How the heck do I get my 2.5 wk old to wake up and actually feed.

[AlexandraPeppernose]

I posted whwn she was born about her being sleepy and not feeding and she turned out to have a touch of jaundice which has now happily cleared up.

She has been more alert in general but she still sleeps loads and is not feeding frequently enough.

When she feeds she has good latch and appears to be getting enough but will quite happily go 5-6 hrs between feeds and has even slept through the night 9 hrs.

I am now getting really concerned about my supply because there is no pattern to her feeding and it is so sporadic. I seem to have loads sometimes and sometimes none.

I set alarms in the night to try and get her to feed more frequently but waking her is near impossible. I try tickling feed/hands, stripping off, wiping with cold flannel, moving about, general poking, blowing face etc - but she will not wake up for love nor money. even shoving nipple in mouth gets no response.

My boobs feel quite empty this morning when usually they are like bombs at this time.

My hv says that although she usually recommends demand feeding I must start waking her for the sake of my supply but it is proving so difficult.

Weight wise she was born 8lb 3oz, went down to 7lb 13 sand is now 8lb 6.

Please help me. I really don't want to lose my milk supply.

Other info. She is quite burpy and sicky and will always be sick if I do feed her moore frequently. She will quite often want to sleep all day then feed every hr between 6 and 10pm but not every day hence my body getting confusing signals.

Just to add, we have loads of skin to skin contact and she spends most her time snuggled up to me.

She may likely be getting her fill with the cluster feeding that she is doing in the evenings.....which your supply will adapt to so you may not feel full in the mornings as before. When she switches her feeding pattern, which she will at some point, your supply will adapt once again.

Her weight sounds good....how is her output? Do you get a good number of wet nappies in a 24 hour period? A few mustardy bms? Maybe keep track of that for a few days so you can be assured that she is taking in what she needs.

You can continue to try to wake her more in the day....maybe start with every 3-4 hours..the usual, changing nappy, bathing works sometimes...even if you end up doing it a few times in a day with just plain water, etc...and see if you can't get her to space out her feeds a bit more evenly, but if weight and nappies look good, she seems content, is alert when she is awake, it may just be a matter of giving her some more time for her routine to change up a bit.

With supply concerns, you could always try pumping several times during the day on a regular basis to fill the gaps.

Ummm...trying to think of some more suggestions since it seems that you're already trying lots of the familiar methods to wake her up...

Can she 'dream-feed' at all? DD often used to keep sucking when she was asleep.

Do you co-sleep? Can she increase her intake overnight by being next to you?

What about having a bath together? DD often used to enjoy baths, wake up more and be perkier. She also used to feed a lot when we had baths together.

How much baby-mooning can you do? Do you have other children demanding your attention or can you both strip off, snuggle up for hours and try and increase the feeding?

Perhaps pumping as well may reassure you and keep your milk supply up.

Google 'breast compression'.

Try not to be anxious when you latch on as this can inhibit let-down ans she might have got bored waiting by the time it comes.

Can you try her every hour for the next couple of days (not night), even if she doesn't take anything you are at least giving her the oportunity and just a couple of sucks can be good for your supply.

hth

thanks for all the advice. She sleeps in a bedside cot so is close to me all the time but unfortunately all she does is sleep. No dreamfeeds either.

I also have a 3 and 5 yr old so although we get a lot of snuggle time at the moment when dh goes back to work on monday and kids return to school/nursery I think I'll have less opportunity.

I've had limited success today with feeding. She has been feeding more often but she is not particularly enthusiastic once on.

Also its become apparent that we both have thrush. I am taking acidophilus and baby has prescribed nyzo something or other. Will this affect my milk supply at all?

My boobs haven't felt full at all today although she seems satisfied after feeds and i am in panic mode about my supply.

thanks again

Shouldn't hurt your supply unless you are sore and that can have an effect if you tense up.

Continue to keep trying to get her interested in a few more feeds during the day, you can always pump for a bit after several of the feeds if you are concerned about supply, and keep note of her wet and soiled nappies.

Can help to massage, or the compressions as was mentioned,on the breast just prior to a feed, and also during a feed if she starts to drift off. The slight movement of the nipple in her mouth may cause her to start back up and stay on at least a little longer. She will likely start to perk up over the next week.