Sleeping while breastfeeding

Hi there,

I had my beautiful Daughter Keziah on Sunday 13th dec. And she's a wonderful sleeper. But every time I put her on the breast, she falls asleep and I have to constantly wake her. I've talked to my MW and she thinks it's normal, as she is only 6 days old. So it's ok to be that sleepy while feeding.

Keziah is having at least 5 wet nappies a day. And up until yesterday, she was having at least 3 poo nappies a day (We had to top her up with formula since Sunday, as I didn't have enough colostrum. But now that my milk came in yesterday (Friday), she hasn't pooed since 1pm yesterday. The MW says she will soon. It's just her body and the formula, as we have taken all formula away).
She is also alert at wake times and she sleeps over 3 hours sometimes. So I'm put at rest that she's not malnourished.

So has anyone got a similar experience? Or any information about why she keeps falling asleep on the breast? She will suck and get milk. But I have to wake her throughout the feed.


Thanks :)

I had this with both my girls. If she is falling asleep when feeding you could try stripping her off a bit which makes them more alert. Or for my second baby I on 2-3 occasions dabbed a cold flannel on her head as she simply wasn't feeding and really needed to. Both these were suggestions form my MW.

Yep, it all sounds normal. I used to change babys' nappy in the middle of the feed to wake her up - feed one side, nappy change, feed the other. It must be lovely for them - full and warm and cosy, I'd go to sleep too I think!

And our wee bubs would go for up to a week without a poo - our MW said it's quite normal as everything in breast milk is so good for them that there is not much waste.

You're doing so well - it probably seems a lot longer than 6 days old but they are still very wee and young. Congratulations!

Very normal, mw gave me tips like stroking cheek, patting hair, blowing gently on her face, peeling layers of clothes off, burping, changing nappy...

Just curious, was she prem? Saw you posted in the Feb 11 birth announcements...

All perfectly normal, my baby only poos every 2 days and had to wake her up for feeds, we used a wet flannel / stripped her down even tickled her feet she's a small baby and needed to get fed.

We topped her up with formula in the early weeks as it was taking her a long time to feed.

Jacob used to do that all the time. Not any more, enjoy your sleepy cuddly little one while it lasts! I used to do the 'feed one side / change / feed the other' too, that helped.

Lil_Nic9 wrote: Very normal, mw gave me tips like stroking cheek, patting hair, blowing gently on her face, peeling layers of clothes off, burping, changing nappy... Just curious, was she prem? Saw you posted in the Feb 11 birth announcements...

No she wasn't prem. She was a day after her due date lol.. Sorry I probably got the wrong one. I'm still new haha!

LOL yup the Oxytocin made me fall asleep too! Actually had to ring the nurse to tell her I was feeding and could she come back and check on me because I kept falling asleep and I was afraid we would both fall out of the bed (she did actually wake me when she came back!).

I still sometimes want to fall asleep feeding lol.....

My nurses told me to tickle his feet because he was falling asleep at first...I was told or read somewhere not to stroke their cheeks coz that can confuzzle them coz of course when they feel something against their cheeks they turn to feed there...but if it wakes them up not sure it matters??

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/bf-links-concerns.html#sleepy