Sleep

[Swex]

Hi all. My premmie (iugr 33 weeker) is now 20 week (corrected 13 weeks). Lovely demand bf with good weigh gain. But weight gain slowed a smidge a few weeks ago but we put it down to growth spurt and up regulating my milk supply. (Being weighed today)

Now, he a starting to go longer overnight without feeds 11.3-5.3 etc. And I'm worried he's not eating enough over night. He's being weighed today but my question is:
When did everyone's premmies +/- iugr start sleeping though the night?

Thank you! (Doi - it's child also prem but woke nightly for food till 18 months, so am out of my confort zone with a sleeping child!)

[minipie]

Hello! How was your DS's weight on Monday?

Weight gain will speed up and slow down at times esp with a BF on demand baby. As long as overall he is gaining weight month on month and staying in his centile I wouldn't be worried.

Going longer overnight without feeds - again IME that is something that can come and go. For example at 18 weeks (12 weeks actual) DD was able to have just one night feed late evening and then go through to 6 something. So, similar to your DS. (She was not IUGR though)

However a few weeks later she had a growth spurt and needed a 2/3am feed again as well as the late evening feed. So we had two night feeds for a while after that. Then the late evening feed shifted to a 1/2am feed, and the 3/4am feed stopped. That 1/2am feed stuck around until I night weaned at about 7.5 months corrected.

DD is now 18 months and still wakes most nights mind you - just not for food!

[Swex]

Thanks minipie. His weigh had contiued to increase. Previously it had consistently been around 30g a day. But it's been stable at 18g a day for the last month. We had been heading for the heady heights of the 9c. But are now still bobbing along between 2-9. So growing and not concerning so far but not as fabulous as before.

That's interesting with feeds, he still needs his late evening one but it can be variable in the night and from 5 onwards he wants to feed more. I am sure it's just because he's got himself hungry overnight!

We will watch and see.

I read the bliss website on weaning and they said to do it in corrected at 6 months if all going well. So I was planning to do that, but I see you were later at 7.5 corrected. Should I delay or just ahead at the I corrected age? Is there a consensus on this board?

Thanks again

[plentyofshoes]

hi i have had two prems at 33 weeks. You are advised to wean early due to prems having lower iron levels. As they are not in the womb full term they do not have enough iron to really last til 6 months.
Both mine were weaned around 5 months actual.

[minipie]

Hi, sorry when I said I night weaned DD at 7.5 months I meant no more milk in the night. I didn't mean food weaning. Confusing terminology sorry.

Food weaning should begin at between 5-8 months actual age for prems according to Bliss guidelines. Where you are within that range depends on the baby - some prem babies may be best weaned at 5 months actual (esp those with reflux) others at 6 months actual etc. But it's definitely done on actual age not corrected, as it's to do with how long they've been out of the womb and using up stores as shoes says.

I weaned DD at 6 months actual/4.5 months corrected. She took to food quickly and gained a LOT of weight after that! (which is why I was ok with stopping night milk at 7.5 months actual)

[plentyofshoes]

Dd is will be 8 months soon and has still been waking up 2 or 3 am and draining the bottle. She has gone onto solids well and Hv advised replacing her afternoon bottle with food. I still give a dream feed at 10.30 pm but so far this seems to have worked.
Ds was a nighmare with feeding (not now at 5 thankfully) and never put on weight well. We continued with night feeds for quite alot longer.

[Swex]

Thanks everyone. He is a wee bit refluxy so sill consider weaning in a few weeks.

My only other question (promise!), Is that I have heard that premmies tend to be skinnier. It's harder for them to put fat on. Have you all found that?

[plentyofshoes]

Ds is very slim, no bad thing! Dd has caught up and is average. Two prems, very different just like every term baby. I worried so much about ds but he is very healthy so thats the most important thing.

[Swex]

Thank you plenty. That's reassuring

[WanttogotoDisney]

My twins were born at 33 weeks. DD1 slept through from 16 weeks, DD2 did not sleep through for 11 months.

[Kelly1814]

Hello! 36 week IUGR here. 4 pounds at birth. She ate every couple of hours for MONTHS. thankfully I FF so DH could do the odd night.

dd started doing 7-11-7 at 6 months. She's now 9 months and we are still the same.

I felt massively pressured to wean and tried at 6 months. I wish I hadn't. She couldn't sit up ( only managed at 8 months) and still had a really strong tongue thrust. She isn't much interested in food even now.

I honestly know how scary it is when they are small. We are 9 months and 17 pounds. Other babies dwarf us. But someone has to be small, and as long as the gain weight and are healthy and happy...

Best of luck.