Can someone remind me how often a newborn should feed in the first few days?

[MegBusset]

I can't remember what the early days were like with DS1... DS2 was born at 4am and fed about 6am, 10am and 3pm but nothing since and has been asleep pretty much since then. Latched on fine earlier today after a little trial and error but this evening has just nuzzled a little at the boob without latching on.

I'm sure this is all totally normal but need reminding, does it matter if he doesn't feed very often to start with? Should I be waking him every few hours to offer the boob, or let him sleep as long as he wants?

TIA

Congratulations

I was a bit paranoid with DD, as DS had been sleepy and jaundiced and we ended up hospitalised. I offered the breast every time she wriggled during the day, and would try and rouse her to feed every 3 hrs or so (left her to her own devices at night).

Thanks RC. He ended up feeding at 11pm, I tried at 3am when he stirred but he wasn't interested and went back to sleep. Fed again at 6am and has been asleep ever since!

MW is coming today so I'll ask her if she thinks this is often enough (you'd think I'd remember all this from last time...)

About ten times a day i think is a good mnimum whilst establishing BF, more often is very common though; less and I would suggest stepping up feeding

however, that's post the fiorst 24 hours, for that time a baby can be very sleepy though I would still be trying to give far more- waking baby by stripping down, blowing on face etc.

Update: DS2 has fed every 4-5 hours today (1 day old) for around 10-20 mins each time. Seems to have an OK latch and suck when feeding, but if I try to feed him more frequently, even being stripped down and with skin-to-skin, nothing will entice him to latch on.

He is very slightly jaundiced (have been exposing to daylight) and doing plenty of poos and wees. Still sleeping between every feed.

Does this sound like OK progress? Obviously I will keep waking every 3 hours or so to offer the boob. Do I need to top up with expressed colostrum?

Poos and wees sound good - I wouldn't worry about topping up with expressed colostrum atm, just keep offering breast as you have been doing.

Would keep an eye on the jaundice, but it's only a prob if the baby is getting too sleepy to feed. I am amazed at how much I had forgotten about the newborn phase too! I'd especially forgotten how much they can sleep... (enjoy it while it lasts )

Just a quick update, DS2 is now feeding well (every two hours at least!), his jaundice has gone and judging by the fact that my boobs feel like a sackful of bricks, I'd say my milk's coming in.

So thank you for the reassurance