Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

To not wind DD halfway through a feed?

42 replies

Lightsoutandawaywego · 03/10/2017 22:44

DD is 4 weeks old and I’m struggling a bit with feeding. She’s formula fed, and the advice is to wind halfway through a feed and at the end, but my problem is that when I stop feeding halfway through and rub her back to wind her she falls asleep and then won’t finish the rest of the feed (she goes into a really deep sleep and I can’t get her to take the rest of the bottle). This means that she wakes up hungry for another feed within 1-2 hours and we carry on like this all night (and it’s bloody exhausting). I’ve tried waiting until nearer the end of the feed to wind her but more often than not she vomits up alot of the milk she’s just had, which results in her being hungry again! I can’t think of a way to get around this. Does anyone have any ideas?

OP posts:

user1480334601 · 03/10/2017 22:53

Are you maybe giving her more than she needs right now? If she's bringing it up could be her tummy is full?

Original poster

Lightsoutandawaywego · 03/10/2017 22:58

No because sometimes she finishes a full 4-5oz, but most of the time if I wind her after 2oz she goes to sleep! She definitely needs more than that.

OP posts:

SeashellHoarder · 03/10/2017 22:58

How big are the bottles you're giving her?

What happens if you only wind her at the end of the feed? Is she sick then? Or fine?

dontcallmelen · 03/10/2017 23:00

Hi maybe try winding earlier into the feed, so she hasn’t been tired out from all the sucking, I used to wind them probably at least two/three times during feeding as it woke them up a little & they would then usually finish the bottle.

feeona123 · 03/10/2017 23:01

Never winded my two kids on boob or bottle....just leave her to finish x

ohfourfoxache · 03/10/2017 23:02

Could you try feeding her a very small amount, then wind, then a tiny bit more etc? So that you wind regularly so that it settles at the top of her tummy?

Or try infacol to try to make winding easier/quicker so she's less likely to fall asleep?

Or are you able to dream feed her?

Original poster

Lightsoutandawaywego · 03/10/2017 23:02

Seashell if I only wind her at the end about 50% of the time she’ll sick it back up so she’s hungry again an hour later. MW advised me to give 5oz.

Maybe I’ll try winding more throughout the feed to see if that wakes her up a bit.

OP posts:

catkind · 03/10/2017 23:07

I'm wondering if you could try a faster flowing teat so she'd have to work less hard for her milk and get less tired. Or just a different style might give her less gas?

Juicyfruitloop · 03/10/2017 23:20

I think at 4 weeks Babies usually feed that regular. Breast or bottle. Every 2 hours so after feeding winding changing, you would get an hour before the next alert. Well mine did. It will get easier and she will sleep longer in a few more weeks. Can you share the night feeds so you could skip until every 2nd feed?

SeashellHoarder · 04/10/2017 20:39

You need to keep up with the winding in that case.

I think you might have got into a pattern of her snacking, so lots of half meals rather than 5-6 bigger ones.

I would try to do half the feed, then wind gently, perhaps in a sitting position? Then change her nappy to wake her to try the second half of the bottle.

I have even been known to change a baby in the middle of a feed to wake her up a bit though.

NoCryLilSoftSoft · 04/10/2017 20:43

This means that she wakes up hungry for another feed within 1-2 hours

She is 4 weeks old! That's how often she is supposed to feed!

I’ve tried waiting until nearer the end of the feed to wind her but more often than not she vomits up alot of the milk she’s just had

Because she's had too much!

welshweasel · 04/10/2017 20:46

5oz seems a lot for 4 weeks. DS used to fall asleep during feeds so often had to strip him off and change his nappy half way through. I needed to wind at least twice during a feed to prevent massive pukes.

QuiteLikely5 · 04/10/2017 20:49

In my experience winding was essential. But my babies were screamers (some of em) and regular winding was worth it.

Regular as in after every two oz or so. I certainly never waited til the end of the feed.

Watch out for colic!

MarmaladeIsMyJam · 04/10/2017 20:53

My daughter fed every 2ish hours till she was about 6 months old. 5oz seems an awful lot for a 4 week old

NutellaCookie · 04/10/2017 20:59

I was just going to post the same advice as welsh. DD always fell asleep mid feed at thay age, so we would wind her then strip her and change her nappy to rouse her enough to feed again. We felt awful doing it!

Lozmatoz · 04/10/2017 21:06

She’ll stop drinking when she’s full. My ds was the pukiest kid ever, but was never a problem. I just had wet shoulders a lot. Let her drink, then since her. She’ll let you know if she needs winding part way through.

You’re her mum, do what you think is best!

TryingNotToScream · 04/10/2017 21:15

Our dd is now 8 weeks, and we had a similar issue. If you can, get some Infacol and give it before every feed. It helps get wind out, up or down! Also, if she is falling asleep on the bottle, have you thought about getting the next size teat? It wouldn't be so tiring for her to suck - the milk flows a bit faster.
The ages are recommendations, and every baby is different. But if you're trying the next teat size, start from the first feed of the day to give her time to get used to them. She may seem like she's choking at first as she gets used to them.
Good luck, there is nothing worse than sleep deprivation!

Subtlecheese · 04/10/2017 21:23

1-2 hours does sound about right at 4 weeks.

lizziejs · 04/10/2017 21:26

I think you’re looking for a solution to a problem that is just a fact of having a newborn. Don’t wind - throws up, wind - falls asleep.

I think the baby falling asleep is better than over feeding until it’s sick.

Newborns are hard work for this exact reason. It gets easier.

MumsOnCrack · 04/10/2017 21:26

1-2 hrs sounds like she’s doing it right. It’s tough going tho

paxillin · 04/10/2017 21:28

Mine had about 2oz expressed breast milk that age. Slowing down or dropping off means she's full. Every 2h is normal.

ticketytock1 · 04/10/2017 21:34

Mine would let me wind them half way through! They wanted the whole lot before a burp!
If you are struggling to get the wind up add a little gripe water into the bottle or give a few mls afterwards, or a few drops of infacol before the feed.
When you sit the baby upright to wind, gently raise their right arm up above so the hand is level with the head. It always worked a treat with mine, it was like releasing the burp valve lol! Good luck and congrats x

ticketytock1 · 04/10/2017 21:35

Oh and feed her as upright as possiblr, not lying down... you wouldn't eat lying down! They are just like us!

ticketytock1 · 04/10/2017 21:36

** wouldn't let not would

kaytee87 · 04/10/2017 21:41

5oz seems like a massive amount for a 4 week old baby.

My ds was having about 2-3oz expressed milk every 2 hours at that age. I know bm and formula aren't the same but babies stomachs are tiny.

Flip

1 2