To wake or not to wake

[Nicky79864]

Hi, I am hoping for some advice. My baby boy is 4 weeks old and feeds like crazy during the day. He goes down at 7 and then wakes at approx 12.30/1.00 to feed where my husband has given a bottle of expressed milk. Is this too long to let a newborn sleep? He then feeds at approx 2.30, 4 & 6. Also I am very engorged and wet through by my feed at 2.30. We keep trying to dream feed at 10.30 but can't wake him up! I have read so much mixed advice re waking and not waking I really don't know what to do for the best. I is in such a deep sleep at 10.30 it is almost impossible to wake him. Should I keep trying or us it safe to let him sleep until he wakes to feed?

Any advice much appreciated.

Never wake a sleeping baby, my wise mother once said. If he's sleeping then he's not hungry yet! Get yourself an early night in!!!

Let him sleep unless there's a reason to wake more regularly (e.g. medication). If you are struggling with engorgement you could hand express a little to reduce the pressure, or if you're able to, express a full feed for a bottle later in the night. Good luck!

If he's feeding well, gaining weight and waking himself for feeds then I would let him sleep too.

Thank you, I'll try sleeping without feeling guilty. I never thought about expressing at night and I might be able to get a bit more out as I find it hard to get 4oz at the minute.

Let him sleep. Another one here subscribing to never wake a sleeping baby.
Just a thought. If his longest gap is 7-12, and then by 2 your very engorged, could you feed at 2, and let DH get up early with baby and feed the bottle at say the 6am feed?

My baby did this at about a week. MW said don't wake baby and enjoy the rest. Obviously if you have a very small or sick baby then things would be different. My DS was almist 8lb at birth and back to birthweight at 5 days.