Longest feed in the world!!

[kateqpr]

Does anyone else's LO have the mother of all feeds each evening?

Poppy is a big slow feeder anyway - her day feeds always take around 40 mins for her to be full. But at night she starts her feed around 7am, and will pretty much feed until 8.30am, or even 9!!

I switch breasts after about 40 mins, then have to go back to the first one. She appears to be eating throughout (ie swallowing, not shallow sucking ). I have tried dummys but to no avail, so i do think she is hungry and filling herself up for the night (she then sleeps a good 10 or 11 hours). She's very hard to get off to sleep, so some nights we try to settle her, and then if i try to feed her again (say around 10pm to help her settle) she'll feed hungrily again for another 20 mins or so.

I just wonder if this would be different if she was formula fed? Also at the moment generally i can only put her down to sleep once she's fallen asleep on me. She does not do self settling!

Am i the only one? I guess i don't mind the all evening feed as the pay off is a big long night time sleep, but i do worry she's using me as a comforter... Even though she appears to be swallowing and has a milky mouth.

 

[XKatX]

Oliver!! He sometimes fed for 1 1/2 hours ebefore bed! Now he's weaning it's between 30 & 40 minutes. It does get better!

 

[Samantha675]

She is cluster feeding. She is basically filling her little tank for that long sleep. Its totally normal, and she will grow out of it. My son used to do it for about 4 hours in the evenings. I would just get comfy on the sofa, and switch him from side to side.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Hebe used to cluster feed from about 5pm to 11pm....it was exhausting....she takes 20/30 mins MAX now....I never thought I'd say it but I quite miss that time now....

 

[Samantha675]

Hebe used to cluster feed from about 5pm to 11pm....it was exhausting....she takes 20/30 mins MAX now....I never thought I'd say it but I quite miss that time now....

I miss it too.

 

[kateqpr]

Ah, so it does get better?!

I shall try to cherish those hours lying down in bed with her, sneakily watching Corrie quietly over her shoulder...

 

[Mervs Mum]

Try to enjoy it because all of a sudden they are weaning or just getting better at feeding and it's pretty sad

 

[Foogirl]

This is exactly what is happening to me. The only thing is, it is a change to her previous feeding - and she is shallow sucking. She will also push herself off and fall asleep - deeply. But she is doing this at almost every feed so at the moment it is a constant round of feeding. If I put her down she will wake and cry for a feed. I latch her on and 3 or 4 sucks and she is fast asleep again. Or, she fights me for latching on and pushes herself off a few times before taking her 3 or 4 sucks.

It does seem to be she is using me as a comforter but I just don't know how to deal with it. I can cope with the daytime stuff but at night, when I am tired, it is so frustrating.

We had her 8 week review on monday and the health visitor's advice was "live with it she's very small and will find it hard" (Gee thanks for that but she was doing ok a week ago!!) We are still getting outreach support from the NNICU and they have arranged a review with the paediatritian on Friday.

The change coincided with the heat. But even having the fan on makes no difference. She does have a snuffly nose so maybe isn't breathing right - but again the advice from the HV about her snuffles was "live with it"

Any advice (and sorry to hijack the thread!!)

ps...thinking of changing my doctor and HV!!

 

[Cazzyg]

I remember this type of thing happening when she seemed to be going through a growth spurt. Feeling like you were never moving from the chair with a packet of chocolate hob nobs, bottle of water and tv remote to hand. Ending up with a numb bum

If it is a growth spurt, then it's important to let them suck as this is the trigger to up your supply.

Also with the heat, my LO feeds often but for short durations - I think this is because the foremilk is more thirst quenching so they want more of that.

It does pass though as things settle down. It's awful at the time, but looking back didn't last as long as it seemed to, if that makes sense.

 

[MrsBop]

My DD also feeds for hours on a night, last night she fed from 10.30pm until 12am when she fell asleep, the night before though she fed from 9pm until 2am!! It is very tiring but I tend to go up to bed with her, put a dvd on and just feed until she's done!!

 

[Foogirl]

I remember this type of thing happening when she seemed to be going through a growth spurt. Feeling like you were never moving from the chair with a packet of chocolate hob nobs, bottle of water and tv remote to hand. Ending up with a numb bum

Chocolate hob nobs eh.....definitely coming to visit!!

 

[Cazzyg]

I remember this type of thing happening when she seemed to be going through a growth spurt. Feeling like you were never moving from the chair with a packet of chocolate hob nobs, bottle of water and tv remote to hand. Ending up with a numb bum

Chocolate hob nobs eh.....definitely coming to visit!!

Well oats are good for your milk supply.....and any excuse for chocolate hob nobs.....