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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Baby not sleeping - I think due to hunger

42 replies

thefruitwhisperer · 27/12/2010 20:59

My one month old just will not sleep for any longer than 5 mins between the hours of 6pm through to 3am. He cries constantly if he is not on the boob at this time, and I am afraid to feed through because I wont have enough for his next feed (we've been giving him a bottle at 3am just so my boobs can recover for him at 6am when he feeds again)

Should I go all the way through till the 6am feed - as I think he would go that long? Is this a normal amount of cluster feeding or is he extra hungry? Im really worried that hes not sleeping because of hunger and I just cant catch up with him.

His poo's (very yellow and wet) are every two days but we get about 4-6 wee's a day.

OP posts:

Showdown · 27/12/2010 21:05

If you think he's hungry try another bottle before going down at 6pm - see how long that takes him through the night? At least you will know if it's hunger then.

IAmReallyFabNow · 27/12/2010 21:06

Breast feeding works on demand and supply. If he demands it then I think your breasts can supply.

Original poster

thefruitwhisperer · 27/12/2010 21:07

Im afraid to give him an extra bottle in case it starts affecting my supply and I find myself in catch 22.

Sometimes he'll go down for more than 5 mins. 10 - 15 mins (Ive managed to type with 2 hands for once!)

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CommanderDrool · 27/12/2010 21:08

He is cluster feeding to stimulate your milk supply. If you allow him to do this, you will make more milk and will have loads in a few days.

These early days are difficult, your supply fluctuates and they sometimes want to feed all the time.

Night feeds are brilliant though because that is when your hormone levels see highest helpk g stimulate more milk.

If it was me, I would give the 3am bottle a miss and concentrate on building my supply but obviously it's up to you. Good luck.

CommanderDrool · 27/12/2010 21:10

Sorry 'hormone levels highest helping stimulate more milk"

Phone

highlighterpen · 27/12/2010 21:10

Hi fruitwhisperer. Sorry your DS isn't sleeping well.

If you want to increase your milk supply the last thing you want to do is give him bottles. Don't be afraid to feed through - your boobs are like a river - the milk can be produced while the baby is feeding so you do not 'run out' of milk during a feed. They may feel fuller if it's been a while since a feed but they will also produce milk as the feed goes on.

The baby cluster feeding like this will increase your supply so that you produce enough milk for him. You don't need to 'save up' your milk for the 6am feed - giving a bottle instead of feeding him yourself will reduce not increase your supply.

Could you cosleep so that he can 'snack' through the night without you having to get up? I know cluster feeding like this can be exhausting; once he has upped your supply a bit the feeding will probably really calm down.

AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 27/12/2010 21:12

It sounds like classic cluster feeding to me. What you need to do is just keep feeding.

Your breasts / milk don't need to 'recover' - your supply will adjust to exactly match what he needs. You never run out of milk - it's more like water in a river that keeps flowing than like an on/off tap.

Babies often want to feed even if they don't want lots of milk. They want to be close to you and comforted, as well as having milk, and bf satisfies all those.

I'd take him to bed with you, and let him feed for as long as he wants. You could try one night and see how long he feeds for. If you're lying down you may be surprised how easy it is to doze your way through the feeds.

The good news is that 6-8 weeks is the most unsettled time for many babies, so it may well start to improve from here.

Kellymom has some advice.

Original poster

thefruitwhisperer · 27/12/2010 21:13

I do find I have to express more off in the morning to get him to latch, so perhaps it is increasing the supply.

How long does it normally take to see a turn around - I hate feeling like Im leaving him both hungry and sleep deprived

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AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 27/12/2010 21:13

x-posted with everyone else. :)

highlighterpen · 27/12/2010 21:14

Sorry, loads of crossed posts! You've had good advice here and your instincts are right about not wanting to give bottles. Your supply will increase to meet his demand! Just trust your body to know what it's doing.

Lots of wet nappies sounds like he is getting plenty at the moment and would like a bit more. It will really only take a few days to increase your supply and for things to settle down again.

best of luck!

Original poster

thefruitwhisperer · 27/12/2010 21:15

Im also afraid to take him to bed with me as Im a bit of a fatty, as is DP [sad}

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highlighterpen · 27/12/2010 21:19

Have you got a spare bed? could you sleep separately with the baby for a while? I am also portly but managed to co-sleep (though not always entirely comfortably for me - baby was fine though).

CommanderDrool · 27/12/2010 21:25

Keep going, you are doing brilliantly. If you don't want to co-sleep, and you can catch up during the day, just go with it. Read book, keep things quiet and relaxed, let him feed and doze.

Yes it is exhausting but that's just 'the way it is in the early days.

From 6-8 weeks he will settle down and then you may be able to start putting him in his cot at 7-8pm. He will wake again but if you keep feeding back to sleep, keeping everything dark quiet and calm, very gradually you will get your evenings back.

You are doing really well. Drop the bottle and trust your body.

Original poster

thefruitwhisperer · 27/12/2010 21:26

We have only the double or a sofa. I guess if I go through a couple of nights then it will improve.

I wish the midwives/literature prepared you better for this, its made me feel such a failure.

OP posts:

highlighterpen · 27/12/2010 21:36

Oh fruit, you are not a failure, you are doing brilliantly.

