4 week old feeding "pattern"

[pamelat]

Have been demand breastfeeding my 4 week old DS. He has been very hungry and now rather windy. I have 2 year old DD so its been challening

I have introduced a bottle of formula at 9/10pm ish and started going to bed at 8pm myself, leaving DH with DS.

He has "usually" been very good at night waking at 2 and 5am for hour long feed each time.

He had a 10 day, 2 week and 3 week growth spurt, seems now maybe a 4 week one?

Last night he breast fed 5-6pm, 6-730pm. I went to bed, DH ended up giving him 60ml formula at 8pm (half a feed) as he seemed starving. He spent an hour walking around with him, burping etc but had to give formula (120/140ml at 9pm as ds seemed "starving") and then this is how our night went ....

130am - 140 ml formula
330am - hour long breastfeed (can see lots of milk as ds "choking" on it)
5am - 40 min bfeed
630am - 30 min bfeed
730am - hour long breastfeed
9 - 30 min bfeed

feels constant - can a baby really be this hungry?!!! Am especially concerned about him only having 2 hours between the formula and then an hours breastfeed???!

HV coming today, last time she told me she would "expect" a 3 week old to be going 2 hours in the day and about 3 at night

To be fair he usually goes 2 hours in the day, with feeds taking an hour so I get an "hour" off. Its just difficult with DD.

I had hoped 2am formula feed would mean I would only be doing 1 or 2 night feeds so lots of energy for DD in the day.

Any advice? Am I doing the right thing by demand feeding? Worry its causing the evening wind.

Well, I'm cautious to say it but the formula might be interfering with the natural supply and demand of bfing. Feeding as much as he needs at the breast usually means the growth spurt passes as quickly as possible because your body responds to what your baby needs. But if I read right, you went 8hrs without feeding last night. And night feeds are particularly important for making sure your supply matches his needs. He will feed longer and more often if your body is not keeping up with him.

Can you perhaps consider other ways to make it easier? Getting dh to bring him to you for bfeeds, letting him do nappies and resettling. Maybe co-sleeping?

It's v v normal for them to feed a lot in the early days, especially during a growth spurt but it relies upon supply and demand. He's demanding but the formula is interfering a little perhaps.

It's so hard I know. I only had dd, no toddler to worry about and that was exhausting enough.

thank you

hv been and says as long as bf 6 times a day supply will be ok, have not heard that elsewhere but seem to have lots milk at mo - leaking etc.

he has put 1lbs 3oz on in a week so v says he greedy (!) but that to keep feeding on demand

have fed him from 9am until now 1pm this am, seems too much but can do on a tues as dd in nursery.

would not be fair to her on days she home

My dd put on a pound a week for ages and I would have been pissed off if somebody had called her greedy. A bfed baby regulates their intake and takes what they need.

6 feeds a day sounds ridiculous at that age. Evenly spaced that's every 4 hours which is NOT what most 4week olds do or should be doing.

Get a sling. DS can feed as much as he wants and you can play with dd.

no not 6 feeds a day in total, six breast feeds is enough, she says, to keep supply up to mix feed.

so say 6 breast feeds plus 3 formula in 24 hours
i dont mind my ds described as greedy, its no bad thing, i am!

exuse one handed tying, feeding

Oh I see. If you are happy to mix feed then fine. My main query would be that maintaining supply in those early days (and your own comfort) often does rely on the night feeds too. 8hrs is a long time to go without putting the baby to the breast.

But as your main concern was the amount your baby seemed to need, then be reassured that is normal. I also think it's fairly normal for a baby to enjoy and prefer the closeness of bfing so to seek that out in preference to formula.

I don't like the word greedy at all used to describe babies (or adults for that matter) but that's a personal bugbear I suppose. It implies taking more than you need which a bfed baby simply does not do. I only ever hear it levelled as a criticism of frequent freeding, that a baby somehow demands more than its fair share of milk which is ludicrous to me.