Sleepy 3 week old

7 replies

SusanAust · 03/09/2006 09:30

My DS (third baby) is 3 weeks old (3.4 kgs) and still very sleepy. I am trying to make sure he has good feeds during the day (I'm breastfeeding) and would appreciate any advice on how to get a sleepy baby to take a full feed. Many thanks

OP posts:

LoveMyGirls · 03/09/2006 10:15

they do sleep alot at this age i would just go with it, you're obviously doing the best you can just go with the flow and dont panic it will all work out.

kiskidee · 03/09/2006 10:41

breast compression may help with a baby who is falling asleep on the breast.

tiktok · 03/09/2006 13:20

Susan, need more info, please.

While it is true that some babies sleep a lot, it is by no means certain that means everything is ok.

What is your baby's weight and weight gain? Is he pooing several times a day? How often does he come to the breast?

Original poster

SusanAust · 03/09/2006 14:23

He is feeding every 3 hours, pooing regularly, (although some are green rather than yellow - does that mean anything?), and with lots of wet nappies. He lost >10% of his weight before starting to put it back on, I think he is just now back to his birth weight at 3 weeks. to keep him awake I change his nappy, lay him on his mat when he falls asleep to make him wake up again, talk to him, etc. Grateful for any advice.

OP posts:

tiktok · 03/09/2006 17:23

Thanks, Susan. It sounds to me that you have had a difficult start, but you are doing the right things to help turn it around - he's gained weight only slowly, and you're right to be concerned that he doesn't fall asleep and become difficult to feed as a result.

Breast compression is a good idea.

I think, also, that feeding more often than 3 hourly would be a good idea (does this mean 8 times in 24 hours or does he have a longer gap at night or any other time? 8 times would be not as often as most 3 wk olds and 7 times even more so.....is there a chance you could feed him more often?)

Original poster

SusanAust · 03/09/2006 19:47

Thanks Tiktok. I tried compression with the last feed which seemed to help create more vigorous sucking. He is getting 8 feeds a day, and I have to wake him up for these, except at night when he wakes up by himself. My other two were much easier! I know I have a lot of milk - I can express 5 oz from each breast in 10 minutes so I suspect the problem is his latch.

OP posts:

wartywarthog · 04/09/2006 13:03

aha! i have a little checklist of things to help with sleepy feeders!

make sure your ds isn't too warm - take some clothes off. you don't want him to get cold, but he'll be next to you getting all your warmth and you don't want him to get so hot that he just goes to sleep
watch for the difference between a real suck (you might be able to hear the swallow) and fake chin waggles that happen when he's asleep
monitoring the swallowing is good to find out when he's not actually drinking. i used to wait for the 3rd chin waggle with no swallow and i'd know dd had fallen asleep.
rub his back gently
cough or sneeze - the new sound might wake him up and remind him to suck
i make sucky noises - reminds my dd what she's supposed to be doing.
don't tickle his feet - i think that's mean!
if he is definitely asleep, take him off and burp him or sit him upright.

hope that helps! after a couple of days, there was a noticeable improvement. my dd was much better at getting a proper feed before falling asleep.

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