Baby won't wake up to feed? Worried

[Tootsings]

I've been reading another post and lots of posters are saying it's dangerous?

Mine has slept through about 8/9 hours from Day 1 and now at 13 weeks won't be woken before 10am (he's out down at 9.30).

I too went to see countless professionals but everyone is telling me it's fine and not to wake him if he's happy and gaining weight.

Should I be waking him? I did try in the early days. Didn't work, he just screamed and got upset, then went back to sleep. Refused his milk completely.

Someone was saying it can cause death in babies, if so, where do I go for advice?

I've seen a few different people. GP, health visitor and a few paediatric Drs. I the paediatric team when I went to see them about his tongue tie etc

My nephew was like this, just very sleepy. If he is eating enough during the day I wouldn’t worry, it’s only if losing those nighttime feeds means he isn’t getting enough in over all

If he's gaining weight and taking milk regularly during the day I think it's fine.

Waking them to feed is only in the very early days when you're not yet sure if they're feeding and gaining weight ok.

Paper Yeah I wasn't worry until reading that post! One poster said it could lead to death, a few others insist medical professionals have insisted it isn't normal and should be stopped

He is gaining wonderfully

otherdoor I didn't wake him during those early days Again, I did try but he just got cross and went back to sleep.

I was even seeking medical advice whilst still in hospital with him and I was met with a lot of surprise and definite 'oh definitely don't wake him!' Replies from midwives

This is slightly amusing for me OP as no one ever believes me that my son just slept and slept right from a few weeks old. I can remember being frantic with worry calling the health visitor etc.
He would regularly go say 14 hours over night at say 12 weeks old, ebf too. (I can’t recall the exact hours & age he was)
Anyway, just to say I completely sympathise with you but if he’s gaining weight and alter when awake then don’t worry.
My son is now a strapping 14 yr old

LuLu Oh wow, it's an amazing feeling though isn't it? I feel like I can really enjoy my DS, unlike a lot of mums who're just so exhausted 24/7!

He's quite clingy during the day though

Do not wake a sleeping baby! He's sleeping because he needs it to rest, repair and grow.

So should I just ignore the snide comments on the other thread about letting babies sleep through as dangerous?

I would!

If he doesn't want his milk what's the point? Ignore the others. (Mine eats every 3 hours - very jealous ;) )

It can be dangerous. It might not be. It's not advised in the early days as far as I'm aware due to their little tummies. If a baby is a low birth weight etc then it can be dangerous. Same if they are not gaining weight or having wet nappies. Like anything it's important to know the context of the baby. So its important to point out that it can be dangerous not that it is dangerous iyswim?

Its a bit different at 13 weeks op. No one ia making snide comments. SOME babies if their sugar drops then they can't rouse themselves awake and could die. If its normal for them to sleep that long and not out the normal then fine. However if you have a baby who normally wakes every couple of hours and one time is sleeping an abnormal length then it's best to try rousing them to check they are okay.

My daughter was preterm so I was told to not let her go longer than three hours without a feed as she'd been struggling to maintain her blood sugars which they'd been checking with heel pricks.

I do get the impression you posted this as a stealth boast though.

Let him sleep! I only woke mine for the first 3 nights as I was so worried about her losing weight, to be honest next time I probably wouldn't bother after the first night.

I only would if they weren't gaining weight.

I see, but it isn't just at 13 weeks. He's always been like it and I was told not to wake him. Was the I incorrect advice from MW in the hospital?

The other OP seems to have a similar experience of sleep to mine and her DC is apparently 6 months old and posters said it was dangerous

It's not a boast, I was generally worried I'm very 'PFB' with my DS

Also I remember being advised in antenatal classes that babies wake up because their little tummies empty their milk quickly etc

Why didn't my DC do this then? He couldn't of had a bigger tummy!

@fucksake I love the term ‘stealth boast’

It's only an issue if they are not gaining weight as they should. If they aren't gaining then, yes, you would try to wake them overnight to feed in the early weeks.

Well there is usually a difference between formula and breastfed babies. Also all babies are different. Like i said it can be dangerous. And it is very unusual for babies to sleep longer than 4-5 hours as a newborn. Not unheard of but unusual. Different situations etc.

Dobby Which difference? Many people have said feeding strategies make no difference

I thought formula fed babies slept better but apparently not!

My two were formula fed but they didn't sleep through the night until 6months (Dd) and 8 months (Ds). They were still feeding 3 hourly at 3 months old

I had to wake my babies to feed them when they were newborn. They were too sleepy with jaundice and weren’t gaining weight. Once they were past their birth weight though it was fine (and then of course they woke up to eat every 3 hours and I never got any sleep)

Some babies are just capable of taking all their calories in the day and so don’t need to at night. Some of them aren’t.

dement I know lots of people with a similar experience to you.

My mum was adamant her children slept because of formula.

I was going to just put DS on a bottle, I don't cope well whilst exhausted. Turned out breast was fine for him sleepwise

He must be making it up during the day! The only thing that popped into my mind is to make sure you have contraception sorted, because even though you are (I presume) exclusively breastfeeding the long gap overnight (unless you are getting up and expressing) greatly increases your chance of fertility returning. And remember you release an egg before a period.

Congratulations.

Thanks Newman

He does make up for it during the day! He isn't constantly on the breast but he certainly has big feeds each time and gulps everything down

Think you’re fine then. As long as he’s growing and meeting his milestones..... perhaps he just hasn’t read “the baby rule book”