Feeding schedule?

yinyang124 · November 2012

Did you keep your LO(s) on the 3 hr NICU feeding schedule or switch to on demand? The nurses said keep schedule, but then I would have two screaming babies all day. My LOs are 4 weeks actual, 38 weeks GA and can sometimes go 4 hrs between feeds during the day and like to cluster feed at night. I don't know if this is normal for their age? I keep track of their feeds and they are getting more than their recommended minimum, so I'm just assumng this is fine.

Kadyra · November 2012

The NICU schedule was done and gone our first day home. Now, I'd love to sleep 3 hours at night! If it were up to ds2, he'd nurse nonstop. All. Day. And night. Long. So yeah. We went to demand pretty quickly. I'm looking forward to when he'll just let me hold him without rooting. Sigh.

chickaboo1974 · November 2012

My guys were born at 34w 3d- they came home at 17 days on a 4 hour schedule taking around 3 ozs. I EPed- so I knew how much they were getting.

Missa_g · November 2012

I would check with your pediatrician. We were told to feed at the maximum length of every three hours until a little past their EDD. If they were hungry at 1 or 2 hours we fed them but we never let them go more than 3. So it was semi on demand. Everyone will have a different experience but that's because every baby and situation is different. Your pedi will know your babies and be able to give more specific advice.

vsalt31 · November 2012

We also fed on demand immediately at home. Our pedi recommended no longer than 5 hrs btwn feeds. I think there may have been a time or 2 that we went closer to 6 hrs (really, who's going to wake a sleeping baby!?). As long as they're gaining weight and having wet diapers, I think you're OK.

3litttlebirds · November 2012

We went straight to feeding on demand. We wanted to do this, were told by the NICU staff to do this, and told by the pediatrician to do this. We were told to wake baby up for feeding if he sleeps longer than 3 hours. Because DS was packing on the weight pretty good, we were told we could go 4 hours at night, but DS never lasts that long anyway. He pretty much wants food every 3 hours during the day, but at night, it's every 2 hours.

yinyang124 · November 2012

Good to see that their eating habits are normal. They had a pedi appt this morning, and she said they can go 4 hours because their weight gain is great. If only they would go 4 hours at night instead of day.

@Kadyra, I am soo looking forward to that too! I hate that I sometimes make them more upset by holding them. I need smell-proof boobie covers.

ahollo02 · November 2012

We tried to keep the 3 hour after the NICU. But as she as been growing, she usually likes to eat every 2-3 hours. So we are on demand feeding her and it has been working out fine Smile

diamondgrl4604 · November 2012

I went right to feeding on demand and left the NICU every 3 hours schedule at the NICU! Don't get me wrong I didn't let her go more then 3- 3 1/2 hours before a feed but I think that when they are hunrgy- feed them it worked for us my preemie has doubled her birth weight just 8 weeks after birth good luck!!

Jeep Doll · November 2012

We kept on the 3 hour schedule right after NICU because they are twins and we needed a schedule. The pedi also advised this until they gained more weight. They were born 34w 3d and left the NICU after 19 days and 21 days. When we noticed they would go longer once at night, pedi said to still stick to the 3 hour schedule except for one night period could go up to 4 hours.

When they got up to 7lbs, we started doing an on demand feeding. They still would eat (and still do) every 3 hours during the day, every 2 hours in the evening before bed, then a long sleep; anywhere between 6 to 9 hours for a stretch at night. We will do one up, both up for feedings.

I EP and supplement with formula for what I cannot make for twins. All bottle fed. If any of this matters Smile

cincimom619 · November 2012

For those of you feeding on demand, are you still keeping a regular schedule pumping? I'm hoping to breastfeed eventually, but right now my son isn't able to latch (we're practicing, but I have to supplement with the bottle). I don't want my milk supply to decrease and I wasn't sure if that would happen if my son ended up sleeping for a longer stretch at night. Thanks!

missgooseyface · November 2012

We switched to on demand feeding after our first visit to the pedi (24 hours after discharge). LO has not had any growing/eating problems so our pedi said it was fine. We also sometimes get a 5 hour stretch at night which my pedi said was also fine as long as DD continued to gain weight which she has. I would definitely check with your pedi...but if your babies are screaming and crying, I say feed them

That is why I couldn't stick to the schedule...if LO cried I wanted to soothe her and give her what she wanted (9 times out of 10 it was food).

Jeep Doll · November 2012

cincimom619:
For those of you feeding on demand, are you still keeping a regular schedule pumping? I'm hoping to breastfeed eventually, but right now my son isn't able to latch (we're practicing, but I have to supplement with the bottle). I don't want my milk supply to decrease and I wasn't sure if that would happen if my son ended up sleeping for a longer stretch at night. Thanks!

I was keeping pumping on a schedule while demand feeding, but it got crazy and I couldn't get anything done between feeding times. I switched back to pumping right after they eat, or feeding them, playing, then pumping right when they doze off so it is sort of after their feeding. Right now, they are sleeping longer hours during the night and that starts at 8pm until about 4-5am. I still pump at 10:30pm before I go to bed since I am awake anyway. So I guess I pump one time more than they feed. Still pump after every feed, though (we do all bottles, some bm some formula).

cincimom619 · November 2012

Jeep Doll:
cincimom619:
For those of you feeding on demand, are you still keeping a regular schedule pumping? I'm hoping to breastfeed eventually, but right now my son isn't able to latch (we're practicing, but I have to supplement with the bottle). I don't want my milk supply to decrease and I wasn't sure if that would happen if my son ended up sleeping for a longer stretch at night. Thanks!
I was keeping pumping on a schedule while demand feeding, but it got crazy and I couldn't get anything done between feeding times. I switched back to pumping right after they eat, or feeding them, playing, then pumping right when they doze off so it is sort of after their feeding. Right now, they are sleeping longer hours during the night and that starts at 8pm until about 4-5am. I still pump at 10:30pm before I go to bed since I am awake anyway. So I guess I pump one time more than they feed. Still pump after every feed, though (we do all bottles, some bm some formula).

Thanks! That's what I think I'll have to do too.

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