2 week old feeding better during the day than at night

[bankholiday]

DS1 is 2 weeks old, he is breastfed and feeding very well, and his weight is going up steadily. He is a hungry baby and I feed him on demand ? one feed usually lasts for at least 40 minutes. During the day, he will usually go for 2.5 ? 3 hours between feeds, as he is eating a lot and falls asleep full. However at night I am often awake every 1.5 hours, as it seems he doesn?t take enough milk (falls asleep at the breast and wouldn?t feed in his sleep, or comes off the breast and wouldn?t latch back on). I am sure he doesn?t eat enough because he will wake up an hour later hungry.

Any idea why this change in feeding patterns between daytime and nightime? I am still coping, but can feel exhaustion settling in. I'm not expecting to have a routine, it's so early, and I pretty much go with the flow, but it would save my sanity if he slept for about 3 hours between feeds at night as well.

[shmoz]

My DS had a similar pattern to this during the 1st few weeks, and I would try to wake him back up during the night feeds so that he would take more but it was a bit of a losing battle TBH.

Are you able to nap during the day when he is asleep/when family are around to look after him? Even the odd 1/2 hr nap makes a difference when you are getting such little sleep.

If it's any consolation, this period doesn't last long (well it didn't for me anyway).

Congratulations!

[missorinoco]

Mine did this when they were wee, have you tried stripping him off to keep him awake? He is probably warm and cosy, drinks til he's not hungry then passes out.

As a phase it doesn't last long, but I appreciate when you are this tired even one more night is too long.

[Fantail]

Mine is a week old and does the same thing, so it was great to come across your post and see that other people's baby's are doing the same thing and it is one of those frustrating things that they eventually get over.

[bankholiday]

Thanks ladies, no idea where the question marks in my initial post came from.

It's good to see it's just a phase. I haven't tried stripping him off, thanks for the tip, I/DH are changing his nappy after he comes off a breast and before I offer him the other one. It sometimes works, he is awake after this as he hates having his nappy changed, but some other times he just falls asleep the minute I put him to the breast again. And of course it's sod's law, a few minutes after we put a clean nappy on he will poo