Calling All Breastfeeders

Just feed when she's hungry and pump if she's not. You'll feel more comfortable and be able to get some sleep too! She'll let you know if she's hungry.

most newborns need to feed every 2-3 hours. if she is not awake at the 2 hour mark, wait until 3 hours. keep her cool- undress her and change her diaper just prior to feeding.

you should definitely be pumping to empty your breasts since you now have mastitis. apply a warm wet washcloth to the infected breast for 10 minutes and then massage it and pump. even though you have an infection, you can save the milk and syringe feed your baby or freeze it for later use.

does your baby have jaundice? is she still having a lot of wet diapers? if yes to the jaundice or no to the wet diapers, she needs to see the MD to make sure she is gaining weight.

good luck.....I am a triage nurse for peds so if you want more help, send me a message

one thing that i want to mention right away is to go to www.llli.org and find a local or nearby la leche league group. they will be an AWESOME source of support and info.

this is perfectly normal for a baby of this age. :D just keep at it. dont worry about other responsibilities. nurse her usually every 2 hours. you want your baby to establish your supply at this point, not a machine. pumps are great to use, but not quite yet.
just have patience, be relaxed about things, drink and eat healthily. you can notice when shes starting to drift back to sleep and you can jiggle her a little to get her attention back. just keep working at it. its something that you both have to learn, and shes EXTREMELY tired at this point. this is the 4th trimester for her. :D just be responsive as you can. if you feel that you should wake her every 2 hours, this is fine, but if not, thats fine too. ONLY YOU (and dad if in the picture) have the instincts perfect for your child. :D listen to them and you will be able to nurture both your instincts and your child ! :D
"the baby book" by william sears is a GREAT resource. perhaps you watch the doctors? jim sears is william sears's son. that is one fantastic family right there. :D

I completely understand you. I would not be able to feed my daughter every two hours. I was feeding her every three hours for the first month, and switched to every three and a half hours after that. She would eat a lot in one feeding though for her age. One feeding would take me about an hour to complete. Yes, the doctors say a lot of things, but clearly, having common sense, I could not see the two hour scehdule to be anywhere near realistic. You can also try feeding her when she is hungry, but don't wait for too long. If she is hundry in one hour - feed her, if she is hungry in three hours - feed her. My doctor said as long as she is gaining weight steadily she is fine. Definitely do not let her sleep through the night, she needs to be fed, and 5 hours without a feeding is too much for a 10 day old baby. And definitlely pump your milk. Stored in the freezer in portion sizes, your milk is good for 6 months, and you would be able to use it later when you will not have enough milk for your baby. My milk sypply started to decrease when she was four months old, and by 6 months I didn't have any left. When unfreezing milk, always use the olderst one first, that way you can keep the rotation of milk going. One more thing, we would weigh our daughter on the baby scale before and after every feeding so that we would know exactly how much she ate, and we wrote down every time we changed her diper and what she did. Then we would sum up all the portions that she ate durihg the whole day and that was perfectly in line with what infants of her age should be drinking, and how many times a day they should be pooping or peeing. That way no matter what the doctor says, we were able to track that yes she is eating fine, we are not underfeeding, and her diagestive system functions normally.

My daughter slept 5 hours at night, every night, from her first day of life. Then ate and slept for 4 more.

I would definitely pump to deal with the mastitus, you need to be very careful with that, as I'm sure you know.

Some other writers mentioned jaundice. If she has that, our midwife had us put a baby hat over her eyes and put her basinette in the sun for an hour or so. It cleared right up.

if i were you i would pump on the mastitis side to get it cleared out. i had a a different prob with my son and that was for the first 2 months he ate every hour-2 hours for 20 mins a side yeah thats 40min of every hour, i finally got him to wait 2-3 hours by 3 months so don't worry we all have our issues with this topic, if it were my baby that young i would wake every 5 hours if she hasn't woken on her own to feed at night after 6 weeks let her run the show (if she wants to sleep long at night then let her) definately pump if she isnt taking out much, and make sure she is very awake before feeding her. i always rubbed my sons back because that kept him awake.

Yes! pump and store the extra for babysitters and so forth. Also, if she is REGULARLY sleeping for the longer period at night, I would say, don't pump during those hours, sleep instead and your body will adjust to that new routine. But go ahead during the day and pump every two hours, or if she seems to be more on a three hour schedule, do it that way. Also, I had success with pumping one side while the baby is feeding on the other if the baby is like mine and you don't switch sides. I never wanted to switch cause all of my kids were like that, where if they were eating I didn't want to interrupt them because if I did, they would just stop eating and be done. So I just made sure I always remembered which side i did last time. If you are pumping at the same time, then still switch sides in case one side gets a more thourough workout. A good way to remember sides is to keep a scrunchy or something on your wrist of the side you used last for the baby.
I would add to that with all mine I fed on demand and not on a tight schedule and they all seemed happy with that. Just do the pumping schedule right now to releive your engorgement and get some stored in the freezer for your helpers. Once your body calms down, you can ease up on the pumping in between. Babies know when they need to eat.

