how much is too much

baby olsey

I'm a FTM EBF with my newborn. My 1 week old wakes to eat every hour or less throughout the night, is this normal? She'll eat a few minutes then go to asleep and wake up less than an hour later. Suggestions and ideas are welcomed and needed, thank you.

danieliza1127

It is normal to wake throughout the night when they're that little, but she should be eating more than a few minutes at a time. Typically a newborn will nurse for 45 minutes to an hour.  If she's falling asleep, you'll need to wake her up.  Tickle her feet, open her hands, touch her ears, tickle under her chin, change her diaper, little tricks like that will wake her just enough to keep eating.

Potatertot

It's pretty common for newborns to wake to eat several times during the night. Does she fall asleep eating? Since she seems to be falling asleep after a few minutes of eating, have you tried attempting to keep her awake? When she starts getting drowsy, try tickling her feet or neck, burping her, changing her diaper or something like that. If she stays asleep, she may be full, if she wakes back up, try to feed her a bit more.

They do still have really tiny tummies at this point though, but maybe trying to get her to eat more will allow her to sleep longer. 

Ladiebug710

It is normal, and it will get better.  Lying down feeding really helped me, that way I could nap between feedings when LO did, no moving required.

baby olsey

During the day, she eats every 2-3 hours with no problem but at night she wakes every hour to eat. She usually eats an average 10 mins per nursing, for an average of 1.5 hours+ per day of feelings. 

I used the tips you suggested for her mid morning nursing but she still fell asleep. 

pepomntpat

I might try feeding more often during the day to see if that helps. Does she sleep a lot during the day? Is that why you go so long between feedings? 

blu-eyedwife

baby olsey:

During the day, she eats every 2-3 hours with no problem but at night she wakes every hour to eat. She usually eats an average 10 mins per nursing, for an average of 1.5 hours+ per day of feelings. 

I used the tips you suggested for her mid morning nursing but she still fell asleep. 

I had a very sleepy baby.  You really have to keep at it.  I kept a bowl of cold water and a washcloth beside me while he ate and I had to constantly use the cold water to keep him awake so he could get a good feeding.