hourly feeds

[madmillie92]

How do I stop LO doing this? He feeds for 10-20mins then is up every hour like clockwork through the night since birth... Every now and again he cluster feeds for hours then sleeps for 2 hours... Even three hours (once), but I can't decide which is worse, hourly feeds or constant feeding for ages! My sisters baby is one week old and feeds every three hours all night, soo jealous!! My LO is 16 days old and has done this from about 2 days... He is putting on weight well, so I'm not sure why he won't take more... Its strange because I have starting expressing one feed a day for when I have visitors or go out and he gulps down 80ml and want my boob afterwards, then STILL wakes up an hour later! Have I just got a greedy baby? He was 8.3lbs and at 10 days was 8.8lbs, any advice would be appreciated as I'm soo tired! Xx

 

[madmillie92]

Well thanks for the advice
For those who are interested I cracked the problem, now I've started keeping him awake as long as possible when he feeds, waking him up by nappy changes ect and making sure he has eaten as much as he can before I put him down, then he sleeps 2-3 hours patience is the key! Before I was just putting him down as soon as he started looking sleepy, so that I could sleep too... x

 

[Paddles]

I made this mistake too. I'm too impatient!! They like to feed lots in early days tho to get your supply up. You are doing a good job! x

 

[babyem]

Ah sorry! Only saw this thread now! Glad you got it sorted X

 

[babybee]

I would say the first few weeks just relax and try not to do too much as this is the time your supply is established. Things really get tough at around 6 weeks when they have a growth spurt and then they calm. For me after 8 weeks my daughter went longer between feeds and after 12 weeks it became more manageable and I could plan to do things. However I didn't express after 5 weeks so it may be a bit better for you if you can as oh can do some of the feeding? My lo refused bottles after 8 weeks :/
It does get better but I sympathise as I remember how tough those get few weeks are!

Xxx

 

[tiggy85]

Hugs Hun, it's hard work when they are feeding so frequently. I wonder if he is feeding more for comfort at times? What you said about the bottle then needing boob is a classic comfort indicator!

I would try and go with it as much as you can as they usually find other methods of being comforted when older and obviously he is trying to establish and increase your milk supply.

At least you have worked out how you can get him to sleep a bit longer....until the next growth spurt!

It will get easier. Xxx

 

[Tigger87]

It's tough, but it will get better my lo has just started 5 hr stretches at night - he's 8 weeks on Tuesday!

As you've discovered keep them awake as long as you can. If I don't do a nappy change mid feed overnight then I only ever get an hours break.

Let baby lead you with what he needs, hopefully you'll get a bit more confidence as time goes on to feed infront of people, and then it's the easiest thing in the world xxx

 

[vinandbella]

Sorry don't get on much these days but when monkey was that little it would be 20 min feed 10 min snooze bum change then other boob for 20 mins.

Glad it seems to have settled a bit xxx