New Grandbaby question about feeding...

[Calebs_Nanna]

Hi,

My daughter had her baby last week. Shes amazing My question is does anyone have any good hints at keeping her awake for a full feed? It's like Mommy is a sedative LOL She nurses a few minutes then wants to sleep!

Shes itty bitty so we worry about her getting enough to eat! She is pooping & wetting so I know shes OK, just the worry wart in me.

She weighed 6.9 and 18 1/4" long so shes little!

[tanyam926]

It's really common for newborns to be sleepy and need to be woken up to eat.

It helps to feed the baby often so that the baby doesn't need to get all the milk at once, so more frequent feedings for shorter amts of time if baby falls asleep. It seems from my esperience that every baby has their own nursing personality. Some nurse on both breasts every feeding and go for longer stretches, some are snackers, there are several variations.

I used to unwrap my baby and get a cool washcloth and wipe him w/it to wake him up.

It also helps to keep baby close to mom, or being held by someone, or in the noise and commotion of the main room so that the baby doesn't sleep as deeply and is more easily woken for feeding.

Most of all just nurse frequently and the sleepiness will wear off in the next couple of wks. Baby should be nursing AT LEAST every 2 hrs during the day and every 4 hrs at night.

La Leche League has some great mom to mom personal support so it would be a great idea to look up your local chapter and have the number handy for immediate questions and answers that are more specific to your daughter and grandchild's situation. There might be a lactation consultant in your area that can also offer wonderful help and support. You can get that info at the hospital (if she delivered at a hospital) or from her midwife.

I am sure other MDC mamas will chime in w/some more helpful hints and congrats on your new grandbaby!

[justKate]

Congrats on your new grandbaby!

People obviously will have different perspectives on whether it's ideal to try to keep her awake, but things that helped my DD were:

Gently stroking the underside of her jaw--triggers suck-swallow reflex
Playing with her feet
moving the nipple a little, esp. against the roof of baby's mouth
Not letting baby get too warm (too comfy = sleepy)

Your daughter is very lucky to have such a supportive mama!

[Calebs_Nanna]

Thank you. Shes pretty special if I do say so myself

I will remind her about the LC at the hosp they gave her a number to call with any questions

[MadiMamacita]

Originally Posted by Calebs_Nanna

Thank you. Shes pretty special if I do say so myself

I will remind her about the LC at the hosp they gave her a number to call with any questions

i obviously cant speak to the quality of the LC at your hospital, but here the hospital LC's aren't that bf supportive. They seem to just be regular nurses assigned to that dept.
I'd have her get in touch with her local lll leader and find out about local resources outside the hospital.
http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html#

congrats on the grandbaby!

[KristyDi]

Breast Compressions may also work.

Congrats pm your grandbaby

Those are 2 separate links. The 1st is an article explaining Breast Compressions and the second is a video w/ a nursing mom and Dr. Jack Newman.