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Breastfeeding
Falling asleep at the breast
Hi! I'm new to this board, but I was hoping someone might have some advice. Up until just recently, we have been giving DD a bottle of formula right before bed time, since I felt like I needed a break at the end of the day and I wasn't able to pump enough during the day to be able to put it in her bottle at night. I decided to go back to ebf not too long ago, so I nurse her for the last feeding of the night instead of giving a bottle. The problem is, she falls asleep so quickly at the breast, she doesn't eat enough and ends up waking up hungry 1/2 hour later. I've tried stroking her cheek and gently trying to wake her up so she will eat more, but she just gives it a few half-hearted sucks and goes back to sleep. Anyone else have this problem? What do you do? TIA!
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Re: Falling asleep at the breast
Wet washcloth. DD was like this when she was itty bitty all the time!
Also, just a lot of patience. She will eventually re-establish her schedule as I'm sure she doesn't like waking up anymore than you do.
Actually the most effective way to keep her awake and at least interested is to do breast compressions while she is nursing. When she starts to slow down and look sleepy, basically you are going to hand express while she is still at the breast. You cup your hand into a "U" shape, and put your fingers at the base of your breast near your chest, and then gently press downward toward your nipple. You should notice that she starts sucking again. Keep that same pressure (no need to constantly rub) until she slows down again. When she does start to slow down again, you will move that U shaped hand a quarter inch in either direction (so you'll circle your breast eventually), and press again. This should perk her up again, as it increases the amount of milk she is getting. Keep doing this till she just WON'T keep sucking. You will notice that the time she nurses increases gradually as this will gradually increase your supply.
I would STRONGLY recommend that even if you are feeding formula at this time of night you pump. Your prolactin (the hormone that causes you to make milk) is highest from the evening till the morning, and if she is not nursing and stimulating that hormone, you could notice an all around decrease in your 24 hour supply. So, pumping will help to maintain that overall supply...a pump is never as efficient as a baby at draining the breast, but will do better than losing your supply completely at that time of day.