Settling back into routine

So we have recently returned from 2 weeks in Thailand with our lil' 5 1/2 month old girl Sophie. We are trying to get resettled and finally deal with the routine issues that plagued us before the trip.

Parenting is all about trial and error, mostly the error.

In breastfeeding Sophie, I was doing fantastically until a nurse was concerned about her weight. As any normal woman, I felt like rubbish; like I could not provide the basic needs for my daughter. I had been warned about weighing babies and the stress that came with it, but didn't understand until it hit me. I was told to double her feeds. She was already getting 2 feeds in an hour and a half, so to double that meant 4 feeds in an hour and a half. I felt like a milking cow!!! Sophie gained weight that month :D However, after that, her weight again slowed down and my milk did too. People were asking 'is she hungry???' which made me wonder about how the heck do I read her?!?! Stress stress stress.

Upon returning to the clinic, Sophie had dropped even more than before in weight, and I was exhausted!!! The idea of comp-feeding was suggested, but I know from all my research that it only adds to lowering milk supply, as supply meets demand. I was additionally stressed about our upcoming trip to Thailand... what if she couldn't feed while we were there?

I brainstormed what may be happening. I decided to move away from going back to that clinic (as many others were beginning to warn me of their old fashioned ways) and decided to go to the clinic at my Doctors instead. She said that as Sophie was feeding so regularly, she is only snack feeding, which is lowering my supply and waking her up all the time starving! Poor dear! I was SO frustrated. Her advice was to feed Sophie 3hourly rather than on demand so that she learns to feed bigger amounts. Today I also learned that it is normal for them to still feed for up to 20 minutes, while i was doing about 5.

I decided to go on Motillium, a anti-nausea drug with the side effect of producing milk, so that I would not have to worry while away.

I have read so much about demand feeding and avoiding 'routines', but for my own sanity, and for predictability for Sophie, we love to work on a routine. This week I am trying out the E.A.S.Y routine. Although it suggests to be 4 hourly for Sophie's age, I am going to commence at 3 hourly as she normally feels 1 1/2 hourly. Its gonna be a long hard week I'm sure.

The E.A.S.Y. routine is based on Eat, Active, Sleep and Yourself, most of which parents do naturally, but I like the 'tick-list' approach. One of the main changes is to get Sophie ready for bed, rather than just plopping her in and crossing my fingers. This includes: setting the scene, swaddling, sitting then shush-patting. Additionally, if she wakes up too early, I'm going to try to settle her back to sleep rather than reinforce short naps.

Whist this all sounds good, I am sure its not going to be so easy. so far today has been a nightmare. However, getting up 6+ times a night for a snack feed is no easier. I would LOVE a sleep longer than 2-3 hrs :)

So here comes the trial... hopefully with limited error :S

Helpful links for today:
http://noobmommy.com/2008/10/feeding-101-from-baby-whisperer.html
http://www.enotalone.com/parenting/5464.html