Would love some help!!

[Tillysmum]

Hi, have just discovered this site and hoping to save my sanity!!
My second daughter is now 4 months old, and I am at desperation point! She is gaining weight well, but feeds 2 hourly during the day and 3 hourly at night (to the second!) She feeds for about 5 minutes and is content and happy until the next feed. I was wondering if anyone can help me with breaking the night cycle. She refuses to take a bottle and is always hungry. I am simpy exhuasted with a toddler and not at home much dad, are there any tips to get her to take bottle. i have started solids- I know this may have been wrong but I was desperate. She loves the solids but still always hungry. I have friends with much younger babies that are sleeping 6,7,8 hrs at a time, i really feel that i am seriously going wrong somewhere.
I look forward to hearing from you.
thankyou

[misskittyfantastico]

You are so not doing anything wrong:hugs: My DD was always an incredibly frequent feeder, even now at 6 1/2 months she only sleeps for a 5 hr stretch (which to you sounds like heaven I know) at night and then wakes three hourly. The ABA website is a great help....they even counsel by email. You are doing a fantastic job....don't doubt yourself for a second:hugs:

[MamaSage]

Probably not what you want to hear, but sounds normal to me :kiss: Make sure you drink LOTS of water. Breast fed babes often feed more than ABM fed ones, anf the whole notion of the 'four hourly feed' did not come into play until bottle feeding sadly became the norm. Sounds like you are on track, and remember, it will not be forever.

[jarrahsmumma]

you sound like your doing well to me too:thumbsup:

can you make night feeding more comfortable for you..lying down is great for this. having bub in a cot against the side of your bed, or even better co-sleep, so you dont have to get up out of bed in the cold etc etc...

it will ease up in the future dont stress. if your bub is content between feeds then you are doing it all right.

contact your local ABA (Australian Breastfeeding Association) they can help with all this stuff, and much much more:D

best of luck and happy feeding

[draught]

I know how hard it is - I also had a regular feeder and bad sleeper, a toddler and an absent husband. Unfortunately what the other girls have said is right - it all sounds pretty normal. She still needs those night feeds at this young stage and there isn't much you can do about it except look after yourself and try and nap during the day. Make sure that you are eating well (I know - easier said than done) and include some extra animal protein in your diet - meat, fish, eggs etc. It will give you more energy, and increase the quality and "satisfying" factor of your milk so she might be more full and sleep a little longer. Apart from that all I can say is hang in there - it will improve over the next few months.

[Rainbowbrite]

I hate to say it but my DD is the same & she's almost 11 months :eek: At night she feeds, sleeps 5 hrs if i'm lucky, then feeds 2hrly. I'm deperate for sleep but this is what MJ needs for now.

Hope your bub figures out a better routine :hugs:

[kadownie]

Just wanted to encourage you- you're doing a great job. Like all the other ladies have said, your baby sounds like a normal baby- it is tiring though- just rest as much as you can. It's unfortunate that all of the books sold in book shops about babies stress how they should be sleeping through by this stage- but if you look at babies around the world- most of them sleep with their mummies and have breast access throughout the night- it's just us westerners that impose our rules onto our babies.

You are providing a wonderful foundation of love and trust for your baby by being there in the night.

Hope you get some rest soon!

[MrsTwith3]

You are doing a fantastic job. If your bub wasnt gaining weight then I would be concerned. you are on the right track. It really sucks the lack of sleep part. My 2yo DS was B/F till just after his 1st birthday and he never slept through the night. In the end we put him in with us so he had easy access IYKWIM and I could just go back to sleep. Some babies just dont need as much sleep as others. Ive found this out with DS. He still wakes 1-2 times during the night and gets in to bed with us.
Goodluck and make sure you look after yourself.

Mel

[Tillysmum]

thankyou to all that posted a reply to me, I really appreciate the support and encouragement, will definately keep in touch.