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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Night Feeders Part 5. Calling all women who find themselves feeding when they'd rather be sleeping!!

770 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 01/10/2014 21:07

This is a thread for anyone who wants support when things seem tough - especially for the women whose babies don't like sleep!!

We'll do the usual introductions:

I'm a first time mom to my 6 month old, EBF son. It's been a rocky few months, lots of ups and downs but we've finally reached a point where he's asleep by 7.30pm and only waking once during the night.

He very rarely naps in the day - and when he does it's only when he's in the car or his pushchair. It's very frustrating!!

And the last little thing about us is that we have just started the weaning journey - it's fun but messy!!

OP posts:
Sammyviv · 05/10/2014 15:43

Writer it must be hard for you, I know I love it when my DS goes down in the day. He hasn't slept this avo and is over tired. I had a friend over today and now DP is home and then popped out to get stuff for dinner. I now am in tears, just another tough day, I've got half way through, making a drink, toast this morning, tea earlier I never get to finish anything Shock and

squizita · 05/10/2014 16:10

I'm the opposite with mine! She naps a lot in the day and I fear she's nocturnal! She's fed quite lightly this afternoon so I hope she has a good one before bed. Every 2 hours but just the 1 boob for 15-20 minutes.

notadoctor · 05/10/2014 16:57

Evening all! We're just back from a wedding in the lakes - it was lovely but we're all shattered and out of routine now!

Have a lovely holiday Mugoo!

Writer - hope your DH managed to get DS to nap. It's so frustrating when they're tired and fight it - if it is any consolation, from your posts it sounds like you have a really bright lively child who just doesn't want to miss a thing! He'll probably always be life and soul of the party! Smile

Sammy - I think tearful afternoons are very normal in the early months. It's such an enormous (and exhausting!) change. Hope you get to have a hot cup of tea eventually!

squizita · 05/10/2014 18:21

She's got hungrier as the day goes on.
Darn!! Wanted to encourage her back into the sleepy head tonight after holding and Co sleeping. She went in it towards the end of last night. But if she's in a mood it's me that will have the angst of dealing with her all night.

Cannotbelieveit · 05/10/2014 19:12

Decent naps today of around 3 hours. He's just feeding now. Hoping for a decent night. I went to bed at 11 last night so got 3 hours before he fed and then another 3 hours after that.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 05/10/2014 19:43

DH managed to get an hours nap out of him. DS then fell asleep at just gone 7pm so earlier than normal for him. I can't believe he's the same baby that a month ago wouldn't go to sleep until 10.30pm.

I'm down in the kitchen and can hear him crying - DH has gone up to him. I think because he's so snotty and snuffly it's making it difficult for him to sleep Sad

OP posts:
AuntieMaggie · 05/10/2014 22:06

sammy giving ds formula has made no difference to his routine or sleep as I think cannot said it doesn't take much longer to digest.

I had my first night out last night leaving ds with dp and having my first drink in a year - the little monkey stayed asleep when dp put him down when he wasn't even deeply asleep and slept through the night!

cookielove · 05/10/2014 22:09

I'm wondering whether ds has silent reflux or just trapped wind. He is very uncomfortable on his back often arches his back, makes a horrible gag noise, flails his arms a lot, hiccups a lot sneezes occasionally but also strains too!

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 05/10/2014 22:09

I actually think our babies are naughtier when we are around!!!

I can never, ever, ever get DS to nap but yesterday DH managed to do it within 5 minutes of trying. DS fell asleep cuddled up to DH and I couldn't believe it as DS would never do that for me!

I think when they know we are about they just want our milk and going to sleep isn't on their agenda!!

OP posts:
Cariad007 · 05/10/2014 22:48

cookielove my DS used to do that. If he wasn't sleeping or eating he was crying, with much of those same symptoms. I thought it was silent reflux too but my GP wouldn't prescribe anything as she said a bit of reflux was normal and that some studies had shown reflux medicines sometimes caused bone density problems in children. She basically said I'd have to grin and bear it. In retrospect I should've probably consulted a second GP but once DS reached about 4 months these symptoms disappeared, as did his colicky crying that would start at 6pm everyday without fail.

