Do I still need to wake LO up to feed?

pb_bride

LO is 2.5 weeks old.  We had weight gain issues at the beginning as he dropped >10% of his birth weight by day 3.  [8lb 4oz at birth; 7lb 7oz on day 3; 7lb 11oz on day 8 at pedi's office]  

On top of that, I was worried if he was getting enough breast milk b/c he keeps falling asleep at the breast.  So even if he's latched on for 20-30 minutes, he is only actively sucking/swallowing for the first 5 minutes.  The rest of the time he needs lots of prodding to get him to do a few swallows.   He makes plenty of urine and has 4-5 poopy diapers a day.

I nurse on demand when he's awake.  However, if he naps during the dayill , I wwake him up every 2 - 2.5 hrs to nurse.  At night, we wake him up every 4 hrs if he doesn't wake up on his own.  Every time when he's woken up from sleep, he goes frantic for the boob as if he hadn't eaten for days. 

I went to a BF group last week and did a weighed feeding.  He gained 1.5oz during that feeding.  

We were back at pedi office today.  His weight is 8lb 13 oz.  So, over the last 11 days, he gained 18oz!   

So my question is, should I continue to wake LO up from his naps during the day to nurse him?  Since he's gained so much weight, is it okay to let him nap longer and wait until he wakes up on his own?  I will still do at least one MOTN feed.

[P.S. I was going to go back to the BF support group today and ask the LCs this question.  But it's snowing outside and I don't feel like heading out again after our pedi visit this am.] 

telyn

Ask your doc, but our said once she was back at birth weight, we could stop waking her. Basically we had to watch and make sure her out put stayed the same and if she lost weight, it was back on schedule, but we never had to do that again. Just nurse on demad and let the little but get whatever sleep she could.

jmo823

My DS had the exact same issues in the beginning. He is 14 weeks now.. 8 lbs 11 oz at birth and yesterday at the pedi he is 13 lbs 11 oz...hopefully that mAkes you feel better : our pedi told us to keep waking him but after a few days I realized it was stressing me out too much and he ate much better when he woke up on his own. Now he STTN and eats every 2.5 to 3 hours during the day. I would try it and see how long your LO sleeps

TJ1979

I would wake to feed every 3 hours during the day, but let him sleep at night.  If they don't eat enough during the day, they'll wake up more at night to eat.  So that is what I would try. 

lil_jen051708

theresat858:

At night, no... but during the day, I certainly would, because newborn daynight confusion is so common and I'd much rather have my baby sleep long stretches at night and shorter stretches during the day.

I agree with this. I'd probably go every 3 hrs during the day and let LO wake whenever at night. Our pedi gave the ok to let him sleep when he got back to his birth weight.

blu-eyedwife

lil_jen051708:

theresat858:

At night, no... but during the day, I certainly would, because newborn daynight confusion is so common and I'd much rather have my baby sleep long stretches at night and shorter stretches during the day.

I agree with this. I'd probably go every 3 hrs during the day and let LO wake whenever at night. Our pedi gave the ok to let him sleep when he got back to his birth weight.

Same here.  I'd keep waking during the day to make sure he eats enough to sleep longer stretches at night, but I wouldn't wake at night anymore.  My pediatrician wants them over birth-weight before stopping night waking, but it sounds like your guy is already there.