How much does your preemie sleep? Help.

BeachMama7693

We got home from our 16 day NICU stay yesterday. My lo was born at 35 weeks and had 3 rounds of phototherapy and 2 blood transfusions for anemia. Her bili was down on its own in 24 hours after being on a bili blanket so they sent us home with it at an 11. We have been home for 24 hours now, And she has only opened her eyes 3 times. I have to wake her for most feedings and after half of her bottle she falls asleep again. I can't remember how much my other daughter slept as a newborn but I'm wondering how much is normal for a 2 week old early bird. The neonatologist said if I feel like something is off I can bring her back in for a 48 hour monitoring, but I really don't want to go back to NICU unless its absolutely necessary.

LaciJaxx

Carson was born at 31 weeks and stayed in the NICU for 37 days. When we first got home, all he did was sleep. We had to wake him to eat every 3 hours and most times he would fall asleep before he finished the bottle. We just had to make sure he was eating an average of at least 45 ml per feeding. We were told to write every feeding down and go down the list at the end of the day to make sure he ate the minimum on average. (so he could eat 30 once and then 60 the next and still meet the 45 avg) If he wasn't eating the minimum we had to keep waking him up to continue feeding. (which never happened) If by chance your little one isn't eating the minimum, they'll probably want to know. It wasn't long before he started staying awake for feedings and started eating more every day. Good luck! I really hope you don't have to go back to the NICU. We all know how difficult that would be.

bennyandthejets13

When we brought our 34weeker home all he did was sleep! Like PP stated we had to make sure he was eating 30ml every 3 hours, if he ate more than we could go 4 hours. The NICU even recommended that we let him sleep as much as possible, they didn't want him burning too many calories. Preemies don't have the whole feeding thing down like term babies so they get more tired during feedings so it's normal for them just to want to sleep. Once DS he hit his EDD he kind of just woke up and started becoming more alert and aware. As long as your LO is eating enough and gaining weight I think your fine.

staceymack

My girls would pass out mid feed. The nurses told us to make sure we feed them unswaddled. We also used a cool damp wash cloth to pat their cheeks and forehead to wake them back up.

LnR70707

DS was born at 34w6days and it was probably about a month before he was more alert.

atyler727

Mine was born at 36 weeks and I'd say for the first 4-6 weeks or so she was awake maximum of 20 minutes a day and usually slept through her feedings. I got the impression she can sleep as much as she wants, she just has to be eating enough. There are a lot of tricks you can try to get a sleeping baby to eat, like unswaddling or rubbing her cheeks. You can google it

BLPL101

Mine slept A LOT. I asked her pedi about it multiple times because basically all she did was sleep and eat. 

ComfortablyNumb

34 weeker weighing 3 lbs at birth, slept a lot in the 6 week's she was in NICU, but at 15 months old now, still going strong on the whole no sleep needed routine.  Still taking it day by day, night by night.  Good luck!