Worried - Newborn Exclusively BF Sleeping Through the Night

[Beccatheboo]

My little man is 6 days old. He was very sleepy for the first couple of days, so much so he was pretty much impossible to feed - the midwife was getting a little concerned and we tried every technique in the book to wake him up. Then he turned a corner and my milk came in. On day 4 he was attached to my boobs for 6 hours in the evening/night then slept from 1.15am to gone 6am - 7am more realistically, as he really didn't want to rouse. Last night (after an evening of feeding) he went from about 10pm to gone 5.30am - again, he really didn't want to wake up. How bad is it to let him sleep so long? I didn't actually mean to let him, but as he slept so soundly I simply didn't have any cue to wake up myself. He has lots of wet pooey nappies and his weight loss (weighed yesterday) is within range.

Also, another question... Most feeds in the daytime he quite happily comes off after 10-15 minutes. Is this usual? One of the many reasons I gave up feeding my first son was because of the mammoth feeding sessions.

Thanks! I want to crack breastfeeding this time.

Ooh, sounds like you've got a good one.

My friend's bf daughter slept like this from day 3, and my DS only ever fed for 10-15 mins, so I'd say if he's "within range" just relax and enjoy!

Was his sleepiness due to jaundice? 10pm to 5.30am sounds too long without a feed for a 6 day old baby. How much weight has he lost?

Have you spoken to your midwife about his lack of feeding at night?

Can't help too much with the sleeping through the night question (DS-also 2nd baby-didn't do that until he was 14 mths!) but he was a very quick feeder, 10-15 mins max each time. He was a reasonably big baby and put on weight really well so seems he was just very efficient - he did feel like a vacuum pump though

Good luck with it all.

my LO was like this. fed loads during the day and happily go 6 hours at night without feeds. he now sleeps through (at 12 weeks) so enjoy! They are sooo much nicer when they sleep through imo. (as is mummy

DD has been like this. I gave up BF with DS as he was feeding almost constantly and at night as well, only lasted 3 months. DD (12 weeks) feeds within 10-15 minutes. This is normal, your newborn may just be an efficient feeder. If the poos are yellow with mustard seeds then he is feeding fine. If they turn green without seeds it means he is not feeding through to the hind milk.

As for the night time, he is cluster feeding in the evenings, DD does this also and then once "tanked up" she has a long sleep at night. DD has done thins from the start, though she didn't go for as long as yours at such a small age. Personally, as long as there were no weight issues, he was healthy and alert then I would not worry but others may say differently.

The cluster feeding prepares them for a big sleep, so it is worth it!

Are you offering both breasts?

Are you taking painkillers?

It's very unusual, and something to share with the midwife...it's not an issue in itself, but combined with the history of a slow start to bf, it's def worth being concerned about. So you'd be watching to ensure his poos are normal and that he has stopped losing weight now (using accurate weighing techniques and accurate scales to check this).

Length of feeds is normal. I'd agree with the question to check you are using both sides, or at least offering.

Keep him skin to skin for as many hours out of 24 as you can, and it would be really unlikely that he would sleep for that long.

Thanks for your messages. He tanked up again yesterday evening and went from 11pm to 6am. He was like a little alarm clock, signalling he was ready to get up! He sleeps in his moses basket literally right next to my head, and didn't make a peep all night.

In answer to questions... No, he didn't have jaundice. At his weighing on Sunday he'd gone from 7lb 11oz to 7lb 3oz. Occasionally he'll take both breasts in the day but usually is satisfied with one (comes off himself and falls asleep). In the evening he'll feed constantly from both. No, I'm not taking any painkillers. Lots of poos (like seedy mustard) and weeing like a trooper (got quite an aim when the nappy's off!). Re. skin to skin - I barely put him down!

Thanks again.

Sounds like he's doing well! Take the opportunity to rest an recuperate as much as you can, because it might not last!