Newborn feeding issues
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Anonymous
| I have a 4.5 week old newborn baby and feedings are challenging. He is a very sleepy baby and needs to be woken up for almost every feed. The feedings are long because he often falls asleep. I’m now nursing + pumping in order to keep my supply up and make sure he is getting enough to eat. He is gaining weight slowly, causing me even more worry. I know some will recommend bottle feeding, but we have the same issues with him falling asleep. He is healthy and jaundice was ruled out. The pediatrician advised us to feed regularly and make sure he gets a full feeding each time - no snacking. She said the sleepiness will pass and to just keep letting him sleep unless he needs to eat. Any advice to make feedings more efficient and put on weight? |
Anonymous
I’m sorry, my first was like this. Wish I could say it got better, it didn’t. He’s very small, had a failure to thrive diagnosis at one point (toddlerhood). we’ve seen a nutritionist as a family just to get us through meal times because they’re…tough. Basically his behavior as an infant (sounds identical) carried through to childhood. Just doesn’t have an appetite, would prefer to snack here and there all day. Night and day difference with my second two so I know it’s just a “him” thing. It’s very hard and I don’t think people understand the anxiety involved as a parent. All I can say is, solidarity. |
Anonymous
| My sister stripped her baby down and used a cool cloth to keep her son up to feed. The sleepiness did end.... |
Anonymous
| Yep get home naked, tickle his feet. Make him eat every 3 hours. |
Anonymous
| My oldest was like this — I just let her snack nonstop. I was basically letting her nurse (and doze) on me for 45 minutes out of every hour during the day for the first couple months. She abruptly figured out how to get a full feed around three months I think? And started napping properly and has grown into an enormous preschooler (80th percentile height and weight). Those first few months were rough though. Good luck and Joe it gets easier for you soon! |
Anonymous
Same. Over her toes and neck. I’d put it in the freezer for a few minutes. (It wasn’t frozen, just to keep it cool for long enough to get to baby and get set up) |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
| Do you feed the baby on-demand? What does the pediatrician mean by “ no snacking”? Any feeds, regardless of how small, is important at this age. |
Anonymous
| How often do you feed your baby? How long do feedings take? What is his weight? |
Anonymous
OP here. I feed him if he wakes up hungry, but I have to wake him most of the time to eat. The pediatrician said to make he eats for at least 20 minutes ( 10+ minutes of feeding on each side) to make sure he is getting the fatty milk. She says snacking will just cause him to fill on the first milk and he won’t get enough of the fatty milk. |
Anonymous
OP here. I feed him every 3 hours during the day and night. I would feed him every two hours but will refuse to eat at times and I need a break between feedings. The feedings take up to 1 hour. He is less sleepy at certain times but still takes 30+ minutes to eat. He was 7lbs 1oz at birth and 7lbs 13oz at 1 month. He is slow to gain weight. |
Anonymous
I’m the earlier PP whose kid just doesn’t eat to this day, and I wish I would’ve beat myself up less/stressed less in the early days. It drove me crazy hearing people say “tickle their feet!” because I could have invited the US Marines band to play in my living room and he wouldn’t have stirred. I hope your baby catches on quickly but if he doesn’t, just know that it’s probably less what you’re doing and more-so just how he was made! Also, not advocating this if you don’t want to (because I think it’s important that you absolutely do want to before doing it), but my son as a baby did catch up to the growth chart but not until I intro’d formula. I just make skim milk, which for most babies (and my subsequent babies) was perfectly fine, but every calorie in every ounce matters when it’s for a baby who doesn’t eat much. |
Anonymous
OP here. Did you stop breastfeeding or just supplemented? How much? The pediatrician hasn’t said anything about supplementing. I make enough milk and she did say that I can pump and offer more milk but he transfers milk just fine. He will eat 2-3 ounces every 3 hours. I make 3-6 ounces per feeding session depending on the day. |
Anonymous
| 8 times a day doesn’t seem like enough. He should be eating a minimum of 24oz/day. Try feeding him every 2.5 hours if every 2 hours is too much. My baby was eating 10 feedings a day at that age - every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours at night. |
Anonymous
| How do you know he is eating 2-3oz every feeding? Does he have enough wet diapers? I would supplement 1-2 feeds a day with formula. |