Frequent feeding at 20 weeks

[charliemama]

I am getting a bit concerned at how frequently my 20 week old Ds is feeding. He is demand fed, and sometimes can't even make it to 2 hours between feeds. He is not a content feeder and often wriggles and cries whilst feeding. We have tried gaviscon and took him to see a CO. There are 2 reasons why I'm concerned.

1. What will happen when I go back to work when he is 7/8 months?
2. Will he ever sleep well at night if he is feeding this much in the day? (last night woke every 2 hours)
3. The effect it is having on his brother and sister to have such a demanding baby.

He cries a lot and I often feed him when I think maybe he's not really hungry, but I can't settle him any other way.

I'm getting a bit desperate TBH so would welcome any advice/reassurance.

hi charliemama, My dd was like this too. The wriggling I think is just them being interested in the world - I went to a mum + baby thingy today + dd nearly pulled my nipple off craning her head around. It has gotten better recently (she is 23 weeks now) but a busy environment still brings it out. FWIW she was like that unless we were in a dark-ish boring room from about 17-20 weeks.

She was also eating v frequently, I think I was doing it to help her settle. I am forcing myself to try + find alternative ways and not just leap to using boob unless she is likely to be hungry or is v v upset. Milder fussing I try to deal with using alternatives, usually distracting her. I am encouraging her to try + eat only every 2 1/2 - 3 hours, I wouldn't like to go longer as she is quite slender anyway + I would be paranoid about her getting enough!

She was also waking up A LOT in the night. we used a variation of cc last week and she now only wakes once to feed. [evil mummy emoticon]

I hope this helps!

Thanks for your respomse Chibi, I'm not against using cc. But I'm not sure at the moment if he's in pain/discomfort when he wakes. He is very windy and has been trumping a lot in the early hours! Also I'm worried his cries will wake DS and DD.

Anyone else?

My ds started very frequent feeding like you describe at about 20 weeks and I took it as a signal to start weening. He took to baby rice then purees very quickly and was happy with the boob every 4 hours from then on. Now he is 8 months old, still breast fed morning and evenings (and night time when he wakes up!!) but has formula in a cup during the day.

I know HVs say 26 weeks to start weening but some babies do just need that extra nourishment sooner than that I think.

I am thinking of weaning him, but tbh he has fed like this pretty much since birth. The night wakings got worse from 12 weeks.

Sorry to keep on, but surely others have had babies who fed frequently!!!

Mine is similar age and exactly the same as yours. Can't offer much help unfortunately as I have posted similar questions myself! At least you know there are others out there..
By the way, our paed (who we were seeing for ds's reflux poblem) strongly advised weaning at 4 months as ds was waking so often during the night. I did start weaning at 19 weeks, but very small amounts.. don't think it has made any difference, but that's probably because I'm taking it slowly, and he's gone off solids now anyway (21 weeks at the moment).

Let me know if you get any advice that works!!

Mine both fed every 3 hours-ish (only X2 at night) until they were about 17 weeks then went through a growth spurt. They were at the boob constantly. Feeding tailed off again at 6-7 months. The next growth spurt was at about 10 months and they were looking for more food during the day and BF more at night.

They both also were very clingy at this age - I'm sure it's a developmental thing. I just carried them around in the Bjorn a lot.

I found the 4 month - 9 month stage hideous with both my DSs.

Thankyou naturopath. I was beginning to wonder if it was just my DS who did this. We have been wondering if he has some reflux, but I ma fed up with taking him to the GP. He does display some symptoms, but not consistently. For example he arches his back during and after feeds, and cries during feeds. But sometimes will like lying on his back, and other times won't.
Its interesting your Pead. suggested weaning I must get oragines and puree those pears!!!!

X posted Highlander!

Apologies for bad typing, must preview posts.

I guess one of my questions is should I just ride with it or actively do something to space out his feeds?

My dd is 27 weeks and still feeds 2 hourly. At 19/20 weeks she went through a massive growth spurth (entirely normal) and fed almost constantly.

Solids will make little difference at this juncture if your ds is going through a growth spurt. Might even make it worse as there are fewer calories in food. The one thing that sometimes works for us is cluster feeding at night. If she has lots of feeds in an evening she can sometimes go for a few hours at night.

We co-sleep and I feed lying down so that solves most of our night problems. During the day it's a nightmare as she doesn't like to feed when there's things happening (ripped off nipples). It has to be a boring, dark room for her to feed properly or in her sling sometimes.

Do you have a sling/carrier you can feed ds in?

You have my sympathies. I luckily only have the one to contend with.