Newborn falling asleep while feeding

[FTMHS]

Hi everyone

I’m really struggling with feeding my baby. She’s 2 and a half days old and everytime in the daytime I try to latch her on she falls asleep, and I’m starting to get really concerned I feel like we have tried everything, we’ve tried stripping her to just her nappy, changing her nappy, tickling her toes and ears but she just doesn’t start suckling

I’m actually still at the hospital and I’ve spoken to a load of people here midwives and breastfeeding help etc and some of them can get her to stay on but whenever I try I can’t,

im really really struggling because I’m on day 3 postpartum technically and I’m getting overwhelmed and
ny hormones are everywhere. She is not jaundice.

Today she hasn’t done a poo and she has only done 1 pee

Awww, bless her! And you. Congrats btw!

I found keeping them a bit cold helped (prob not possible in a hospital), tickling under the chin repeatedly, tickling the feet, tickling the ribcage. No soothing or gentle strokes, you’ll need them for naptimes down the line 😂

Oh happy days, such memories you’ve evoked. Don’t be too worried about pees and poos, she brand new and been through a hugely traumatic experience. Things will settle down and she’ll fall into a rhythm (of sorts). Good luck!

Have a follow of someone on insta called LucyWebberFeedingSupport (i think - if not that, then something very similar). She is an IBCLC with tonnes of free advice on her insta and a great book called "breastfeeding and the fourth trimester".

Its such early days - make sure you are doing loads and loads of skin to skin and just keep trying. I had a very small, poorly baby who just slept constantly, lost loads of weight, ended up on the 0.4th centile - it was so stressful! But we got there in the end and now shes 5y and chewing my ear off all the way home. Remember that day 5 is often the worst day hormone wise but things will start to get better. Congratulations on your tiny one!

Ask for some more help. She should be doing at least two wees and poos a day, so worth getting some more support just to be sure that she’s feeding effectively and getting what she needs x