thread: Night BF...back to one side at a time

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    2,037

    Night BF...back to one side at a time

    For a few weeks now DD has been feeding from both breasts at each feed, for her night feeds as well. For the last 3 or 4 nights she will only feed from one side, and be so sound asleep she just will not wake to feed from the other side. I've tried all the waking tricks and nothing works, plus I can tell she's really sleeping soundly.

    It doesn't seem to be affecting her sleep, she is still going on average 3 - 4 hourly sleeps then up for a feed through the night, but now she only just makes it to about 2 hrs between her day feeds (feeding from both sides) I guess she's making up for lost feeds from the night?

    I'm not concerned she's not getting enough, guess I am just wondering if this is a normal kind of pattern? The 2hrly day feeds are pretty tiring and feels like I can accomplish very little as it feels like I'm always feeding, but hey I'm letting her lead the way.

    Anyone elses bubs do this? Or go through this stage?

  2. #2
    Life Subscriber

    Jul 2006
    Brisbane
    6,683

    You are doing a great job hun There are many different "normals" at that age, but certainly Miss A sounds like she is well on track. She is probably approaching a growth spurt, so more frequent feeding is quite common at that age. It should settle down again soon, although periods of frequent feeding to tend to reoccur from time to time - perhaps at somewhere around the 12 week mark, and then again around the 4 - 5 month mark.

    Some mums find that their babies try to get the extra feeds at night, so I think it's great that Miss A is taking more milk during the day. This is a great sign for down the track.

    Keep up the great work hun.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    May 2008
    where the V8's roar
    1,855

    I often felt like I would just get into a rythym (sp?) and it would all change. DS went from feeding on both sides, to just one and back again - many times. I agree with MR it sounds like you are doing a great job and are following DD's cues, I also agree that at about 5 weeks there is a growth spurt (I believe they have growth spurts every 4-6 weeks in the first year of life... ) and I am glad for you that she is feeding more through the day then at night.

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    2,037

    Thanks for that.... and I agree I am rather lucky she's feeding more during the day.... much prefer it to the other way around!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Sunshine Coast
    2,075

    TBH- the one thing I know for sure about babies is that they always change. Just as soon as you think that you have them figured out they change!! The old adage springs to mind tho "never wake a sleeping baby". If you are feeding on demand and she wants more she will get it. You simply can't over feed a bf baby. Sounds like you are doing a super job mum!

    Bella