11 day old sleeping all the time between feeds - is this normal?

[littleduck]

Just wanted the benefit of your thoughts/experience - I have an 11 day old baby girl, she was slightly jaundiced when born and rather mucousy, she was very sleepy and we were kept in hospital for a few days after the birth so they could keep an eye.

On hospital advice I've been feeding her minimum 3 hourly and more if she asks - however she very rarely does ask, she feeds and then goes to sleep once she has finished and I usually have to wake her up for her next feed otherwise we would go way beyond 3 hours.

Is it normal for babies this small simply to feed and sleep - I wonder if she should be awake at least for short periods between feeds. She is awake for her nappy changes and top and tailing (both of which she hates!) and during feeds but that's pretty much it. Should I be encouraging her to stay awake for at least a short while after daytime feeds?

Any thoughts/advice really appreciated, typical first time mother worrying I am doing something wrong!

Yes, I think its normal. Give it a week or two and she'll be a bit more alert. My two were both sleepy for the first couple of weeks. DS didn't even open his eyes when we were out the house until he was about 3 weeks old.

Just thought..... Does she have wet / dirty nappies? Just so you know enough milk is going through her.

Hi Meglet

Thanks for your post - yes she does have plenty of wet and dirty nappies, usually wee and poo found at each change plus she also likes to have a wee or a poo during a change as well - with some wind behind the poo she managed to spray my jeans last week!! Poo is mustardy yellow and has some seedy like things in so looks more or less as it should be at this stage I gather

Littleduck, I was just about to post this very same question about my dd, who is 3 weeks old. She's still pretty much like this, although staying awake a wee bit longer now.

I'm being told to count my blessings that I have a wee quiet soul this time, as dd1 was not like this at all, but I suppose if we weren't worrying about one thing it would be something else! Anyway, I can't tell you if its normal or not, but just to let you know you're not alone!

Poo sounds normal! If you are really worried then you can speak to your hv / gp - every mummy is allowed to worry about everything with a new baby! I know I did .