how to get him to take in more during the day?

[colleentara]

Hi everyone--
Finn is up every hour and I know that he needs to nurse at least 3-4 times a night- I recently rented one of those gram sensitive scales because the ped. was questioning my milk supply (ugh!). Finn is a refluxer and has slow weight gain. He seems happy and healthy--just growing slowly.
So..by renting the scale I see that Finn takes in more milk at night.. I feed him on demand all day and night. However, he's really distracted during the day...and never nurses for long.
I wonder-- is it possible that I can't produce enough milk during the day? Or is it possible to increase milk intake during the day? Does that make sense? (Sorry for rambling, I am so sleep deprived.!)
I don't want to stop nursing him at night...I just want to lengthen the sleep time a bit! Also--I do cosleep, but have a really hard time sleeping while nursing. I've looked up all sorts of advice on positioning, but I'm a horrible sleeper under normal conditions!
Thanks!!

[BathrobeGoddess]

moved to breastfeeding challeneges...I'm sure you will get a bunch of great suggestions there!

[calpurnia]

we seem to be on the same threads a lot :-)

i haven't had a scale to confirm it, but i am sure that boo eats more at night than at day too... i'm at home with her, so it's not like she doesn't have the chance! the suggestions i have received have been to take her into quiet/dark rooms to nurse so that there is little distraction, to offer frequently, to sling her so that the boob is always there (easier said than done with a girl her size!) ... i forget what else. i've noticed some success with nursing her straight away when she wakes up from a nap - i think she is too drowsy to realise she's being fed & there are WAY more exciting things to be done!

frankly though i think this is just one of those developmental things.

also, i believe there is evidence to suggest that the calorie content in your breastmilk is higher at night, so it's good for them to feed then! & your prolactin levels are higher so you will produce more at night... it's all conspiring against us!

[thepeach80]

My worst refluxer was up ALL night for the most part wanting to nurse. BM is a natural antacid and feels good going down. Night is a hard time for a refluxing baby b/c of position (laying down) and there's nothing to distract them. I didn't get any sleep for most of the first 18 mos of Evan's life, Ilana wasn't as bad. It had nothing to do w/ him not eating enough during the day, it had to do w/ him being in a lot of pain at night and only knowing one way to fix it, bfing.

[alegna]

Ds usually nurses more at night too. Your milk supply is naturally higher at night.

The best way to improve the situation is to offer offer offer during the day. Some babies do better if you offer in a darkened quiet room.

-Angela