Cannotbelieveit · 06/10/2014 00:42

Up and feeding after 5 hoursShock

nyldn · 06/10/2014 00:44

been dealing with a colicky cry from 6pm. just got DS down. I hear him in his crib but I'm hoping he falls asleep soon. I'm shattered. this is the second night in a row where he just cried inconsolably from 6 til almost 1am. it feels like a regression to week 3. DH looked miserable tonight - he was so excited about a nice family weekend and the crying just never stopped. I don't know how I'm going to handle this if it goes on for several more months...

nyldn · 06/10/2014 01:35

Ugh, up again

squizita · 06/10/2014 03:43

Up for 2 hours. Loud poo noises turned out to be farts bar one actual poo but nappy check = tears. Also Co sleeping backfiring. Baby only wants to feed if she doesn't have to move at all... ie from one boob! I'm anxious about it because of my sleep. DH thinks it's great cause she doesn't cry but it's not actually improving sleep.
On the upside she did 9-12 and 12.30-2 ok.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 06/10/2014 04:43

I'm up with DS again and it's been an horrendous night. This is his fourth wake up in about 6 hours!! His most recent block of sleep was only 50 minutes and prior to that he'd been awake for almost two hours Confused

Between his teeth, his grumbling stomach and his cold I think he's feeling pretty sorry for himself.

I've had 2.5 hours sleep tonight so far in 3 short bursts and it's pretty disheartening to think the sun will be soon be coming out and people will start getting up for work.

I've just given DS some Nurofen and I'm hoping that once he's had his feed he will drop off and we can both get a good few hours.

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 06/10/2014 04:43

I'm up with DS again and it's been an horrendous night. This is his fourth wake up in about 6 hours!! His most recent block of sleep was only 50 minutes and prior to that he'd been awake for almost two hours Confused

Between his teeth, his grumbling stomach and his cold I think he's feeling pretty sorry for himself.

I've had 2.5 hours sleep tonight so far in 3 short bursts and it's pretty disheartening to think the sun will be soon be coming out and people will start getting up for work.

I've just given DS some Nurofen and I'm hoping that once he's had his feed he will drop off and we can both get a good few hours.

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 06/10/2014 04:57

nyldn - as someone who has been exactly where you are can I ask if you've tried a dummy?? My DS started being colicky at 3-4 weeks old and would scream 6-7 hours every night. It's awful and I know how desperate and upset you must be feeling. My HV suggested I give DS a dummy when the crying started to escalate and it was a lifesaver!!! Flowers

OP posts:
Cannotbelieveit · 06/10/2014 05:28

Just fed again and hoping he can sleep til 7 at least!

squizita · 06/10/2014 07:40

Well she slept 3.30-7.30 so clearly she CAN.

Cannotbelieveit · 06/10/2014 08:09

He slept til 7.20 so not too bad!

Squizita they can, they just choose not too! mine did 8-11hours til 4 months old then decided he didn't want to anymore! Shock

nyldn · 06/10/2014 08:14

Writer- yes,he's got about 20 of them!Sad he was up literally every hour. and besides not sleeping, there's been a big feeding regression in the past 2 days that really frightens me considering our struggle to get here. follow up Dr today on the ranitidine, which is either doing nothing or having a negative effect. hopefully a nap for both of us afterwards!

TeamEponine · 06/10/2014 08:47

Yay! Baby went back to the feeding every two hours and settling in between routine last night. So much better after two nights of constant grizzling and not settling at all! Tried her in a sleeping bag last night, so maybe that made a difference? Grin

TeamEponine · 06/10/2014 08:48

I never thought I'd be so grateful for managing a full 1.5 hours uninterrupted sleep four times through the night!!! Confused

curlyLJ · 06/10/2014 09:02

We were back to 3-hourly wakings again... Last night she was up at 11,2 & 5.30 on the dot after bed at 8pm. I am so tired. Hope she starts stretching out a bit more soon. I'm not expecting her to sleep right through but just one waking would be lovely!! At almost 6m she should be well able to. I would leave her to grumble a bit more but I always rush in in case she wakes dd1!

cookielove · 06/10/2014 09:20

Ds has been straining all morning, well from the wee hours till now. He has farted quite a bit but no poop and he hasn't taken as much milk, I think cause he is all blocked up and feeling full. He normally only poops every other day but then has a real clear out. But he's not crying just withering around and stuff :( he has done every three hours all night - bless him!