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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

is it ok to wake my newborn to feed?

17 replies

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 28/11/2011 22:16

DD is 3 days old and feeding well, longest she's gone without a feed is about 4 hours (last night), milk has come through etc. She last fed 4hours ago, I'm waiting up for her to wake to feed her before then going to bed - is it ok to just wake her now and try to get her to feed? She's been awake for a lot of today which is probably why she's been out for the count this evening, but I'm soooooo tired and want to go to bed!

She's EBF

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 28/11/2011 22:38

Go to bed, sleep. The baby will wake when she is hungry. Chill.

(and well done btw) :)

Bohica · 28/11/2011 22:41

I would dream feed her as you are both new to BF'ing, 4 hours is long enough and apart from establishing a feeding routine you will be uncomfortable and feel like your boobs will explode!!

Congrats and enjoy your sleep baby.

Dee03 · 28/11/2011 22:55

My old nan used to say 'never wake a sleeping baby as when they r sleeping they r growing'

Bohica · 28/11/2011 23:00

My nan used to say the same and I do agree with the never wake a baby saying but I do remember starting out BF'ing with all 3 of mine and a routine and supply needs establishing within the first 4 to 6 weeks, so the phrase little and often was more important than the never wake rule.

Does her nappy need changing? you could change her and feed her without waking her completly.

Solo · 28/11/2011 23:02

I wouldn't wake her either. If you are uncomfortable, try expressing by hand just enough to make yourself more comfortable, pop pads in your bra and a towel under you in bed. A hungry baby will wake you up, but never wake a baby to feed it...soon enough, she'll be waking you up several times a night anyway, so enjoy the sleep she'll allow you to have :) and congratulations!!!

Bohica · 28/11/2011 23:09

Just me then I do hope you and your DD are sleeping right now!!

I still believe I'm right though.

Original poster

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 29/11/2011 07:15

thanks everyone - she woke shortly after, fed for an hour, slept for an hour woke again but at least let me sleep 2-6am, bliss! Then of course I got up with 3yr old DS. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

OP posts:

Meglet · 29/11/2011 07:24

I always woke mine. But I am a bit of a worrier / control freak.

DoodleAlley · 29/11/2011 07:28

I got advised to wake as they can be too sleepy at that stage and not wake when they should really be feeding. And also to help build up your milk supply. But it's your choice

tiktok · 29/11/2011 09:34

Hope you have a good day, girlwith....but do ask the midwife about this. Those are long gaps for a new baby, and while all may be well, it does need checking out. Risk is that she is sleeping to conserve energy and that she needs encouragement to feed more. Ask the midwife either by phone or in person.

Original poster

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 01/12/2011 16:28

Thanks all - midwife came by today after DD has spent the last 24 hours with 4-5hour gaps between feeds, she said to wake her when it gets to 5hours and I think I need to make her more uncomfortable during feeds to encourage her to take more....am so so engorged

OP posts:

tiktok · 01/12/2011 17:10

Glad the midwife has seen you. 5 hour gaps are too long between feeds, no doubt about it.

By now, your baby needs frequent feeding - skin to skin snuggles are the way to go so she can feed as soon as she stirs.

A good sign to watch for is copious yellow poo. What's happening with that?

Has she been weighed since birth?

Original poster

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 01/12/2011 20:18

yeah she was weighed today and has lost 5.5% of her birth weight, which midiwfe said was fine.

Am doing what I can to wake her more frequently, but it's so hard trying to make her feed when she doesn't want to, despite clothes off, tickling toes, making her uncomfortable etc!

She's pooing and weeing fine, am getting better at making her have a decent feed rather than snacking on and off over the course of an hour.

Seeing the midwife again on Saturday so will see how tomorrow goes - but any tips feel free to pass them on!

OP posts:

RitaMorgan · 01/12/2011 20:26

I fed ds every 2-3 hours at first, just until he was definitely waking himself at least every 3 hours and gaining weight well - you can't really demand feed until they're demanding imo!

Snacking on and off for an hour is fine by the way - totally normal at this stage. You can swap sides everytime she comes off or falls asleep too. Feed-doze-feed-doze-feed-doze is exactly what my ds did too in the early days - just keep the baby close to you and in your arms with lots of boob access as much as possible.

Bohica · 01/12/2011 20:58

All I did for the first two weeks was feed and sleep. DH did all our meals and sorted the other children out and after two weeks our routine stated to establish and we went from frequent feeding to 2 hourly feeds and then after about 8 weeks we were 4 hourly or fed before leaving the house.

You need to give it time and let your milk flow establish with frequent feeds.

Every one does it differently but this is what worked for us.

Good luck

tiktok · 01/12/2011 23:57

All that sounds fine - snacking is normal and feeding on and off for an hour is the way most newborns feed. No need to make her feel uncomfortable :)

Sounds like the long gaps will go.

Original poster

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 02/12/2011 05:11

Thanks all. DS pretty much straight away did 3hourly feeds of 10mins but emptied me immediately. Will keep with demand feeding but wake her if she starts going back to 5hours between feeds

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