My son was a sleepy eater, too:) It always took at least an hour to feed him early on, and I did pump the excess to keep my supply up. And yes, just as I finished, it seemed he was ready to start again! Although, like you say, he would go longer at night. FYI -- my doctor said that if the baby is gaining weight well, there is no need to wake her at night to feed her; so you might call your doctor and see how she weighs in on the topic.

I wouldn't start the 20 minutes per side yet; but it sounds like your milk supply is better than mine seemed to be. After several weeks, it seemed like he got a little better and we weren't constantly nursing.

Good luck -- I know how frustrating it can be to feel like a human pacifier! Like most other parts of motherhood, though, this goes relatively fast (although it doesn't seem like it at the time), and she will probably nursing more "normally" sometime in the next several weeks:)

Also, it you don't already have a pump, check to see if your insurance will pay for one. Mine did:)

Is she falling asleep while she's feeding? My baby girl did that and it took forever for her to get through a feeding session. We had to tickle her feet and move her arms up and down a lot to keep her awake.

I would let her sleep the 5 hours, personally, but pump to relieve the pressure + keep your milk supply up. Plus, you can feed her the bottle when she wakes up, or better yet, have someone else feed her the bottle and you have time to sleep or take a shower!

Try feeding only when she's hungry. Babies will awake if they are hungry, and perhaps she is trying to set her own schedule. As long as she is happy, gaining weight and healthy this should not be a problem at all. I did this with both of my kids and it worked great!! I would pump every 2 hours for the time being just to help with the mastitis and to be comfortable. You will find that if you go 5 hours without nursing you will be in so much pain and nursing will hurt. I hope this helps!

Hey J. - I asked all of the above questions of my doctor when I went through it and her is what she said. At 10 days old, she should be eating every 3 hours or so - so you should be waking her up to feed - lethargy might be induced by low blood sugar which she could have by not eating enough. You should also pump after she feeds so you keep your supply up and also to alleviate the mastitis. St. Mary's Hospital has a breastfeeding hotline that I found very useful - you might give them a call. Good luck - it might suck for awhile but you can get through it!

I would say that you don't have to wake her every 2 hours to breastfeed. Go ahead and pump, I remember how tired I got in the night trying to keep my baby awake for a good feeding! I am so sorry you are going through this! Taking a hot bath was the only thing that gave me relief. I hope you feel better soon!

Congratulations on your new daughter. Since she is not eating as much as you are producing, you will want to pump in between so you are more comfortable and not engorged and to decrease the further occurence of mastitis. It is also possible that your daughter is bundled too much-undress her some and that may help. Newborns do sleep a lot, but it you are still concerned about this, bring it up with the dr at her next appt or sooner. They may be able to reassure you that nothing is wrong.

I'm a first time mom of an 11 month old so here's my advice. One, don't let her sleep through the night yet. I believe my doc told me to wait until at least 4 weeks before I allowed that. She has so much growing to do right now and really needs to eat on average every 3 hours. Two, my daughter always fell asleep while eating as well, so I'd change her diaper 1/2 through the session, using wet wipes to "wake her up." I'd also sort of strip her clothes off too. Someone suggested to me rubbing ice cubes on their feet to keep them awake as well. Three, I think yes, perhaps you should be pumping, as breastfeeding is hard enough, and will be even harder if your supply diminishes (though I hate pumping!). BEST OF LUCK and stick with it!!!

Consider feeding her at a different interval, say 3 hours rather than 2. Also, I always fed my daughter after she woke up from her nap. I would change her and then we would feed, this way she was awake and eating rather than using the meal as a way to get full and go to sleep. I'd highly recommend the book "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer" - she gives practical advice for busy moms on how to guide your child. She recommends eating, then playing, then sleeping (and while baby is sleeping is YOU time!), which really made sense to me. If you think about it, isn't that how you live your life??? I get up in the morning and eat breakfast, I don't fill up on a large meal right before bedtime! I need the food for energy to do my work, which is the same kind of way I would think my daughter would need food. Just some thoughts.

Also, I would try to pump your breast if you have mastitis - I'm asuming you've had this checked by your dr. - and also use a heating pad or warm compress to help loosen up that blocked duct. It's going to hurt a bit to get it worked out, but it's important that you do! Good luck!

