Six week check, doctors concerned about our lack of sleep - suggests formula grrrrr

[maltatheterrible]

At DDs 6 week check yesterday the doctor asked how she was sleeping, i advised that she goes down at approx 10:30, sleeps til 2pm, has a 40 minute feed and then sleeps til 5am when she wakes right up and won't go back down.
He looked really concerned and said that if we don't get 4 hours continuos sleep (required to reach "deep sleep" state) we will end up in the funny farm. He suggested giving her a bottle of formula last thing to see if she'll sleep longer.
I really don't wnt to do this, yes we are tired but I think DH and i are coping, DD is exclusively breastfed and putting on weight really well.
Reading other threads people seem to cope (sort of!) on a lot less sleep than this, shall I just ignore his concerns and wait for her top get better on her own? (going to put this in Sleep and Breastfeeding sections for best feedback)

probably well-meaning but misinformed. my GP said the same and i treid for 2 nights - just gave her terrible wind, constipation and of course no difference to her sleep - she was waking up every 1.5-2 hrs. i'd have thought you were doing quite well at the 6 week stage to be honest - she needs to feed overnight! i just ignored the advice after that - i'm a doctor myself and dh is a gp - don't recall him ever having any training on this subject - gp is probably speaking form own experience. btw, my dd is now 9 mths and still wakes 1-2 overnight and wants to be up at 5.30. i haven't reached the funny farm yet.........

p.s ime even health visitors aren't that much use - get most of my best advice/ideas from mumsnet!welcome!

your dd is still very young, and sounds like she's doing fine. If you are coping ok I would just stick with the bf and ignore the doc for now! My dd was bottle fed mostly as bf didn't work out for me, but she didn't sleep much more than your dd to begin with!

FORMULA IS NOT A SEDATIVE!!!

If it was - we would all be pouring gallons of it down our babies!!

Another dimwit who knows presicely fuck-all about how breastfeeding works.
This is perfectly normal.For God's sake,the stomach is barely bigger than a walnut.Of course it needs frequent refuelling.

If formula does succeed in filling them and keeping them asleep it is because it is the rought equivalent of filling a large hole in the ground with sloppy cement.

You are doing fine.

Ignore the arse.

And if you go to bed with her,you will get plenty of sleep.

It sounds like things are already going really well for you. Don't let your stupid gp put doubts in your mind. I'm only a new mum myself but already I've learnt that I'm quite lucky to get an occasional 4 hour stretch, stick to your guns malta!

I don't think I've had more than 4 continuous hours sleep for 8 months, work full time, have 3 children including the 8 month old and I'm not in the funny farm. Don't do it!

I've never had 4 hours continuous sleep in my life as am up for a pee at least twice in the night.
Function just fine.

he's nuts. you have to do a night feed for the first few months, bottle or not. My dds gave up night feeds at 11 and 13 weeks and that is VERY good going. I can't believe this is out of date information. This gp is very odd, no one ever cared about how much sleep I got! If you're that distressed, what about expressing some earlier in the day when you've got more milk, and getting DH to feed a nice big bottle last thing while you go to bed earlier for some extra kip. That's what I did.

Have you got total blackout in her room? It would be good if she could last a bit longer than 5 am.

It can be handy if they are used to having a bottle as well, when they get older they won't take one sometimes.

To be fair,he probably genuinely think he is being helpful.

Poor deluded duffer.

My 11 week old wakes for a feed at least every 2 hours if not more (except last night, I'm still high on sleep!). We tried a bottle of formula at 10.30 (uni finals looming...need sleep!)and made no difference, if anything he was worse. But, I do have friends who swear by it so totally depends on your feelings and if you need the sleep which from your op seems you are ok with the amount you are getting. Ds is usually very fussy from around 5 and won't go back down but if I cuddle him in bed with me then he sleeps til around 7 and I can doze so maybe thats worth a try.

Ignore him, sounds like you're doing great. My dd is 4.5 months and I would be pleased with a night like that. You do sort of get used to no sleep and you would know if you weren't coping with it!

yikes, forgot to check for updates - thanks all for confirming my suspiscions (sp) The doctor is an arse.
For the record, i don't feel remotely ready to be locked in a rubber room, I felt we were doing really well, so was really surprised when the doc. looked so concerned.
DD is regular as clockwork in her routine (for now!) and we are all coping just fine so we will carry on.
sorry not to have acknowledged earlier