Silly question but newborn constantly sleeping - is this normal?

[Screamer]

DS2 is 6 days old and is sleeping constantly. I would say he is asleep for maybe 22 hours per day. Does this sound normal? DS1 was not like this and was awake lots and crying constantly for the first few weeks of life. DH says we should just enjoy the sleeping whilst it lasts but I'm a bit worried that maybe something is wrong as he is always asleep. He is EBF and feeding OK (only doing maybe 10 minutes per feed before falling asleep but plenty of wet and dirty nappies). Is this much sleeping normal? I can't tell what is normal as DS1 was such a polar opposite. Thank you!

Yes yes and yes. Totally normal although i remember coming on here and asking the same question! Both of mine basically slept until they were about 8 weeks old. Then they woke up and haven't stopped since! How many times a day are you feeding him? Assuming it's a lot then I'd just enjoy it whilst it lasts....

Sounds like my two, dc1 was horrendous, dc2 came along and fed for 10 minutes every three hours, bliss. Think as long as you are getting enough wet and dirty nappies and Lo things should be ok, you can always check with the mw for reassurance

Make sure he's not jaundiced, otherwise presumably normal and a sleepy baby?...

Without wanting to scare you and I'm sorry if I do but dd2 was a very sleepy baby. At first I thought she seemed ok but she started to hardly wake at all and became difficult to rouse to feed. She ended up being treated for sepsis. She had a UTI. Not saying there's something wrong with your baby but keep an eye out x

Yes my baby did that. 6 months old now and sadly more awake :) :)

DS1 was like this. Still is at nearly 3. DS2 appears to be doing the same.

Is he waking up to feed or do you have to wake him? Is he jaudinace at all? Full term? Does he feels overly cold or hot? More than likely it's totally normal, but if your gut is saying something is wrong get a mw to come over or ring nhs direct. Lots of wet and dirty nappies sound good but keep an eye on things.

Oh, normal delivery? Did your waters break long before delivery?

Thanks for the opinions. He was 4 days early, normal vaginal delivery. The midwives at hospital thought he might be jaundiced but decided he wasn't yellow enough. He seems to be less yellow now we are home. He wakes for feeds (about every 3-4 hours!!!!) then falls straight back asleep again.

Not sure what to do.....not in UK and healthcare for babies is different here (i.e. peadiatrician-led rather than GP or midwife led) so I would need to take him to A&E which I'm loathe to do......

He also has sticky, gunky eyes with yellow pus which I'm now scaring myself about by googling.....

Not sure about the sleeping but I'm sure the eyes are normal. Ds1 had that for ages. I guess go with your gut, as someone else has suggested. I'm sure everything is fine. Good luck!

The fact he is waking for feeds is good. Does it help if you put a little breast milk on the eyes? Do you know if he has gained / lost weight since being discharge from hospitial? Are you due to see the paediatrician soon? My bet is that everything is fine. However the tone of your posts suggests to me that you think something is Wrong, so I would always follow your instincts as babies can go down hill so quickly.

Aren't you still having visits from the health visitor? You could ask her.

DS was much the same, DD had screamed and not slept at all it seemed for the first three months and then DS came along and slept and slept and slept. bliss whilst it lasted. he also had gunky, sticky eyes. We were told to bathe them with cotton wool and cooled booled water, new piece with each wipe, wiping from corner outwards I think. Also MW said to soak cotton wool in breast milk and wipe eyes with that, though can't remember if I did that or not. Not so easy when you are overseas though. Try and get some rest while you can and congratulations!

I would try waking him more often for feeds, certainly during the day - you may also want to post this in Breast & Bottle Feeding and see if tiktok has any advice, as if babies are getting too hungry they may lack the energy to wake and feed. If he's only feeding for 10 minutes every 4 hours then I don't think that's enough.

When I told our midwife that my one week old slept all the time she had him tested for jaundice the same day and we were readmitted the same day for two days. Then sent home with a portable jaundice lamp for another week or so. DS not at all yellow - sleeping was the only sign. I would see if you can get the blood test for jaundice done.

Agree with the others, every 3 to 4 doesn't seem to be enough. I'd try rousing him every 2 hours in the day for a feed and at least every 4 at night. If you don't have the services of a mw, google kellymom sleepy baby and Kellymom feeding your newborn. Squirting BM in the eyes also worked much better for my dd than anything the doctor prescribed

Also agree with posting in the breast and bottle section as one of the BFC like tiktok or truth might respond.

Thank you for all the advice. I spoke to a midwife yesterday (and she saw baby via skype). She said he looks jaundiced and to make sure I wake him for feeds every 3 hours and to sit him by the window to get some natural light. She said we should only worry if his eyes go yellow.

I have been stressing today so have tried to get a paediatrician appointment at our two local hospitals but they are closed for the week (!!) and secretary said we can go to A&E. Really don't want to sit in A&E with a newborn for hours and catch germs. Plus now DS1 is poorly with a temperature of 38.9 so it is likely that newborn will get ill so we'll end up in A&E anyway at some point over xmas.

I'm waking him up every 2-3 hours for feeds and I guess we'll just see what happens....

I think it can be normal. DD1 was hardly ever sleeping. DD2 slept the first 5-6 weeks all the time. just briefly awake and I was really worried. she is totally fine and now, at 2, needs very little sleep. with hindsight, i wish I would have enjoyed the pretty easy first month with DD2 more rather than worrying.

would probably mention it to the HV - it only to reassure you.

Just to update - baby still sleeping pretty much constantly. I'm waking him every 2-3 hours for a feed but the feed doesn't last more than 10 minutes. so maybe 8 to 10 feeds per 24 hours. I strip him down to nappy and have resorted to cold sponging him but he often still won't wake enough to latch on. I've checked my notes from DS1 and he fed as little (although didn't sleep as much).

For peace of mind I would get him seen. When do the paediatricians open? Do you have private health care? What country are you in?

No appointments at paed until Monday 31st earliest. Health visitors and midwives on holiday all week, literally only option is A&E.

Did you manage to read the info on kellymom?

I did, thanks, and have been following the advice of waking every 2 hours or so to feed (although sometimes he just won't wake to feed or will only feed for a few minutes).

streamer do you think a lactation consultant would help? Have a look here. How are the wet and dirty nappies, do you think there are enough?