Could you ask DH to sleep on the sofa for a couple of nights so you and DS can concentrate on feeding for a bit to get your supply up?

Does he have a dummy? They can interfere with breastfeeding, but one of my twins was a bit colicky and less settled at night - sucking on me (or his dummy) really helped. We had to resort to the dummy but we still managed to fully breastfeed. Maybe in a couple of weeks you could try that, if he is still unsettled at night.

Also, I agree with Commander Drool - catch up on sleep whenever you can.

It is exhausting and it seems like there is no way through it and then suddenly kaboom! You've cracked the feeding, you're all getting more sleep and things are looking up. We've all been in the 'can't do this' phase and know how you feel. You'll get through it and sooner than you think.

Look after yourself. Keep posting. You're doing really well.

peppapighastakenovermylife · 27/12/2010 21:38

You are certainly not a failure - or unusual to struggle with hoe demanding it can be. Only 48% of mums are still giving any breast milk at all by 6 weeks so well done!

A few things - feeding him on the sofa. Catch 22 really- if you are so tired you risk falling asleep here I would seriously consider co sleeping as it is likely safer.

The frequency of his dirty nappies - were they more frequent in the early days? Breast fed babies often poo quite frequently in the early days which can then slow down. It could just be that but once every two days seems on the less frequent side to me. Are those 4 - 6 nappies properly wet? What is his fontanelle like? Does his skin look springy?

Advice to drop bottle very good idea, especially at night . What is he like in the day?

This really will pass - good mumsnet mantra!

Original poster

thefruitwhisperer · 27/12/2010 21:54

He has dry skin but so do I, Ive got extreme excema which is why Im so keen to BF. Its responded well to oil so Im not worried, and he is springy. Nappies are generally very wet, you can feel them puffed up through his clothes! Poo's were more frequent in the early days, yes.

Hes very aggravated at the breast sometimes at night and cries/pulls off (which i took to be tiredness) but during the day hes a dream. Feeds 3 hourly for 30 mins and sleeps inbetween.

He wont take a dummy either, hes sussed that no milk come out!

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MumNWLondon · 27/12/2010 21:56

I think you just have to go with it and feed him for as long as possible, don't think about not having enough for the next feed. There is always some milk there.

As its supply and demand need to cut back on bottles and breastfeed as much as possible, trying to grab some sleep whenever possible. Make sure you are drinking enough etc.

How often are the feeds in the day? Make sure he is not going too long in the day without a feed (I would wake to feed every three hours (from start of feed to next).

AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 27/12/2010 22:02

I'd try to expose him to as much daylight as you can to help him get his days & nights the right way round in case that's a contributing factor. (Day/night organisation usually is sorted around 6/8 weeks IIRC).

Outdoor daylight is best, but feeding / sleeping next to a window is the next best thing.

peppapighastakenovermylife · 27/12/2010 22:05

Sounds like he has day / night mixed up or just likes to feed this way. Knowing babies he will be different next week

When he cries and pulls off does milk spurt out? Just wondering if he is wanting comfort and getting annoyed!

3 hours is normal but on the longer side for a newborn. You could try more frequent feeds in the day but I would be loathe to mess with his natural demand.

Original poster

thefruitwhisperer · 27/12/2010 22:09

Yes, theres always milk in his mouth. It doesnt spurt out, but you can see it on his lips, sometimes a small trickle if hes fallen asleep on there and lost the latch.

How long does supply take to respond to babys habit? If I go through the night this week, could it possibly be better by next week?

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Original poster

thefruitwhisperer · 27/12/2010 22:12

Would pumping help in anyway? So that I could work up to having enough to cover the bottle we've been giving him?

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CommanderDrool · 27/12/2010 22:16

Just relax. He is feeding well. If you feed through the night you will certainly have more milk in a few days and may find that he will then take more during a feed and be satisfied for longer.

peppapighastakenovermylife · 27/12/2010 22:18

What do you mean go through the night? Feed him all night?

Usually takes a few days for a growth spurt...there is a huge one around 4 - 6 weeks ish which can be very hard. Quite possibly he is having this. Typically they go back to 'normal' in a few days to a week ish but there isn't really a normal at this stage as can change quite quickly again.

Pumping...it would stimulate your supply when formula obviously wouldnt. The problem would be that ideally you would need to pump at 3am to replace the feed if he is to have a bottle then. Alternatively you could try an expressed bottle at say 9pm and you go to bed early? However the night feeds are really important at this stage for milk supply. Perhaps you could pump and DP could get up early with him - say 6 am and give that feed instead?

This really will pass. For mine at least (3 DC's) they had this big growth spurt around now and then went back to 2 - 3 hourly quick feeds at night til the next spurt at least!

Original poster

thefruitwhisperer · 27/12/2010 22:23

Yes Peppa, feed him all night - Im so sure he would take it, he never seems satisfied and has stayed up until 6am before now.

Even normally he cluster feeds for 3-4 hours which I would love to have back now! DP is so wonderful and stays up with me where he can but as he sees me so tired he is keen to give him a formula bottle so I can rest.

Thankyou for all your support. I wish Id read some of this in the purple NHS booklet instead of endless pages/dvds on latching. Its the bit after latching thats caused me the most problems!

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