How can I get her to take more?!

[squishy]

My just-over-2-week old is being demand fed (sadly by bottle as I am unable to breast feed) and has just taken to having much smaller feeds during the night. I've been trying to keep feeds as dark, quiet and gentle as possible but find that she keeps falling asleep quite quickly (last night after 30ml) and I put her back down, only to be woken 30-50 mins later when she wants another shot (and takes the same small amount)...I don't want to get her in the habit of being woken so she doesn't settle again, but she was very low birth weight and I could do with getting a bit more food into her at night time.....TIA for any suggestions...

She is starting to settle at night instead of wanting a big feed - that's GOOD! Though I can understand why it doesn't seem like it to you!
Just carry on feeding what she wants until her weight isn't a cause for concern.
And keep a box of matches next to the bed so you can prop your eyelids open! Sleep deprivation is a terrible thing, isn't it?
We ALL have periods of wakefulness every 45-60 mins or so, but we learn to fall back into deeper sleep rather than wake up. There'll be plenty of time to encourage your dd to fall asleep rather than have another small feed when she's put some weight on.

at two weeks old and a low birth weight..she needs to eat as much and as often as she will!! 30ml is not bad..if you were breast-feeding ,you would;t be able to measure how much milk she was having, so if she is drinking , then having a rest and then having more, that is typical new baby behavior. When babies are so tiny, sucking is quite tiring!! keep doing what you are doing re keeping night feeds quiet & non stimulating and be prepared for some more sleepless nights for the next few weeks. !! rest in the day when you can..xx (yeah right!) the first 6 weeks are just a case of feeding, feeding and more feeding! it will get easier as she grows and gains weight!

OK, will keep going, it's just that a few nights ago, she was waking every 2-3 hours and taking 50-70 ml. I don't think her weight is a cause for concern (she was 6lb 3.5oz at birth and only lost an ounce and a half in first 6 days - think just me being neurotic mother!) and she eats like a horse as and when she wants during the day.....was just hoping I could encourage her to go back to her other ways rather than this little and often thingy!!! Never mind!

sorry...mine did little and often , day and night, but settled much better at night around 8 weeks old...!

I just re-read my OP and see that I had put really low birth weight - I think I was misleading, but during pregnancy all measurements were good and then as I was being induced everyone started panicking me about this really "tiny baby"!

If she's only 2+ weeks you must keep going for a bit longer.
My ds1 was 9lb 8oz at birth & didn't sleep thru till about a month old.
It's torture at the time but it has to be done!

Doesn't help that I've just discovered DH gives her warm bottles whenever he feeds her, whereas I give her room temp bottles - think we need to be consistent (he just told me off for giving him a room temp bottle while she was screaming in his arms for food - just feed her was my response!!).

TBH, now we've got moses basket next to bed rather than where we can both reach her (!), I don't mind getting her up when she wants as I don't have to get out of bed, stumble over to get her etc etc

Wasn't meant to sound winging, I understand she needs to eat when she wants, which is why I chose to feed on demand, was just wondering if something had changed which is why she had reverted back from taking bigger feeds less often to the early days of little and often.

ps I've got friends whose children didn't sleep thru till they were 3... years! So I hope I haven't misled you into thinking yours 'should' sleep longer by a month old. I think about 3 months is more 'average'.

Your dh is naughty!
Maybe a warm bottle at bedtime? Might give her some sort of message? I might be talking out of my bottom, though!

No, don't worry, have no expectations about getting sleep - am just grateful that when she does wake (at the moment!) it's for food and not general crying - I have some friends with children who just cry all night!!!

Update - she had put on 14oz in just over a week when the health visitor came but am now concerned that she has completely reversed her feeding pattern (again!) - yesterday she slept for 4 hours while we were out and wouldn't even be woken for a feed but last night she was waking every hour or so (well, I would feed for 15 mins, get her to sleep, put her down and she'd wake half an hour later).....am trying to keep her awake and active today (within reason, of course) to see if that helps - any other suggestions? Also, have read that some babies step up their feeding at 3 weeks, which she is today, does this fit in? Am massively sleep deprived as have been up since 4am (she is very noisy sleeper and I am very light sleeper)

My DS (now 6 weeks ) had a growth spurt at 3 weeks and was feeding constantly. It does settle down after a few days. Now going through 6 week spurt, but at least I now know what to expect

LOL! Yes, seems to be that - almost constant demands for food! Am trying to catnap when she does a bit so I don't miss the sleep so much - am wide awake from 4-7 but it's about then I start suffering!!