Feeding FAQ: 0-8 weeks – Breast Feeding

My 4-and-a-half week old woke at 9pm and put the schedule out

My daughter Grace woke up for the first time last night at 9pm. She is four and half weeks and was due a feed at 10.30pm. Gina mentions in CBB (p.83) that around this time they come into a light sleep and noise can affect them.
My husband and I were both asleep at the time, so we’re not sure what woke her up. Maybe it was outside noise, but she couldn’t be settled back to sleep after 20 minutes, so I gave her a half feed (I’m breastfeeding) which did the trick. We then woke her at 11.30pm as per Gina’s suggestion, but then she slept through until almost 5am. Of course when she woke up then, she was starving, and wasn’t satisfied with another half feed. We finally got her back to sleep after she had some more food (I seem to have lots of milk). Later I gave her a top-up feed at 7.30am, so we’re back on track today!
Perhaps we should have woken her at 3.30am to avoid this happening? Do you think I should give her more food at the 6.15pm feed tonight? Gina suggests a top-up of expressed milk at this time. Or do you think that outside noise may have been the problem last night?
Grace was 7lbs 7oz at 4 weeks, and has been slow to gain weight from her birth weight of 7lbs 1oz. We are currently following the 2-4 week program, as she gained 7oz last week.
We have been trying to follow Gina’s routines from week one. Grace appears to be falling into the routines, although we have had some problems with the lunchtime naps in the last week, which I think we have now fixed. I do have to feed her for longer than Gina suggests in the 2-4 week program, so it would seem that she is always hungry. But as I am breastfeeding, I think she is just a sucky baby. We occasionally use the dummy to calm her.

Now that Grace is beginning to gain more weight she can go for a slightly longer stretch at night. At her weight four to five hours is a good stretch after her 10.30pm feed. By offering her a full feed at 5am and then a top up at 7.30am you did exactly what she needs if she has begun to stretch herself. Some babies of this age continue to wake in the night around 2am and only need a small feed before settling back to nearer 7am whilst others push themselves for longer and then need the 7.30am top up to keep them on track.
Giving her a top up at 6.30pm if Grace seems too unhappy to settle or begins to wake several evenings in a row would be a good idea. Often by this time of day your supply is a little low. Make sure you eat a snack around 4/5pm as well as drinking plenty to help keep your energy levels up throughout the afternoon. Having this small snack, something such as toast and peanut butter, malt loaf or a fruit yoghurt can really help you get through to supper time.
Make sure Grace is well tucked in, with two towels rolled down the cot spars to help secure any sheet or blanket she has over her as her Moro reflex could be disturbing her.
Check your home for boilers switching on and off which can often waken babies in a light sleep, especially if the house is quiet.
Some babies do take longer to feed than others. If you are concerned at the length of Grace’s feeds, or if she does not continue to put on between 6-8ozs a week get a lactation consultant to check your feeding position. Your health visitor should be able to give you a contact number. Sometimes just the smallest alterations are needed for a baby to feed and empty a breast more efficiently.