Up every hour in night

[Lottielb]

My four week old breastfed DD was previously going 3 or 4 hours between feeds at night. Over the last few nights she's been waking every hour to an hour and a half for feeds. Any tips how to encourage her to go longer between or is it a case of going with it until she's older? Ideally I'd like to avoid formula but I'm exhausted.

[Ven83]

She's so very young. They go through rapid growth spurts in the first couple of months and sleep is often all over the place. Night is also high time for milk production so their instinct this early on is to suckle as much as they can at night to stimulate milk. Sorry, I know it doesn't help right now. It will get better though. If she's gaining weight ok, just try to ride it out. We started co-sleeping and it was really the best decision for us, we all get so much more sleep that way. (Except right now I can't sleep )

[Bobbiepin]

The only thing you can do is help her learn the difference between day and night. During the day have the tv on, hoover, get natural light in and don't tiptoe around if she's napping. Night time should be dark, quiet, hushed voices and minimal contact (obv if she needs feeding/comforting/changing etc then do but less of the playing).

She is still very young, it'll come with time. Sleep whenever you can. If that means letting the housework slip to save your sanity then that's what you do. It won't be forever and sleep will help you keep your patience through the night.

[Lottielb]

I think I'm finding it more frustrating because she had been going longer blocks at night and then suddenly she's waking as often as she did at a few days old. I'll put a bit more focus on it being daytime and noisy and see if that helps. She tends to have her longest sleep at lunchtime (just a shame it's not at night!) so I'll try to sleep then.
Thank you.

[GrapesAreMyJam]

My DD was like this. Turns out it was a growth spurt just after 4 weeks which made her very restless

[TeddyIsaHe]

Don’t get frustrated because it’s likely her sleep will range from brilliant to diabolical all within the space of 3 weeks. It’s just how babies are unfortunately.

Best thing is to just let go and embrace t, which is shockingly hard at the 6th wake up of the night, but while they’re so little there isn’t a lot you can do.

[Lottielb]

Thanks, looks like I'll just have to go with it and ignore the visitors who keep commenting on how often she's being fed!

[TeddyIsaHe]

Yes ignore the bloody idiots!! Breastfed babies feed A LOT in the beginning and that’s totally normal. Tell them to do some research before they start commenting.

You sound like a wonderful mum, I’m sorry people aren’t more supportive of you!

[Lottielb]

Thank you Teddy. My daughter is gaining weight and feeding really well but just so often (especially throughout the night). I'll ignore others and just go with whatever DD wants for now.

[QueenAravisOfArchenland]

She's probably growth spurting and it will pass. There's really nothing you can do about the sleep of a baby that tiny anyway. They don't establish a diurnal rhythm until 12 weeks or so.

I'd consider cosleeping and also learn to feed lying down if you haven't already. That way you can basically doze while feeding.

[Lazypuppy]

How long does she feed for? It sounds like she's not filling herself up enough and so is waking up because she is hungry.

Also, are you sure she is really hungry? My 4 week old is suffering with colic so wakes up to burp then goes back to sleep. I leave her for 5mins to see if she will resettle herself, and most of the time she does.

Defi itely make sure room is dark and silent etc

[TeddyIsaHe]

Lazypuppy breastfed babies can stuff themselves full and still need another feed 5 minutes later. Breastfeeding isn’t just for nutrition, it’s comfort, closeness, calming, something fun, something to relieve pain and stress. A 4 week just wants mum, and mum has milk so it’s the absolute best thing.

Honestly there is no such thing as feeding too much at this stage, baby will still be getting your supply up, and they do this predominantly at night which is why she’s waking all the time. It will settle down in a couple of weeks. Just got to hang in there for the time being and repeat “this too shall pass”

[QueenAravisOfArchenland]

It sounds like she's not filling herself up enough and so is waking up because she is hungry.

No, it sounds like a perfectly normal breastfed newborn feeding pattern. It's a pain when they decide to sleep all day and eat all night, but that's how it goes and it passes before long.

[Lottielb]

She normally feeds for about twenty minutes but it can be less sometimes. She does have a longer feed before bed and this was when she was going longer initially. She still has the longer feed but wakes more often now.
I think she may be having a growth spurt and regardless it'll change over time I'm sure.

[Ratbagratty]

I was told a breast milk is easier to digest so they can fill and digest their milk a lot quicker which is why they tend to feed more frequently. My 5week old breastfed sometimes has almost hourly feeds during the night and other nights only 2 or 3

[Lazypuppy]

"Breastfeeding isn’t just for nutrition, it’s comfort, closeness, calming, something fun, something to relieve pain and stress. A 4 week just wants mum, and mum has milk so it’s the absolute best thing."

@TeddyIsaHe yes but at night as long as babt is full and calm, she doesn't need to stay attached to me. She can go in her moses basket and go to sleep. My 4 week old doesn't just want me, he also wants her dad (especially when he has a bottle).