Is a routine ever going to be possible...?

[stockers697]

So LO is 6 weeks old and EBF, in proud of us for getting this far however I still feel like we are struggling.

I just feel like we are feeding all the time , there are no rough times or routines and in struggling with that.

I know six weeks is still really early but is it ever going to be possible to have even a slight glimpse of a routine?

I think that sleep maybe a bit of an issue too - I'm still getting to know LO but she doesn't seem to sleep a lot in the daytime and when she does its for 20 minutes she seems to be getting over tired in the daytime.

She is doing quite well at night though and goes from 10 - 3 then back down to 6 - 7 - I somehow am still bloomin knackered though!!

Can anyone offer any advice or hope....?

X

 

[stockers697]

I should have said, I can't help thinking formula would give a bit more of a routine with feeding times? X

 

[emmalg]

Hi Stockers,

I remember that really well. My LO used to take 1 hour to do a feed and want feeding every 2 hours so I only got an hour between feeds. It is actually perfectly normal to feed a BF baby that much, their tummies are so small any their digestion works really quickly.

It is hard. Get some good books, treat yourself to that series you've been meaning to catch up with and settle down on the sofa with some drinks and a snack.

You'll soon realise that the feeds start at the same time each day, say 7am, then there will be 9, 11, etc and you'll be able to anticipate when the baby is hungry. In no time the feeds will naturally get further apart and you'll see a new schedule naturally start to emerge.

I hope you find it gets a bit easier soon xx

 

[stockers697]

Thanks emmalg,

It doesn't help that my mum (who breastfed both me and my brother) keeps saying you feed her too much - I just fed you and your brother every three hours.

She has never heard of cluster feeding or feeding on demand!!

x

 

[rainmonkey]

I used to HATE breastfeeding in the early weeks. I was stressed out and felt like we'd never get it. It was too tiring and very demanding i felt like i was always feeding!! After around 12 weeks it got easier. The feeds still don't follow a strict pattern or routine i just feed her when she's hungry, but the time it takes to feed has got quicker and she goes longer between feeds now around every 3 hours sometimes longer and sometimes she'll only go an hour but that is rare now. I'd love to get her into a routine but i don't think she'd ever stick to one so i just let her take the lead. After all she knows when she's hungry better then i do.

 

[stephie_corin]

I agree, 12 weeks was the turning point for us! Before then I was totally lost, never knowing when a feed was coming. You might want to try putting LO down for a nap after a shorter wake time. Mine at that age couldn't last much longer than an hour awake.

Hang in there. Breastfeeding becomes much easier than formula (your milk is ready every time, at the right temperature, the minute baby is hungry). X

 

[marleypops]

At around 6 weeks DS and I fell into the EASY routine, so eat, play, sleep worked really really well for us. Generally he would wake up, feed for anything from 15 minutes to an hour, have a play on his baby gym (don't know how I would have ever coped without the baby gym!) and as soon as he started to look tired, went down for a nap. The cycle would be anything from 2 to 3 hours with three or four naps per day of 45 mins to 1.5 hours.

Sure, there were times when he wanted a feed before he slept and essentially he was and still is fed on demand, but I always offered a feed when he woke up to encourage the routine. We're at 6 months now and still use EASY as a guide and it has helped tremendously with being able to get out of the house, shop, work and all the other bits we do.

I also want to add that I encouraged cluster feeding in the evenings too, ie offering the breast more frequently between 5pm and 7.30pm when he would feed to sleep. We did something like feed, walk dogs (LO would nap in the pram), feed, bath, feed, bed.

 

[keela]

Around 3 months my son got a almost routine. He wakes up between 8-9 then will eat between 9-10:30 ... It's not a strict routine but its better.
When he was your LO age he ate every 1-2 hours around the clock. Just remember it will get better and you are doing a great job. Trust your instincts and ignore your mom.

 

[chineyjn]

She is doing quite well at night though and goes from 10 - 3 then back down to 6 - 7 - I somehow am still bloomin knackered though!!

I am v. jealous! K is almost 8 weeks, EBF and won't ever sleep for more than two hours, day or night. You could set your watch by him. I am desperate for even a three hour stretch.

The only glimpse of a routine we have is a two hour nap each morning sometime between 9am and 11am.

 

[stockers697]

Thanks everyone - it's reassuring to know. How do put your LOs down to nap? I can see she is tired but she fights it and won't sleep easily then gets over tired and its near impossible to get her to sleep.

Sorry chineyjn I will stop moaning its tough but I'm getting sleep at least that must be a killer!

X

 

[b4baby]

my DD doesnt have a routine in the day but has slept 8 hours at night since she was 6 months old. The only difference is I express milk and feed via bottle, this is something you could consider doing for the last feed so you can make sure they are full before going down for the night.
Do you keep track of how often and long LO feeds for as you may see a pattern emerge.

 

[keela]

My son naps on my chest or in the sling. After he's been awake about an hour I pick him up and we snuggle and help him calm down. This makes the transition to sleeping easier. If he gets the tiniest bit overtired its a fight to get him to sleep.

 

[DancingSheba]

i use a pacifier while rocking her to settle her to sleep. works really well. only time i use a pacifier