My DS is so sleepy! every feed he sucks so slowly and fall asleep and isnt feeding much at all. My milk came in today and I thought maybe he would wake up a bit but there has been no change except that after a couple minutes he gets so lazy his mouth opens and milk falls everywhere. The main problem is he attaches well at first then slips of to the tip so i have to keep reattaching. I've tried tickling him under his chin stroking his cheek a cold flannel nothing is working! I know we are both learners to this but im just worried he isn't getting enough milk!
TIA
Congrats on DS' arrival! Sounds like you are doing a fab job!
Perhaps try a nappy change first and minimal clothing so he is not too nice and snuggly. Seems mean but this was the advice we had for DD when she had jaundice. We also used to tickle the bottom of her feet. She used to wake up, feed - fall asleep mid feed and then straight back to bed after persisting in waking her up. Keep at it you will get there! xxx
Because he is technically a prem baby, having been born before 37wks, he will be sleepy for quite a while yet. A term newborn doesn't tend to 'wake up' for at least a week or so after birth, so it could be a while yet before he is alert all the time. Defnitely try all the old tricks of feeding him with only a nappy and singlet on, tickling his feet and changing his nappy during a feed and changing sides etc but there will be times when no way known is he going to wake. In that case, leave him for a bit and then try again but try not to let him sleep for long periods (3hrs plus) because the more he feeds, the more he will start to demand it). Just dedicate the next week or so to doing that and you should start to see some improvement
I had this with my DD and boy it can be taxing. Firstly you are doing a great job.
I would wake him up by changing his nappy, and undress him. Make sure you are feeding him upright and in a light room. I used cold cloths and tickled her feet and I offered feeds every 2 hours. It is only early days and you might find he may just wake up in a couple of days.
Thankyou so much for your reply
Trill: I was told to feed him every 2 hours if possible which i have been and he has been waking mostly on his own with his eyes open but i put him on the boob and he falls asleep i think i will try changing him though!
Something to remember is that BF can really take it out of them and make then really tired but so long as you are happy to feel like you've always got your boobs out LOL then you will be fine!
I second the nappy change and the minimal clothing but we used to also tickle Mitchells ears to wake him up (ever so gently of course). I used to get DH to do it as I was learning how to hold him and couldn't do it with one arm. Sounds like you're doing a great job with your little man.
I had similar issues with a little baby that thought boobs were for sleeping on. I ended up expressing and bottle-feeding most feeds for the first few weeks until he got a bit stronger, with some attached feeds so that he still knew how to!
And wet flannels, drops of cold water, nudie-baby, bad singing were all involved too.
Do you have a follow-up appointment with your hospital or MCHN soon - it may be worth bringing that forward so they can check up on your feeding now that you have milk.
I got to the point with DS that I would tickle him everywhere and he'd still sleep through the tickling. I would move him around a little, so he would stir. You could feed, then have a nappy change and then more food. or you could try just moving him gently to wake him a little, when feeding.
Watch bubs and do what works for you. DS and i ended up with a play (nappychange) feed and sleep cycle for the first few mths. (the std is feed-play-sleep)
I would blow gently on their heads as I saw them starting to nod off or make little noises to get their attention, like ch ch or clicking my tongue. xo
I gave him a feed maybe 15 minutes ago and tried stiring him and he burst into tears so once i settled i changed his nappy and he fed the last 5 minutes eyes open perhaps thats it?
I used to gently rub DS' jaw with my index finger (the back of it in between the knockles) thats what my LC said to do when he stopped sucking of fell alseep on the boob.
You've got lots of great tricks here from the other ladies, but one my LC told me which worked quite well for us was to mess up his hair if he's drifting off. Not pat it in a soothing way but mess around with it so it's a bit annoying iykwim?
Agree with Trill...its hard work for them to suck...exhausting almost, and considering your lil bundle was born early, i guess he is working extra hard. It sounds like your doing a great job - and yeah, maybe the wet nappy change in the middle of a feed is the way to go.
I also made sure they weren't rugged up.....i.e no bunny rug on them.
Congrats on bubs. DD1 was a jaundice baby so I had the same issues, a good tip I got from a mw that really woke her up was a good vigourous rub up and down her back using the palm of my hand, sounds nasty but the movement kinda annoyed her and she was of and racing looking for a nipple again. It is harder when you have to try and get them to drink more frequently cause sometimes they just aint hungry and uninterested and it makes you feel like you are constantly feeding. Good luck, it only gets easier
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Stimulating a sleepy new born when feeding
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