DS2 born TODAY, do I wake to feed him????

[looneytune]

Can't remember and being a home birth, I've been at home the whole time and didn't think about this until recently. He fed pretty much for over an hour when first born but I'm not sure what to do as he's been asleep for a couple of hours???

I'm off to bed very soon as worn out but not sure if I just go with the flow as my mmilk isn't in yet i.e. feed when he wakes or if I should wake him at set times? What if he would sleep all night? Doubt it but just trying to find out what I should be doing.

Can't believe I'm asking this but went through this with ds1 5 yrs ago so I've sort of forgotten.

TIA

[eenybeeny]

congratulations!!! reading your whole post now...

[wrinklytum]

Hi lOONEY.fIRSTLY,CONGRATULATIONS!

Secondly,I'd go and sleep while you can,he will wake when he's hungry.

[eenybeeny]

I am no expert but I would say let him sleep. Surely he will wake up when he wants to feed? I think newborns are supposed to feed every 2-3 hours though I dont think it should go over that. Maybe while he sleeps you could just put your nipple to his mouth and he might suck in his sleep? My DS did that a lot.

I am so happy for you!! How are you feeling?

[catastrophewaitress]

congratulations. how wonderful! now go to bed and rest zzzzzzzzzzz. he might be tired too he'll let you know when he needs you and it'll be soon enough i'm sure!
just a a reminder, your milk won't come in until 2-5 days after birth...now it's time to rest. well done, enjoy him.

[thisisyesterday]

I would go with the flow for first 24 hrs. get sleep while you can!

[looneytune]

Cool, that's what I hoped and dh said the same. I know milk last time was around day 3 and then it became more frequent. I'll let baby rest then and feed him when he wakes

eenybeeny - thanks, I'm SHATTERED as been awake since before the contractions started at 3am but I've been on a high until now. Now I'm ready to drop lol.

Thanks again, off to bed now for much needed zzzzzzzzzzz's

LT x

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

OOOH Looney

Well done you !!!!

[NormaStanleyFletcher]

as I remember mine slept loads for the first 24 hours - lap it up while it lasts

[eenybeeny]

Yes enjoy it!! Hopefully you are all snug now gazing at your lovely little precious child!!!! Makes me feel all loved up!

[mybabywakesupsinging]

Congratulations!
Both of mine were born in the early hours, fed a few times then slept for 8 or 9 hours the next day...must be hard work being born!

[Seashell71]

Many congrats! Remember that the more often he feeds the better. Don't let baby go longer than 3 hours imo.

[TheHerdNerd]

Do what baby wants - trying to wake him to feed will just make him cranky and you frustrated. Our DD hardly fed but slept solid for the first 24 hours, despite bloody %$&$^ midwife saying, "If you don't feed this baby NOW then your milk will never come in"

Congratulations!!!

[colacubes]

Congratulations , let him sleep, and you try to get some to, he'll let you know when hes hungry.

[laura032004]

I'd second all this. He's had a good feed to start him off. You've had a good natural birth, so your body knows that it needs to make milk. I'm sure tomorrow (today now) he'll be desperate to get at you.

Whilst it's still colostrum, the actual amounts that they are getting is tiny.

Beatiful pictures btw

[Buda]

Congratulations! Great photos!

No advice except never wake a sleeping baby. Hope you got a good sleep.

[StealthPolarBear]

Congratulations!
iirc my first night with DS was my first good night's sleep in 3 days - had been woken by contractions before

[LilRedWG]

Congratulations LT!

[OrmIrian]

Congratulations!

Leave him. IIRC they sleep almost constantly for the first 24 hours or so anyway.

[VictorianSqualor]

Congratulations Looneytune!

I don't think he really needs waking for the first day or so, and then when he does wake just keep him latched on as much as you can/he wants.

Go and enjoy your babymoon

[WeeBesom]

Congratulations! Well done you, born on my dd2's birthday as well

[woodward]

Congratulations! Dont worry too much about feeding for first day or so. After that i fed every 3 hrs or so or when they demanded during the day and left them to wake me at night.

[persil22]

I think its only important to wake and feed them regularly if they are jaundiced. Congratulations on your home birth and your new baby.x

[tiktok]

Aaaaaaargh....what does this say about postnatal care in the UK? looney - you need a midwife to help you and it's sad you have to go online on the day your baby is born instead of snuggling up with him in your bed, with lots of loving care and cups of tea and stuff....'cos what's happened? You get a whole load of conflicting and contradictory advice.

Most term healthy newborns need to be next to their mothers, skin to skin, for as much of the time as possible. That way, there is rarely any need to be concerned about waking them or not. They will simply feed often - usually in short little bursts but not always.

It is not normal for a new baby to sleep for ages away from mum in a crib. The maj. of healthy babies will be ok doing this, and will perk up and start feeding in a day or so, but it is not the greatest start. A few babies will be so sleepy and uninterested that they miss out on sufficient colostrum/milk and become dehydrated - and it's not good for mum's milk supply, either.

You can't predict which babies will be fine being left to wake up by themselves in a crib, so best thing is enable the normal, physiological, start to breastfeeding and babyhood....and it will almost certainly result in frequent feeding, even at the start.

[belgo]

tictok - I also get worried when I see threads asking for advice about a 1, 2, 3 day old baby. It odes make me wonder where are the midwives.