Should we let baby sleep through night?

[EgonSpengler]

Hi ladies,

I know this sounds crazy, but we have the opposite problem of a waking baby at night - she's a super sleeper and I don't know if we should let her. A bit of background:

She's just over 10lbs and is 9 weeks old, and is totally formula fed (born on 15th Sept at 7lbs 7oz). Due to bad info and support from MWs, she ended up in SCBU after being home for 7 days as she lost 20% of her body weight. Breast feeding was a struggle for her - she kept pulling off and screaming, consequently feeds took about 3 hours. The MW's just said I needed to 'try harder', which I was. The MW who saw us on Day 5 didn't weigh her as 'she looked fine'. Upshot was that we had to go back into hospital as she was suffering from dehydration.

We're back on track now and everything's going really well. At the moment that last feed of the day is at midnight and if I don't wake her at 4am (she's really hard to wake and only takes about 50 mls max), she'll quite happily sleep through 'til 7a.m. and have a really big feed. The question is, should I let her? Is she too little to go that long without a feed? Will she get dehydrated if I leave her for so long?

We've been waking her every four hours on the advice of the SC nurses, but this was when she was barely 2 weeks old.

I've spoken to our HVs about this, but they're as much use a chocolate teapot - no definitive answer as they're trying to cover themselves.


Ex

[Flumpetty]

I think you know more about your DD now than anyone, how wet her nappies are and how much / often she wants to feed. It's so different to day 1 when you have no idea what to expect.

I think you could let her sleep and then see how the day goes with feeding and wet nappies. If all seems OK then do the same again the next day etc. Maybe then get her weighed if you can after a few days to check on weight?

If you see anything that worries you then reintroduce the feed.

[Bumperlicious]

My dd2 has been sleeping about the same (if we are lucky) for about 2 or 3 wks & she is 8 weeks. She is bfed and 'tanks up' all evening. I wouldn't worry but maybe add an extra feed in the day, every 3 hrs rather than 4. Are you demand feeding?

[EgonSpengler]

Hi ladies,

Many thanks for the replies!

Flumpetty - you're right. We're so far away from the very early weeks now and I feel that I can pretty much predict her feeding etc...

Bumperlicious - that's good to know. Yes, we're demand feeding. Because she's bottle fed I can pretty much measure how much she should e having in a 24 hr period. If she's able to take the full amount without that 4a.m. feed, then I think we're going to be okay.

Right! Will see how it goes tonight and hopefully this will be the start of a new routine.

Thanks once again for the advice!

Ex

[LittlebearH]

If she is gaining weight and healthy now I would take the lead from your LO. Enjoy the sleep.

HV's should get off the damn fence.

Enjoy BF...from one who misses it! :)

[NapWhatNap]

I can understand why you're concerned given the history, but imo that sounds fine.

At 8 weeks our dd started going from 10pm til 5am, so 7 hours like your dd.

whispers It only lasted for two weeks though- so I say enjoy it while you can!

[NapWhatNap]

oops sorry about the random bold there!

[EgonSpengler]

Ah, thanks for that everyone! We've been doing it for a couple of nights now. First night she actually woke up of her own accord at 4a.m. - gah, typical!

Last night was much better as she had her last feed at 11pm and slept through 'til 7am. We'll keep doing that and hopefully it will become her routine (fingers crossed!). Her eating is great and there are lots of wet / poo-ey nappies, so we couldn't be happier (never thought I'd hear myself say about how happy I'd be to see a poo filled nappy...).

Ex