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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Formula feeding

11 replies

gluttom · 22/03/2012 06:47

Dd 23 weeks is unweaned apart from a bit of cucumber, tomato, suck of melon (aiming for blw). Sh went to bed at 730 after a feed and then woke and fed last night at 1208, 230, 430. She has been this way for a week. Surely she doesn't need all this milk. She really feeds and gulps and her nappy is soaked in the morning she is big - 75th centile. I am shattered and was going to give he a bottle tonight but say if I give it on first wake up at 12 ish and she still wakes up another 2 times I can't give her another 2 bottles of formula as surely that is too much so why is she bfing so much. I suppose I could try to rock her but she keep trying to suck my arm. I need a decent block of sleep as I can feel myself getting out of control - I have a 2 and 4 year old and am shouting and losing patience a lot.

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 22/03/2012 07:07

The milk is pretty much her only source of food. Can you feed her more in the day maybe?

Original poster

gluttom · 22/03/2012 07:32

She feeds all day. Stuff in the purée I suppose!

OP posts:

Original poster

gluttom · 22/03/2012 07:36

I am such a failure with her, she is still swaddled and rocked to slee , she has 3 30 mins naps a day - I can't get her to sleep longer. I have no time or desire to let her scream. Rod for own back I suppose I'll just have to suck up the consequences!

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 22/03/2012 08:25

Oh, you're not a failure. My third was a bloody nightmare too.

Iggly · 22/03/2012 08:29

It's a growth spurt by the sounds of it.

The purée won't fill her like milk does - milk has way more calories than rice, fruit and veg. You won't realistically replace milk feeds until her solids equal the calories she needs which she gets from milk. So don't stuff her with purée as she'll get hungry later.

It will pass. You haven't failed FFS!

DoubleGlazing · 22/03/2012 08:33

Agree it sounds like a growth spurt. Give her milk when she wishes. The feeding pattern will probably change again in another week or so.

SuperSlattern · 22/03/2012 08:34

Gluttom - I feel your pain.

If it helps my 30 week old DD is still swaddled as its the only way I can get her to sleep. Although we still had 4 wake ups last night.

The only difference is I can't get her to eat/drink more in the day. I have tried purée and blw, none of which she is interested in.

I'll be watching using matchsticks with interest

aGog1 · 22/03/2012 11:30

No way are you a failure, you can't control your baby's desire for sleep - or not sleep, as the case may be! Good for you not letting her scream, you're right, it's a waste of time and you end up both being miserable. If she likes to rock to sleep, can you use a sling during the day and carry her round while you do the housework/look after the others? She can feed in it too while you do your jobs.

Agree with the others, breastmilk will fill her up better than anything else, you're saying breastmilk is still her main food and that's exactly what research shows should be the case - up to 12 months, solids are just something for them to play around and experiment with, not a main food source. If you tried purée you'd probably end up with another battleground, at least with blw you can leave her to it.

Re nighttime feeding, it does sound like a growth spurt, which babies have around 9/10 months- there's another recent thread on here about someone with a very similar problem, so you're certainly not alone or a failure in that regard either. The good thing about a growth spurt is that it'll pass, but in the meantime, how do you feel about feeding while lying down or co-sleeping? Or are there any times the others are at playgroup when you could graba daytime catnap with the baby?

I'd say you and your baby are doing everything right, and she's obviously thriving, I hope that and the knowledge it'll pass help you to hang on in there. If it's making you feel demoralised about bf is there a group you can get to for some moral support?

aGog1 · 22/03/2012 11:35

Another idea to help you get sleep in the short term - do you have a partner who could share/ take over the night feeds with expressed breastmilk, perhaps in a cup?

candr · 22/03/2012 21:07

My DS is 6m an the same as yours except he has 3 meals a day and bf. He needs rocking to sleep unless we are out and about. He sleeps at 8.30, wakes at 9 to be rocked back to sleep or I end up bf, he will then sleep to 11 or 12 when I feed him then wakes 3,4,5 and ends up in bed with us at 6. I am trying to rock him back to sleep without feeding for the 3,4am wakings but am so tired I sometimes give in without realising. I feel fr you as it is exhausting. Decided to try a formula bottle at bedtime to boost my supply for midnight but he refuses it.
On speaking to lots of other mums with baby the same age most sleep better than him but no one seems to have an answer so nice to know I am not the only one but shame for you.
HV today said to give more protein in dinner as it sits in tummy longer making them feel full so trying that tonight. Hope you have some luck and get some kip.

5madthings · 22/03/2012 21:16

my dd is 15mths and still swaddled to go to sleep!

i would just try and do what makes life easiest for you, so try a sling, co-sleep maybe, it always worked for us, not for everyone tho.

and given the ages of your kids you would be entitled to a home start volunteer, they will help out with the kids etc, just a couple of hours a week but you could have a bath a doze etc, whatever would help you feel rested :)

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