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**bug**

danjou21danjou21
in Eco-Friendly Family

Just want you to know we are right there with you on the no sleep thing.  E will occasionally do a long stretch, but wakes up 5-10 times every night.  I think it is so hard when you are bfing because you are convinced they are starving.  But here are a few things we have that have helped:

1.  He gets a 6oz bottle of BM from daddy before bed.  That way I know he has a full belly, plus it gives me some time to myself and daddy some special time.  (6oz is one more oz than he takes during the day normally - I have done before and after feeding weights on him).  I know you mentioned not knowing her hunger cues and we are the same way - I can never tell him he is hungry.

2.  He gets one feeding at night, around 2am.   If I try to feed him anymore, he doesn't eat well.  And he doesn't eat like he's starving in the morning.  He's gaining plenty of weight.

3.  He is on a loose schedule - basically, same "bedtime" same "awake time".  We are still figuring this out, but I think it is helping him.  I'm pretty sure NCSS recommends a bedtime and a bedtime routine.  He is all over the place schedule wise on his own, which is really hard.

4.  We are learning when we can ignore him at night.  He will start fussing a bit and put himself back to sleep.  We are learning the difference between his fusses and cries.  Also, DH has been helping me when we do have to go in and soothe him at night.  That really helps me.

Good luck!

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Re: **bug**

  • triumphantreturnofplanningbugtriumphantreturnofplanningbug

    Thank you thank you! We're trying to get her more food during the day and right before bed, and last night it seemed to help. Today didn't work as well, but we're still hopeful that it'll be better than two nights ago!

    How did you start getting into a routine? It seems like every time we're almost there she has a growth spurt, or a wonder week, or something else just gets skewed and we have to start all over. 

    We're co-sleeping, and MH is wonderful about helping overnight. Before you were down to just one nighttime feeding, were you pumping if your husband was giving E a bottle? Or was your supply stable and high enough that you didn't have to worry about it? Or any suggestions about that?

    Thanks again!

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  • danjou21danjou21

    I feel like our routine has really only been possible for about the past two weeks.  Before that he was too all over the place.  I think it helps to start by picking a bedtime (or last feeding of the day).  In one of the books I read (I think I own every book on infant sleep) it mentioned that if you "teach" your baby when it is mealtime, they will learn to fill up at these times.  It also mentioned that feeding the baby at night (more than once or twice, obviously little babies still need nighttime feedings) it can actually do more harm for sleep.  The body temperature increases, the (normally) inactive gut has to start working, etc.  I have noticed a HUGE improvement in his sleep since we've gone down to one night feeding.  I think 10-12 weeks is when they really start to settle - before you just have to survive.  You are close!

    I always pump right before I go to bed, about an hour and a half after he does.  This might not work for you since you co sleep.  I feel like this way I'm as empty as possible before I go to bed, so if he does by chance sleep a long stretch, I won't wake up incredibly engorged.  I haven't noticed any changes in my supply since we've gone down to one feeding at night.  I think he makes up for it during the day.

    This parenting thing in tough, huh?

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