Struggling with my unfillable 5.5 month old :(

Munchkin30 · Apr 12th, 2012, 03:40 AM

Hey all,

Just wanted some advice.... My LO used to wake once a night and I could express 8-10 oz in the morning for her bedtime bottle. The last couple of weeks she's been feeding at least twice and im really struggling to express 5 oz which means she has a smaller bottle at bed which has knock on effects the rest of the night. I'm feeding her every 2.5 hrs in the day, cluster feed in the eve and she's just started solids at lunchtime.
Last night I dreamfed at 11 for the first time but she still woke and fed at 1am, 3am and 5am.
I just feel spent

my gp friend suggested formula at bedtime (no!) and older mummies have suggested rice or cereal in the bedtime bottle (apparently bed idea!)
I know really she's ready for solids but don't want to rush it just to get some sleep.
Any ideas??

X

lynnikins · Apr 12th, 2012, 04:12 AM

it wont just be hunger most likely hun shes growing and developing so much her brain just needs to be awake more hours to process the new stuff it will pass and i wouldnt go loading her up on solids

oblada18 · Apr 12th, 2012, 07:18 AM

Any reason why you feel the need to express in the morning to give it at night in a bottle? What about just breastfeeding direct (if its possible - obviously if you're not there it is a bit tricky lol) - maybe try expressing more often otherwise.
Otherwise its probably just a phase, go with the flow, I know it is tiring but worrying about it is only going to make you more tired. All babies will have phases like that when they wake up more often etc.
My daughter wakes up at least 3-4 times in the night and always has - we co-sleep and that helps me function properly during the day!
There is no evidence that introducing solids will help STTN - milk is way more nutritious than solids anyway.

Munchkin30 · Apr 12th, 2012, 07:41 AM

Hey. Yes I could feed her direct but I've always expressed cos I was struggling filling her by bedtime and morning milk's meant to be richer I think. I'm happy with the slow introduction of solids now, she's ready and I didn't want to be rushing at 6 months.
I've also tried settling her without feeding her in the night but she just gets upset and is harder to settle when I do feed her anyway!
I know it's meant to be demand leading to supply but I really feel like I'm at capacity!

muddles · Apr 12th, 2012, 07:44 AM

Are you eating enough of the right foods? I always used to notice a difference in my milk and how much it filled up LO when I was eating enough, and for some reason anything oat based always increased my supply! I'd say it's a growth spurt and that solids wont fill her up more than milk will.

CandyDay · Apr 12th, 2012, 07:49 AM

Probably starting her 6 month growth spurt a little early. Maybe instead of giving her solids for lunch you could try giving at supper instead. Although that hasn't helped my LO sleep better at night it might work for yours as they are all different.
Be sure to drink plenty of water in the evenings and mabye eat oatmeal for supper to help with your supply in the evenings.

Munchkin30 · Apr 12th, 2012, 07:54 AM

It just seems to be one growth spurt after another!! Now she's tried a couple of things I might try moving her food to the evening, good idea! I also do eat porridge sometimes but hadn't really connected it with supply, will def try that. And maybe in the evenings too! Any other ideas of food good for supply?

Thanks ladies x

oblada18 · Apr 12th, 2012, 08:08 AM

I believe that the idea of morning milk being richer is just a myth...

As for not being able to fill her up - trust yourself, you are more than capable to fill her up at any time - your body will respond to her demands!

muddles · Apr 12th, 2012, 08:10 AM

Just make sure you are eating enough, my supply always went down and LO got really grumpy and seemed unsatisfied when I tried to diet (in the end I waited until he was between 6 months and a year and had cut right down on his feeds and upped his food before I tried again).

You need around an extra 500 calories a day whilst bf. Other than oats I just made sure I ate plenty of carbs alongside protein, dairy (well soya as dairy makes me really ill), fruit and veg with a treat each day (usually dairy free chocolate bar/home made flapjack and a takeway once or twice a week). I also took the Sanatogen vitamin for new mothers.

