3 day old wants to be on breast all night but falls asleep after minutes. Wakes up second i move him..help!!

[Jellybabie3]

He makes clicking noises to feed all night. I get him up and feed him sometime s 20mins a go. He falls asleep. Lift him back to cot he wakes up and screams until i start agen. Had 7 hours of this last night. Please help!!

[theancientmarinader]

Aw, congratulations!
He's still brand new and shiny and struggling to work out all sorts of things, including being outside in the big world, instead of in the warmth with your heartbeat near.
A few things you can try - co-sleeping, swaddling, having your dp settle after feeding (we did this from day 1 - I fed the baby, dh changed and settled the baby), putting one of your t shirts over the Moses basket mattress so that it at least smells like you (we also used a nesting technique as dc3 spent time in scbu).
As time passes he will figure it out in the meantime be kind to yourself - he will eventually figure out day and night, and be able to take in more milk (and you can try some of the other ideas to keep him awake and take a bit more) and your milk supply will work it all out. You'll get to know each other and work out when he needs feeding and when he needs something else. Right now now you are both new at this game and he needs reassurance as well as milk!
We found swaddling to be the biggest help with settling, but he is still very new.
Congratulations!

[flumpybear]

What PP said!
Also has your milk come in yet? He may also be a sucky baby and benefit from a dummy soon. - congratulations!

[EssentialHummus]

Oh gosh. Congratulations . When he’s just about to fall asleep on the boob, try keeping him eating a bit longer- tickling feet, blowing on his ear. But he may well just want to be close to you.

[catbas]

Have you had him checked for tongue tie? My youngest had tongue tie and this was just like him, although as others have said, still so tiny and not used to the world so is totally normal regardless

[10storeylovesong]

My ds is exactly the same. He's 10 days old now, and has done this every night. He feeds every 2 hours during the day, like clockwork, and will then sleep in cot or car seat, but then he cluster feeds from 7pm-2am with only 5-10 min breaks in between and refuses point blank to be put down.

[Jellybabie3]

Ok thanks all i think i just panicked last night..need to take a deep breath....of course hes new and tiny and needs to learn whats going on. Just so exhausted. Feeding again tonight but put music on and trying to relax.....milk still not in but expressing after feeds all day to try and increase supply. what a life change!!!

[chainedtothedesk]

Congratulations!
I think what you have described is completely normal. It is exhausting but won't last forever. The first few days are the hardest. I think it is all about him getting comfort from being with you and your body getting the signal to produce lots of milk. Things will settle down so please don't worry!
In the meantime, we found that our dd slept well if she was being held so if your dp can hold him for a couple of hours (mine watched countless episodes of the walking dead - how appropriate! ) while you get some sleep then you will find it a little easier.
Good luck!

[chainedtothedesk]

Also, maybe lay off the expressing a little for now. I think him being close to you and 'nuzzling' is going to be enough in the early days. I always feel that feeding isn't as straightforward on the days when I've been trying to express between feeds. (Maybe I've expressed all the milk baby was about to have so not as much for her iyswim)
Think day 4 is usually when your milk 'comes in'.

[Foggymist]

They usually do feed all night on nights 2 & 3, totally normal. I'd also lay off pumping, there's no need, your milk will come in soon. However if he's clicking I'd get him checked for tongue tie too, he may not be able to latch correctly and that would change what advice was suitable.

[Newmanwannabe]

Congratulations. Don't lay off expressing, especially if your midwife has told you to. If he's not latching well then your breasts will need the stimulation to protect your supply. Lots of skin to skin will help your hormones, him settle and your latching . Make sure he has a big mouthful each time. Your milk will come in anywhere from 48-96 hours. If you end up with more milk than you need you can work on that, they will naturally adjust.

What's his wees and poos like? Are his poos less black and heading towards yellow? That's a good sign he's getting enough. He should do as many wees as per his age so today 3. By the time he's 6 days 5-6 heavy wet nappies are normal and should then stay like that.

[Jellybabie3]

Hi all. Yes it was my mw advice as he was a little underweight. His poos turned green around 48hours ago. I spent yesterday feeding him religiously as well as off times when he wanted it. Hes due a weigh in this morn so fx

[ElizabethShaw]

Few newborn babies will tolerate being away from you at night ime - my middle one would only sleep on my chest at first

[Jellybabie3]

Hes got to gain 40g by 7pm to be discharged today.....is that doable?? Havent made it home yet as i was being treated for infection following ECS

[Newmanwannabe]

That's a bit steep to be honest... is he term, otherwise healthy, average weight, no diabetes etc? 25g/day is usually acceptable and for day four I would be happy with weight gain. Even if it means you stay in overnight it's only one more night, and you have access to a good pump. Hope things turn around quickly for you

[Jellybabie3]

He was 42 weeks. Had stressful birth so wouldnt feed much first day. He was 12% under yesterday but mw says it just needs to go up as everything else is perfect. 40g is what they want

[LibertyHill]

It's exhausting, isn't it. My LO was exactly the same but got the in the end. I used a dummy pretty quickly.

[Newmanwannabe]

Oh, I'm sorry it's been so full on for you. Keep expressing every 3 hours. As much skin to skin as you can manage (without being completely exhausted and falling asleep). You'll be surprised how quickly he puts on weight with even small volumes of breast milk. My hospital would say home after two days of consequetive weight gain with a 12% loss. You'll get home before you know it

[Bluerose27]

I've heard a dummy so early isn't the best idea as the constant sucking on your boobs is sending a message to your body to produce milk for baby. If baby sucks on a dummy your body isn't getting that signal.

But I will stress that I have read this and not lived it! The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a helpful book (if you have the energy to read it!)

Congratulations!!!

[Shiftymake]

Co sleeping is a life saver, hungry baby finds food and gets cuddles, mum gets to nap/sleep.

[Jellybabie3]

Oh i do have that book! I have read about 10th while on mat leave - it was a pretty tough read tbh but now i am here i can see why its so intense!!

[Bluerose27]

Even just try and read the chapter that's relevant to you now - first week or whatever , it might help. You don't need to get through it all!!

[10storeylovesong]

I had to take my DS into hospital yesterday as he hadn't pooed in 6 days. They ended up using a glycerin suppository to clear him out.

He's feeding well otherwise and has gained weight. The dr said they expected them to gain between 20-30 a day, so 40 is quite a big ask.

[Jellybabie3]

Yeah clearly he didnt make the mark. He has infact lost more weight so paediatrics has interveened and instigated a feeding plan to include formula. Sounds stupid but we are gutted. Breast milk is struggling as a result of my blood loss at labour (>1.5l) and DS wouldn't feed much for first day or so as a a result of suspected trauma related stress so he is behind. Hes 13.8% underweight now. I feel sad and helpless not being able to give him what he needed but he needs to get better.

[Jellybabie3]

Explains the insistant desperate feeding from him though. Bless him.

[BertrandRussell]

Are you in the UK, Jelly? Because that sounds very odd. Milk often doesn't come in until day 3 or 4, and the baby needs to suckle a lot to stimulate your supply. Formula at this stage could really screw up your supply....,.