| Posted By |
Message |
LoveyQ
Stalkers, get a life.
Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
Name:
|
What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
DS is 4 months old, 12lbs 8oz.
He has been refusing bottles when he wakes up in the middle of the night. He will SCREAM his little head off if we give him a bottle. Which means mommy BFs and he's perfectly fine with that. (DH used to wake up with him a couple of nights a week to let me get some sleep, but DS isn't having that anymore).
He has reflux although it's been MUCHHHHH better since we started adding a teaspoon of rice cereal, per the GI, in his bottles. He generally eats every 3-4 hours and at night he will give us up to one 5 hour stretch (like 9pm-2am or 8pm to 1am). Yesterday, he went 7 hours between feedings during the day, a first for him.
All that said, DH just got back from taking him to the ped GI doctor for his followup and told all of this to the doctor. The GI told DH that we need to keep giving him the Zantac (we had pretty much stopped it since he seemed fine, but yesterday he was definitely having a reflux episode) and that we should let him sleep through the night, meaning do not feed him when he gets up. He said that he's looking for the breast for comfort to soothe himself back to sleep because if he was hungry, he would take a bottle when offered. He told DH that DS has gotten used to that but that he's old enough to STTN.
Ok, so I'd love for DS to STTN, but how in the world do I NOT feed him if he's up crying in the middle of the night? We've tried to just rock him or things like that when he gets up, but the boob is the only thing that calms him and gets him back to sleep. I figure he's waking up because he's hungry, so I feed him.
What's your take on what the GI said to do? And WWYD now? I know what I'm comfortable with doing, but I'm curious to see what others would do.
|
Posted 7/14/10 1:38 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
I'm sorry, but I would not be comfortable with what the GI said.
A couple of things...
First, I know that Loey definitely prefers the breast to bottle. If I'm home, he will NOT take a bottle. It doesn't matter if he is absolutely starving... he will NOT do it. I think Henry might be that way too!
I think that going 7 hours between feedings during the day is way too long! Even as an adult... if I ate breakfast at 8:00 am, you bet that I will have definitely eaten again before 3:00 pm! KWIM? I would try to be a little more consistent during the day so that you can get those 7 hour stretches at night.
The only way to have him sleep through the night with the GI's advice would be letting him CIO if he doesn't take to rocking, pacifier, or whatever. I think he's too little for that... IMO.
|
| Posted 7/14/10 1:42 PM |
| |
|
mommyIam
Member since 7/09 9209 total posts
Name:
Shana
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
GI isn't god, he's giving a recommendation. You have to follow your gut, you live with the baby, you know your baby best.
Take everything into consideration and make your own decisions.
IMO, I would wean off the night feedings slowly. Maybe give him breast for a few less minutes during the night. Until it just a night cuddle. Its something I just couldn't do to baby cold turkey.
Message edited 7/14/2010 1:49:06 PM.
|
| Posted 7/14/10 1:48 PM |
| |
|
LoveyQ
Stalkers, get a life.
Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by momytobein2010
GI isn't god, he's giving a recommendation. You have to follow your gut, you live with the baby, you know your baby best.
Take everything into consideration and make your own decisions.
Definitely. Like I said, I know what I'm comfortable with doing, but I wanted to see what other people thought of this and what they'd do. I also like to get more than one opinion (I'll be checking with his ped at his 4 month appt tomorrow and will ask my BFF who is also a ped) and then figure out what's best. But I like also hearing other moms' takes because they have first hand experience.
I'm waiting to see if there are more opinions before elaborating on my own thoughts - don't want to influence the posts 
|
| Posted 7/14/10 1:54 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Hmm...Sienna is a few days older than Henry and Henry was a preemie and my ped said to feed her in the middle of the night because it could be a growth spurt. I don't really know the answer but I would think you should feed him because he is technically two months behind since he was born so early-KWIM?
|
| Posted 7/14/10 1:56 PM |
| |
|
LoveyQ
Stalkers, get a life.
Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by munchkinfacemama
Hmm...Sienna is a few days older than Henry and Henry was a preemie and my ped said to feed her in the middle of the night because it could be a growth spurt. I don't really know the answer but I would think you should feed him because he is technically two months behind since he was born so early-KWIM?
DH reminded the GI that DS was (is?) a preemie and the doctor said it didn't matter!  lol. But see, your dr. gave you different advice for a baby the same age... exactly why I'm going to check with his ped tomorrow 
|
| Posted 7/14/10 1:58 PM |
| |
|
MrsA714
Baby #2 is here!
Member since 8/07 8806 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by maybeamommy
I think that going 7 hours between feedings during the day is way too long! Even as an adult... if I ate breakfast at 8:00 am, you bet that I will have definitely eaten again before 3:00 pm! KWIM? I would try to be a little more consistent during the day so that you can get those 7 hour stretches at night.
I agree with this.
When DD was that age I never let her go more than 4 -4.5 hours in between feedings. Even if she was asleep (I know a lot of people think this is CRAZY but it worked for us). Maybe this would help him STTN. But at 4 months, I definitely think I would still feed him in the middle of the night.
|
| Posted 7/14/10 2:00 PM |
| |
|
LoveyQ
Stalkers, get a life.
Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by maybeamommy
I'm sorry, but I would not be comfortable with what the GI said.
The only way to have him sleep through the night with the GI's advice would be letting him CIO if he doesn't take to rocking, pacifier, or whatever. I think he's too little for that... IMO.
Ok I was waiting for more input before responding, but here goes.
I pretty much agree with what you said here Hayley! I feel like he's still so little and I do not feel comfortable with CIO at this age, which is what I feel I would have to do if I don't feed him in the middle of the night when he wakes up crying. I do see the doctor's point though and it makes sense, but I don't see how I could go about it withOUT having DS CIO, KWIM?
He will take a bottle from me during the day, I think because it's been like that since he came home from the hospital after his month long NICU stay. I would always BF and then end with a small bottle at each feeding. But it's JUST in the middle of the night that he's refusing bottles and only wants the breast. He also now needs the boob to fall asleep for the night. He used to be able to go down awake and fall asleep on his own. Now he will just cry until he gets on the boob, like even for just 1 or 2 minutes and then he's OUT. So I know he's using it to soothe himself and I don't want him to do that, but I'm not sure how to get him out of that WITHOUT having him just cry. I feel like I'm in a conundrum since I don't want to do CIO just yet.
As for the 7 hour stretch without eating yesterday, that was the first time he ever did that. He's normally like a clock during the day, eating right at the 3 or 4 hour mark. I know he was also extra fussy yesterday and it was overall a very off day. My point with adding that was to show that he COULD go 7 hours without eating, so I'm guessing he CAN do that at night, but he's not - he gets up after an initial 4 or 5 hour stretch and then is up every 1.5 hours for the rest of the night since he just wants to BF and doesn't get enough from just the breast.
So you guys think I should just keep feeding him when he wakes up in the middle of the night instead of trying to soothe him in other ways?
Momytobe - I was going to try to decrease the length of time I BF him in the middle of the night as per the Baby Sleep Solution, but I don't know how to do that without him crying. At this age, I want him to feel loved and protected and know I'm there for him.
|
| Posted 7/14/10 3:11 PM |
| |
|
maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
honestly... here is what we did and I don't know if this will work for you but it did for us.
basically during the first 6 months, i tended to his every need. whether it was feeding him every hour during the night (or nursing for comfort), etc. or running to him as soon as he cried.
when we felt that WE were ready and that HE was ready... we went from having him cosleep and be held for naps (and always using the breast to fall asleep for the night) to CIO and sleeping/napping in his own crib.
we felt he was ready when he started to do things for our attention or "fake" cry... KWIM? that's when I felt like okay, he's not crying because he needs us... it's more "manipulative" (althoguh I hate using that word).
and you know what? he WAS ready.
he went from waking 8-10+ times/night to nurse to STTN for 11.5 hours on his first night of CIO!!!!
|
| Posted 7/14/10 3:28 PM |
| |
|
Linda1003
love my 2 boys
Member since 8/08 10923 total posts
Name:
Linda
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by maybeamommy
I'm sorry, but I would not be comfortable with what the GI said.
A couple of things...
First, I know that Loey definitely prefers the breast to bottle. If I'm home, he will NOT take a bottle. It doesn't matter if he is absolutely starving... he will NOT do it. I think Henry might be that way too!
I think that going 7 hours between feedings during the day is way too long! Even as an adult... if I ate breakfast at 8:00 am, you bet that I will have definitely eaten again before 3:00 pm! KWIM? I would try to be a little more consistent during the day so that you can get those 7 hour stretches at night.
The only way to have him sleep through the night with the GI's advice would be letting him CIO if he doesn't take to rocking, pacifier, or whatever. I think he's too little for that... IMO.
I agree with all of this.. Def get him on a better schedule during the day.. 7 yours during the day is a lot.. def agree that its' too early to STTN..he was a premie!!!!!!Waaaayyy tooo soon in my opinion!!!
Zantac was a life saver for us!!!! Use it!!!
|
| Posted 7/14/10 3:34 PM |
| |
|
LoveyQ
Stalkers, get a life.
Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by maybeamommy
honestly... here is what we did and I don't know if this will work for you but it did for us.
basically during the first 6 months, i tended to his every need. whether it was feeding him every hour during the night (or nursing for comfort), etc. or running to him as soon as he cried.
when we felt that WE were ready and that HE was ready... we went from having him cosleep and be held for naps (and always using the breast to fall asleep for the night) to CIO and sleeping/napping in his own crib.
we felt he was ready when he started to do things for our attention or "fake" cry... KWIM? that's when I felt like okay, he's not crying because he needs us... it's more "manipulative" (althoguh I hate using that word).
and you know what? he WAS ready.
he went from waking 8-10+ times/night to nurse to STTN for 11.5 hours on his first night of CIO!!!!
