Is it bad to want a night off

[crownest]

My son is 12 weeks old and packing in the weight we are ebf and I love it but I am so tired. I can't complain he is starting to sleep 11 to 5 am but I am so tired I even have thrush in my mouth from being so run down. Can I pump a bottle every other day and have a night or two off a week or wI'll it effect my supply? People are saying he is a hungry baby and it should give him a bottle of formula at night if I give him a bottle of expressed milk he downs 6 ounces in 5/10 mins. Would a Night off twice a week effect my supply.

 

[Marumi]

Don't think it would affect your supply, but I don't see one night making that much of a difference sleep wise.
Is your baby sleeping near you? Co Sleeper or anything? Then you can try dream feeding. My son woke once a night until he was a toddler and I was never tired, always rested thanks to dream feeding. Especially in the early days it was a life saver.

 

[noon_child]

Can't see why he is described as a hungry baby (whatever that is) if he's sleeping 11-5, and there is no evidence formula would make him last longer. Actually sounds like your breastmilk is doing just great. The occasional bottle of expressed milk shouldn't effect your supply just keep an eye on it if it becomes more regular, especially if it is a middle of the night feed that is being done by bottle. You may also find that while LO takes the bottle he might still want you to settle him!

 

[jessmke]

I wouldn't call him a hungry baby if he is sleeping 11-5! My 12 week old wakes 2-3 times at night for a feed which is normal for her age. I don't think a bottle of formula would help him sleep longer at this age, but doing the occasional bottle of expressed milk shouldn't hurt your supple.

 

[crownest]

HI thanks folks i think I was just venting last night today my confidence is back. I think we are having a growth spurt feeding every two hours today but he is having great nappy output so is getting enough milk. I had a few days of different people telling me to give him a bottle of formula implying he was hungry but none of them breast fed so I'm going with my gut feeling that we are doung great as we are. I'll express bottles if I need them.

 

[jessmke]

For 5 days last week my daughter fed every two hours day and night, sometimes would only go 1.5 hours between feeds. I was so exhausted! We ended up bedsharing because I hurt my back and I couldn't keep getting up out of bed and getting her out of her bassinet each time. Then last night she went back to waking only 3 times (midnight, 3 am, 6 am), and today she has pretty much just slept all day long. Pretty sure it was a growth spurt. Hang in there, it won't last forever!

I'm hoping once this growth spurt is over she will go down to just 2 feeds a night, which she was doing occasionally in the last few weeks.

 

[lau86]

My daughter has a bottle at night but it's formula. It certainly made her sleep longer. You could always try it and see if it helps? No harm done if not

 

[chezababy]

My 12 and a half week old normally wakes twice in the night and doesn't go to bed for the night until between 8 and 9. He wakes normally around 12 and 4. So I would say your baby is doing really well. There's no harm in expressing a feed I you're needing a break though.