Jessica, At ten days old your baby is still trying to get used to the outside world. Just remember that this problem will not last a life time...it will be replaced with something else.. there are some things that you can do...strip your baby, attach her to you breast...when she starts to sleep rub her feet..or run your fingernail softly down the soles of her feet..some of my babies I had to use a wash clothe. I would wipe their head and face. Don't change her diaper at the begining of the feeding, unless she's poopy..always change postions.. the first 6 weeks are a learning time for both of you. It will be that one feeding goes into the next..remember...this does not last years..just days.. please don't give up. get in touch with a LaLeche Leader..attend the meetings..there are many moms that are going though the same thing you are...If you need some one on one I'm sure you will get it...I wish I could help you..I've been there done that...I'm the mom of 9, grandmother of 17 and soon to be a great grnadma. I'm 63 and still helping other moms with birth...and breastfeeding.. Good luck D. I know that I should be careful about giving my number ou but here goes ###-###-#### God Bless

My son was a preemie (one month early), and sleepy like your daughter. I pumped a ton because he was so hard to feed at first, taking a long time and falling asleep and not really seeming hungry. Advice from one who's been there: yes, pump! especially until the mastitis is gone. And it won't hurt your baby to let her sleep one longer period per every 24 hours; up to 6 hours without feeding. It will be good for you too- take the blessed 5 or 6 hours to actually get some sleep in :)

P.S. for some reason, the cabbage leaves worn directly on the breast helped the most of anything that I tried, for engorgment, blocked ducts, etc.

J.,

My second baby was sleepy like that. Five hours is okay at night as long as she is eating more in the day and has wet diapers. I think I remember the nurse telling me to wake my son after six hours when he was first born. But the older and bigger they are, the longer they can go. (After a month or so, you can let him go up to 12 hours.) To try and keep him awake, I would change his diaper and have him eat in just a diaper. I could still keep him under a blanket if he got cold. I would tap his feet, lift and lower his arm (almost like priming a pump,) run my finger down his back, his ribs, play with his ears, anything to keep him awake just enough to keep sucking. Towards the end, if he would completely zonk out, I would put all his clothes back on. Usually that was enough to alert him to finish his meal.

Good luck,
S.

Congratulations on your new daughter. Be sure to take time to enjoy her, because this stage goes so fast. I would pump to make sure you are comfortable, and that the milk will be there when your little girl wants it. My baby was a very slow starter on nursing (she was premature), so I had to do a lot of pumping, which is a drag, but in the end it will pay off. Don't give up, because breastfeeding is so beneficial. It just takes a little bit to get in the swing of things, and soon she will eat much faster. As far as the sleeping thing goes, I think I would let her sleep as long as she has plenty of wet diapers, and is gaining weight.

I agree with your other post - enjoy her! And absolutely undress her and stroke her to keep her awake during feeding. Two of my children were jaundiced and that caused much lethargy in them - and they would sleep whenever not feeding. And, yep, seemed I'd breastfeed for an hour - and then start all over 15 - 30 minutes later. It does quickly change into a pattern that the two of you work out, but I don't recall going more than a couple of hours between. I wouldn't worry, either about a five hour sleep, provided you are feeling 'empty' when she finishes - knowing her little tummy is filled up. Before you know it, she'll be in a demand mode and feel the need to eat :)

With my first child, I nursed 20 minutes per side, and it certainly contributed to the duration of up to an hour per feeding. With my next two children, I still nursed every couple of hours - and would use one or the other side. I wouldn't avoid the side with mastitis, until that clears up - but guess my point is, go with what feels natural to you. If you are feeling full and uncomfortable, feed her :).

I did pump when I had severe thrush with two of my children. It was very painful to breastfeed - and sores / cracking / bleeding caused me to cry during the feeding - but a great friend and lactation consultant came to my home and helped me find positions that worked for both of us, to eliminate the pumping. And she is my healthiest child, today :)

T.

Whatever you decide is best for you and your child is correct. With that said here is my story/advice. My daughter slept 4-5 hours at night from the day she was born. The hospital made me wake her up after three hours the first night but that was the last time that I ever woke my daughter up to feed at night. (I breastfed until she was one and weaned at my choice, not hers.) The only time I ever woke her up during the day was if she slept more than 4 hours just to make sure that her days and nights didn't get confused.

Your daughter's feeding might be taking a long time because she just isn't hungry. She will wake up when she is hungry - trust me. I would just follow her lead as long as she is gaining weight at a rate your doctor is satisfied with at checkups.

We have never had any sleeping problems with our daughter and friends who have woken their children up to feed have said that they will not do that again because their child does not know how to sleep for long periods of time - they wake up to eat.

Just for some more context, my daughter is not small. She has been in the 99.9 percentile for height her whole life and will be two in June. She has slept through the night (8 hours) since around 2 weeks and still naps 2-4 hours a day.

