I can't get them anywhere near every 3 hrs...

groovygrl · August 2009

How do others do this? DC are 3 weeks old tomorrow so I know it is early but they are both waking up anywhere from every 1 hr 45 min to 2 1/2 hrs most of the time. Once in awhile if they have a big meal they'll go 3 hrs (and of course it is usually in the AM when I have the most energy, not at night).

I feed them when they show hunger cues & try to get them to take a decent amount (right now anywhere b/w 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 oz) but don't force it on them or anything.

Am I expecting too much? The whole 'sleep when they sleep' thing eludes me most of the time b/c there isn't time b/w feedings to do that.

Any advice/commiseration would be great

macchiatto · August 2009

Are you BFing or FFing? I did some of both the first month and just formula from then on. It takes 2.5 hrs for the stomach to empty its contents (and formula is harder to digest) so if it's formula I'd be very reluctant to feed them more than every 2.5 hrs (in the beginning our guys ate about every 2.5-3 hrs, and then they both lengthened that to every 4 hours right around 2 months old). If it's BFing, from what I've read those are pretty normal intervals. I would really try to make sure that their crying (if it's much before 2.5 hrs) isn't something other than hunger first.

CaliJenny · August 2009

At 3 weeks you are still in survival mode. They'll start increasing their time between feedings slowly. They'll do it when they are able and any tricks or book ways of trying to force it sooner will only cause you frustration. It's amazing because one day it'll just happen. Pretty soon this will all be a distant memory. I'd say it was close to a month and a half when we started getting 3-4 stretches at night. I can't believe I spent as much energy worried about when/why/how to make it happen.

I know none of this will make sense right now because you are sleep deprived and it looks like there's no end in sight.

During the day I'd get no naps so I agree with the it's impossible to sleep when they sleep. Not with my two who tag teamed naps! At night the did the longest stretches right when we put them to bed at 8-9 so we'd make sure we went to bed with them because we'd be able to get at least a couple hours of uninterrupted sleep at that time.

Good luck, you are not alone!!!

lutzcowgirlie · August 2009

My breastfed babies didn't go three hours between feeds until they were over 4 months old. More like 1 1/2 hours for the first 2 months, then every 2 to 2 1/2 hours for the next two.

If they wake fussy, I would do all the other things they need - diapers, clothes changes, etc. If they are acting hungry, I would feed them.

groovygrl · August 2009

Thanks!

They're formula fed. I know it is hard at this point to try to look ahead but I figured I'd ask . We do 5 hr shifts each from 9-2 and 2-7 at night in our family room so as not to interrupt the other person's sleep and I'm just sad that MH & I never sleep in the same bed and see each other for all of maybe 2 hrs a day between him getting home from work and going to bed. It'll get better right!?

Barb0525 · September 2009

I'm so sorry, that sound miserable - mine are 3 weeks tomorrow as well but they eat a lot more (3-3.5 oz per feeding of expressed BM) and do sleep more. We try to keep them awake a little bit after we feed as well. Also, there have been a couple of times that one has been crying/hungry when it's not time to feed and we do EVERYthing we can to appease them for as long as possible before feeding, and if we do have to feed we only feed as little as possible. But really I think it's more luck than anything and that if you just wait it out, it will get better. Hugs!!

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