Sleeping and feeding lengths
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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Printed Date: 14 September 2025 at 5:22pm
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Topic: Sleeping and feeding lengths
Posted By: BellaBoo
Subject: Sleeping and feeding lengths
Date Posted: 16 December 2007 at 5:21pm
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I am so sleep deprived and it is only day 4! Bella feeds for only a short time before she dozes off. This then means she will only sleep for an hour at a time and then wakes and is hungry again. This cycle continues day and night. How do I get her to feed longer? I have to use breast shields as my nipples are very sore due to my very small babys mouth. She dosnt seem to mind them. ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Replies:
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 16 December 2007 at 5:27pm
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My mw got me to tickle him under the chin and to put flat pressure on my boob (would cause some milk to let down), a friend would change nappy halfway through a feed to wake her bubba up. Other tricks are to strip bubba down to nappy so they don't get too warm and cozy and get on with feeding (although that one is hard to do when it is a thousand degrees out). Perhaps a cold flannel (not enough to freeze or shock but just to help keep baby alert)
Has your milk come in yet? Things may change once that happens as that will be more filling than colostrum.  I hope things improve for you soon, try lasinoh for the sore nipples it is safe for bubba. Or after each feed smear a bit of the milk on the nipples and let them air dry.------------- 
 
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Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 16 December 2007 at 5:35pm
Its also hard work for little babies to feed (they use up a lot of energy sucking and get tired very quickly). You may find Bella will feed for longer as she becomes more efficient at sucking, your let down becomes faster, she gains weight, etc. and then you'll be cursing because she'll want to spend up to an hour on your boob  hehe. Little and often is usually how it goes for the first few weeks, but I'm sure things will improve with time. Just keep thinking "6 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 weeks", its the golden number whereby you usually notice things start to get way easier  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: BellaBoo
Date Posted: 16 December 2007 at 5:48pm
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Thanks everyone. Some great advice! My milk came in on day two and she has already gained weight so I guess all my efforts arent in vain. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 16 December 2007 at 6:47pm
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We used to strip Hannah down so she wasnt too warm and wanting to sleep, moving her arms and legs about, tickle, blow on her face etc. Sounds exhausting, hope it sorts itself out for you soon. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 16 December 2007 at 6:59pm
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Topsy the girls have given great advise here and also I wanted to say please believe the girls when they say it does get easier by 6 weeks, it sooooooooooo does, although it may seem like an eternity away! I was just like you sleep deprived and had to use nipple shields due to major latching problems aswell, but I was bawling my eyes out at everything, telling everyone I couldn't cope and wanting to give up breastfeding all together!
8 weeks on I can't believe how easy everything has become, that 6 week hurdle is such a milestone!! Hang in there, sleep when bubs sleeps!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MonicaMouse
Date Posted: 17 December 2007 at 9:03am
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I agree with what the others have said. Blair used to do similar, and once he was out to it, I would often put him to bed, and then he would also wake up a short while later hungry and crying. It was suggested to wake him up while feeding, ( I run inside leg, feet, palm of hand, or just under the rib cage) and also to make sure I wind him, as he would often let out a huge burp when I picked him up. These days the only feeds where I don't wake if he falls asleep are the dream feed (somewhere between 10 and midnight) and the early morning one. ------------- 
Blair 15/10/2007 Daniel 30/07/2009 |