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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Still new at this, sleepy baby, worried!

18 replies

Deliaskis · 20/02/2011 17:18

Hi all,

DD is now 4 days old and still spends a lot of time sleeping. We have to wake her for every feed and she mainly just feeds and goes back to sleep, hardly any other awake time. Yesterday morning (so at not quite even 3 days old) she was weighed and had lost a bit more than they wanted to (more than 8.5% but not 10%), so the MW said I had to feed her strictly every 3 hours.

So I am carrying on waking her to feed. But sometimes she just really doesn't want much at each feed with that frequency. Some feeds are great, 20 minutes up to over 30 in some cases, others I'm struggling up to 17-18 minutes. She has also thrown up what looks like a whole feed this afternoon (which made me feel like it was a complete wasted effort ). MW coming back tomorrow to check and if she has not started to gain then she will get 'referred' (don't even know what this means).

To be fair to DD, by yesterday's MW visit my milk had only just started coming in so with all the meconium and mucus she had got rid of, plus tiny amounts of colostrum in first 2 days, I am not really surprised she had lost, just wish it wasn't in the 'borderline' category.

I don't know what I'm asking really, I think, I just need a bit of reassurance. This return MW appointment tomorrow has me a little worked up, I feel like me and DD have an exam to pass, and have no idea when DD is going to start being a bit more awake and able to handle more feeds and actually start to 'demand' them herself. It feels like I have to obsess so much over this that I haven't time to enjoy DD.

Any shared experiences or advice would be gratefully received.

From a very blue Delia xx

OP posts:

Moulesfrites · 20/02/2011 17:45

I know exactly what you mean about feeling like you have a test to pass- I felt exactly the same, my ds is now 4 weeks. I don't have a lot of advice as I don't have similar experience with weight loss, but I would say the following

Newborns do tend to sleep a lot.
When they bring up milk it can look like loads but isn't.
Have you tried lots of skin to skin?
Is you dd producing wet and dirty nappies? My mw said that this was key and that they were not concerned about any weight loss under 10%.

You sound as if you are doing a great job, good luck for the mw visit tomorrow and congratulations on your new dd

Original poster

Deliaskis · 20/02/2011 17:54

Thanks moules, I think if tomorrow goes OK I will feel a lot better. DD is in every other respect fine, nappies fine, colour good etc (of her, not nappies, which are also fine!), so fingers crossed that tomorrow will bring the reassurance I need...

OP posts:

CarGirl · 20/02/2011 17:57

All 4 of my dc slept for nearly all of the first 6 weeks......it is fairly normal. They find it tiring feeding hence, wake & feed and zonk out again.

Just not down how when and how long she feeds for so you have a record if she loses a lot more weight than they are happy with.

chillichill · 20/02/2011 18:02

if your worried do 2 hours between the feeds during the day and 3 at night. or when you want a nap. the more they eat, the more awake they will be. the less they eat, the more they will sleep. I made the mistake of only waking every 4 hours and my supply suffered.

chillichill · 20/02/2011 18:03

but new babies do sleep a hell of a lot, they're like cats ;)

shmoz · 20/02/2011 18:05

Agree with CarGirl, I had a similar problem and kept a record of all feeds, wet nappies, dirty nappies which was really useful.

I also know what you mean about passing a test, one MW I had was not particularly friendly or helpful and as a first time mum she made me feel completely inadequate, in fact I got really worked up about it until my OH quite rightly said 'ignore the silly cow'.

You'll be fine, my DS is now 12 weeks and growing like a weed.

Good luck x

Original poster

Deliaskis · 20/02/2011 18:08

That's reassuring cargirl about the sleeping, and I am keeping a record of feeds so at least I will have info for them tomorrow.

chilli I suppose I could switch to 2 hrs in the day, might try that if tomorrow brings no joy.

OP posts:

Original poster

Deliaskis · 20/02/2011 18:10

shmoz thanks for reply, I posted vefore i saw it, but it makes me feel better to think it's not just me.

And 'growing like a weed' cracked me up, I'm hoping for that in a few weeks,

OP posts:

emsyj · 20/02/2011 18:18

My DD was very very sleepy and did not really suck at all until she was 6 days old - was great at latching but wouldn't actually get anything other than what dripped into her mouth. I just carried on offering the breast every 2 hours and on day 6 she suddenly clicked with it but for literally months (I would say 3 months at least) she did nothing but feed and sleep.

