Breast Feeding and Sleep Question
Moms View Message Board: Parenting Discussion: Archive July-December 2005:
Breast Feeding and Sleep Question
We took Cameron into the doctor yesterday, his birth weight was 7 lbs 15 oz, his weight yesterday was 7 lbs 11 oz so we are doing well. However, I am concerned that he is sleeping way too much and the doctor does not seem to share my concern.
Last night Cameron fell asleep at 6:00 pm after a good 1 hour nursing session. He did not wake up until 11 p.m. Normally I would have awoken him after 2 hours to feed him, but the Dr. said this was not necessary.
His comment " No child in the history of mankind has ever starved themselves to death, this method of feeding has been used for tens of thousands of years and works fine, he will let you know when he is hungry. I tend to work with the principle - if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
The lactation consultant that I saw last year with Matt insisted that we breastfeed every 2 hours around the clock until the baby regained his/her birth weight. This was a brutal schedule and developed into a permenant feeding pattern for Matthew and I breastfeed every two hours like clock work for nearly 6 months. Finally I got him sleeping thru the night and we got onto a better schedule, but I don't want to go that route again.
So I have two opposing opinions and am looking for balance.
Here is Cameron's sleep/feeding schedule over the past day.
5 pm - 6 pm nursing
6 pm - 11 pm sleep
11 - 12:30 am nursing
12:30 - 2:00 sleep
2:00 - 3:30 am nursing
3:00 am - 6 am sleep
6:30 am nursing - don't remember how long
9:30 am - had to wake him up I was bursting, nursed for maybe half an hour off and on was very sleepy
It's now 11 am and he's still sleeping
I cannot keep this child awake, I put him in a little diaper shirt today and socks, hoping that if he's not too warm he'll nurse more often or at the very least open his eyes.
He is meeting his wet diaper quota for each day, however, this morning between 6 and 9 he did not have a wet diaper.
My milk has only been in for 3 days and I have already pumped and stored 15 oz. My breasts are so full Cameron doesn't even have to suckle the milk is just pouring out. He is such a good nurser he can almost empty my breast in less than 10 mins. It would take Matthew 20 mins. per side. My biggest problems are keeping Cameron awake in order to finish a session so that I don't have to start and stop a half dozen times within a 1 hour period and trying to determine a reasonable time between feedings.
Any help or suggestions would be great.
Sounds like your doing great, of course, I really don't have any advice because at first Lauren slept alot too, then she started waking up more and eating better, now she is doing really good she stays awake alot, she has about 2 or 3 naps during the day and sleeps from 11-5a.m. So I guess all I can say is it will get better.
I also tried stripping her down and rubbing her head and her feet to try to get her to stay awake during a feeding, it just didn't work. Now that she is older it works better but for the first month I could not keep her awake. Good Luck. As long as he is putting out those wet diapers and seems satisfied, he is doing good. And if your doctor doesn't see anything wrong then I wouldn't worry, and don't stress yourself out that's not good for you either. I know exactly what it's like to worry unfortunately I am *not doing as well as I would like, I give 4 oz. of formula a day still. Your doing great, IMO. 
Timmy was a preemie and the NICU nurse when he was sent home told me to wake him every 3 hours to feed. My ped.; however, was just livid when she found this out. I was waking a sleeping baby who was gaining weight. Not only was I disturbing his sleep but mine as well.
Every baby is different but if the wet diaper quota is being met and he's gaining weight, I don't see the sense in waking him. Enjoy the rest!
Do you know how many moms would be thrilled with that schedule!!!!
I tend to agree with the doc. When we are use to a certain pattern, it is sometimes hard to accept that another way may be just fine. Every baby is different.
Ame
If he continues to gain weight at the right pace I would not be concerned...When he is nursing I would try and keep him awake- I used to have to take Zoe down to just her diaper for a few minutes or change her diaper mid feed to keep her awake a bit longer..just watch the weight and wet diapers and I am sure he will be fine!
I agree with your doctor. I always fed on demand.
I find it interesting that a lactation consultant would suggest you put the baby on such a rigid schedule. Did you have problems producing milk the first time around? All the consultants I've ever had suggested on demand feedings.
