Le Pause

[stormcloud96]

I didn't read the book, Bringing up Bebe, but read about the study with French women who breastfeed & get their babies to sleep through the night by 3 months or whatever. I have a 3 week old, FTM I am fine with pausing a minute or 2 before going in to get her, my problem is at night the advice is between 12-5 offer breast last, as in if they get up, change diaper, hold them, rock them, & if nothing else works then offer feed, I keep forgetting, in the night half asleep, I usually just offer the boob right away then remember in the morning. Is anyone using this method? Does/Did it work? Thoughts? Advice? I wish they had a search option for the forum... surely someone has used it?

 

[noon_child]

At 3 weeks old your baby very likely needs night feeds in order to grow, and I think offering breast last is just going to mean you are awake much much longer in the night and end up having to feed her anyway! Night feeds can be really rough in the beginning and there is nothing in this world that would make me stay awake longer than I had to. As your supply has probably not regulated yet either, night feeds are really important to ensuring your milk supply during the day.

Obviously if you want to wait a few seconds to see if she is really awake or just moaning in her sleep that is up to you, but remember restlessness (even during sleep) is an early feeding cue in newborns and if you can feed at that point you can sometimes avoid the crying altogether. I'd also want to check my LO whenever she woke incase she had a fever, been sick etc.

Also just because these women say their babies don't wake at night, just means they don't cry out and wake their mothers - some of the babies may actually wake and feel distressed, but don't bother crying because they know they won't get a response.

I think there is similar night time advice out there from british people (one of whom I can't name due to rules of this site) but this wouldn't start as early as 3 weeks. I think any kind of sleep training isn't recommended till about 4months at the earliest when a baby is likely to be less dependant on night milk (but a lot still are - especially as breastfeeding isn't just about nutrition, but comfort, attachment, socialisation, temperature and breathing regulation etc.).

 

[staralfur]

I agree with noon child, this just sounds like a sure fire way to prolong your night wakings. At 3 weeks babies are still feeding very frequently to build your supply, not to mention their stomachs are so small they do actually get hungry very often. I wouldn't hesitate to offer boob first, it's likely going to make everyone's life a lot easier.

 

[jodilee6]

I just fed DS2 when he woke during the night (FF not bf tho) and he dropped the night feed himself around 4.5 months, i did what I could to get back to sleep the quickest!

Just feed her and she'll work it out herself

 

[jessmke]

I do the diaper change first and then offer the boob, only because if I try to change her diaper after feeding then she wakes up fully and it takes longer to get her back to sleep.

 

[londonangel]

I really wouldn't try this with a three-week-old to be honest. My little one slept through from eight weeks despite breastfeeding on demand when she woke. My big one of course only slep through from some point after seven months -and she was two before she slept past 5am!

 

[noon_child]

I do the diaper change first and then offer the boob, only because if I try to change her diaper after feeding then she wakes up fully and it takes longer to get her back to sleep.

We did this too for the first month or so to make sure she was awake enough to feed (sleepy latch was agony) but once she got better at feeding I only did it if the nappy was actually leaking, soiled or very wet.

 

[Eleanor ace]

I wish they had a search option for the forum... surely someone has used it?

There is a "Search This Forum" option just above the forum rules at the top of the page, yo can search by keyword or title.

I don't have experience using this method, a 3 month old baby is still so little and if they wake at night wanting milk I'd find it far too stressful trying to put them off. If you do decide to try it I would read the book for sure, as there must be some guidance about using this method and advice on when to start (I can't imagine they'd recommend it at 3 week as the babies stomach is so small they need to feed frequently, but if they do suggest to start it from birth then there's probably a lot to know about how). I'd also read up on other peoples experiences and talk to your LO's doctor/HV about it before hand.

 

[stormcloud96]

Thanks everyone, the study was actually yes started at 2-3 weeks old, but this book much like the biggest advice, is go with your instincts and do what works for you and your baby. Honestly me barely waking and feeding her and us both going right back to sleep is working for us, so going to just keep doing it. She is getting fussier at times now I am wondering if it's because she's more awake and alert? Think I'll do a new post about more questions I have...