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Infant feeding

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

feeding schedule at 10 weeks

20 replies

flossyflo · 21/06/2013 19:11

Just had a week off on hols and spent most of it arguing with DH about bf schedules. LO is exclusively bf, and we have been trying to put in place a schedule where she feeds every 3 hours as advised in our baby book, however I get v anxious that she is getting enough and whenever she is grumpy within the hour of her next feed is due end up arguing wuth dh.

DH thinks we should distract her pointing out it could be other things making her grumpy and we should try to go the full 3 hours where as I am keen to try feeding whenever she is grumpy.

Dh just thinks she will fill up on her feed whenever that is, could she not put on enough weight if we stick to the 3 hours.

She has so far been in the 50 percentile although haven't got her weighed since we started this regime. Although she has started sleeping through which dh points to as evidence that this is right.

Really sick of arguing and dh just says I am fixated on feeding her. Just can't bear the thought of het going hungry

OP posts:
BoysAreLikeDogs · 21/06/2013 19:33

Chuck away the book

Feed to baby's cues

Babies don't know that an artificially constructed expectation is that they will go a set number of hours between feeds

elvislives2012 · 21/06/2013 19:34

At 10 weeks old we went by the adage "if she screams, feed her" seemed to work!
She cries when she wants something, she may not want food but may be just the closeness or security of having u near.
Don't worry. You're doing a great job! Follow your instincts Grin

RikeBider · 21/06/2013 19:37

Your baby knows what she needs. If she asks for the breast why not give it to her?

There are other things that might make her grumpy, but almost all of them can be solved by boob - tired, thirsty, bored, lonely, scared, overstimulated. I wouldn't but an arbitrary limit on that!

sleepyhead · 21/06/2013 19:37

Ds2 has also started sleeping through at 10 weeks. He feeds roughly 3 hourly during the day but often more frequently.

No way would I try to stretch his feeds out - he might start waking up at night again! I'm assuming that the feeds he's taking during the day are what's keeping him going at night so I want him to have whatever he wants.

LadyMetroland · 21/06/2013 19:39

Tell your dh to get lost

seriously, you have a very young baby and she needs to feed on demand and not according to some book! She'll be having all sorts of mini growth spurts and she needs food to fuel them.

CPtart · 21/06/2013 19:42

Your DH sounds jealous tbh?

Justfornowitwilldo · 21/06/2013 19:46

Try telling your DH that, no, he can't have a drink. You don't care if it's hot and he says he's thirsty, because he can't possibly need a drink as it hasn't been 3 hours since his last one.

Raaraathenoisybaby · 21/06/2013 19:49

Trust your instincts. The baby didn't write the book. 'Fixated on feeding her' what a weird statement. Your dh has issues. A regime? Op your language is v telling Hmm
Burn the book. Assume its Gina ford type rubbish?

RikeBider · 21/06/2013 19:51

Also, what a weird thing for a couple to argue about? I can barely remember DP passing comment on how I was feeding our DC, let alone care enough to argue about it.

Baby wants a feed, mum feeds it, baby is happy, everyone is happy. What is there to argue about?

scarecrow22 · 21/06/2013 20:12

glossy. - your 10 wk old is maintaining her percentile and sleeping through - you are doing a really fantastic job. Really. This is an exhausting time - my dc2 is also 10 weeks and I think it's a rough time: lack.of sleep is building up, the care is relentless, the feedback fleeting, the hormones have worn off and probably the excitement, guests. gifts and offers of help have faded away. Please be kinder to yourself for starters Thanks Brew

as for feeding regime, every baby is different and I would not dream of telling you what I'm about to say is The Way, or Right: they are thoughts and experiences which.might jog you to try the ideas or know in your heart they are not right for your LO.

Firstly while I am no stranger to complaining about DH, it's worth trying to see his pov if only to help heal the relationship as it is tirung enough without arguing and tension. I think.a common issue is men feel helpless if the only thing that comforts a baby is breast as de facto daddy can't offer it. So on the plus side it might show he cares and wants to help your dd and you, and he might be able to help more...

as for feeding, for most children, especially in the 50th percentile, three hourly feeding would probably be okay. I didn't follow a particular regime, but I read books that recommended one and I read the Baby Whisperer and aimed.for 3 hourly feeding average, though more like (and this is pretty approximate as ds is still young and I'm getting.to know him, and the toddler has needs too....to say nothing od her wants Hmm )..for example 7am, 10am, 2pm, then cluster feed from 5-7pm to prepare them for the night ahead...
I used a feeding ap on my phone until a few days ago and logged when ds fed and watched the gap gradually increase: many apps will also let you see things like total feed time, so you could see if she spends the same total time on the breast with slightly longer gaps, if you decide ro go.that route.

