[Leafprincess]

So my little one feeds every two hours and he has a very healthy appetite sometimes feeding for up to 45 minutes, though usually only for 20 minutes.

He has a touch of reflux too, so after feeding, there is much burping & holding at 45 degree angle to prevent vomiting.

Needless to say I haven't had much sleep, So tonight my well meaning aunt suggested that I formula feed him at night so he will sleep through the night. We did comp feed for the first week and half as he was a premie and my milk hadn't come in as quickly as I would have liked.

I don't know what to think about such advice. I have always be told that breast is best and I definitely produce enough milk now, I do express and DP does one feed a day.

Has anyone fed their baby formula at night so they would sleep through? What were your experiences?

How long until your little one moved towards three- four hourly feeds?

[mummaorange]

the more formula you feed, the more baby may want. Giving the bub formula COULD make them sleep longer. But honestly your baby is soooo new. just give him his mummy milk when he wants it. Soon he will go longer between feeds If he is gaining weight fine, you are providing him well enough.

in regards to the long feeding, my dd takes 30 mins to feed at almost 8 months, but has a posterior tongue tie. Maybe have baby checked if you are worried. He could just be comfort sucking <3

[cira]

My MIL kept suggesting formula for my babe that needed frequent feeds (2 hourly). I looked into it but based on my research it is a myth that FF babies sleep better or longer.

Keep in mind that BFing doesn't have to be on-demand, some Mums choose to space out the feeds and set a four hour schedule from very young. Maybe your MCHN could give you soem advice on this.

[lollipopcreative]

What about expressing so someone else could do a feed if you really need a rest, or perhaps try dream feeding? I dream fed my DS and it worked great for that bit of extra sleep. I would stick with the breast feeding. Good luck! These days seem like they will last forever but they really don't.

[lucky 2]

Hi, it says on your ticker that your baby is adjusted 6 days old.
I would encourage you to continue to exclusively breast milk feed (ie exclusively breast feeding or express as you are already doing) because this is what needs to happen so you continue to produce the amount of milk needed for your baby to grow in the usual way.
It is not expected that a 6 day old baby would sleep through the night, even with formula feeding.
Your Aunts suggestion isn't in the best interests of your baby (I know she is trying to help you sleep more) and is unrealistic considering the age of your baby.
I'd suggest you talk things through with you CHN and perhaps a LC to review how your baby is feeding, just to ensure he is feeding to the best of his capacity.
Feeds at this age are usually btn 8-12 per 24 hours with 10 being an average, all around the clock.
Could it be that if your baby was born at 36 weeks that he has been quite settled but appears now more unsettled?
This commonly happens and because baby starts to take longer to sleep after feeds, especially at night, parents think that something is "wrong" when often what is happening is that baby is now behaving like a newborn term baby.
Newborn term babies are less likely to settle easy after feeds especially at night (often 11-12 mn to 4-5 am) and will sleep easier after dawn and in the morning.
When they are a few weeks old they can now be more unsettled in the evenings.
Congratulations on the birth of your baby, I hope you can get some rest in the day, especially in the mornings and I often had a late afternoon nap to help me cope (sort of) with the night duty.
All the best.

[Leafprincess]

Thank you everyone.

I Think I just needed a confidence boost to continue demand feeding Sabre.

I don't mind the lack of sleep, I figure it won't be long when he doesn't need as frequent feeding and one day he won't need me at all.

Lucky2
I wonder why it is they think 8-11am is bedtime?!
Luckily I crash out during the day when he sleeps, DP on the otherhand is returning to work today & will probably walk around like a zombie all day.

We have an appt with the CHN on Friday so I will follow up with them then.

Thank you again.