Apr 12th, 2012, 03:40 AM	#1
Munchkin30 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 1,861	Struggling with my unfillable 5.5 month old :( Hey all, Just wanted some advice.... My LO used to wake once a night and I could express 8-10 oz in the morning for her bedtime bottle. The last couple of weeks she's been feeding at least twice and im really struggling to express 5 oz which means she has a smaller bottle at bed which has knock on effects the rest of the night. I'm feeding her every 2.5 hrs in the day, cluster feed in the eve and she's just started solids at lunchtime. Last night I dreamfed at 11 for the first time but she still woke and fed at 1am, 3am and 5am. I just feel spent my gp friend suggested formula at bedtime (no!) and older mummies have suggested rice or cereal in the bedtime bottle (apparently bed idea!) I know really she's ready for solids but don't want to rush it just to get some sleep. Any ideas?? X

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Apr 12th, 2012, 04:12 AM	#2
lynnikins Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Elite Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: East Midlands Posts: 15,436	it wont just be hunger most likely hun shes growing and developing so much her brain just needs to be awake more hours to process the new stuff it will pass and i wouldnt go loading her up on solids

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Apr 12th, 2012, 07:18 AM	#3
oblada18 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 298	Any reason why you feel the need to express in the morning to give it at night in a bottle? What about just breastfeeding direct (if its possible - obviously if you're not there it is a bit tricky lol) - maybe try expressing more often otherwise. Otherwise its probably just a phase, go with the flow, I know it is tiring but worrying about it is only going to make you more tired. All babies will have phases like that when they wake up more often etc. My daughter wakes up at least 3-4 times in the night and always has - we co-sleep and that helps me function properly during the day! There is no evidence that introducing solids will help STTN - milk is way more nutritious than solids anyway.

Status: Offline

Apr 12th, 2012, 07:41 AM	#4
Munchkin30 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 1,861	Hey. Yes I could feed her direct but I've always expressed cos I was struggling filling her by bedtime and morning milk's meant to be richer I think. I'm happy with the slow introduction of solids now, she's ready and I didn't want to be rushing at 6 months. I've also tried settling her without feeding her in the night but she just gets upset and is harder to settle when I do feed her anyway! I know it's meant to be demand leading to supply but I really feel like I'm at capacity!

Status: Online

Apr 12th, 2012, 07:44 AM	#5
muddles Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 2,951	Are you eating enough of the right foods? I always used to notice a difference in my milk and how much it filled up LO when I was eating enough, and for some reason anything oat based always increased my supply! I'd say it's a growth spurt and that solids wont fill her up more than milk will.

Status: Offline

Apr 12th, 2012, 07:49 AM	#6
CandyDay Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ontario,Canada Posts: 560	Probably starting her 6 month growth spurt a little early. Maybe instead of giving her solids for lunch you could try giving at supper instead. Although that hasn't helped my LO sleep better at night it might work for yours as they are all different. Be sure to drink plenty of water in the evenings and mabye eat oatmeal for supper to help with your supply in the evenings.

Status: Offline

Apr 12th, 2012, 07:54 AM	#7
Munchkin30 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 1,861	It just seems to be one growth spurt after another!! Now she's tried a couple of things I might try moving her food to the evening, good idea! I also do eat porridge sometimes but hadn't really connected it with supply, will def try that. And maybe in the evenings too! Any other ideas of food good for supply? Thanks ladies x

Status: Online

Apr 12th, 2012, 08:08 AM	#8
oblada18 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 298	I believe that the idea of morning milk being richer is just a myth... As for not being able to fill her up - trust yourself, you are more than capable to fill her up at any time - your body will respond to her demands!

Status: Offline

Apr 12th, 2012, 08:10 AM	#9
muddles Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 2,951	Just make sure you are eating enough, my supply always went down and LO got really grumpy and seemed unsatisfied when I tried to diet (in the end I waited until he was between 6 months and a year and had cut right down on his feeds and upped his food before I tried again). You need around an extra 500 calories a day whilst bf. Other than oats I just made sure I ate plenty of carbs alongside protein, dairy (well soya as dairy makes me really ill), fruit and veg with a treat each day (usually dairy free chocolate bar/home made flapjack and a takeway once or twice a week). I also took the Sanatogen vitamin for new mothers.

Status: Offline

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