One other strong thought I had when I read your post is when are LO's naps? ime feeding regimes work better when you have some sleep.regime to. For me the simple brilliance of the baby whisperer is if you can keep.them awake after their feed, then find the right environment for them to nap at the right time, babies can sleep through the two hour feed window. My DS is like clockwork: if he is not asleep.two hours after a feed he will cry for one and almost never sleep. I can let him suck my finger and distract a little bit its not fun and the danger is they get over tired and wither can't sleep or sleep immediately after the next feed, waking for another two hour gap, and so on...

if it is of any help, as dcs are same age, on a good day ( I stress I often get this "wrong" Smile ) DS will wake from night and feed, stay awake 2h, sleep for 45 mins; wake and feed, stay awake for 1.5 hours, sleep 2-3 hours, stay awake 1-1.5 hours and wake approx 5 pm for the final two hours of cluster feeding (2-3 feeds) and bath before.bed at 7-7.30 pm.

I suppose what I'm saying is dd provably won't be hurt if you don't feed immediately, but perhaps either compromise and start by distracting her for 10-15 mins to start with, and poss build that up I'd her tolerance increases, or try something like the EASY system ( no fixed times but a cycle of Eat, Activity, Sleep - Your time) and see if she happily sleeps through that two hor window.

As I say, just some ideas. You have done an amazi f thing growing, birthing and now nurturing and nourishing your baby, and in the end the baby years are fleeting so it will all be over before long, however much you feed!
sorry this is such a marathon. very kind wishes

scarecrow22 · 21/06/2013 20:14

as if I could have more to say!... I should add I'd ds wants a feed after two hours he always gets it Grin it's just he's often asleep and I encourage that rhythm so I can have time for toddler too

noblegiraffe · 21/06/2013 20:18

When does DH go back to work, leaving you to feed the baby in peace?

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 21/06/2013 20:31

Christ who lives by what a book says?

Bin it and feed on demand.

flossyflo · 21/06/2013 20:44

Thanks for all the comments. Think it might stem from jealousy. We have tried me expressing but she won't take the bottle. Dh goes back to work next week and am looking forward to me being the sole decision maker again.

Know this is a strange thing to argue about and think dh does really want to be involved. Which he equates with be in control.

Book isn't Gina Ford and is well balanced. Baby week by week it is called. It does recommend following baby needs and feeding every 3 hours is a suggested schedule. Probably not helped is that niece fed every 4 hours which he has heard about from mil.

Should've said that we cluster feed in evenings 6 - 8. Bath then last feed at 9 / 10. Then she has started going through for 6/7 hours. Although she does suck her thumb furiously doesn't wake up.

Think I just need to get dh to see nothing wrong with a bit more flexibility.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 21/06/2013 20:50

Was niece ff? I think it's pretty unusual for bfed babies to go that long as breastmilk is digested so quickly.

I'd always worry that if I fed to a schedule rather than on demand that if baby was on a growth spurt it'd all go horribly wrong.

AmandaPandtheTantrumofDoom · 21/06/2013 20:51

Most breastfed babies don't feed every three hours at this age. If the book is telling you this, it's not a balanced book.

PurplePidjin · 21/06/2013 20:53

Throw away all the stupid fucking pointless books and read your baby.

is every adult you meet identical? No. Nor are babies. As long as she eats sleeps and messes her nappies, she's fine.

Please find your local breastfeeding group and go. Bf babies do not grow or behave like ff babies (ie smoothly according to the graphs) and the advice and support of other parents in the same/similar situation is truly invaluable :)

PurplePidjin · 21/06/2013 21:03

My dp found this stage hard - he is now in charge of baths and breakfast (plus other stuff, but those are his exclusive jobs). I do the nights, then he takes over at 6 to give ds his weetabix and fruit, change him into his day nappy (we use cloth, different types for different jobs) they play then they wake me up with coffee and porridge.

Feeding you is feeding the baby, get him in the habit of bringing you breakfast - oats are good for milk, hence the porridge - and a drink, making you something for lunch to leave in the fridge etc. Looking after you is immensely important and frees you up to look after your dd. This phase is very short, he will be more involved at weaning, and once she's older he'll find it easier to take her out for a couple of hours while you soak in the bath or do jobs (my dp started taking ds for a walk at 3 weeks in the sling. Used to be 20 minutes round the park, now 2 1/2 hours - bliss!)

RoadToTuapeka · 21/06/2013 21:06

Agree with other posters, feed as and when your baby seems hungry. With my first I tied myself in knots about the advice in all those books about 3 hour schedule & moving on to 4 hours; got super stressed about it. With 2nd who is now 5 months he is fed about every 3 hours (ebf) but it's on a little schedule all of his own; roughly 7amish little nosh - barely a nibble really, he is awake but not really hungry, then about 9/930 when he is really hungry, 1230/1ish, 330/4ish, 630ish, and then usually wakes about 1am and 4am for feed.
At 10 weeks he was more about every 2.5 hours & cluster feeding 530-10pm. That eased off at about 12 weeks.
Other friends had babies that seemingly had read the books & transitioned to 4 hour routines, but really if yours is not one of them why try to force a schedule.
I did quite like The Baby Whisperer but really only because the Eat Awake/activity/Sleep bit seemed sensible (the 'Y or You time, ha ha really? More like try to get stuff done time altho a short feet up & cup of tea if poss is nice), but imposing arbitrary times on the EAS part is not really helpful.
My ds2 dies do the EAS thing but us awake for longer periods in the morning so is not a set 3 hour routine. Go with what works for your family life!

RoadToTuapeka · 21/06/2013 21:23

Ds2 does do ...& is awake...

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