Re: Ladies, I am exhausted... please help me sort this out. (long)

I know you really don't want to, but I would try the formula for your sanity and see how it goes.

Re: Ladies, I am exhausted... please help me sort this out. (long)

I think some babies just need to eat more. My DC get an 8 oz bottle of formula at bedtime (around 6-630). DS gets another 8oz bottle around midnight, and then breastfeeds around 4am. He sleeps until about 5:30 and I take him into bed with me and I can get another hour or hour and half of sleep.
DD on the other hand, will wake up around 3 or 4 and breast feed. Then she will sleep until abut 7am.
This is what works for them. I know that it can't have anything to do with my supply, so DS just needs to eat more. THey eat solids 3x a day, and eat A LOT of it. They are also still nursing approx. every 3 hours, so I really don't think that he isn't gettting enough food during the day.
DH gives J the bottle at night, so I sleep from around 10 to 3ish, but then am up a bunch of times.
They are almost 7 months.

ETA: we told the ped about how much/when they were eating at their 6 month visit, and he didn't have any concerns.

Message edited 7/26/2009 2:17:45 PM.

Re: Ladies, I am exhausted... please help me sort this out. (long)

Posted by CkGm

My son is the same age. He still gets up at around 2/3 and then is up at 5/6 and will maybe go back to sleep while breastfeeding. I try to doze with him- its really nice.

I don't think you will see an end to the middle of the night feeding just yet. Some babies just still need that extra comfort until 7 or 8 months of age. Its very normal actually. It's tough when you are the one missing sleep however. I do understand MORE than you know. This past week my DD has been sick so I have been up pretty much round the clock. Its killer!

If you are concerned about supply, why don't you talk to your Dr. about supplementing. Jack has both formula and breastmilk and has no problem going back and forth from both. I could never pump well with either child so if I want a second away from him it was the only way to do it. Also I added a lot of oatmeal to my diet and my supply has increased a bunch. Fungreek did nothing for me last time either.

Hang in there and try to wait out the middle of night wakeups. If it doesn't improve by 7 months, then maybe a full out CIO program is the way to go. I would start with naps since she has a problem with them. My DD was a horrible napper until we did CIO for naps at 6 months. 2 years later and she is STILL a champion napper.

Hope all that helps! Hang in there and know you are not alone right now!

Re: UPDATED Ladies, I am exhausted... please help me sort this out. (long)

updated this morning.

Thanks again for all your help!

Re: UPDATED Ladies, I am exhausted... please help me sort this out. (long)

SOunds like stretching her helped. Try it for a few more days, I bet she starts napping better. Looks like she slept really good last night!!

I bet when she gets off the "snacking" thing and onto eating better during the day it will help.

Also if she starts eating more during the day she may drop that middle of the night feeding... it may just take a while.

SOunds like you are slowly starting to figure things out which is GREAT!!! Hopefully its all up hill from here!!

Re: UPDATED Ladies, I am exhausted... please help me sort this out. (long)

great update, she seems like she is getting into a better routine for both of you!