Bretfeeding- Wakeful Baby
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Topic: Bretfeeding- Wakeful Baby
Posted By: Nutella
Subject: Bretfeeding- Wakeful Baby
Date Posted: 31 January 2010 at 3:09pm
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I am currently breast feeding my little fellow who is now 4 weeks old. During the night he sleeps probably about 2 hours at a go and during the day sometimes only 1 hour at a time...he doesn't really do any long stretches...
Anyway, during the night he tends to drink and fall asleep which I am fine with but I wonder if each time he is not drinking enough and should I sort of wake him up so he drinks some more or just go with the flow for now and let him be Mr Wakeup Pants?? I am trying the EASY method where I feed, activity, sleep except at night of course unless need a nappy change. I am not that keen on making him eat more as at least I get to go back to sleep pretty quickly haha but on the other hand if he eats more and sleeps longer that might be a good thing right! Any thoughts? ------------- 
 Oct 11
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Replies:
Posted By: LouD
Date Posted: 31 January 2010 at 3:20pm
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how long is he on you for? If its only a short while then i would probably try wake him up to feed more so you get a longer stint of sleep. theres a few tricks you can do to wake them, but some babies just refuse to wake up to feed any more. others might be able to share these tricks, ive never had to use them so dont know which ones are more effective
Do you also stick to the same side for a couple of those feeds? cos ive heard that they need to get a good feed off one side to get the hindmilk (the fatty milk) so if you are changing each time he would be only getting foremilk (the watery milk) |
Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 31 January 2010 at 9:29pm
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Yip Lou, I try to keep feeding off the same side til it is dry haha! I don't swap til it looks like I have nothing left there...
I try tickling his feet but that only works sometimes. He looks so sweet when he has finished and also so contented so I feel like such a meanie. -------------
Oct 11
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Posted By: mumzrule
Date Posted: 31 January 2010 at 9:38pm
Baby aerobics worked for me. You move their arm up and down (one sided starjump ) to help wake them up a bit to continue feeding.
Also not letting bubs be to cozy and warm while feed as this will put baby to sleep. Or a bum change to wake bub up to. -------------  
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 31 January 2010 at 9:39pm
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other waking up tips are stroking their cheeks, rubbing the palms of their hands... with my first son it was touching his nose... ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 31 January 2010 at 9:44pm
I used to be a big meanie (after my MW told me to  ) and strip her off a little (socks off, unwrapped etc) to wake her up to feed properly. It definetly worked well. But at that stage, (actually at every stage ) I've let her feed at anytime - so sometimes she would feed every hour, maybe half an hour etc during the day if that is what she wanted.
The way I figured is if I followed her lead I wouldn't have to second guess whether she was feeding enough IYKWIM. Also another thought I had was that I read somewhere (an article I think) that BM at night is naturally sleep-inducing for both you and baby. So hence why she may only take smaller feeds overnight. (not that that is much help, but certainly explains why) Only other suggestion is wearing her during the day - I swear the best sleeps she had once we discovered baby-wearing was when she was attached to me - pure bliss! |
Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 31 January 2010 at 10:00pm
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I think you're onto something there M2N - it will be to do with the oxytocin release when breastfeeding, I dropped the dreamfeed the other night (so just went straight to bed) and had one hell of a time trying to nod off... whereas if I feed DD2 just before I crash, I have an easier time of it. ------------- Mama to two earth walkers & two angels. Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; You are raising a human being. ~ Kittie Franz Next Slingbabies! Meet - Friday 4th May !! |
Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 31 January 2010 at 11:25pm
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Yes, I am finding it easier to go to sleep these days but maybe that is only coz I am more tired haha!
Brought a sling the other day but have yet to work it out ....but trouble is that it is so hot here that I get hot from holding him so hate to think how hot he might get. Though I did choose a breeze baby sling coz it is really light weight. Like the idea of the star jumps, that might be my trick. I guess I always have to keep in mind that he probably wants to drink more often coz it is hot?? Would that be right? -------------
Oct 11
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Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 01 February 2010 at 8:13am
Definetly - personally in the heat there, I wouldn't be restricting to any schedule feeding - there are many reasons why babes want BM, thirst included. And re night feedings - Hippymama, it totally makes sense doesn't it. She's usually out like a light and I can easily fall back to sleep, it's brilliant! |
NatsCats wrote:Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 03 February 2010 at 8:01pm
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My little bubba does this trick too! I strip him off and talk to him while Im feeding. I also have a cold face cloth (yes Im a meanie too) and wipe his forehead. When he is full, he purses his lips and wont take anymore at all. I try to get to this stage at each feed, but sometimes he only wants one side, other times both. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 03 February 2010 at 8:46pm
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I'm a meanie too. I rub his arm and his palm and his cheek and usually leave him alone when I lift his arm and it's floppy, if there's resistance he'll drink more. But it's still early days so he'll probably gradually stretch out those feeds anyway, that's what we're finding, as the weeks go by there are bigger and bigger gaps (at night anyway). ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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