Sleepy feeder 5½ weeks baby, help Tiktok

[Kang]

Hi Tiktok, or anyone with similar experience:

My baby of almost 5½ weeks gets sleepy after 5-10 min of breatfeeding, and I have tried to take off his clothes, teased him, tickled him, etc. and nothing helps. I have to resort to giving him expressed milk at times in order that he is full. He only wakes up after the feed is finished and sometimes looking for another feed an hour later! The health visitor told me that he would be more alert around the 3rd-4th week, yes, he is, but not at feeding times! What can I do?? And I am ever unsure how much he manages to feed from my breasts, as I'm unsure as well, if I am producing enough milk for him? He gets formula milk for half of his feed at 6 pm, and at 10:30 pm. Otherwise, he is either latching on or feeding on expressed milk.

Any good advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

How is his output and weight gain? Up until this point has he been feeding well? Is breastfeeding well established? Some babies will be quite efficient at moving the milk and only need a 10 minute feed. How often is he feeding in a 24 hour period?

It sounds as though you have been trying the usual ways to keep him going a bit longer. You might also try massaging the breast while he is on. Sometimes just the slight movement of the nipple in his mouth will cause him to perk up a little and go some more. Using a wet flannel or baby wipe on his skin might also help him stay awake a little longer.

Don't worry if he wants to eat again in about an hour, he may very well be trying to boost your supply at this stage and the more frequent feeds will do just that. Watch for signs that he may want to feed....tongue thrusting, being animated, suckling his hand, smacking his lips, etc.. When he is in a quiet alert stage, go ahead and put him on if you aren't sure of how much he is taking in.

You can keep track of his output with every nappy change. If you use disposable, you may find putting a paper towel in will let you see when he has actually gone. Sometimes nappies are so absorbent, they have to wet a few times before you can really tell.

Hold off on the formula and even using bottles of EBM unless you absolutely feel he isn't getting enough and needs just a bit to top him off now and then. Better to go with the more frequent feeds to insure adequate supply. If he appears hungry a short time after a feed, put him back to the breast.

His weight gain is ok, about 200g per week, but I am sure that it is because, I am giving him the expressed milk from the bottle to ensure that he is getting enough. He is feeding 5 times a day from 7-11 pm. His 11 pm feed can range between 70-110 ml. depending on how well my husband can keep him awake on the bottle. As my baby moans and grunts lots in the night, which keeps me awake & my elder son waking in the night as well, I have to rest early to be able to make it through the next day :-(

My husband has also tried to wipe his skin with a wet wipe, but it doesn't help to wake him up.

As I have a small child as well, sometimes I do have a problem doing frequent feeds as the other child needs attention too.

I'll talke your advice, and hopefully things do improve very soon, as I'm rather exhausted.