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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

nightfeeding dilemma with 1 week old dd

17 replies

kayjayel · 29/06/2008 22:46

my dd is just over a week old and is sleeping like a dream so far - about 12-4am, then a feed then another 3 hr chunk. When she wakes at 4am I bf her one side, then she seems to drop back off, so I then change her nappy to wake her a bit, then feed her the other side. The last few nights she's taken a while to settle back to sleep. I'm wondering whether I should be pushing her to feed both sides and waking her with a nappy change if she seems happy enough to go back to sleep with a quick one side feed? What do people advise:

feed one side and back in the cot to see if she settles
feed one side then try to get her to feed the other side without a nappy change
persist with the feed-nappy-feed til she's a bit older

And if I was only feeding from one breast once between 12 and 7 at this early would that affect my supply? And is she too little to be going so long on just a one side feed? My ds fed at least every 2 hrs for the first 5-6 mths so I'm not sure what I should be doing with this amazing sleeping baby! (apart from being incredibly grateful and hoping it lasts).

Any advice would be really helpful, as I find bf really tough and I don't want to mess it up, or to be risking her not having enough milk.

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 29/06/2008 22:49

i would go with one side and then let her sleep

notnowbernard · 29/06/2008 22:50

I know only what I did with my own dds... but they only ever fed from 1 side. As newborns, would feed, then go to sleep at the breast

Both gained weight well etc

So I guess it can be normal, but I am not sure if this is generally advisable or not (I was led by them though, tbh)

Shitemum · 29/06/2008 22:50

she's only a week old, will probably 'wake up' a bit soon and feed more.
congratulations btw!

Original poster

kayjayel · 29/06/2008 22:54

thanks! I think I might try just settling her with minimum fuss in the night, if she starts feeding more soon I won't regret having had more rest this week! And she's given me such a lovely first week that I feel I have the energy if it messes her sleep up a bit tonight. Its reassuring to hear others have done this and not had any probs with babies gaining weight.

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 29/06/2008 22:55

how often is she feeding during the day?

PortAndLemon · 29/06/2008 22:55

Go with one side and let her sleep. I always feed on both sides in the day (at least to begin with) but at night time it's whatever works for you, and it sounds as though a one-sided nighttime feed is worth a go. I only offer the second side at night if DD is still awake and hungry (which she normally isn't). You'll probably be bursting on the other side in the morning, but that'll guarantee her a nice filling breakfast .

If you are worried about her weight gain you may need to rethink and start feeding from both sides again, but if she's gaining well then do what seems to work.

PortAndLemon · 29/06/2008 22:56

(Disclaimer: I have no qualifications and that's just based on what works for me and my DCs. If tiktok turns up then listen to her)

notnowbernard · 29/06/2008 22:56

She sounds lovely, and you sound smitten

Original poster

kayjayel · 29/06/2008 23:09

Thanks everyone for such quick advice! And I think I'm going to try a quick feed and cuddle and back to bed tonight, and see what happens. I accidentally did this when she was 5 days old (cos I just assumed she wouldn't settle after a little feed), but felt guilty about the nappy and her missing out on feeds, but I'll try tonight with some confidence.

Port&Lemon- yes she feeds lots in the day - probably averages every 1-2 hours, with bursts of cluster feeds in the morning and evening, and then she might go 3 hrs in the afternoon. So I suppose she makes up for it in the day?

And yes I'm completely smitten and never expected to be enjoying these early days so much! - such an entirely different experience to when I was shaking with exhaustion and painful feeds with my son, for about the first 3 months.

OP posts:

rozzyraspberry · 30/06/2008 16:03

Kay - I would definitely try feeding just one side and see what happens. Like you in the early days with ds3 (now 20 weeks) I used to change his nappy mid feed to wake him and feed on the other side before putting him back down. I did try on a couple of occasions to only feed from one side and found he woke up about an hour later wanting to be fed again - decided I'd rather be up for longer and get longer between feeds. But it is just a case of trial and error to see what works for you and your dd I think!

He now stays awake for a full feed (from both sides) now he's a little older and I don't need to change his nappy to wake him.

ShowOfHands · 30/06/2008 16:08

I never fed from both sides at a feed and exclusively bf for 7 months. DD shot up onto the 98th centile and stayed there.

StarlightMcKenzie · 30/06/2008 16:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

isaidno · 30/06/2008 16:15

I have a 12 day old. She always falls back asleep after 1 boob during the night. I only change the nappy if I've heard her do a big pooey fart!

Give yourself a rest - you can always go back to changing / both sides if you feel she needs it.

Original poster

kayjayel · 30/06/2008 22:40

Thanks for all the advice. I dropped the nappy change and it was fine. But the feeding one side resulted in 1-2 hrly feeds for the second half of the night - that sounds like your ds raspberry. I'm not sure whether this was cos it was one side, or whether it was because I fed lying down and we coslept, and whether I disturbed her. I should have been more scientific and just changed one thing per night!

I'll see whether one or two sides feels right tonight and try to stay awake to feed her and get her back in the cot. But I am now guilt free over dropping the nappy!

OP posts:

StarlightMcKenzie · 30/06/2008 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mumtofour · 30/06/2008 22:50

Hi Kayjayel
You sound like you are doing a wonderful job breastfeeding your daughter.I have four kids and have breastfed them all including my twins. The only thing I will say and it isn't really advice is just demand feed your daughter and let her set the pace at this stage. Don't worry yourself too much about how it all happens as we will all have differing experiences. So whatever works for you and your daughter is fine.

Original poster

kayjayel · 30/06/2008 22:58

Thanks! I feel really pleased that it is a bit easier this time - at least its got easier more quickly. I fed her while out and about today and I'm sure that took me about 3 weeks before, and I was very stressed about it. She has no problem with the demand side of the feeding! She seems very good at rooting, and today managed to latch on while I was trying to sort out my clothing before I'd even got myself ready! I think I'm actually starting to enjoy it a bit as well, not just feeling pleased that I'm doing it for her. There was an old thread about lovely things/memories about bfing, I think I'll read that again for inspiration!

OP posts:

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