph took more than 5 oz for the first time ever (he did spit up a little, though, which he almost never does).  She also suggested cutting him off at night so I will just offer one side and cutting him off at about 15 mins -- I usually let down 3 times on that side during that time, so hopefully it's enough.  We'll see if that helps.

I don't know about continuing bfing.  A month ago I would have really, really wanted to keep bfing at least at night and the morning.  The past few weeks have been so awful I don't know anymore.  Especially the 4 am poopfest.  I don't think I'll make a decision for a few more days until I am not so worked up and hopefully am a bit more rested at night.

I am amazed at how you all manage to do this, it seems so hard!