Losing my mind (night time)

kelsytropico · February 2010

My LO eats every 3 hours during the day (she is a breastfed baby). It takes her 45 minutes to eat. At night she eats every TWO hours- so basically I'm up for an hour each time by the time I change her diaper and everything. This has been going on for 6 weeks and I am just getting exhuasted.

Is this normal? I see so many posts about moms having their little ones sleep 5 hours at this point but our LO was born 5 weeks early so I know things are a bit different for us. But still!

Any thoughts or advice?

She isn't even up a pound from her birth weight- so I never want to take her off the boob, but now I am second guessing my decision to BF, it's just so exhausting when she can finish a 2-3 oz bottle in 15 minutes.

Tips?

planeNsimple · February 2010

I don't know anything about your situation. But have you seen a LC? Maybe she isn't getting a lot of milk during your feeding? When I was BF, I went in and fed my LO while there, then they weighed him and found out he only gets about an ounce a feeding and just wasn't getting enough due to "lazy eating". So now I EP. Then again your baby might be right on track considering she was born 5 weeks early. I would talk to her Pedi and see what he/she says. Good luck, I can't imagine how hard this must be on you. Have you thought about EPing? That way you could see how much you produce, how much she is getting and your DH would be able to get up with her too so you can get some much needed sleep. Just a thought

krissyh21 · February 2010

Have you spoken to a lactation consultant? Maybe she isn't latching properly?

My next thought is that she may be getting her days and nights confused. Limit diaper changes at night, feed her without stimulation and lights on, just feeding her then lying her back down.

Hang in there. Not ALL babies are sleeping through the night at 6 weeks, although many of the posts will make you think that.

abbzy85 · February 2010

My boys also eat every 3 hrs on the dot, so I know the feeling of being up all night. Some people suggested giving a bottle of pumped milk at night if she'll take it faster. Obviously, you have to be okay with that too though, But if it will help you be less exhausted and more rested, then it may make your life alot less stressful.

amoureux · February 2010

That must be very hard.

But, being 5 weeks early makes things different.

All I can suggest is what worked for me. I lie on my side while I nurse at night. I doze off while he feeds. It made a HUGE difference in how tired I was. I was a zombie during the day. I was very worried at first about rolling onto him but have found I literally do not move. We also have a First Years close and secure sleeper that goes in our bed. If I wake up as he finishes eating I transfer him to his 'nest'.

She also may not need her diaper changed every feed if she eats every two hours. Look at it this way - babies who sleep 5-6 hours at a stretch don't have their's changed!

Another option may be to pump once per day and have your H give her one bottle at night.

edit - we are still feeding every 3 hours. STTN doesn't happen here!

mrs.moo · February 2010

I read about babies on here as well that STTN early on, but at one month we were feeding every 2-3 hours. We're now 3-4 hours. Honestly, I think that's the norm, not STTN. From everything I've read, babies just start to stretch out the time between feedings on their own when they're ready. It's so frustrating, I know. The only think I can think of is maybe not changing your LO's diaper every time unless it's soaking wet. If you're up that often anyway, maybe every other time? If you have a partner, maybe you can pump some during the day and have him give LO a bottle for one of the shifts so you can get some sleep? Hang in there, it will get better

jennylynne_01 · February 2010

Welcome to motherhood!

I feel for you so much, my LO was just like this and it was exhausting! Can you pump at night and make dh get up with her to feed her and diaper her at least every other night? We had to do this and on the nights I was up with her he would take her in the morning so I could sleep in a little. But to give you a glimmer of hope, it does get better!

MalDR0418 · February 2010

I know the feeling also, as DD usually wakes up every 2-3 hours at night to eat for a good 45 minutes. One thing that helped me get some sleep is to bedshare with her in a sleep positioner so I can now just fall asleep with her eating. I usually wake up when she finishes and will just position her at an angle to me so her feet are touching my body but her head is a few inches away. She sleeps much better with me than she did in her PNP and she's been sleeping 4-6 hour stretches on some occasions.

adam+katie · February 2010

I am in the same situation. DS eats every two hours, and by the time I feed him, change him and put him back down, I only have a little better than an hour to sleep.

I keep telling myself it won't be like this forever

09babymama · February 2010

I know what you mean about reading all the posts about babies that are sleeping through the night, I am jealous. I EBF. My situation is different because DS has a metabolic disorder (MCAD). It requires him to eat more often then other babies; no longer than 4 hours from the begining of one feeding to the next up through 4 months old. (Once he is 5 mo it will ne 5 hrs, 6 mo 6 hours up through 12 months, then it will be no longer than 12 hrs lifelong) I usually have to wake him a couple times throughout the night to feed him and it often requires me rubbing him down with wet washclothes. It can take me 1.5-2 hrs just to feed him, change him, burp him, and try and keep him awake. So no sleeping through the night anytime soon in my future.

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