frequent night feeding - help!

[marie1978]

am new to all this, but could do with some help so here goes...

After a difficult start breastfeeding (awful delivery, then Madeleine didn't gain weight so we were told to top up with formula) we had got back to exclusive breast feeding and settled into a pattern of feeding every 3 hours or so during the day and every 4-5 hours at night, which was great. The last three days she's been just the same in the day time, but is feeding every 2 hours at night - so I am exhausted (especially as she always takes an hour or so to feed!).

anyone know why? could it be a growth spurt even though she hasn't changed during the day? (she's nine weeks old now) is it just the hot weather making her thirsty? and, most important, will she go back to letting me get some sleep some time soon?!!

[Olihan]

Could be any of those things you suggest . Babies have a very frustrating habit of settling into one pattern, then, just as you think you've got it sussed, they change it again. I think they like to keep us on our toes .

Honestly, it could be all sorts of things and this pattern will have changed too, before long. Can you feed lying down? I found it made the night feeds much easier. It helps if baby isn't wearing too many layers so if you both fall asleep you don't have to worry about her overheating.

[Manictigger]

Marie - my 11 month old normally wakes up once or twice a night to feed but on Sat night she woke me approx every hour and a half and I'm convinced it was because she was thirsty (Sun was the hottest day of the year) She only gets water with her solid meals because I want to keep her intake of milk high for the first year. I think it's easy to forget that bfing babies (especially under 6 months) feed when they're thirsty not just hungry.

But then again, maybe it is just a growth spurt? The only certainty is that it will change again, probably for the better.

Good luck, one day all this will be a distant memory.

[Philomytha]

I've had times when my son did that at night, but it's generally only been for a day or two, and then he settled back into a more normal pattern. You could try offering extra feeds just before bedtime, to help tank her up for the night. And yes, as some others have said, bfing lying down and/or co-sleeping could be complete lifesavers for your tiredness levels. Somehow not having to get out of bed makes a huge difference to me the following morning, even if I was awake whilst he was bfing.