Baby is almost 5 weeks old. Still waking up at least every 2-2.5 hours to nurse. I had a meltdown last night when he woke up starving only 45 minutes after he went down from the previous session. When do they start going longer between night feedings? Is there anything I can do to speed it up? I mean, I knew I would be getting up a lot at night but I have yet to sleep more than 2 consecutive hours since he was born, and there's NO end in sight! I'm going back to work in about a month and I'm really nervous about it, seeing as I need to use my brain to do my job. Any advice?
Re: Help
Ive found the most helpful thing for my sanity, because I was just like you at 5 weeks, has been to have my husband do feedings from 8-midnight, then I get the night shift, then he takes her again around 6-7am until he leaves for work at 8am. Those few extra hours make a world of difference especially before midnight. Knowing I can sleep and not have to listen out for her gives me restful sleep. Is that an option for you?
1. Encourage a tank-up before the first stretch of sleep. By offering the breast often in the evening, my boys gave/give me at least a longer first stretch. DS2 definitely sleeps longer than DS1 did.
2. Don't engage him right away if he cries out or fusses if it's not clearly a hungry cry or danger cry. Many babies vocalize when they're shifting into a different sleep cycle or making a bowel movement in their sleep, but they're not actually hungry yet-- but will accept food if it's offered. When DS2 starts to lightly fuss or rustle around, I'll look for hunger cues (nah sound, chewing fist, etc) or give it about 30 seconds to see if he settles back in. Often, he does. Then, when he truly is hungry, he eats very well.
Edited what the bump ate in my post.
I haven't reintroduced the bottle so haven't done this in awhile... but we were bottle feeding the first two weeks due to latch issues and I would get in an extra pumping session and have DH/my mom take an overnight feeding and I would sleep through it - this was back when he ate every 2-3 hours round the clock and I
desperately needed a longer stretch and it made a big difference !!
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Here is how our current schedule goes:
I keep breastfeeding up until about 8:30pm. I offer the boob often from about 5pm onwards and pretty much resign myself to spending those hours tethered to LO on the sofa. From 8:30pm onward, DH will keep a bottle handy and offer it to him whenever he is awake. He then feeds him a full bottle after I go to bed at around 10pm. LO then sleeps until 2am and around that time I wake up and feed him. I then wake up for his next feeding at around 5am. If I'm lucky, I am able to fall asleep again after and sleep until 7 or 8.
Ocasionally, he will not wake up until 4am for the first feeding and those nights are awesome.
What I think has helped us also is having a bedtime routine. Every night DH gives her a wipe down bath. We only bathe her with soap once a week but DH at least wipes her down with water every night. Afterwards I put lotion on her in a dark room using only a night light with white noise playing . Then I feed her, lay her down, and turn off the lights. She's not even always sleep when I leave the room. But she's quiet and she's learned that this is the bedtime, long sleep routine. When she wakes at night we limit any talking to her or between us. DH changes her and hands her back to me for feeding. And once she's done eating I lay her down again. Even if she's not sleep.
LO does best when wrapped in a SwaddleMe. We only use these at night. They've become her pajamas.
Also if she becomes fussy after I've laid her down, I know she's clean, I know she's not hungry, she just wants to be held to sleep, I rock her RNP, calmly talk to her, make the shhhh sound, rub her and try to soothe her in every way except picking her up.
DD: 05/14/16
I've noticed that by feeding on only one side at each feeding keeps DS fuller longer because he's getting the hind milk and emptying that breast. He's a week older than yours and in the past few days just started stretching his feedings and going 3.5-4 hours a few times a day...so there's hope!!!
ME: 35 DH: 39
Married July 2011
DD Born 8/12
TTC #2 since 11/13
ME: Submucosal Fibroid Surgery Date APRIL 14th 2015 -Left Tube is blocked by Fibroid~Surgeon removed 26 Fibroids from my Ute and Unblocked my Tube
DH:Azoospermia...Thank God we have 12 vials of frozen swimmers
July 15-Check to see if Ute is all healed
IUI #1 8/3/15...BFN
IUI #2 9/5/15...BFP on 9/17/15
Beta #1-344
Beta #2-809
Beta #3 8,390
1st u/s 8/8/15 1 bean HB 135 @ 6w5d
He slept over 3 hours yesterday while I was wearing him (he likes being vertical!) Too bad I can't do that at night. Hopefully he'll stretch out soon