Baby falling asleep while BFing

[Puppyyikes]

I’m being driven crazy by this! I’m doing everything recommended - ticking his cheek, feet, blowing on him. But even so, feeding is taking close to two hours because he's asleep 75% of the time (in two hours he’s awake and actually feeding for around 30 minutes.) I’m considering just pumping and feeding him from a bottle because it’ll be quicker, but that isn’t what I want to do. Any tips? Baby is almost a week.

Breastfeeding isn't just about milk transfer, it's comfort, warmth, security. Your baby is still fresh out of utero! This is entirely normal behaviour, there is absolutely nothing more important you need to be doing right now. It won't last forever.

Almost a week! Agree with the sentiments above.... it's a 'thing' whilst so new. See also: cluster feeding.
But so worth it

When he’s asleep you can take him off, still have cuddles but he doesn’t have to be attached the whole time. But being on the boob makes them feel safe as your areolas make a scent which is the same as the amniotic fluid.

Once he’s fed on one side and starts falling asleep, try a nappy change to wake him up. Try to get him to take the second side. Then if he falls asleep, great. Unlatch him if you need to

It really won't be quicker to pump and feed.
He isn't even a week old yet.
He is normal. Keep going.
Have you got someone there to do everything else? If so just cuddle and feed and sleep. Once your supply is established thing will get better.

Why do you think the feeds need to be quicker? If you think what baby animals do they just stay snuggled up to their mum suckling/dozing. It's the biological norm that they want to be close to you. It is tough for you but just think of all that oxytocin and how amazing it is for your baby.

It's normal for babies to fall asleep when breastfeeding - the hormones, they are warm, safe and snuggled on their mums. You can't really stop it! Newborns especially. It's a good sign - and a handy tool later when you want them to go to sleep!

You could go with the flow and embrace it. Prepare your feeding station with snacks, tea, remote control, book etc etc, get comfy. Find a good series to watch.

Or you can try and break the cycle by only feeding them when they wake up from their nap, and then trying to get them to sleep another way (Eg in the sling/pram/bouncy chair).

The problem with trying to avoid feeding to sleep is that at the moment the baby is establishing your milk supply. They will have growth spurts soon when they will feed for hours and hours and it's not because there is not enough milk - it's because they are increasing your supply by feeding more. So it's probably best to go with the flow at the mo. Once they are a bit older you can worry a bit more about routine.

It can be frustrating being stuck on the sofa (especially when you need a wee!) but it's just how it is at the moment. The moment will pass, they will get bigger and start moving about (and destroying your house) and then you'll wish you could sit on the sofa and snuggle them again 😂

Totally normal. I would say though, it’s fine to unlatch him at some point- see if you can notice when the feeding ends and using you as a dummy starts. I had this with my first, and ended up with very sore nipples. A lactation consultant eventually pointed out that DD was sucking for comfort past a certain point. Fine to allow it but also fine to break.

My little boy was the same at this age. He is 3 months old now and a totally different baby.

Here are some things I tried that helped at times - changing his nappy, taking his clothes off, doing skin to skin, stroking under his chin to encourage him to drink and rubbing the palm of his hand, lightly blow on his cheek, pop my pinky in his mouth, wind him, hand express a little before popping him back onto the boob to give him a taste/encourage feeding, breast compressions if the suck to swallow ratio has slowed down.

Sometimes none of the above worked and I resorted to getting a baby wipe and rubbing over his feet or back/belly etc to wake him. It often done the trick!

Stick with it, it does get easier.

Just to add - my LO lost quite bit of weight in the beginning. He was put on a feeding plan and so I had to wake him at certain times to feed.

Agreed. Likewise it took me awhile to learn this with DC1, nobody ever told or showed me and I just sorta picked it up myself over time. With DC2 and DC3 I keep an eye on them and when I think they're just comfort sucking I unlatch them. You can tell if they're not cos they will root around with their head for the nipple again if they're still awake and then you can just latch them back on again or swap sides. Usually after about 20 minutes on one side they will actually just be dozing and comfort sucking rather than actively feeding.

Contact La Leche League they are so knowledgable and supportive. I had real struggles with my supply in the beginning which meant incredibly long feeds and baby not gaining enough weight. It could be normal in which case it will quickly improve but there could be something more going on. Can’t hurt to raise it with your midwife/ health visitor. Is your baby jaundiced at all as that makes them extra sleepy.

Second this advice. Change half way through to perk them back up. Gently unlatch if asleep at the end. If baby's arm is limp at the end of the feed, they're sated!

I can't remember (and it's only been a few months...) at what point I was able to stop waiting ten mins at the end of feeds to see if baby would wake up for a bit more. That was a tiring stage. Great when it finished!

Why are you trying to keep him awake? 30mins to feed and then nothing but sleeping is 100% normal for a newborn. You’re being driven crazy by fighting nature. Every baby is different btw. One of mine was done and snoozing in 10mins flat. The other one took 45mins of excruciatingly slow feeding and then snoozed.

I would take them off if asleep. Also make sure to put the baby down when awake so they can see that they don’t need your boob to go to sleep.

Im going to get some hate for giving you the following info, but I have 3 happy children that slept and breastfed well. My sister in law gave me the babywise book when I was struggling and it saved my life (warning for some somewhat subtle but still homophobic and sexiest views, which you’d probably like to ignore). Despite that, I would highly recommend the book for the very practical advise it gave me. It basically taught me that you do not need to be attached to your baby at all times. Too young at the minute, but in a few weeks you can start to introduce some more routine to feeding. Try to get the routine tof:
1.sleep.

1. Wake
2. Feed.
3. Play

5 sleep, (Trying to avoid a feed at 4.5 except at last feed before nighttime). This way, when they are eating they are hungry and not sleepy and therefore get a fuller feed at 2. They also are not using you as a dummy to fall asleep once. It’s not rigid and of course listen to the baby, but I’ve always thought that breastfeeding a baby every time they cry is really terrible advise. Half the time they are crying because they are overtired or have tummy ache and a feed is not going to fix that.

As the baby grows, he'll be able to feed more efficiently and quickly. Might still fall asleep at times, but honestly it's such an easy way to get them to sleep.

Sounds normal to me. Until about 8 weeks this was my daughter, just on and off constantly with sleeping in between. I found I was able to feed, unlatch once flutter sucking, wait a bit, then pop straight in stretchy wrap which I already had on pre tied, and though she'd wake and briefly cry, once I jiggled about and sshhed, she'd go right back to sleep. Then I could be free to walk about and look after toddler. Being tucked in close then meant she was getting what she needed in terms of physical contact with me.