Should I be waking my 11 week old breast fed baby to feed during the night?

[sunshineoutdoors]

I'm hoping that I'm doing the right thing and should just enjoy having a baby that sleeps well!

DD is 11 weeks old tomorrow, she has recently been going to sleep at about 7 or 8 ish in the evening, I was waking her for a feed at about 10 or 11 before I went to bed. Then she'd wake at about 4 for a feed then again at 7.

I decided to try letting her sleep instead of waking her for the 10 o'clock feed, and let her wake up and tell me when she's hungry (as she was doing at 4 and 7). This seems to have worked well, in fact 2 nights ago she fed at 7.30 pm, went to sleep and didn't wake for a feed until 6am! Last night she was asleep after her feed by 8pm and then woke me at 3.30am, woke up again at about 7.30am.

She has been very sleepy today, napping a lot. She has fed about 4 times today since waking at 7.30am, but this seems less than normal to me. I am getting worried that by letting her sleep through she is not feeding regularly enough, or not getting enough milk from me and now that is making her drowsy.

Am I just fussing? Is it natural that as she is getting older she is feeding less often and sleeping more? If she is sleeping for longer periods during the night, should I be getting up and expressing to keep my milk supply up? I have been mostly ignoring the hurting breasts and trying to sleep through too, only hand expressing a tiny bit out into the bathroom sink to relieve some of the pressure if it gets bad. Should I go back to waking her for the 10pm feed?

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks

[BloodyGoreyHairyKnickers]

I have always been lead by my babies. If it were me, I'd not wake her for a feed, I'd feed her on demand as she knows when she's hungry :)

[beckieperk]

I second that...unless there's a medical reason to worry?! Make the most of it I say.....it may not last. Although it would be nice (for you) if it did!!

[beckieperk]

Ps can't give you any practical advice on milk supply etc as I am a ff mum , sorry. Sure someone will be along to help shortly. Good luck.

[ajandjjmum]

NO!!!!!
Lucky you - enjoy it while it lasts.

[hambo]

NO!!! Leave to sleep - babies wake when hungry! Get your sleep and enjoy!

[BertieBotts]

I think that sounds quite normal (though you are lucky ) Your breasts probably will hurt and get engorged whenever her feeding patterns change at the moment, so it's fine to manage it by hand expressing a little as you have been doing. Within a few weeks that will settle down too.

It's normal for her feeds to start spacing out as she gets bigger. Is she alert when she is awake? Is she having at least 6-7 wet/dirty nappies per day? If so she is probably fine. It's really unlikely she'd have got to the stage of sleeping more because of not getting enough milk, without you noticing some other signs first. And it would be pretty much constant, not just more.

Now enjoy it before the 4 month sleep regression hits

[banana87]

Leave her to sleep! She will start waking again at 16ish weeks so enjoy it while it lasts!

[Mimmee]

Yes leave her and enjoy!

You will feel uncomfortable at first but won't last, I used to wear a soft nursing bra in bed which helped and contained any leakage!

As long as she's gaining weight, wet nappies and there are no medical concerns then go with it, she will let you know when she's hungry!

DD dropped the last feed at about 10 weeks and started sleeping 7-6.

It didn't last long

[sunshineoutdoors]

Hooray! Thank you all for your posts.
As a first time Mum I am Increasingly finding that going with my instincts seems to be the right thing to do, it's only when I google things to 'check' that I start doubting myself and wondering if I should be doing differently. I am learning to trust my instinct, mumsnet and the views of other mums now!

I have heard about this 4 month sleep regression, so I think I will make the most of this sleeping thing. Bet you I have the night from hell now tonight!

I love finding mumsnet and that so many people are happy to help. I got lots of help during my pregnancy and now it's so good to get such swift responses here too.

[RitaMorgan]

How old was your baby then Temping?

[onepieceofcremeegg]

I was very very lucky with dd1 in that she started to sleep through the night from around 11-12 weeks. Prior to that she used to wake once around 3am for a quick feed. (she was exc bf).

otoh dd2 who we treated the same used to be up every hour or two and I was knackered.

I would say as long as your dd is feeding regularly in the day, every 3/4 hours ish on average, and gaining weight and otherwise thriving, you should just count your lucky stars (and keep quiet about it as other people think you are either smug or have some magic tricks )

[Jojay]

I'd leave her to it, as long as her weight gain is good. One of my twins sleeps like that - 11 hrs at night from 8 wks old, and she was only about 9 lbs then, bless her.

Shame the other one doesn't