She is now making up for it and at 9 months is awake all day bar a short nap morning and afternoon. I think it is too early to worry about baby being sleepy. DD was on the 9th centile at birth, dropped to the 2nd after a week and is now ENORMOUS on the 91st!!! (and very long, not just a chubber!)

japhrimel · 20/02/2011 18:42

I hate how much hcps scare new Mums. A MCA did with us, when what we needed was proper bfing support!

The weigh-ins are good so that problems can be caught early, but unless there are signs of an issue with LO (and the GP can check them for signs of infection, etc) then the only referall that should be on the cards IMO is for you to see a bfing counsellor! But it is normal for babies to lose weight before Mum's milk comes in - the important thing is they then start to stabilise.

Original poster

Deliaskis · 20/02/2011 18:55

Thanks for replies emsy and japhrimel ( japh I think you replied on my other thread yesterday so double thanks to you!).

It's reassuring to know that this much sleepiness is normal, and that there is time for this to 'click' yet.

Japh you're right re MW and scaring me. TBH if she had said things differently, like 'we'll keep an eye on the weight so we can be sure that everything is working OK', or if she had talked about a BF counsellor, then I would have been a happy mummy.

Thanks again, I'm feeling a bit better (had a bit of a blub and that always helps a bit too!) and hopefully tomorrow will be more positive.

Ta again
D

OP posts:

Zimm · 20/02/2011 19:23

Had exact same issues with my DD except she had lost 10.5% by day 3 and so we were re-admitted for three days - which was ick as I had BF, express, feed the expressed milk and then top up with formula. Anyway your DD sounds pretty normal to me but second the advice of feeding every 2 hours in the day, which is a more typical newborn feeding pattern once they get going!

Original poster

Deliaskis · 21/02/2011 11:37

Oh dear, DD has lost more this morning, now at 12%. We're not being admitted though. Today's MW was nicer. She advised we get a pump and BF her for 20 minutes then express and give more with a cup so that she is getting more calories than the 'work' she is doing to get them.

At the moment this seems to be the only approach, but am still a bit that it hasn't all just clicked.

She had been feeding so well since the Saturday visit that I had really hoped for better news.

OP posts:

RufflesKerfluffles · 21/02/2011 12:50

We ended up cupfeeding DS when he was a few days old after he lost more than 10%, too, which got him putting on weight again, and we were able to drop the cupfeeding after I think 2 or 3 days. However, it might be worth talking to someone on one of the phonelines too, as if she seems to have been feeding well, but is still losing weight, is it possible the latch isn't quite right yet?

japhrimel · 21/02/2011 13:06

If you can get one top-up ahead (e.g. by pumping extra first thing when you're fuller) it makes life easier as then you have it ready after a feed. Plus sometimes then your OH can do the top-up while you pump.

Good luck! And don't give up - unless you really want to! Bfing is a tough skill for both of you to learn, so there's nothing wrong if it doesn't just "click". And you can get through this - my DD lost 15% and was on top-ups for weeks but has now been ebf for a month.

Original poster

Deliaskis · 21/02/2011 14:23

Thanks for replies japh and ruffles, I really appreciate hearing some positive thoughts on this. I am feeling a bit more positive about getting this sorted, I would like if poss to avoid being admitted again, but if that is the way it goes, so be it.

Not giving up on BF yet, will express and top up and hopefully she will soon be strong enough to go get it herself.

Thanks so much for support.

OP posts:

MoonUnitAlpha · 21/02/2011 15:13

How often is she feeding?

I second the suggestion to see a breastfeeding counsellor in real life - if she looked like she was feeding well but still lost weight then something isn't right. There might be something going on that is stopping her from getting enough milk effectively - a tongue-tie, or latching/positioning needing a tweak. I think you need someone who's an expert in breastfeeding rather than a MW though.

romillysmum · 21/02/2011 15:26

Hi congratulations on your new baby. My DD was very sleepy and I was advised to strip her off and just feed in her nappy as when they are cosy and warm they more likely to go back to sleep. Also tickling the ears or feet to keep them awake while feeding. Don't know if this has been suggested to you or if in fact it works. I am sure you will get on well once your milk supply gets established. I visited the NCT breastfeeding group at 4 days with my DS (my first) and it was the best thing I did. Good luck

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