waking sleepy baby to eat and pumping ?

JSanFran · July 2011

at 16 days old currently and having tough time figuring out if LO is eating enough during the day...he's still got his days/nights reversed. It seems he eats decently well (Bf'ding) in the evenings and mornings averages about 8-15 minutes a side. but...occasionally he'll only do like 7 or so on a side and won't wake up enough to feed on the other side.

I've started to pump so that I don't loose my supply but I just want to make sure he's getting enough. My next Peds appt is in another week and half and he was already above his birth weight at his f/o out of the hospital so we were doing great. Figuring he is just having a variety of amounts he wants to eat.

Oh...lastly...I let DH feed pumped milk yesterday and he flippin at like 3.5 ounces...which was way more than I thought he is gettnig from me when I BF...???

How do you make sure LO stays awake during your sleepy-time feeds?

Cj714 · July 2011

If he is already past his birthweight, you don't have to wake him to eat (unless your pedi says otherwise I suppose). He will wake when hungry

I didn't start pumping until LO was 1 month, so I can't help there, but be careful you don't stimulate too much more than he is eating~ I had engorgement on and off until that 1 month mark!

Unknown · July 2011

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shotzie · July 2011

It's very easy to overfeed babies with a bottle. They will drink whatever amount is in there. They often continue sucking just for comfort (and end up emptying the bottle). It sounds like he's getting plenty from you if he regained to his birth weight that quickly. Other tricks to keeping newborns awake for feedings include: tickling their feet/back/ears, undressing them down to their diaper, touching a cold washcloth to their feet/back. But really, it sounds like you can let him sleep. If he's gaining well and making enough wet and dirty diapers, then you know he's getting enough. It's common for newborns to have their days and nights mixed up for a while. It's also common for them to clusterfeed in the evenings. You want to look at how many feedings he has over 24 hrs. It doesn't have to be that he eats more during a certain time of day than another. Eventually, he'll get his days and nights worked out and will go for longer stretches between feedings at night. www.kellymom.com has lots of great info including how much to give them in a bottle when needed. You're doing great!

vanfox · July 2011

Only doing a few minutes per side sometimes and full feeds other times is normal, especially early on. LO might just be a bit thirsty or trying to nurse for comfort to help him sleep. I don't think you're in any danger of losing your supply, considering it sounds like he's just still reverse cycling but eating often and above his birth weight. Why did you think you need to pump just to keep your supply? Baby eating will do more for your supply than the pump will and you don't really want to accidentally cultivate an oversupply, unless you're going to be feeding lots of bottles of pumped milk (like if you're making a stash for when you go back to work).

Babies will often eat waaaaay more than they need to when given bottles. You're right that 3.5 oz is way more than your baby needs at a feeding at his age. Have your husband read these guidelines, or read them to him:
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bottle-feeding.html

They really helped my husband out! Basically, he just sits DS up and takes the bottle away every time DS pauses in his gulps, so it now takes about 10 minutes to feed 2-3 ounces and by then my son is usually done eating.

Keeping baby awake if he's falling asleep and you think he should be eating more is usually helped by stripping him down to his diaper so you're skin to skin, tickling his feet, stroking under his chin, talking to him, etc. But it's okay if they fall asleep on the breast sometimes! Breastfed babies can sleep and eat pretty efficiently if they stay latched.

tokenhoser · July 2011

Did you really just differentiate between 7 and 8 minutes? Put away the stopwatch!

Count diapers, not minutes. Watch your baby and feed him when he's hungry. Don't worry about pumping until you feel confident in your breastfeeding. It really does sound like everything is perfectly normal.

lindsay.lou · July 2011

Cj714:
If he is already past his birthweight, you don't have to wake him to eat (unless your pedi says otherwise I suppose).

This is basically what my pedi said as well. He said if my son was back up to birth weight and having sufficient wet & poopy diapers, then I was free to let the baby tell me when he wants to eat and not to wake him.

Your son is ADORABLE!

JSanFran · July 2011

tokenhoser:

Did you really just differentiate between 7 and 8 minutes? Put away the stopwatch!

I meant to edit that b/c it is more like 2-4mins...lol but yes I'm a neurotic freak and need to stash the watch!! lol THANKS!!

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