Pump if you need to. I would pump if I needed relief in the morning and she still wasn't up. Plus, it is really handy to have breast milk frozen and stored for weaning, daddy feeding time, and if you decide to make your own baby food (I did and it is great for thinning foods).

Good luck to you! Remember, there is no perfect answer. You have to do what you think is best.

Congrats on your new baby and good for you for breastfeeding! Yes, if you are getting full/uncomfortable, pump and freeze the milk. If she isn't eating much right now, your supply will go down, but the pumping will help with that - plus you will have a nice supply in the freezer for dad to feed her a bottle! To help wake her up to feed her, you can undress her (except for her diaper!). If that doesn't help, take a cool, damp washcloth and gently stroke her with it (arms, legs, tummy, back). That usually does the trick. If her weight is good and she is not jaundice, I would let her sleep the 5 hours at night and enjoy it (while it lasts!). As long as her doc is not concerned, I would let her dictate her schedule. Keep up the pumping and know that newborns often change their feeding/sleeping schedule and pretty soon you will probably be posting that your baby is eating all the time! :) Good luck and enjoy this sweet tiny baby time while it last.
S.
mom of 3 and daycare provider

I know you've gotten a lot of advice, but I just want to add that our pediatrician adamently said that babies HAVE to be fed every 2 hours for the 1st 30 days, even if you have to wake them up. After 30 days they can sleep as long as they want. I never breastfed, but do you think that if you pumped and then bottlefed her the breastmilk it might be easier, and faster, for her to suck? I'm just guessing on that though. Good luck!

Just to be on the safe side, I would take her to the doctor to be make sure that she is not TOO jaundiced. It sounds like she is VERY sleepy. It might not be a big deal but just to check. This was how my friend's son was and he had to be hospitalized for a night with the lights on him - not to scare you, sorry :).

Otherwise, do things to try to keep her awake while nursing - strip her down to her diaper, rub her jaw while she attached, etc. Yes, you should pump some so you don't lose your supply - or at least to store some while you have a lot.

Good luck.

Both my sons, now 5 yo and an 11-mos old, were preemie. They both were hard to keep awake so I had to feed them with only a diaper on, change diaper in the middle of the feeding, tickle feet, tickle face, anything to keep them awake. My doc told me no longer than 4 hours between feedings. I had to wake both up every time. I would check with your doc and make sure the longest time that you can go between feedings. The older she gets the longer you can go. By 3 months my youngest was sleeping all night. Still sleeps all night but wakes up ravenous! Hope this helps!
J.

I am so sorry you got mastititis. I had that and it is very painful. They told me to even pump after my baby got done feeding just to make sure that the breasts get totally emptied. And if the baby doesn't nurse for 2-3 hours to pump during that day.

I would pump.
for your comfort AND for your milk supply.
encourage her to eat every 3 hours... sleepiness is SO NORMAL. maybe undress her? use a cool cloth? change her diaper...she's too young to go long without food.

:) good luck!

When my son would drift off during feeding, I used the following "tricks": rub his back, move an arm up and down, tickle a foot, etc. He'd wake up gently and start nursing again. My son ate every two hours, but I know some babies go 3 or 4 hours between feedings.

Hi J.,

I would not interupt her sleeping pattern unless the Ped. says she needs to be eating more or if she is losing wieght. Baby's need there sleep and it is terrific you have a baby that sleeps so well. It is just a rule of thumb babies shoud be eating every 2-4 hours and again at night 5 hours straight is fine, my daughter did it and she is 4 1/2 months now. Her sleeping pattern is now changed and waked up once per night for a 2:30 feeding. Basically I would try not to worry too much I think she is doing just fine. Now for yourself with the breast issue you should try and talk to a lactation consultatant because they are wonderful for answer and questions. You should be emptying your breast with mastitis so if need be pump and keep the milk for a latter use. Good luck and keep up the great work breastfeeding it is the best thing for your daughter;)

Hi J.-my boys would fall asleep, too, and it takes an hour for me to nurse my 9-week old. I've got a system to make sure he eats everything in that hour! If he nods off during the first five minutes, I pat him on his bottom. His eyes are closed, but he keeps sucking! After 5 minutes, I burp him, and that wakes him up enough to finish that breast. Then I change his diaper, then back to the other breast. I would definitely pump if you aren't completely emptied-you can freeze it for a rainy day. Best of luck to you!

My rule is to feed the baby when they are hungry, for as long as they are hungry. Your milk supply will adjust to her needs.
Get used to nursing taking a lot of your time- at this age the baby is a slow eater. She will become proficient at eating later- then she'll be able to suck you dry in 5 minutes. It may be useful to read or surf the net while nursing.

Most of my babies would sleep a 5 hour stretch soon after they are born, Consider it a gift.

Relax and focus on enjoying your newborn, they grow up so quickly.

R.- mom to 5- have nursed nearly 10 years straight