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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you to help an anxious first time mum?

35 replies

AnxietyTown · 22/02/2021 18:18

Would you be concerned about this?

My 2 week old has basically slept all day. He is still moving/stretching and opening his eyes but only fleetingly before he's zonked again.

He hasn't woken up himself for a feed since lunch time but I have managed to get him to have one (half asleep) but jiggling him around enough for him to wake to have a bottle but I kept having to actively try and keep him awake until he'd had the bottle.

We did have a particularly bad night the other night where he was up with trapped wind until 5am! But that was the night before last and he slept pretty well last night.

I know babies can sleep a lot, but the longer he's sleeping the more anxious I'm feeling!!

He doesn't have a temp or seem unwell in any other way.

Am I just being PFB?!

OP posts:

waitingpatientlyforspring · 22/02/2021 18:19

Was he born early? Often babies born pre-due date sleep a lot more very much like they would in the womb.,

Notanotherhun · 22/02/2021 18:20

Don't wake a sleeping baby! Are they otherwise well? Regular nappies?

emilyfrost · 22/02/2021 18:20

They sleep around 18 hours a day at that age, but they shouldn’t be going longer than 3 hours without a feed so you should be waking them up (and keeping them awake) to feed.

Original poster

AnxietyTown · 22/02/2021 18:21

Oh and sorry I should have clarified that he doesn't usually sleep for this long in on go!

OP posts:

4amWitchingHour · 22/02/2021 18:21

@Notanotherhun

Don't wake a sleeping baby! Are they otherwise well? Regular nappies?

Wake a sleeping baby that is this young every 3-4 hours to feed

froga · 22/02/2021 18:22

My baby never slept I was always shattered . If they are having plenty of dirty nappies , not dehydrated & not floppy then it's fine. They are meant to sleep that long it's just some don't . When I got back from the hospital with my baby he didn't sleep at all I remember calling the midwife at 3 am and asking what could be wrong lol. ( he was the same in the hospital too the midwives kindly took it in turns to hold him for a little bit so myself and partner could at least have an hour ).

In contrast a friend of mine said she didn't hear a peep from her new born all night on that first night.

Notanotherhun · 22/02/2021 18:23

To be honest, you'd be better off asking a health visitor or your GP or midwife as you'll be under a midwife still. Not asking random online cos the last time somebody asking about babies.... Well.

froga · 22/02/2021 18:23

Although in regards to my friend she should have been waking baby up to feed

NoSquirrels · 22/02/2021 18:28

So lunchtime 12-1ish? So he's really been asleep for just over 4 hours, which is not abnormal especially if bottle fed? I wouldn't be very concerned at the moment if he's otherwise well - nappies, no temp etc - they do have different days. But as he's little you don't want him going too long.

Have you undressed him, massaged him etc.? There's a difference between "I am just sleepy today" and "unresponsive" so go for a full-on outfit change etc. and see what happens if you are getting worried.

LizzieBirmingham · 22/02/2021 18:38

You’re doing the right thing by waking him to feed, but don’t worry too much about him sleeping all day as at that age they can have very snoozy days with only very brief wakeful periods. Just keep on top of feeds every 3 hours or so (even if you have to wake him) and as long as his nappies are good and temperature / breathing etc are all normal I wouldn’t worry.

LizzieBirmingham · 22/02/2021 18:39

@Notanotherhun what happened last time...?

emilyfrost · 22/02/2021 18:42

@Notanotherhun

To be honest, you'd be better off asking a health visitor or your GP or midwife as you'll be under a midwife still. Not asking random online cos the last time somebody asking about babies.... Well.

Yeah, why on earth would a forum specifically for parents know anything about babies

Ileflottante · 22/02/2021 18:43

[quote LizzieBirmingham]@Notanotherhun what happened last time...?[/quote]
I assume the PP is referring to the thread by a poster whose baby had been admitted to hospital for failing to gain weight and was very, very against the medically advised formula top ups as she wanted to EBF. There was a lot of dangerous “mummy knows best”, “ignore the docs and just keep baby on the boob” type advice. Scary.

Aimee1987 · 22/02/2021 18:47

This is worst case and I'm really not trying to scare you. When my son did this as a newborn he had an infection and was admitted to NIQU. It may be worth checking his temperature just to be sure especially if it's a sudden change in behaviour.

LizzieBirmingham · 22/02/2021 18:49

@Ileflottante ah, that does sound concerning!

Sh05 · 22/02/2021 18:58

If he's still not awake and fed then I would probably change his nappy and gently tickle his feet to wake him up.
My first slept alot and the midwife said not to worry but that was easier said than done. He fed for only a few minutes each time and would sleep 3+ hours. I couldn't help myself and woke him at 3 and a half hours.

imalmostthere · 22/02/2021 19:04

If he's not waking enough to feed, strip him off before you feed him. Not allowing them to be all warm and cosy usually keeps them
Awake enough to finish their feed. This was what my midwife told me 🥰

OverTheRainbow88 · 22/02/2021 19:25

I would wake to feed every 3-4 hours at that age. I left mine 5 hours as was enjoying the rest and then he was too ‘weak’ to feed and I had to syringe some milk in!

NoProbLlamaa · 22/02/2021 19:47

You need to wake him up and feed him, then speak to your midwife (if you are still under their care) or HV. Try and keep him awake for a little while, strip him off and check his temperature.

My son slept and slept and wouldn’t feed, he fell asleep during every bottle. I don’t want to scare you but we ended up in hospital. Best to be safe

Henneypenny7 · 22/02/2021 19:49

Mine did sleep for this long both of them there still good sleepers now

soisolated · 22/02/2021 19:50

I would definitely recommend medical advice. Our baby boy was very sleepy around 5 days and also had an infection. We were fobbed off by health visitor and later he was admitted to hospital for a week with uti. Don't mean to worry you but it really doesn't matter if you come across as anxious get pushy, babies this young are vulnerable

berryhead2013 · 22/02/2021 19:54

Mine did this and if I didn't wake him to feed (bottle fed) we were in for a hellish night /evening
I used to just pop one of his feet/ leg out of his baby gro and it seemed to wake him up a bit
Do
You change his nappy before his feed if not do it first that might wake him up a bit too

Devlesko · 22/02/2021 19:55

Mine were like this as two were early.
Even though this was many years ago, the advice was the same as those saying to wake for a feed.
I can remember mil complaining dd didn't open her eyes for ages, every visit she was asleep for months.
As long as nappies are wet, baby feeding and obviously not ill, then relax a bit, but mention to hv or midwife.

Me and mil get on fine, it was light hearted complaints.

FelicityBob · 22/02/2021 19:58

Listen to your maternal instinct. If you are concerned about your baby then don’t ask us, ask someone who knows your history and can review your baby. Call your midwife if you haven’t yet been discharged, or your health visitor or GP

Original poster

AnxietyTown · 22/02/2021 20:01

He was early yes!

DH has got home and he's now wide awake for his Dad little mite 🙂 feel less worried now, he's just gulped down a bottle and is looking around everywhere.

Is this life now, just worrying if he's okay all the time? 😣

OP posts:

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