BF a newborn...help please

mrsd0907 · April 2011

With Derek we were advised to nurse every 2 hours because of his jaundice and him not gaining weight. Now with Parker, the pedi was so pleased he was back to his birth weight after 3 days she said we didn't have to wake him every 2 hours to nurse. I've been feeding him on demand and he hasn't gone more than 4 hours without feeding. Until last night. He didn't wake up at all after his 12am feeding until 8am. EIGHT hours?! For a one week old? Is this ok? Is it ok to just let him sleep or should I still set an alarm for every 4 hours to make sure he eats? He's having 8-10 wet and dirty diapers. I'm just worried that it's still too early to let him go that long.

slwprincess · April 2011

As long as he is gaining well, I wouldn't wake him unless YOU are uncomfortable. There were a couple times when Sophie slept for such long stretches that I was engorged and ready to burst. I would pick her up and nurse and she honestly never even woke up and then I just put her right back down in the crib. Just keep the lights dim and keep him swaddled and give this a try next time. I still do it with Sophie sometimes if she's not really awake when its time for us to leave in the morning, I nurse her and then put her straight into the carseat and she'll sleep all the way to daycare!

UGAbride · April 2011

Pretty much ditto slw, it sounds like the weight gain is going fine so I wouldn't worry about waking to feed. Lauren's weight gain was good at her first checkup, so he already said she could go at least 5 hours between feedings at night...and I still did not wake her last night and she slept for 6. She ate a ton when she woke up, so I'm not worried (she's a week old today).

seanandcallie · April 2011

Eight hours is a bit long, IMO. But if your LO drained you this am then I wouldn't worry. I also had a jaundice baby and had to do the 2 hr feedings for a while. That's awesome that he's gaining so well! Good job!

Daisy22 · April 2011

After both my boys had gained back their birth weight I did not wake them at night. I would feed them around 1030-11pm then let them go. Bailey would go 5-7 hours and Bryce did 4-5 hours.

Mrs.Guz · April 2011

I've always fed on demand. If his weight gain is fine, then I wouldn't worry about it. He'll let you know when he's hungry. I never had an issue with Abigail feeding on demand. If I woke up feeling like my boobs were about to burst, I'd pump if she was still sleeping.

Mylittlehill · April 2011

I had to wake DD up to help her gain back the 10% she had lost after birth, I also feed breastfeed on demand.

Rachel, I so wished I had stopped waking DD up after her weight was back on track. It would have saved me so many sleepless nights. Enjoy the extra 2 - 3hrs of sleep if Parker allows you to have them. This is one issue in retrospect that I wished I had listened to my mother. It took a little over 6 months of CIO when DD got a little older to finally get her to sleep the entire night. That in itself was a nightmare. GL.

hthomas02 · April 2011

I called to ask my pedi this very question this week and they advised me to not let him go for more than 4 hours at a time until he hit the one month mark even though he has gained his birth weight back and has no jaundice and is eating like a champ. but every pedi is different so maybe give yours a call.

mrsd0907 · April 2011

Thanks everyone for all the feedback. I'll call and check with the pedi just to see what their opinion is. I'm most worried about my supply suffering with him going a long stretch like that.

UGAbride · April 2011

mrsd0907:
Thanks everyone for all the feedback. I'll call and check with the pedi just to see what their opinion is. I'm most worried about my supply suffering with him going a long stretch like that.

I worry about my supply as well...but if you are 100% nursing your baby and they are gaining weight appropriately, then your supply is meeting his demand perfectly and will regulate soon. I'm in the same boat this week, but struggling to wake a sleeping baby to eat is about the most frustrating thing in the world!! Lauren has been asleep most of the day, and I got so desperate that I dug out my pump and started boiling parts this morning (I thought I had a few weeks before I'd start pumping for any bottles for her) before she finally woke and gave me some relief. I stripped her down, changed her diaper, even filed her nails and brushed her hair, let her brothers play loudly, vaccummed and nothing would wake that baby.

Of course, in a week or so, I'm SURE I'll say trying to get a baby to GO to sleep is the most frustrating thing in the world, and that will most definitely be worse

mrsd0907 · April 2011

Oh yes, Parker is the same way. He sleeps most of the day and I've had to wake him and it was a nightmare as well. Nothing bothers him, even Derek screaming at the top of his lungs or tummy time.

That.Just.Happened · April 2011

Mrs.Guz:
I've always fed on demand. If his weight gain is fine, then I wouldn't worry about it. He'll let you know when he's hungry. I never had an issue with Abigail feeding on demand. If I woke up feeling like my boobs were about to burst, I'd pump if she was still sleeping.

This. It's a great way to get a freezer stash going!

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