first time mum, couple of Qs I'd really like help on

[EmmieA]

My MW is truly awful and so any advice would be VERY welcome. Baby boy is 4 days old and I have a few questions:

My milk is in and he will feed but only ever for 5-10 minutes and then he isn't interested in any more. I try to rouse him and try him again but he doesn't want it. Do you think this is ok and I should just try him more often? Any suggestions.

He is very very sleepy in the day but less so in the night. I know this is fine and to be expected and it is but should it concern me?

For those of you who have babies who don't sleep at night, what do you actually do with them? i.e walk round house with them? Let them scream? Hold them in bed?

THANK YOU

*affective, not effective.

ok I need to go to bed!

Feed as often as you can. If he's awake, offer him the breast and if he doesn't want to take it, he won't take it. If he finished 5-10 minutes on one breast, wind him and offer him the other breast. He may or may not take it. If he doesn't seem to be hungry then it's fine for him not to want to feed too much but you should offer the breast at least every two hours in these early stages to establish your supply and encourage him to feed since dehydration occurs very easily in newborn babies. If you think you have a problem with the latch or wind, your midwife or health visitor can help. I'd also discuss all these issues with them too to get a professional opinion.

It's perfectly normal for him to be more awake at night. He's not on the same schedule as you yet and doesn't know night from day. If he's happy in his moses basket/cot then leave him there awake but if he's not settling you can try a sling, skin to skin contact, breastfeeding laying down, general cuddles, pushing him in his pram or rocking him in his car seat/bouncy chair. It's all about what works for you. If he's not crying, not hungry, not dirty and not in pain, leave him. A little cry won't hurt him if he's not full on crying and most babies are content to lay there awake. Don't think you have to stimulate him all the time he's awake if he doesn't need it.

Thank you all so much, my MW is truly awful and you've really put mind at ease. My 4 day year old DS is slightly jaundice and he was 10lb so maybe that afffects why he gets so sleepy after only very short feeds. MW hasn't weighed him yet, I just hope he is doing ok when she does.

Yes, jaundice is very common but can make them sleepy, but push on and it will get better. Some excellent advice here. This is all normal but short lived although it seems like forever at the time :)

My consultant prescribed a daily sunbath for my jaundiced sons. He told me to put the moses basket in the window daily for 10 minutes or so. This was early November so I had my doubts but I did it!

But agree, keep feeding as often as possible. Take to your bed if you can, lots of skin to skin contact and just feed and feed.

My DS was v. sleepy at first, too, I forgot to say that. It was a v. long labour and someone said "oh, well of course he's tired. Labour's very tiring for babies, too."
I hadn't thought of it!

If you keep him on/near you all the time and waft a nipple under his nose at his every. single. move. then you'll get enough food into him, I'm sure!