3 day old asleep all the time

[Pegase]

Just after reassurance really- my 3 / 4 day old (born late Monday) is sleeping all the time and having to be woken for feeds every 3 hours according to schedule we were given by hospital.

We are currently mostly feeding formula as baby wouldn't latch on despite extensive support in hospital although we had success latching twice today since my milk has come in which gives me hope we will be able to switch to bf. I fed EBM to my older daughter so expect to end up with a decent supply as I had last time once we get going.

She has slight jaundice - below the test level needing any kind of treatment but obviously that can lead to sleepiness.

When she does have wakeful moments (e.g. after a nappy change) she is looking around, alert and not lethargic -
I'm just surprised she doesn't yet demonstrate clear feeding cues and actually wake up to ask for a feed- it's a real effort to get her to bother.

My gut instinct is that she seems content and normal apart from the sleepiness. With my older DD we had a nightmare for months with health visitors worrying she wasn't following the right line in the red book, wasn't drinking enough milk etc. She is perfectly healthy and fine. I just don't want to be too relaxed about it if there could be something wrong I haven't thought about.

You can probably let it go to 4 hours overnight, gives you some extra sleep and might help her wake in her own.

At the moment the heat will be making her sleepier, and some babies are just sleepier than others. I wouldn't worry so long as she can be woken to an alert state.

My DD now 18 slept for 21/22 hours and only woke for feeds every 5 1/2 hours. If we woke her earlier she didn't take as much milk over the day.

She slept through tat 5 weeks and still like her 10 hours sleep a night now.

I'd try feeding every 4 hours ( slightly more milk). She probably just isnt hungry enough for it to wake her up. As long as when you fo wake her she is alert, and is drinking milk when she is fed I'd say shes probably fine.

Can I ask is it now normal to wake a baby to feed them? big congratulations, how exciting..

I have teenagers now and just can't even fathom the idea of actually waking up a baby that's fast asleep!! I'd be enjoying every moment of the sleeps.

My baby would have slept through the night if I had let her in the first month (I did once but got told not to by the midwife after I mentioned it but in fairness no one had told me I was supposed to wake her as I assumed she would cry if hungry). I had to wake her every 4 hours minimum which I think I did til about 3 or 4 months when they were happy she was chunky enough then let sleep through.

My rule of Thumb is never wake a sleeping baby!

I used to Nija crawl past my baby’s cot, still do now! Babies sleep a lot specially new borns give it a couple of weeks and it’ll change.

However I would change to every 4 hours, if you’re going to wake her that’s a good amount of time, and also allows you for abit more sleep.

Go with your gut, if baby is feeding well you’re onto a winner! you sound like you’re doing really well & have a healthy baby x

I had similar concerns about my DS when he was tiny. Midwife said as long as he was alert when he was awake there was no issue. I'd try leaving a bit longer between feeds and see if they wake naturally.

Thanks for the advice everyone! The dreaded 5 day weigh in tomorrow so hopefully that is a good one.

Today and overnight last night she finally started sending out noise alerts when hungry (the usual odd newborn collection of squeals, grunts and lip smacking) which is a great relief. Has been very hungry all day as well- thinking she was probably just tired after delivery!