Is it normal for baby to sleep through her normal feeding times? Or nurse on only one breast per feeding?

Question

I have a 5 day old newborn & she will sleep a lot longer (sometimes 4-5 hours) since my milk came in (on friday). So she is sleeping through her feeding times. I am breastfeeding so I'm told to wake her up, but she won't. I get her to open her eyes but she falls right back to sleep. I don't know how to get her up. Also she only feeds on one boob per feeding & then falls asleep while feeding (not right away & I know she's getting enough b/c of her diapers). This is causing me to get engorged more in the breast opposite the one I fed from during the times she's not feeding. What can I do? HELP! Also HELP! about the engorgement! How long does it last?

Answer 1

You should wake her up to eat. She shouldn't sleep more than 4 hours between feedings. She really needs to eat every 2 to 3 hours. Switch her sooner to the other breast. Try taking her diaper off or putting a cool washcloth on her foot. If you are taking any pain medication or anything that would make you sleepy, then it could be making her sleepy.

Otherwise, I suggest getting started on your extra milk storage supply. Pump and put it in the freezer perferably in the back and on the bottom.

I actually had the engorgement problem as well and started pumping. I ended up donating most of the Milk to a Mother's Milk Bank.

Answer 2

Try and wake her during the day but let her sleep through her feeds at night. If she won't wake, undress her, leave on a nappy and a vest and once she is fully awake, if she gets cold during the feed just put a blanket over her but don't make her too cosy as she will fall asleep again. Drinking from one brest can be quite normal, can you express a little from the other breast just so that it doesn't get engorged? She seems to be getting enough as she can sleep for so long, a hungry baby won't sleep. Another way to tell if she is getting enough is when she gets wieghed next time. Don't express too much though because your body will think the baby is drinking this and keep producing more. Once your hormones settle down, the engorgment should stop, in the mean time, put cold cabbage leaves in your bra! I never had to use it but was told this by breastfeeding support workers and midwives. Is your midwife still visiting? You could ask her if there is breastfeeding support groups in your area, most areas have them. It's also a good way to meet other people who are going though the same situation as you are.

Answer 3

If your breast are really engorged and u can't wake her then u need to start pumping your milk , so it won't be so uncomfortable for u and soon enough when she starts feeding regularly then your breast will make the right amount of milk. And its normal for them to feed on only one breast and fall asleep, when that happens use the one she didnt feed on at the next feeding and keep rotating, or u could pump the one that she doesn't feed on. And also take a warm shower for the engorgement so your milk can let down, and it wont be as painful.

Answer 4

I have breastfed two babies.

One is 7 and the other is 7 months.

She is still breastfeeding.

As your baby gets older he will stay awake more. and will eat more for you.

For now this is what you can do to help you and the baby. Pump your breast. It sounds to me like you are producing more milk than you need at the moment. I would pump it and freeze it for later.

For the engorgement you can do a couple of things.

1. pumping helps
2. warm compresses
3. I sometimes take a hot shower and let that help with the engorgement, sometimes I squeeze my breast in the shower to releeve some of the pressure.

The best way to help and prevent engorgement is feeding that baby and pumping.

suggestions to help in the long run:

wash your breast before you breastfeed...this helps beat thrush (yeast infection in babies mouth)

pump only to relieve the engorgment in each breast...depends on how much you can get out.

when you pump if nothing comes out try this, put the baby next to you, try a quite relaxing area.

Answer 5

the one boob per feeding is fine. Unless told by doc to wake her I wouldn't. I too had my daughter sleep 4-6 hours her first 2 weeks. LOVED IT. But at after 2 weeks my midwives were concerned of her weight gain. So I HAD to wake her every 3 hours to feed.

Did good for 1 weeks and we could then go back to feeding on demand.

In regards to engorgement. DON'T PUMP. If your child is is only 5 days old. your milk probably came in yesterday or the day before. It will take a few days to regulate and know your babies feeding habits. If you pump, your breast will think you need that milk. They work on supply and demand, you don't want them to think you need that milk, unless you plan to pump it now and freeze that liquid gold for later.

If your still engorged I'd say by Wednesday, bring it up with your doc. It shouldn't take that long to balance itself out

Answer 6

First of all, I hope you aren't taking a codeine-based pain killer for your own pain. Some women metabolise codeine (both straight or in the form of Tylenol 2s or 3s) and it can get into breast milk in huge amounts and harm the baby.

If you aren't taking anything, chances are that your baby is tired.

You can pump your breasts once after engorgements, but after that single pumping you need to control the amount of milk you're producing. Put an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel over your breasts as soon as you finish nursing and spash warm water over them before the next feeding.

If you are over-producing, you need to make sure that you don't feed on demand for risk of mastitus. Once every three hours from both breasts is best with a 15 minute window if she is starving.

Good luck. Breastfeeding really is worth it and, if you are careful things will calm down. See the links for more extensive explanations of how your milk ducts work and how to control production.

Answer 7

don't wake her and don't set her on a schedule. just let her feed when she is hungry. it worked better that way for me.
a tip for when she is feeding on one side during the feeding. while she is eating place a serialized bottle over your other nipple cause then if you leak then it will be collected. then if it does leak you can press down on it with one hand (squeezing out milk) and release some of the pressure. i did this and i didn't have engorgement for very long after that. with the milk collected place a lid on it and put in in the fridge and use a new bottle each time but when the milk is all cold just add them all together in about 2-4 oz each per bottle then freeze. you can use this later when you start to feed solids and don't have to pump right away.
good luck.

Answer 8

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WIHT MY DAUGHTER!
It is frustrating. Some babies are sleepier than others!
I resorted to flicking the bottoms of her soles to wake her up because nothing worked! no removing her clothes nothing!
You can try a breast pump and freeze the milk for later use....milk stores for a good 6mos. Maybe try squeezing her (lovingly) and jostling her/massaging to stimulate her...
I had so much milk I actually donated to a milk bank (sorry, another subject.) i definitly support waking her for the feedings. take her clothes off, maybe, change her diaper, and put her in a lively atmosphere, nothing too mellow and dark?
Also, because your milk just came in, your breasts will feel more engorged than normal. this will pass after a few weeks. Everything is kicking in! it is frustrating, but keep at it.
Again, I used to pump so that I would get relieved and we did use that milk for my daughter at a later time that was convenient or needed! Good luck :)

Answer 9

My little baby is 8 months old now and when he was born I breastfed him, he would only suck from one breast at feeding time and fall asleep, so when he next fed i fed him from the other side and then so on. So try to feed from one breast then the other, if she falls asleep just leave her it is obvious if she does'nt wake up that she is full and that when she is hungry again she will wake up and let you know, babies are like that. I have got 3 children and all children if they are hungry will tell u even babies. As for the engorgement it passes within a week or so so just persevere and use lots of breast pads to soak it up with or your clothes will have wet patches on them.

Answer 10

you baby sounds like it is well fed ,don't wake she till after 4 hours she should be fed at least that.do you rotate your breasts ,feed off one and then use the other next.buy some cabbage leaves, yes that's right, and put them in your bra on the sore boob it will help,it really will. also have a shower and massage boob in the shower.it will settle down after a while and you will make the right amount of milk.ps if your baby has a yellowish tinge to skin and wont wake and feed after 4 hours,go to the doctor as she may be jaundice ,its common in baby's and not bad but needs treatment.sun light is a treatment if its mild ,not long just 10 min in morning light but if its a bad case she will need doctors care.