6hr's asleep... how to wake 5 day old baby?

**MilkOnTap** · 11-12-2008 21:42

Sage is such a good sleeper - so good in fact I've had to wake her a few times to feed her! She has been sleeping now for 6hrs, making it 7hrs since her last good breastfeed. About an hour and a half ago I tried to wake her for a feed by changing her jumpsuit and nappy. She woke for long enough to have a very short snack, but then went straight back to sleep.

I'm not sure what else I should do to try to wake her to feed her. I've unwrapped her, passed her back and forth from hubby, wriggled her arms around, changed her nappy and her jumpsuit and covered her in kisses

. She is still stirring every 10 mins or so, but I just cant seem to get her out of this sleep.

If she was a bit older I wouldn't worry too much about it, but she is only 5 days old and I just worry about her not having fed for so long. Any suggestions on how I can wake my sleeping beauty??

**JabberJaw** · 11-12-2008 21:51

My bub did the same thing, the CHN suggested to strip her to her nappy and offer breast, she would be warm enough from skin contact but cool enough to make her a little less sleepy, i was under strict instruction to give her 3 hourly feeds (she was little). It did seem to work a little, but i also had to tickle her cheek so she remembered to feed.

I am pretty sure that sleepy babies can mean a little jaundice to, so maybe a bit of sun through the window in the morning ( ten minutes each side! apparently) in case she has the slightest bit of jaundice, breastfeeding also helps with jaundice.

Good luck.

**MyFourCubs** · 11-12-2008 21:59

I was going to suggest much the same as misskelz. My tiny dd was a nightmare in this regard- I would sponge her little head and feet with a cool washer to help try and wake her up. If all else fails you could strip her down and give her a bath? That's what the midwives used to tell me. I think they say a newborn shouldn't go over 4 hours for a feed. Good luck and a big CONGRATS on your little sweetie

**reAllytee** · 11-12-2008 22:01

Strip her off & even use a cold facewasher on her feet.

If this continues while many might say lap it up etc I would just have her checked out ...

G was a baby who could not be woken because he was comatose due to my milk. Then again who believed me LOL !

But no all will be fine she is probably just still in 'womb' mode lol so yeah get her out in the sun during the day etc obviously being sunsmart

& try to get her to set her body clock for want of better words !

**MilkOnTap** · 11-12-2008 22:17

Thanks for the tips

As soon as I finished posting she woke up and just had a good feed. I wish I could feel my let-down, but she choked on one side and had some really good sucks on the other so I know she's had a good feed.

I'll keep those tips in mind as well. She was slightly jaundiced but my IM checked her out today and said that she's fine - so I'm not too worried about that.

**Mrs Potts** · 12-12-2008 08:14

I know this was last night, but unless it becomes a regular occurrence I'd let her sleep. Unless of course there's an underlying medical issue, like jaundice which you have ruled out.

My DD2 slept like that in hospital and only once did the middies suggest waking her, but that was because she hadn't had a decent feed before she went to sleep. She's now 10 weeks we have the opposite problem!

**SweetSerenity** · 12-12-2008 08:30

Just wanted to say Congrats on your beautiful girl Ally!

She is absolutely gorgeous!!!!

Lots of love, Nat

**kkaz** · 12-12-2008 08:46

Originally Posted by misskelz77

I am pretty sure that sleepy babies can mean a little jaundice to, so maybe a bit of sun through the window in the morning ( ten minutes each side! apparently) in case she has the slightest bit of jaundice, breastfeeding also helps with jaundice.

Good luck.

And if you have any real concerns about the amount she is sleeping, it might be best to get her Bilirubin levels checked. But only if you are concerned about it.

ETA - oops, sorry just saw that you have already had it checked out!

**SweetSerenity** · 12-12-2008 08:52

Hey Ally, just also want to say... When I was a baby (as my mother always tells me lol) I used to sleep for 12 hours straight and I was perfectly fine

She used to feed me while i was sleeping lol

Some babies just love sleep

I'm so happy for you

Can't wait till I am pregnant with no.2

**Cordelia** · 12-12-2008 08:57

If she's got a touch of jaundice I would definitely wake her up to feed her until it's well and truly gone. DD was VERY sleepy (and small) with jaundice. We had to wake her up every 2 hours which was sooo hard. But we found the cold washer worked well.