Feeding 3hrs at 5 wks?

[Zorro]

My DS is 5 weeks tomorrow and is still feeding every 3hrs, even at night. Should he have dropped a feed by now?

He is bottlefed and only has about 80mls each feed. I realise I need to increase that but trying to increase it just stresses him out.
He feeds every 3hrs from 7am, up for about an hour then generally I have to wake him 2hrs later for food. Last feed is a dreamfed at 10pm but then he is still up at 1am and 4am. Have I programmed his body clock to wake up for food every 3hrs?

Angela.

[*Mona*]

hi Angela.

well, at 5 weeks he's still a tiny baby and it's not that unusual I think that he's feeding twice at night. you could try dropping one night feed thou in order to up his daily milk intake. TBH I don't know if 80ml a feed is a lot or not as my dd was breastfed your Ds age, but if you feel he should be having more, I guess that's one thing that should help a bit. have you tried moving DF up some 30 minutes to see if it helps him sleep a longer stretch afterwards?

if you say he's feeding for an hour, have you also tried changing bottle teat to a bigger size? an hour feed is a bit long don't you think? and is it his only activity? how long are his naps? could you post your daily routine for us with more detail?

thanks
Monika

[Zorro]

Hi Monika,

He is up for about an hour but only about 1/2 hour feeding. Rest is A time. He naps for atleast 2hrs 'cause then I need to wake him up (during the day) to feed to keep to the 3hr EASY.

Generally his routine is..

7am     E
7.30am A
8am     S
Wake him to feed at 10am, 1pm, 4pm etc

Last feed at night is at 7pm and he is usually in bed straight after at 7.30pm, then dreamfeed at 10pm. Then he usually wakes around 1am and 4am.

He always needs pat/shh to go to sleep except after his 7pm and dreamfeed.

His most unsettled time is after 4am feed, with me not getting much sleep between then and 7am.

Early childhood nurse wants me to push him for 4 hrs at night and if he is asleep, let him go till 4hrs during the day. Of course this contradicts the BW and the BW worked perfectly for my first born so its very hard for me to change!

[*Natasha*]

Could you try cluster feed in the evening to get some calories into him.
E: 7.00 wake up and feed
A: 7.30 or 7.45 (depending on how long feed takes)
S: 8.30 (1.5hr nap)
Y: your choice
E: 10.00
A: 10.30 or 10.45
S: 11.30 (1.5hr nap)
Y: your choice
E: 1.00
A: 1.30 or 1.45
S: 2.30 (1.5hr nap)
Y: your choice
E: 4.00 feed
S: 5.00 or 6.00 or somewhere in between – catnap (approx. 40mins) to get baby through the next feed and bath
E: 7.00 (cluster feed at 7 and 9 if going through a growth spurt)
A: bath
S: 7.30 bedtime
Y: the evening is yours
E: 10 or 11pm dreamfeed

[* Paula *]

I agree with Natasha, clusterfeeding may be a way to go to try and get a few extra calories into your lo.

5 weeks is still very young, and it is not uncommon to have night wakings.

Does your DS take a pacci at all?  This might help for the unsettled times during the night.

[Zorro]

Thanks for your help.

He does have a pacci that we use when he is distressed and tried to give that instead the last two nights but he is definately hungry and has a feed. I will do the cluster feeding next week (the nurse wants me to stick with the 4hr thing so I will keep on with that until I see her on Mon).

I don't mind feeding him if he still needs just concerned he was getting into a habit and saving his calorie intake still on a 24hr clock and not the daytime.

When would you consider it a "habit" instead of just being a little baby who needs to feed regularly?

Ange.

[* Paula *]

At this age I would not consider it as habit.  It would be more when his 4, 5 or 6 months old. 

You will know when it is a habit cause he would be waking at exactly the same time every night.  At this age he still needs his milk feeds during the night.

[Zorro]

Thanks for the reassurance.

Unfortunately (for me!) his sister was an Angel baby who slept till 4.30am at 5 weeks. Not that I am trying to compare, just that that was the "norm" for me.

The nurse is just concerned for me with depression but I really am OK if I atleast get a few hours sleep together!

[*Natasha*]

It will get easier it is still early days

[* Paula *]

Hugs, 

Things will get better.

[Zorro]

Just wanted to share that after cluster feeding at 6pm and 8pm and DF at 10pm he went till 2am.  He did wake at 4.30am but I just rewrapped and thought I would be up then with him but next time he woke was 6am!

Guess what I'll be telling the nurse on Monday! I know it could be a one off but now I know he can do it at least!!

Ange.

[*Natasha*]

Great news well done

[* Paula *]

That is fantastic news.

Keep us posted on how tonight goes.