Mammoth 16 week old is sucking me dry!

[Flowerface]

DS is 16 weeks and is on the 99th centile. He is in 6-9 month old clothes. He is huge, basically.

He is EBF and I am wondering how much longer I can keep up... I am not getting much sleep as he is feeding every 3 hours and then cluster feeding in the morning from about 4am until DD wakes up at 6. Zzzzzzz.... On the other hand, I do seem to have plenty of milk. So what to do? Lots of people are saying I should try a bottle of formula, but I am reluctant to do this (perhaps irrationally). Should I do it? Or should I just hold on for a bit and wait til he can start solids?

It doesn't really matter how big a baby is, some just feed more then others. Most mums are perfectly able to feed twins so one big baby is not a problem.

He's also hit a classic age for a growth spurt and four months trends to be a big one. A lot of mums mistake this for a needed for solids, its not all he needs is more milk. You will catch up. Remember breastmilk is really easily digested and babies are growing at a huge rate so need feeding a lot.

16 weeks is often a really turning point, whatever size the baby! This is why so many people start to introduce formula feeds, or wean early. Neither of these things is likely to make him any less hungry! A massive developmental leap takes place around 16 weeks (physically and mentally) and babies need extra nourishment and comfort from the breast/bottle to get them through.

This is NORMAL. The 'leap' in development can cause what's called sleep regression (search this forum for 4 month sleep regression and you'll find LOOOADS) which may account for extra wakings overnight.

It's best to try to adapt your own behaviour than try to change your baby's, so do what you can to get rest. Do you cosleep? It can be a lifesaver. If not, and it's not your bag, then is DS's cot in your room at least? If it's as easy as rolling over, picking up, latching on then both dozing while he nurses it can take a lot of pressure off.

I am cosleeping at the moment, of necessity, really, as I fall asleep mid-feed!

Well you're almost certainly getting more sleep that way than getting up, boiling the kettle, waiting for it to cool etc! (even if DP could 'do' a night feed, in my experience, if baby's awake, I'M awake - breastfeeding mothers are hormonally wired to sleep lightly so they can quickly respond to their babies).

There was a study to suggest that breastfeeding mothers get on average 20 minutes more sleep than formula feeding mothers HERE

So keep doing what you're doing (provided it's not too too too much) and rest assured it does get better!

Size of baby makes no difference. Your body makes enough milk to feed your baby so weight and size dont really come in to it. Feeding pattern sounds pretty normal!

Your milk production follows the needs of your baby - that's the beauty of it! So don't worry and keep doing what you're doing.
Are you able to nap a bit during the day?

Hi flowerface I just want to say I feel your pain. I too have a giant ds who was 14ib at 6 weeks (from 8.5lb at birth) and who is sucking me dry. I am trying to work out how I can occasionally introduce formula just so I don't feel like I'm the only person who is sustaining this not so little person! I tried a bottle of formula one evening and then couldn't sleep because ds slept for ages and my breasts were so full I thought I might burst. Not quite sure when in the day would be best for formula, so I'm still just breastfeeding at the mo. let me know if you work anything out!

Thanks, everyone. I thought it was right just to keep feeding, but after 999 people telling me to give him a bottle, I was starting to wonder...

They are probably telling you to give him
A bottle because they can see how tired you are. Yes, A bottle of formula before bed will probably make him sleep for longer but that's because it's more difficult to digest and not because it's more satisfying than what you can give him.

I have a 98th centile ds that I have ebf so feel your pain! He has fed two to three hourly overnight since he was born and still feeds in the night now at 14 months. I did have a few wobbles at around four months and dh gave him 4 oz of formula one evening. I had an appointment the following day with the specialist breastfeeding midwife and she told me that it would take 3 weeks for the flora of his little gut to return to normal after that one bottle! Really put me off ever doing it again!
Hang on in there, you'll be so proud when you get as far has I have and you've got a beautiful big toddler that's 100 % down to you and all your hard work. Also, just a tip, I will probably get shot down in flames but I did start to wean him from 5 months. I just started giving him baby rice with breast milk and fruit and veg purée. He was clearly ready and hungry and it did help to space the feeds out a little.

How much evidence is there for the gut flora thing though? I've searched for research on it and as far as I can tell its only a theory at the moment. Also weaning foods will change gut flora, probably no more or less than formula, just differently. So there's probably not much difference, gut health wise, between weaning or topping up with formula.
The question I am asking myself about the gut flora thing is, if it is true, what is the likely endpoint? I mean, giving a bottle of formula may change the flora, but does that have a significant knock on effect? Apparently it increases the risk of allergies, but by how much? Who is most at risk? Its not like every formula fed child has allergies. I haven't had time to do my research properly as I'm feeding ds so much!
He is nearly 8 weeks and currently gaining a pound a week and I am trying to work out how I feel about introducing some formula just to give me a break. I just can't keep up this pace of feeding and look after my dd properly. We've had intensive family help so far but I'm going to have to go it alone from the beginning of september, and I need to find a pragmatic solution for keeping up with ds's hunger.

I haven't got any links on my phone. But my understanding is that formula steps the gut of the protective barrier that breastfeeding provides. Yes introducing solids does this to which is why weaning as close to six months is important.

The gut closes between 4-6 months and this seems to coincided with babies being able to sit unaided and put food in their mouths them selfs. along with a reduction of the young thrust. Once they can do this the gut is fully closed and no longer any issues with adding food into there diet.

Have you conserved other ways of coping. learning to feed with baby in a sling so you have gaffs free for you're older one for example.

that should be hands free.

Thanks migGril, yes I understand the virgin gut theory but I just can't find any evidence for it in the medical literature (pubmed etc) and am not sure what damage it really does in the long term. So I don't know if it's a mainstream thing or something that is put forward by people who feel particularly strongly about breastfeeding for various reasons.
Sling is not possible as I have a prolapse I am still trying to recover from and ds weighs 17lb at 8 weeks! So big, but unable to really support any of his own weight. Plus feeding in a sling - I'm convinced that's a myth! How do you keep them latched on? Either they'd need to be strapped so tight they can't breathe or you'd need breasts that swing to and fro with them, I'm guessing (sorry if this isn't the case but I've never worked out the logistics of it).

I know a few people who have done it a lot. I found my ring sling the best option for me, when having to feed a baby and cook tea at the same time. I didn't manage it in my wrap as my boobs are to low due to being very big.

I've not managed to feed in a sling, but i do find if DS2 is fed and changed he'll settle in it for a wee while and let me get on with things with DS1. I've got a stretchy wrap and a soft structured carrier and have seen videos on YouTube but never figured it out myself!

DS2 is 75th centile and seems to feed as much as his big brother did who is around 50th i think.

he is 4 months old too and feeding loads at night this week. a couple of weeks ago it was lots of feeding during the day and only up once or twice at night...