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BF MoMs- Stretching MOTN feedings

SmallCityLivingSmallCityLiving member
in Multiples
LOs are 8 weeks old and EBF. DS is still feeding every 1.5-2.5 hours at night and I am exhausted. Everyone tells me by now he should be sleeping longer stretches but he never has. DD ( smaller) often skips a feeding bc she can go up to 5 hours. DS is gaining incredibly well and has almost doubled his birth weight already. I am close to giving formula to him at night to see if he will go longer bc I am just so exhausted. I cant survive on sleep in onE hour intervals and that's assuming I fall right asleep and babies go right back down. Any tips? I always wanted to EBF for at least six months and preferably a year but now I just want to sleep!
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Re: BF MoMs- Stretching MOTN feedings

  • MrsP419MrsP419 member
    That sounds so tough! You're amazing for EBFing. My twins aren't here yet, but a couple of my twin mama friends suggested supplementing one bottle per night to get that extra chunk of sleep. Your supply will be better for the babies if you get some rest, as well as your sanity. They told me that one bottle of formula is totally worth it. It is what I intend to do!
    DD- Born 03/09/2010
    DS- Born 01/21/2012
                                              Lilypie First Birthday tickers
                                                  

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  • basil2basil2 member
    How big are your babies-and what was their gestational age at birth?
    If you're not familiar with the Weissbluth books (Healthy sleep happy child or the twins version) I think they give the best explanation of the physiology. According to his explanation - night sleep gets more organized at 6 wks ( but corrected for gets age). With my son it was 6 wks 4 days- he went from multiple feedings to sleeping all night all at once (warning it didn't stay that easy).
    I'd ignore anyone who tells you what the baby 'should' be doing.
    I'd also be wary of formula- no experience with it- but everything I've read is that it doesn't really help- I'd be worried it could reduce your supply- and stressing about supply seems like no fun either (I don't think more sleep will undo the reduction in demand).
    If you need to do something- I'd look at some of the scheduling methods.
    It definitely gets better- if nothing else they do get more efficient with nursing and the sessions get shorter.
    Wishing you sleep.
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  • Jamie718Jamie718 member
    My girls are 7 weeks and were born just shy of 36 weeks.  They generally sleep 2.5-4 hour stretches at night.  The last couple nights they've done 3-4 and are moving away from the 2.5.  I go to bed when my 3 year old does and my husband stays up with the girls from 9-12 so during that time they get a bottle of formula.  If they're awake when he brings them in at night I BF them just to top them off and that first stretch they usually will go about 3.5 hours.  I think the bottle probably does help and hasn't affected my supply since it's just once a day that I skip a feeding. 
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  • TheDairyQueenx3TheDairyQueenx3 member
    Mine are 6 1/2 months and in still up 5-7 times a night between 10-5:30am it sucks but I know it won't last forever :) that's what keeps me going! And the random night that they sleep extra well. Honestly what I found to help is the "relax m" app on my iPhone set to urban rain and thunder. They sleep SO much better with that on. I wish I would have done it a few months ago haha!


    Together 6 wonderful years.
    TTC #1 18 months 1 loss DX unexplained IF-- BFP July 2009-- ITS A BOY
    TTC #2 3 years and 3 losses DX PCOS -- BFP April 2013-- TWIN BOYS!
    ~DS1-Feb 2010~ 
    ~DS2&3- Nov 2013  {7 weeks early}~ TTC #4~
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