how to keep baby awake when brestfeeding

[kauto]

DS is almost 5 weeks old, he has a tingue tie and finds breast feeding difficukt and tiring. He often falls asleep during feeding and I have tried tickling his feet and blowing on his face to keep him awake, but this doesn't seem to work. Any other ideas would be great, thanks.

soory that should be tongue tie, am typing one handed

Squeeze his earlobe, that wakes 'em up... Slightly cruel though?

Stripping him down.
Playing with him beforehand.
Playing loudish music.
Have you thought of having it snipped?

keep him cool? undress him a bit. you've probably tried that.

My MW suggested gently pinching a cheek (facial!) and that always worked for me.

can you not have the tongue tie snipped???

my DS2 had tongue tie, and his was sorted when he was 4wks old. made a HUGE difference to his abilty to feed, and an even more massive difference to my nipples!

as for keeping him awake.....

if mine were sleepy, I would give them a feed, then as soon as they started going sleepy begin stripping their clothes off till they were just in a nappy.....if still sleepy, change the nappy and then try some more.

I found tho (and mind this is only my experience), that they were sleepy becuase they weren't feeding well enough to have the correct aount of calories in them to keep them awake IYGWIM. once they started taking more volumne per feed, so the sleepyness got less. seemed to be a visious circle.....

BUT.....there are some truly fab feeding support advisers around here who will help and advice sooooooo much better than me, so HTH, and good luck in the meantime

During night feeds I used to put DS1 down next to me on the cold leather lounge between breasts and that would wake him up enough to go for no.2. I would usually be watching telly to keep me from falling asleep .

Has his tongue tie been properly diagnosed (I was told DS2 had tongue tie and it turned out he didn't) - over here is it a simple matter to have it lasered in the surgery by dentists who specialise in the procedure.

Changing a nappy (even one that doesn't need changing) is the most effective thing I think. When he gets teeth, brushing those tends to work too.

blowing on his forehead worked with ds2.

Switch breasts.

My dd has just had her tongue tie snipped. Done by a breastfeeding expert properly trained to do it. Twas a very quick procedure and is literally just a snip. Midwives used to do it on the delivery ward apparently (years ago)

I used to rub DD's cheek, or change her nappy if she was really droping off, or sometimes dip my finger in my ever present glass of water and run it over her forehead

thanks for all the ideas. The tongue tie has been diagnosed by my doctor who wants to monitor weight gain before sending ds to have it snipped. I have been advised to top up with formula as weight gain has been slow.Will also speal to bf advisor next week.

weight gain should not be a factor in whether to sort a tongue tie, surely.....for my DS, he was referred as soon as we spotted it as it can cause feeding issues and weight probs if not sorted!.

as for suggesting you top up with bottles......he is out of order with that....he should be encouraging you to continue feeding in the way you want (ie, breastfeeding), and making sure you get the correct support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found feeding my son incredibly difficult because of his tongue tie, and I was experience enough luckily to spot that (he is my fifth baby, all breastfed), and maybe because of that, my doctor and MW and HV took me seriously and did what I asked, as soon as I asked.

grrrrrr at your doctor for this and his outlandish response

It was a MW told me that DS2 had tongue tie and gave me the number of the laser guy for snipping, but I went to my doctor and got a referral to a paedeatrician who said it wasn't tongue tie at all, just an unusual shaped tongue (heart-shaped) that he would probably grow out of in a year or two - which he mostly has! Topping up - how silly - just get the tongue seen to and breastfeed to your hearts content.

you doctor does not know enough about breastfeeding and breastfeeding with tongue tie if he is going to recommend to top up with formula. Topping up is a road to full formula feeding among other things.

here is info on tongue tie for parents

this is the list of hospitals in the UK where tongue tie is divided

insist that you get a referral]] to the nearest hospital where tongue tie is divided. and this is how your gp goes about doing it.

I would print these pages out and go see your gp again, asap. You may also want to call a bf counsellor from one of the 4 volunteer associations for further info

I agree with what others are saying about how to keep him awake and breast compression.

Topping up does not have to be the road to formula feeding so long as it's doen under supervision of a breastfeeding counsellor.

The tonge tie only needs cutting IF it's casuing the feeding problem- depepnds totally how big it is- your son does sound as if it's causing him a problem though as you say he finds feeding hard work. My dd wasn't that bothered though and she had it snipped to cancell out the chance that it could be that causing ehr weight issues. Since she had it done though I have noticed that she is much gentler at latching on but it actually didn't make a difference to the weight gain- but then again they were caused by my poor health NOT her latch

that list of hospitals has missed at least one hospital off as it doesn't list my local hospital

thanks for your suggestions, will try breast compression and will speak to a breastfeeding counsellor tomorrow. it was actually my midwife who suggested topping up with formula after ds refused to feed for almost 2 days when we were in hospital following his birth, but we will speak to dr about referral for tongue tie when we go for 6 week check up.

give him a bath? or wipe him over with a cool flannel?