Newborn not interested in feeding at night

[Andersonx3]

My DD is 5 days old and is breastfed. She won't settle in her Moses basket at night so me and DH have her on our chests during the night (always awake, we take turns) just until she learns to settle. She will go the whole night without a feed - is this okay?

I would speak to your midwife/health visitor first thing tomorrow. Given baby's age, it's important she feed regularly even through the night to ensure she regains her birthweight in the next couple of weeks.

Congrats!

No I'd say this isn't normal and you'll need to watch you're not readmitted to hospital for weight loss and will be out on a feeding plan.
Do you mean she is sleeping throughout and you're not waking her up to feed or are you trying to feed and she isn't taking it?

Congrats on your baby.
I would say she's far too little to go all night without a feed. Her blood sugar could drop. I was told to wake ours every 3-4hrs for a feed. Strip baby naked, change bum, tickle toes etc to wake her, then she's more likely to feed. Good luck and enjoy all those cuddles

I agree with a PP to ask your HV for advice. It's a long time for a newborn to go without milk.

And yes congratulations!!

By the way I think it's quite normal for babies to sleep the way you describe. They've been inside a big warm watery, safe bath for 9 months so it's kind of expected they aren't really going to want to sleep in a basket! My son did that every night for 4 or 5 weeks! And he's now 12 weeks and even though he does sometimes sleep in his cot..guess where he is right now?! ;) They love a good chest sleep!

I'd agree that this isn't normal. I'd follow Coffeeandcake's advice - that's what we were told to do before every feed those first days.

I was in your position when DS was 2 days old and we were still in hospital. He was going about 5 hours between feeds. It turns out he had mucousy amniotic fluid in his stomach that needed to be sucked out with a tube. It was a very simple procedure. I guess the fluid tricked his stomach into thinking it was full. I'd contact your HV first thing.

I'm another one who agrees with CoffeeAndCake .

Is she peeing and pooing? How’s her weight?

Definitely wake to feed , especially if you are BF as it will maintain your supply..you make more milk at night.

As for the sleeping on your chest, although it is wonderful , you are making a rod for your own back. It isn't a practical solution IMO and.you could try putting her down even for a few moments. If she cries, offer her breast, settle her and try again. Have you tried swaddling?

Congratulations on your baby.

Ours wasnt feeding much day or night and was sleeping for 4 hours at a time, health visitor put him on a 2 hourly feed schedule overnight because he only drank tiny amounts at a time (later diagnosed cows milk protein allergy and reflux).

Definitely feed during the night, it's way too long without milk. I'd be calling my HV in your shoes to get her checked over. If she has a sucking reflex, I dont think you have to wake her? Not sure on babies this age if a dream feed is ok?

Thanks for all of your advice. She fed last night, I think I just need to be more proactive and make sure she's feeding. When in hospital she had a lot of mucus on her chest as she was a super fast delivery, and the MW's said it will make her feel more full. I'll keep you all posted, I have a MW visiting today or tomorrow 🙂

Incase you haven't been told- I wasn't, feeding every 2 hrs (for example) means 2 hours from the start of the last feed.
With my first, the hv told me to put my already underweight 3 week old on 3 hourly feeds. She would feed for 90 minutes sometimes. She ended up being readmitted to hospital at 6 weeks.

Mine were prem but we always had to wake them to feed when they were small.

Advice is to wake new norms every 3 hours from the start of the last feed. DD2 was super sleepy due to me having a GA and the midwife advised me to feed and then put down so she didn’t get to comfy cuddling so she woke up.