Is my 5 day old sleeping too much?

[SilentBoob]

She just dozes all the time, squeaking every couple of hours for a 2 - 10 minute feed and then dozes off on the boob and repeat.

If I put her down she wakes up, but the rest of the time she just sleeps on me.

Think she might be a bit jaundiced.

How much sleep is okay? And should I take her to the doctor about the jaundice?

I am not in UK and have no midwife care or HV or anything - she's not been seen since her paed appt on day 2.

Cast your minds back...

:)

It's fine re the sleeping, newborns sleep a lot and there really is no pattern. As time goes on your DC will spend longer awake.

I also think the jaundice will go in a few days but maybe call your paed?

Personally.. I'd leave it another day or 2 for jaundice, unless you're really worried.

Tbh, all I remember about DS being newborn is that he slept, fed and slept again. So no, I think that's fine. As long as she's happy, I wouldn't worry too much, but maybe go to doc tomorrow or day after and mention both things then just for some reassurance.

I realise that actually I've not been much help, but you've helped me put off studying a little longer.....

Best of luck, and congratulations!

I don't think my DS woke up until he was a couple of weeks old at least. She's feeding regularly, can be aroused - what is her tone like? If you lift up her arm, what happens, is it floppy or tense? Wees and poohs? She sounds fine but as no one has looked at the jaundice it may be worth just popping her to the docs to be sure. Congrats!!

I did read that in the first month newborns sleep 23 hours out of 24. That said, both mine stayed sucking on the boob for about 15-30mns every 2-3 hours, 24 hours a day, for the first 6-8 weeks. If you are concerned, can you not find any post natal support / services, where you could have her checked over?

WRT weight gain, you can expect her to lose up to 10% of her birthweight in the first week, after which time your milk should have 'come in' (can take up to 4-5 days IMHE) and she should then start putting on weight. There is no need to supplement her feeding during this period - it's her frequent suckling that will stimulate your milk production - but it might be that you want to try and tickle her toes, take off one of her layers, or change her nappy mid-feed just to wake her for a little longer.

Sorry to hear you are anxious and feel unsupported. Hopefully mums with other newborns will be post to offer some advice and support, but all the best.

It might be perfectly normal or it might be cause for concern. Jaundiced babies can sleep so much that they don't feed enough, and babies who don't feed enough also tend to sleep too much and it is a vicious cycle. Those feeds are pretty short but that could be normal too (DS2 fed like that and it was fine) - on the other hand it could indicate that she is too tired to feed. It's a good sign that she wakes up if you put her down (sorry).

So the answer is to look at weight loss/gain and whether your baby is weeing and pooing normally. Has she been producing lots of wet nappies and are her poos frequent and yellow? Do you know what she weighs compared with birth weight?

Without wishing to scare you op my dd2 was very sleepy and it turned out she had an infection. Jaundice usually clears through regular feeding and a bit of sunlight ie a walk around the block just to get some light and air ( in extreme cases a uv light is required) if she is feeding ok and having wet and dirty nappies and is properly waking to feed then chances are she's ok but if it's a struggle to get her to feed or she is really sleeping for long periods of time I would get her checked out :)

Definitely normal to sleep constantly. If you're worried about the jaundice, try and put her in a sunny spot to sleep (not sure where in the world you are, hopefully somewhere sunny). Try to keep feeds up too, as that can help with jaundice. I used to have to do all sorts to ds to get him to stay awake long enough for a feed.. tickle his ears or toes, strip him down to a vest, blow on his face. Try doing some of those to your dd.

Thanks all.

Lots of wet and pooey nappies. She's not at all floppy.

And milk has come in, and despite such short feeds it's obviously going in because she threw up litres of the stuff last night .

I'm not feeling too anxious. She is my 3rd. But her older siblings never slept, as far as I remember. I mean, I suppose they must have done, but mostly, like lego's, they fed and fed and fed and fed and fed. And cried a fair bit. I remember pacing and singing and feeding.

IT's night time here now, but I think I'll take her along to a clinic tomorrow morning just to have a check-over.

Oooh you might be lucky and have an efficient feeder then. DS2 used to feed in about 2-5 minutes and that was it for 2 or 3 hours - felt like bliss compared with the mums who were feeding 23 hours a day! I got loads of sleep and it felt really odd as my DS1 had been a terrible sleeper and feeder too.

It didn't last of course....but nice while it did!

Depending on how hot a country you're in wrapping her in a blanket and laying her near a glass door or window or taking her out for a walk and exposing her face to a little sun will help the jaundice go.

I don't know she has jaundice. She just seems a little tanned for a newborn. And has a slightly yellowish tinge to her eye whites.

If her eyes are yellow then yeah it really sounds like jaundice. It's normal to have some degree of jaundice. But good idea to get her checked over tomorrow just to be sure :) as posted above you could just have a very efficient feeder so feeding times are short and the nappies are a very good sign .

Thanks all. Off to bed now. Will update in the morning.

Good night :)

She's fine!

I think she was just having a really sleepy day. She was up faffing and fussing and feeding for hours last night, and then slept for 4 hours straight from about 4am.

She has been checked over by a midwife; she has put on 200g since birth, is not jaundiced, has been awake a bit this morning and is now having another snooze. Just a sleepy girl I think.

Thanks all for your posts.

Great news and I'm glad you had some solid sleep last night

So glad she's ok!!!!! :)

good news. Have a great weekend.