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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

How often should I be waking my 4 day old to BF as he has jaundice?

15 replies

RememberToPlaywiththeKids · 16/02/2011 21:28

Does anyone know?? I think it's only mild but he had photo therapy and they were happy for him to stop it after being under the lamps overnight...

I'm having to wake him night and day.

OP posts:
nannyl · 16/02/2011 21:32

at just 4 days at least every 3 hours IMO

silverstar09 · 16/02/2011 21:38

I'm not sure but I was told to wake my son when he was first born (now 2 years) at least every 3 hours for a feed. Is he having wet and dirty nappies?

Hope someone else comes to help soon.

andiem · 16/02/2011 21:40

Every 3 hours was what I was told for both of mine who had jaundice

RubyBuckleberry · 16/02/2011 22:04

As often as possible. The more milk he has the more he will be able to flush out the bilirubin which causes the colour.

Is he pooing? What are they like? Colour? Size? I agree if its getting on for three hours, have a go. And going to a bfing drop in can be very reassuring...

RJandA · 17/02/2011 09:31

I was told to feed minimum every 3 hours, more if she wanted to.

With hindsight though, I wish I had fed every 2 hours during the day and 3 at night.

Surely the midwives haven't signed you off yet? They are your best bet for advice, make sure they answer all your questions and don't be fobbed off if you feel like they haven't.

HTH

Original poster
RememberToPlaywiththeKids · 17/02/2011 11:19

Thanks everyone.

I tried doing 2 hours but he barely takes anything and it takes up to an hour and a half to get anything in him. It was 3 sucks then sleep, then lots of waking him up and another 4 sucks etc. If I start at 3 hours with a nappy change then he feeds really well and all done in half an hour with a full tummy at the end of it, so I assume this must be the best way forward for him???

I had a total of 8 hours solid deep sleep last night inbetween the 3 hourly wake ups but I feel absolutely shattered - why????????

OP posts:
MoonUnitAlpha · 17/02/2011 11:20

I was told three hours at a minimum, aim for every two. I did let him go 3 hours at night but woke him at every 2 in the day.

MoonUnitAlpha · 17/02/2011 11:24

You're shattered cos you've just had a baby Grin Feels like you've been hit by a train!

mousymouse · 17/02/2011 11:27

I was told the three hours as well.
the midwife also told me that if baby is too sleepy to feed to go back to the hospital as baby might need more treatment.
I was also advised to dress baby down to nappy and place him in the window so he can get some natural uv-light (keeping the room very warm room though).

RubyBuckleberry · 17/02/2011 12:25

RememberToPlaywiththeKids, if he has a better feed after 3 hours with a full tummy then do this. You can easily keep an eye on wet and pooey nappies and his weight. Jaundice can be entirely normal and the bilirubin will be flushed out of his system the more milk he drinks so if he is drinking well and getting a bellyfull and then sleeping it off for another three hours and so on and so on then this is a good thing.

Like I said, keep an eye on wet and pooey nappies - 3 tablespoons of water in a nappy is what a wet one should feel like, 5/6 times in 24 hours. And three poos of a £2 coin size in a 24 hour period. Some healthy babies have been known to do one or two massive ones a day but this is unusual and if it is one or two it needs to be quite a lot of poo!

RJandA · 17/02/2011 14:55

I remember reading something about sleep cycles, and a full adult sleep cycle being about 4 hours long (obviously depends on the person though). So if you're waking every 3 hours, feeding for half an hour then sleeping for 2.5 hours, then even if you do get a total of 8 hours you won't feel great because you haven't had a full sleep cycle.

I know it feels desperate but these days will end, I promise you! And you get used to the foggy feeling of sleep deprivation, although that might not be much comfort to you at the moment.

Original poster
RememberToPlaywiththeKids · 18/02/2011 20:54

sorry for not replying sooner!

That's very interesting about the sleep cycles - I had to wake 2 hours after going to bed and it physically hurt but then I left it 3.5 hours for the next time and that was easier.

Thanks Ruby - that's really helpful. Are you a nurse?

His colour looks perfect now I must say.

OP posts:
RubyBuckleberry · 18/02/2011 21:08

no Smile mum of 16mo! was a teacher before... read the jack newman book while feeding him lol picked up good info from various websites Grin. llli, kellymom, drjacknewman - and this is quite good - fast forward to 2:15mins for specifics on nappies ;)

RubyBuckleberry · 18/02/2011 21:11

sorry! www.llli.org/mp3/LLL_podcast_014-MilkSupply.mp3

Diana West co wrote the new LLL book I think.

RubyBuckleberry · 18/02/2011 21:13

or here - NCT

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