What happens if I feel ready now and think he might be ready to sleep longer stretches? I think he CAN go longer than 1.5 hours of sleep in the middle of the night after his initial stretch of 4-5 hours. I don't expect or need him to STTN just yet, but I do think he needs the boob to fall asleep and is looking for that as his soothing mechanism. But then I wonder, is he really just hungry?
I'm so happy that Loey's transition was SO successful! This is what makes me wonder if we should just wait until 6 months for CIO and not bother with anything until then. We have started to do a nightly routine (bath, massage, pjs, boob, bedtime with sound machine) and it has been going really well for the most part. Maybe I should just stick to that.
But now that the GI told DH that DS should be STTN, I'm afraid he's not going to be on board with me and will want to let him CIO already!!! I was hoping for more opinions also to show him that it's not just set in stone that we HAVE to follow what he said. But I also want to see if maybe the doctor is right the he CAN STTN or at least sleep longer so if there's a way to help him sleep longer withOUT feeding him, but also NOT letting him CIO just yet, I would be willing to try that.
|
| Posted 7/14/10 3:39 PM |
| |
|
LoveyQ
Stalkers, get a life.
Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by Linda1003
I agree with all of this.. Def get him on a better schedule during the day.. 7 yours during the day is a lot.. def agree that its' too early to STTN..he was a premie!!!!!!Waaaayyy tooo soon in my opinion!!!
Zantac was a life saver for us!!!! Use it!!!
Thanks Linda! I just want to clarify that the 7 hour thing was a one time thing, totally out of the norm for DS. We've never let him go that long and only did yesterday because he refused a bottle and went down for a nap and we're trying to follow the "never wake a sleeping baby" advice. But yeah, he's never gone that long between feedings, day or night.
|
| Posted 7/14/10 3:41 PM |
| |
|
Linda1003
love my 2 boys
Member since 8/08 10923 total posts
Name:
Linda
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by LoveyQ
Posted by Linda1003
I agree with all of this.. Def get him on a better schedule during the day.. 7 yours during the day is a lot.. def agree that its' too early to STTN..he was a premie!!!!!!Waaaayyy tooo soon in my opinion!!!
Zantac was a life saver for us!!!! Use it!!!
Thanks Linda! I just want to clarify that the 7 hour thing was a one time thing, totally out of the norm for DS. We've never let him go that long and only did yesterday because he refused a bottle and went down for a nap and we're trying to follow the "never wake a sleeping baby" advice. But yeah, he's never gone that long between feedings, day or night.
LOL yeah I didn't finish reading the thread before i responded!! my bad!!!
|
| Posted 7/14/10 3:44 PM |
| |
|
maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
I don't think the doctor is necessarily WRONG, but I really don't see a way to NOT feed him KWIM?
Do you try rocking him or giving him the paci instead?? Does that work...?
|
| Posted 7/14/10 4:00 PM |
| |
|
mommyIam
Member since 7/09 9209 total posts
Name:
Shana
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by LoveyQ
Momytobe - I was going to try to decrease the length of time I BF him in the middle of the night as per the Baby Sleep Solution, but I don't know how to do that without him crying. At this age, I want him to feel loved and protected and know I'm there for him.
|
| Posted 7/14/10 4:04 PM |
| |
|
LoveyQ
Stalkers, get a life.
Member since 11/07 12820 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by maybeamommy
I don't think the doctor is necessarily WRONG, but I really don't see a way to NOT feed him KWIM?
Do you try rocking him or giving him the paci instead?? Does that work...?
We tried rocking and shushing, no go. I've tried a paci and sometimes it will work, but I have to literally hold it in. The second I take my hand away, he spits it out/it falls out and he's crying again. But sometimes he won't even take it. The boob on the other hand, no problem
|
| Posted 7/14/10 4:06 PM |
| |
|
maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
Name:
|
Re: What's your take on this and WWYD? Re: middle of the night feedings and what GI suggested
Posted by LoveyQ
Posted by maybeamommy
I don't think the doctor is necessarily WRONG, but I really don't see a way to NOT feed him KWIM?
Do you try rocking him or giving him the paci instead?? Does that work...?
We tried rocking and shushing, no go. I've tried a paci and sometimes it will work, but I have to literally hold it in. The second I take my hand away, he spits it out/it falls out and he's crying again. But sometimes he won't even take it. The boob on the other hand, no problem
 sounds just like Loey!
This started around 4 months for him - and everyone said it was the "4 month sleep regression" but it didn't really go away! It was even worse when he was getting his bottom 2 teeth, but once that was over... we made the commitment to do CIO and it worked and I don't see anything else (for us at least) that would have worked.
Now we put him down to go to sleep and by the time we close the door to his room, he's OUT! He sleeps usually 10 hours.
If you can wait... I'd do that. KWIM?
If not, maybe Ferber or something like that? Speak to headoverheels.... she might have some Ferber suggestions. We just felt that we had to do it all cold turkey. We took away the pacifier at that time also (since he was starting to use it less because of teething) and it has all worked out.
|
| Posted 7/14/10 4:09 PM |
| |
|
