Newborn not waking for feeds and falling asleep when feeding

[erised24]

As above. Baby is 4 days old and is slightly jaundice. She has been to the hospital and had 2 tests which the midwives were happy with and they sent us home. I did tell them she was lazy at feeding but they didn't seem concerned. I have tried skin to skin and trying to stimulate her while breast feeding but she still falls asleep and I have to disturb her to start feeding her as she just sleeps. Anyone else been through this?

When was she last seen by a midwife? How long between feeds? Have you tried tickling toes, feeding in just a nappy, changing nappy or giving her a bath. Unless she has been seen today I think she needs to be seen again as she may have developed jaundice. Is she weeing?

Someone with more recent experience will be along but my DD was jaundiced and I remember the same thing, I think it is part of the same thing. Just keep waking your baby up and insisting they feed even if just a few sucks. Did they tell you to expose your baby to light as that helps the jaundice?

If you are worried your baby is not drinking enough (no wet nappies, no weight gain) please do nag the midwives for support, don't feel you should just cope.

My first baby was like this. Totally asleep as soon as on the boob without really seeming to get much or to really try. It turned out he was tongue tied so I was advised to give him bottle top ups. We got the tie snipped but it didn't help a lot, and by 3 months he was totally bottle fed. It was seemingly so much effort for a small amount of milk so he was giving up and going to sleep.

Both of mine were formula fed, but both really sleepy til about a week old, especially my 2nd. I remember the midwife telling me to rub her earlobes, tickle her chin and change her nappy halfway through the feed. Anything to try and wake her up. It never really worked for me though I think they just wanted wee tiny amounts and filled up quickly. I was told not to go longer than 4 hours between feeds overnight. Neither had jaundice though. Are you getting wet nappies? If not maybe just give community midwives a call?

I agree with pp, check wrt wet nappies. Speak to your midwife anyway - they will ask you about nappies, whether your baby's mouth is moist and whether the fontanelle is sunken. 4 days is so young, you can't be too careful.

Has baby been checked for a tongue tie? Feeding with a tt is exhausting for the baby so they fall asleep too soon.

Can you hand express at all and either give mini top ups in a syringe or a cup? Just to keep blood sugar topped up
Until more alert

My baby was v small and got jaundice and so I had to put her into a 3 hourly feed routine from the start. I pretty much always had to wake her to feed.

Have u tried to change her nappy before u start to wake her a little. We also used to take a layer off her too

My first DS was like this. For two weeks we had to strip him down to his nappy and do everything we could to wake him up. Once he started gaining weight he was much more awake

DD was slightly jaundiced at birth as well. The sleepiness is very normal as part of that. Took a week or two of feeding and sunlight to clear up.

She was so lethargic at feeds, when she bothered to wake up that is. I had to strip her all the way down to her nappy. Then change her nappy mid-feed, all the while tickling/rubbing her to mildly irritate her and keep her awake.

I also laid her out in her Moses basket, wearing only a nappy, next to a window for a few minutes every day. Sunlight really helps break down the bilirubin. Naturally you don't want direct sunlight, or to leave them for very long, buy I felt it did help

Eventually we did a feeding regime. I'd set an alarm for every 3 hours, day and night, and I'd do whatever it took to wake her up enough to feed. I did this for two days, but by the end of it, she was more awake and feeding so much better. It was absolutely brutal doing it, but it was necessary.

GL @erised24. Definitely call your midwife/HV for some more advice.

My LO , 8 months was born with jaundice. She had it for 3 months. I had to wake her or just dream feed her for the first 3/4 months.