Newborn falling asleep during feeds

[Dontwaketheneighbours]

Hi everyone

Just looking for some advice. DS3 is 5 days old, he's a really chilled baby (so far), sleeps a lot and rarely cries. However he's bottle fed and not taking on much formula during feeds. He has about 1.5-2oz every 3-4 hours. After his first ounce he just falls fast asleep. I change him, rub his face/ hands/ feet/ generally annoy him, but he will only take another half ounce or so. I've spoken to 2 midwives and one said not to worry as he was a good birth weight (9lb 9oz), the other one mentioned jaundice and referred us to hospital for tests. Thankfully they all came back clear and we were discharged home same day. He's having plenty of soiled nappies too so they weren't too worried. But I'm conscious he's only having approx 12-14oz formula a day.

Anyone had similar experience, or have any feeding tips?

TIA

[confusedwife84]

We had this with my daughter when she was a newborn, we often stripped her down to her nappy, rubbed her etc like you say. However spoke to HV and came to the conclusion that she was more of a “snacker” than taking full bottles. She eventually grew out of this. Don’t worry :)

[PamDooveOrangeJoof]

We had this and stripped son down to his nappy too. I also massaged his palm with my thumb ( like ring a ring o roses) and stroked his toes

[PamDooveOrangeJoof]

Sorry just read your post properly and you’ve done all that!

[Louiselouie0890]

Have you tried the next teet up.might be a case of little and often

[Dontwaketheneighbours]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies.
Confused - my DH thinks our DS might just be a snacker too - glad to hear it gets better.
I meant to mention we've tried the fast flow teets too, they have helped a little as he gets a bit more in before falling asleep.

[MenorcaSunrise]

I had the same issue, jaundiced newborn fell asleep during feeds. I blew on his ear to wake him up. He gradually stayed awake longer for feeds and in a few weeks was taking on 5oz. As long as his weight is going up, healthy visitors are happy and there are plenty of wet and dirty nappies then I wouldn't worry.

[Chicoletta]

Faster flow teat worked for us with this issue. Our four month old has been on a Dr Brown level 3 teat since she was about eight weeks!

[Dontwaketheneighbours]

Thanks both, I'll try the blowing on his ear too and I'm using an avent no 3 teet which seems to be the best for him - tried a few. He's just fell asleep now after an ounce .

[sycamore54321]

When was the jaundice check? An unusually sleepy baby can be a symptom so if it wasn't in the last day or two, maybe worth pursuing again. Especially if he has any other symptoms like orange-tinged urine or yellow skin tone. Can you compare the colour of his lower legs to eg his face, any noticeable yellowing of the face could be worrying. Also, is his weight being closely monitored and if not ask for it to be.

It is upsetting when they don't seem to feed enough. Could you try feeding even before he looks for it, so he is less likely to be tired? And all the other tips like stripping down, dabbing his face with a cool l damp cloth, etc.

It's possible it's nothing at all worrying and he is just a snacker but those intervals between feeds seem very long to me if he isn't taking on board huge meals each time.

Don't let your instinct be overridden, keep asking your health visitor or gp to watch him closely until you have a good pattern of steady feeds and steady weight gain.

[sycamore54321]

Also make sure you know the signs of dehydration and act fast if you suspect it. 12 ounces a day really is not a lot at all for a baby well over 9 pounds.

I don't mean to alarm you unduly but I think you are right to be worried.

[Dontwaketheneighbours]

Thanks sycamore. Jaundice test was on Monday and he's not showing any of the warning signs. Regular wet/ soiled nappies and pale urine, no change in his skin colour. Midwives/ hospital say he's not unusually sleepy, I suppose I'm just not used to a baby who sleeps! He's being weighed too and hospital said to go straight back if I have any concerns, also midwife is seeing him again to weigh him Friday. I feel like they are listening to my concerns and I'm happy to take him straight to a&e if I think they're not. I agree 12oz is not a lot for a 9lb 9 baby - but it doesn't seem to be having an adverse affect yet. I just wish he'd take more formula and stop his mummy worrying.

[MenorcaSunrise]

We also found that our baby fed best just after waking, while he was still too slept to fuss.

[Dontwaketheneighbours]

Thanks Menorca, he seems to be feeding a bit better today. 2oz every 3 hours with the odd 2.5oz

[MenorcaSunrise]

That's good to hear 😊. I've been trying to remember how much ours had in the early days - we never tallied it up but I don't think it was more than half an ounce to an ounce per feed in the first week, and he vomited a lot of it back up. He initially lost a little weight in the first couple days but then it went up steadily. He started out at almost 9 pounds. The midwives and HV seemed happy as long as he was as producing wet and dirty nappies.

[FartnissEverbeans]

My DS was jaundiced when he was born. It I wouldn't have been able to tell. He was pooing regularly and his skin colour didn't 'change' at any point.

I fed him like a crazy person for two days and it eventually cleared up. They need to drink lots of milk to clear out the toxins.

The best advice I got from our paediatrician was to firmly tap the bottom of the bottle when he started to nod off.