How to know baby's full when they fall asleep on the boob

[babeeebees45]

New mum to a one week old he falls asleep on the boob and when I try latch him back on because he's sleeping he doesn't latch how do I know he's full

Hell wake up if he's hungry. Newborns have very tiny tummy's, and brrastmilk digests very quickly. At a week old he'll be nursing very often. This is completely normal.

He’ll let you know! When he’s hungry he will wake and cry to be fed again. Newborns have such tiny stomachs, they need to feed little and often. But let him lead the way - he knows what he needs.

Yes don't overthink it!
Congratulations :)

If he was still hungry, he'd be awake!

I agree. As long as he is gaining weight and weeing and pooing then over think it.

If his hands are open and relaxed he's full

My baby was jaundice so I had to wake her to feed. By that you can tickle their feet while feeding, burp them, change the nappy, feed the other side ( or what ever system you have) burp again, feed again...etc.

The first two weeks you do have to wake them or keep them awake for a certain time while feeding because the hungrier they get the sleepier they get. Fiddling with the ear lobe helps.

Ohh...I really disagree with most of the previous posts because the op is talking about a tiny newborn - and we've no idea how long the baby is on the breast before sleeping.

One of mine would sleep almost instantly as soon as he latched every time - and he failed to put weight on and also became dehydrated which resulted in us being admitted again at 7 days.

I don't say this to worry you op, I'm sure everything is fine - but I am concerned at so many people guaranteeing you that a sleeping newborn is full and fine when we've no idea.

With my breast-sleeper I had to constantly keep him awake for the first few weeks when feeding. From memory this involved tapping the soles of his feet, lightly blowing on his face and removing a layer of clothing to keep him awake and feeding.

That’s a fair point - I was assuming a baby falling asleep after a reasonable feed time but if he’s falling asleep instantly you may need to keep him awake while feeding.

Thank you for all the messages I will definitely keep him awake to make sure he's getting full he is peeing and pooing so that's a good thing

@babeeebees45 congratulations! how long is he feeding for before he falls asleep?
I had to keep my little one awake when he was first born, he was on antibiotics and was very sleepy so I had to keep tickling his feet, or tickling his back to get him to keep feeding. Also try breast compressions, so you slowly squeeze the breast as far back as you can, so the bit nearest your ribs and chest (not the nipple) it can help a bit more milk to come out so they will either start suckling again or pull off if they've had enough.

I have a two week old newborn, she's my third. Once she falls asleep I wind her and/or change her nappy to wake her, then offer the breast again. She'll either take more then fall asleep or just fall asleep again, then I know she's done!