BF issues at night...need advice please

mags507

Since we brought our baby home, she has been much more awake at night and demands feeding more often during the night.  This has gotten really bad the past couple of days.  I try to BF her but she gets very fussy and cries and I can tell she is hungry and getting frantic.  She will finally settle down if we give her a bottle of pumped BM (about 1.5 - 2 oz).  I think she just drains me dry at night and I don't have time to make more milk before she wants to feed again. IF I pump, it is only after her morning feeding.  I supplemented with formula for one night feeding before I got a pump. After that I was able to keep up with supply until a couple of nights ago.  During the day, she sleeps alot more, and wakes to eat every 3 hours.  She seems content after a feeding and I have never supplemented (formula or pumped BM) during the day.

Do I have a supply issue?  Is she going through a growth spurt?  Is she just mixed up with her nights and days?  Is there something I'm missing in this situation? 

 I feel like I'm failing at night, and my confidence has taken a nosedive to the point where I just want to quit and FF.  Sorry if this doesn't make much sense...I'm quite sleep deprived.  Any help is appreciated.

ljlkm

Sounds like it's a combo of her having her days and nights mixed up and that our supplies are smaller at night.  Keep things light and normal noise levels during the day, then at night, keep things quiet and dark.  She'll turn around.  GL!

Sweeters04

I agree with the PP. My LO nurses more during the day then at night. He eats every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. But It's only been a week but it will get better!!! and plus your milk supply is building! So keep feeding her, offer both sides. If you're really worry talk to LLL or a LC.

livin' the Dolce Vita

sounds like you are doing everything right, she just has her days and nights mixed up. which is totally normal at her age. Keep nursing on demand even if you're dry because that promotes you to produce more milk and drink lots of water. Good luck!

MrsEvans2Be

This is pretty normal and both of my babies were/are like this.......most babies are more wakeful at night since in utero you were "rocking" them to sleep all day. My son fusses from about 11-1am...at first is was until 3! So it seems to be getting better.

With my DD I gave up and went to the pump. With him I will give a bottle of expressed BM if he is not satisfied (most of us have a lower supply at night). I am a fan of doing whatever the heck works to survive in the first weeks!  Don't feel bad about it at all!

2-Step

My LO had about three nights like this at about the same age as yours. I think he was going through a growth spurt and just needed to eat a lot, he also had days/nights mixed up and it was very frustrating. He ended up just getting back on track on his own and now is sleeping 3-4 hours at night, feeding for 20-30 min and then goes right back to sleep. Try to see if you can tough it out and hopefully everything will calm down soon. GL!

lilcrablegs

We went through the same thing at that time - I think it was a combo of a growth spurt and having days/nights mixed up.  It got better pretty quickly.  You are not failing!  If you can make it through the next week or two, it will get better!