Remember, too, he will go through spurts where it seems like he wants to eat all the time, and other times, you feel your milk let down and realize that the baby hasn't nursed in a couple of hours!
I say, as long as you are making enough milk, he's meeting the diaper quota and getting enough at each feeding, let him tell you when he's hungry, You know he will!
I have to agree with everybody. My eldest used to fall asleep during feedings. I would wake her up every 2-3 hours but I finally just let her sleep, it was very tiring & frustrating for both of us.
If he is doing fine, don't worry.
I am with the rest, let him decide when he is hungry. If he is passing out during a feeding see if you can keep him up longer by the methods mentioned above, otherwise I wouldnt bother him and enjoy the sleep.
Thanks all! So I guess I should just pump when full? It will probably take my body a week to regulate to Cameron's schedule anyway.
Okay, well first, when he is awake, is he alert? When he nurses does he actively nurse? If a child is sleepy alot and is never active, nurses until he sucks just a little and then crashes, that is a symptom of starving. If he is doing okay, but just happens to sleep well, then go with it. As far as pumping, tough question...while you have the extra milk, it sure is nice to store up.,.but honestly if you pump you keep producing. If you are overfilling, then it is better to just use your hands to relieve yourself but not really pump. You can do this over a bottle and save that "liquid gold".
He is rarely alert, he hardly opens his eyes. Sometimes he actively nurses, sometimes he will suck, suck, suck and then fall asleep. I doubt that he is straving, he is meeting his wet diaper quota and has multiple bowel movements per day. Something is working.
I could not possibly pump with my hands, I don't realize I'm engorged until I have pain shooting through my breasts, and this is no lie my breasts are currently the size of large honey dew melons, I'm surprised this child can actually latch on at all. I bought a 38F nursing bra about a month ago and it is way too small now. I know what you are saying about pumping, I usually pump about 1 oz from each breast when necessary and still have enough milk in each breast for a 1 hour full blown nursing session.
We see the doctor again for a weigh in on Friday, which I'm hoping he has at least regained some of his weight.
I would have to echo not pumping everytime or you will continue to get engorged as your body thinks it needs to continue to meet the demand you are setting. Maybe alternate between hand expressing a little for releif and actual pumping
Okay, well let me just tell you what I think. Your baby is thriving, but honestly for a non medicated birth he is awfully sleepy. I don't mean the amount that he naps, but he should have alertness during the day. First I would just probably wait until the next weigh in and see how he is doing. But the first thing I would try is getting him some of your hind milk. When your milk first comes in, you tend to fill up with lots of fluid foremilk. This is to keep the baby hydrated and help him not to get jaundiced. BUT sometimes we overproduce that. The hind milk has a lot more calories, more bang for your buck. I would try to pump an ounce or two out right before you feed him and then let him get some of that other milk. This is a little touchy because of that whole supply and demand. I wouldn't do it every feeding, but maybe the noontime feeding. I understand about big breast, I too was just huge, remember it does go away, your body is just figuring it all out.
Today things are better already, I'm not nearly pumping as much or as often and my breasts are softer. However, we both awoke in a puddle of breast milk this morning, baby was soaked. We both fell asleep nursing around 3 am.
Cameron was awake and alert for about an hour last night and is awake and alert today for the past 2 hours. What a relief! It's hard not to panic in the first few weeks and months. I guess it's like Ame said when you set a certain expectation and the baby doesn't meet that it doesn't mean that things are not going ok.
Can't wait to go to the doctor tomorrow, I'm certain we will have good news.
Here is what I did with all three:
I nursed every 2 hours from about 5am until I went to bed (usually around 11:00pm) and then, I just let them sleep during the night until they woke up hungry. That seemed like it allowed their little bodies to be more tired at an appropriate time.
Also, to keep them awake I would sometimes have to take their clothes (even diaper at times) off.
Hope that helps.
I guess it's like Ame said when you set a certain expectation and the baby doesn't meet that it doesn't mean that things are not going ok.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
One thing I learned about infants, they don't give a whit about your expectations. Their only concern is that you meet their expectations.
how old is he?
He's 8 days old. See my post about Cameron's weigh-in, we are doing much better today!
|
Members
