Please help - exhausted!!

[fiveofus]

Hi,

I have a 10 day old who just falls asleep on the job. Originally he attaches and then has a few good sucks and then it just slows sown until he is just "suckling" and not swallowing, and then nothing. I tried all the tricks I have been shown to help get him to feed more but nothing seems to get him started again unless I put him down in his cot and then he starts fussing for it again. Some feeds have taken up to 1 1/2 hours, especially in the night and I may have put him down 3 times thinking he was finished, although he hasn't had a lot. Tonight he was so asleep that even when one of my older boys accidentally knocked him on the head he didn't move a muscle and then as soon as I put him down in his crib and walked out of the room he started crying for more. It wasn't until I - out of desperation - left him to cry for a while so I could eat my dinner and DH could bath the other kids who were getting tired and cranky that when I put him on again he fed really well. I certainly don't like the idea of letting him scream for ages before I feed him!!!! I just feel like I have had my boob in his mouth the whole day and I need to get it sorted out before DH goes back to work and I am here trying to look after a 4 and 2 year old as well!!! I have BF both of them without a similar problem so feel at a loss.

Thanks,
Bec

[deb1234]

Isaac was exactly the same. You have probably tried this already, but i used to give him one side, change his nappy to wake him up and then give him a bit more. Sometimes he would stay asleep for the whole nappy change!:hugs:

[fiveofus]

yeah - sleeps through the nappy change! Sometimes helps a bit though. Did Isaac grow out of it/get better at feeding?? :fingerscrossed:

[SuperGranny]

hi, i would try to keep him working on the breast. i found some gentle pressure with your finger on the side of his cheek might encourage the movement . When you notice him asleep, remove him and sit him upright to burp. Doesnt matter if he burps or not, but just change his position. I would maybe try swapping breasts one side to the other side, just to stop him sleeping there. Give him a time limit, get all you need in 20 minutes or you wait 30 for the next offer. Or try a dummie to settle him in between feeds. One more thought, try posture feeding, lay on your back with him over the breast, if he is more upright he might have to work a bit harder and not sleep so easily. He perhaps is getting a lot of milk in the first few minutes, and he feels full but once he is removed he feels like that little bit extra. Check there are plenty of wet nappies . I sure it will sort out. Marie.

[JabberJaw]

I had a sleepy bub too, the CHN told me to tickle the side of her check to wake her up or burp her and try again, which worked to some extent. She also told me to take off some of her clothes when i fed her, so she wasnt all warm and snuggly, more cool so she is awake then wrap her up when finished feeding, this also worked, actually in hospital she was in a singlet and nappy as she was soooo sleepy when being fed! Give that ago, swaddle him nice and firm after a fed and before you pop him into bed, i have always done bub this way and she now goes to bed awake and self settles with no crying, if she did cry i would simply settle her and pop her back in bed after 10 minutes. She still likes being tucked tight!

My bub has now grown out of it, she is 7 months and still only has one breast for approx 10min every 3-4 hours, for some reason she would never take both sides in one feed.

Up your water intake and get on some breast feeding muliti vitamins, doing both of these made a big impact to my breastfeeding, i feel different if i miss taking a multi vitamin now or dont drink enough water.

Good luck

[happytobehere]

:yelclap:CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of ur bub!!:yelclap:


My DS was the same. I just soldiered on as we do.

A suggestion though, have you tried keeping a warm damp washer nearby to wipe on ur bub when things slow down. it seems to gently wake bubs when dozing starts. I found that worked in the early days when staying awake is such a challenge for my little newby.

[BabelFish]

DD was exactly the same. She was a super sleepy bub and I couldn't do anything to wake her - once I even put her in a cool bath and nothing happened! But she didn't grizzle between feeds either, so I'm not sure if I can help you there.

DD was a little jaundiced which was making her really sleepy - maybe a quick trip to the doc if you're worried?

[deb1234]

yeah - sleeps through the nappy change! Sometimes helps a bit though. Did Isaac grow out of it/get better at feeding?? :fingerscrossed:

The feeds definitely get quicker and more spaced out as your baby gets older. Isaac is a boob addict and is only now starting to have solids (14 months!) but still prefers boob so we are still feeding night & day but only takes 5-10 mins. :)