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Original poster

Help needed with newborn and feeding!

14 replies

Squiff70 · 19/08/2022 04:27

Hi,

Sorry to put this on Chat when there is an infant feeding board but it's very quiet on there so posting here for traffic.

My son was born by elective c-section yesterday morning (less than 24 hours ago).

He's been asleep now for over four hours and I'm wondering if I should wake him for a feed. My milk obviously hasn't come in yet but last night after 11pm he fed well (from what I could tell as I'm breastfeeding) and has been asleep since about midnight. I've asked the midwife if I should wake him and she said no. I've looked online and there's conflicting advice whether to wake such young babies after either 3 or 4 hours. I don't know what to do for the best.

I'm worried about him not being able to gain weight (obviously too early to start tracking his weight gain/loss) but also if I won't feed him regularly, might it impede breastfeeding?

He's very settled and content so it seems mean to wake him but still wondering if I should!

Thanks for any advice!

OP posts:
JulyDreams · 19/08/2022 04:29

Yes wake for feed newborns shouldn't go more than 3 hours without a feed Grin

JulyDreams · 19/08/2022 04:30

Also the more you breastfeed him more likely he will take to it! It seems mean to wake him but he will soon go straight back to sleep after a full belly!

Dangermouse80 · 19/08/2022 04:30

Congratulations! I would say let a baby sleep. I had 3 csections and they were all quite sleepy to begin with. After the first day they began feeding every two / three hours.

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Skiingwithgin · 19/08/2022 05:02

Can you try a dream feed if you’re anxious? Have a cuddle and see if he latches on. I had to wake to feed mine every 4 hours but she lost weight immediately. It’s a toughie. Call the maternity unit and ask for advice?

congrats and good luck

Borgonzola · 19/08/2022 05:35

Agree with PP about seeing if you can get a latch while baby is sleepy. Can you hand express and leave a bit of colostrum on the nipple? If they can smell it it might encourage them to latch. This is what I did on my baby's first day in hospital.

I'm three weeks in and still having to make this call nightly Grin

Original poster
Squiff70 · 19/08/2022 05:48

Thanks all for the advice. I decided to try feeding him. I changed his nappy which he slept through then tried feeding. He's fed quite well from one side after initially being too sleepy to care. Switched sides and he's not interested - sleep wins! We are both still in hospital until at least tomorrow so easy access to midwives but I don't always agree with their opinions - for reasons like this!

OP posts:
katmarie · 19/08/2022 06:02

My two were both very sleepy for the first 24 hours, I think.they like to lull you into a false sense of security until you get home from the hospital!

Zapx · 19/08/2022 06:08

Totally wake him. He needs the calories and I’d be worried about him losing too much birth weight with gaps that are too long. Both of mine were extremely lazy babies! He’ll get used to waking soon hopefully.

jellybe · 19/08/2022 06:13

Squiff70 · 19/08/2022 05:48

Thanks all for the advice. I decided to try feeding him. I changed his nappy which he slept through then tried feeding. He's fed quite well from one side after initially being too sleepy to care. Switched sides and he's not interested - sleep wins! We are both still in hospital until at least tomorrow so easy access to midwives but I don't always agree with their opinions - for reasons like this!

If he feed well from one side don't worry that he didn't take the second.

He is going to be tired from being born but I wouldn't let him go more than four hours between feeds.

How are his nappies? Is he weeping and passing meconium? Nappies are the best why to tell if he is getting enough breast milk in between weighings.

Congratulations on your little one Flowers

Original poster
Squiff70 · 19/08/2022 06:18

jellybe · 19/08/2022 06:13

If he feed well from one side don't worry that he didn't take the second.

He is going to be tired from being born but I wouldn't let him go more than four hours between feeds.

How are his nappies? Is he weeping and passing meconium? Nappies are the best why to tell if he is getting enough breast milk in between weighings.

Congratulations on your little one Flowers

Show quote history

He's had four very dirty nappies (meconium) since his arrival 21 hours ago. Only two of his nappies have been wet though so yes I'm worried about him not getting enough. I'm in the case.

OP posts:
Mymoneydontjigglejiggle · 19/08/2022 07:44

I think you did the right thing op - I'd be putting him to the breast at least every 3 hours and honestly in between those times too if he's awake. Congratulations!

MimiSunshine · 19/08/2022 07:51

Congratulations. Try not to worry, they don’t always have both breasts at this age. Just try to remember to alternate between feeds.

you don’t necessarily have to fully wake him up to feed him, if he’s asleep or sleepy then remove blankets or undo his sleepsuit a bit then put your nipple to his nose and he’ll either lift his head back to latch on (this is called the nipple flipple and helps to get a good latch even when awake) or you can rub your nipple down his nose / top lip to encourage him to latch.

if he gets tired on the breast then tickle his feet slightly to give him a bit of a nudge to keep going.

He doesn’t even realise he’s been born yet so will sleep a lot. Just as you get home, he’ll realise and start putting in his demand for milk.

Motherofplants · 19/08/2022 08:15

I believe current advice for full term healthy babies is to wake them to feed every 3 hours until they regain back to their birth weight :) Then let them sleep as long as they want.

My first was terrible for this and had to be woken for weeks (c section), but my second was brilliant from the get go despite shoulder dystocia and resuscitation.

VeronicaFranklin · 24/08/2022 22:09

At this stage you should be waking him for feeds...not sure why on earth the midwife has told you otherwise! A newborn needs to feed every 2-3 hours.

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