Extreme Sleepy Eater

[macaronmama]

Hello all. My little DS is just over a week old, and I feel like I'm starting to get better at breastfeeding minus one issue - DS takes forever to eat. He constantly falls asleep while feeding, so that some feedings take up to 2 hours before he'll stop fussing for my breasts.

I've undressed him, kept him swaddled, tickled his feet, used chilled cloth, taken him off the breast and put him back on, burp him and put him back on, made sure his diaper is fine, kept the lights off, kept the lights on, quiet, not quiet. 

My pediatrician called him a "grazer," in that he takes long pauses between drinks and that is just how this is going to go for the little guy. I just can't keep up such a long schedule - it's fine for me at night because it actually helps put him down a little easier, but during that day, I feel like I'm trapped. It's certainly not going to fly when we have to go out places eventually and he needs to feed. 

Any advice? I am also trying to start pumping, and this leaves me very little opportunity to do so. 

[packmomma]

Congratulations! DS was a grazer too. Can you baby wear so he can nurse/sleep/nurse and so on? This was a great way for me to get things done while also feeding ds.
You're doing a lot of the tricks I used as well but I also would rub ds's cheek to wake him up, take deep breaths in which would rouse him a bit, or just speak to him a bit. But in the early days he was just a big fan of the long feeds. At just over a week they're basically sleeping and eating.
It's intense so big hugs to ya.

[LadyNymeria]

My DS was 5 weeks on Tuesday. What you explained is how he started out too. He would nurse for 5-10 min then pass out and nothing I did would wake him up.

In the past couple weeks he is finally nursing for longer stretches of time. I don't have any suggestions since you're already doing everything I tried to keep DS awake, but I wanted to let you know it got better for us. Hopefully it gets better for you too.

[heartofglass]

My LO was a long eater too. In the first month I tried everything that you have to keep him awake for a nursing session. It meant 30-45 minutes at a time but after a month or so it worked down to 15-20.
It's new for them right now and and it is tough, but you can do it and it does get better.

[vvvvvfee]

it will get better- my DS1 was like this too for the first couple of weeks.

why are you trying to fit in pumping when LO is so young? unless you have a documented undersupply, if you pump before 4-6 weeks you risk creating an oversupply. it's important for LO to nurse on demand in the early weeks so that your body can regulate how much milk it needs to produce.

[bluefairy5]

Popping in to let you know that none of the "how to keep a sleepy nurser awake!!!" tricks never worked for my LO, either. Those long, constant nursing sessions in the early couple of weeks are rough, but they won't be the norm forever (or even for too much longer). So much solidarity, though! It's a pretty isolating feeling. "I can't. leave. the house. because the baby. wants. to nurse. again." It WILL end, though. IIRC, my LO because a lot less sleepy with her nursing around 3-4 weeks.

+1 to the question/recommendation not to pump yet unless you are having documented supply issues. From what you say (no mention of trouble with weight gain, etc.) it doesn't sound like that's an issue, which is great.

[WittyLittle]

Hey! DD was exactly like this also. Our pedi suggested to let her have what she wanted of one boob, burp, change diaper, and attempt the other boob, and then leave it at that. Then, when she started fussing we would go out for a walk with her in the stroller to stretch out that time until the next feed. Not letting her be obviously upset and crying, but just distracting her to break that pattern. We managed to break it within 2-3 days, though she still prefers grazing. Maybe this could be an option for you too macaronmama ?

[seamonster]

You might want your pediatrician or a LC to assess for a lip or tongue tie. DS was a grazer due to transfer issues because of his ties and a shallow latch, so he was depending on my let down to really get milk.

Of course some babies just graze all the time anyway. Or do the sleep-eat thing. Get comfy and watch Netflix or read on your phone (I read novels aloud during marathon sessions just to get my reading in and interact with my baby).

[macaronmama]

DS does have a tiny little lip tie, but the LC at the hospital said that it wasn't a big deal as his latch was pretty good, according to them, and he'd adjust a little with time. I do occasionally worry that his latch is a little shallow, I might consulate with my doula about that vs. the pediatrician. Will hope that as he gets older, this becomes less of an issue.

As for the pumping, vvvvvfee, bluefairy5, there are several reasons I'm trying so early but the largest atm is a sanity check. I'm not pumping in addition to feeding - just a little after each feeding mostly and if we have enough for a bottle so DH can feed him, I do a full pump then to make sure my supply is even.

[bluefairy5]

Oct 22, 2016 14:15:29 GMT -5 macaronmama said:

DS does have a tiny little lip tie, but the LC at the hospital said that it wasn't a big deal as his latch was pretty good, according to them, and he'd adjust a little with time. I do occasionally worry that his latch is a little shallow, I might consulate with my doula about that vs. the pediatrician. Will hope that as he gets older, this becomes less of an issue.

As for the pumping, vvvvvfee, bluefairy5, there are several reasons I'm trying so early but the largest atm is a sanity check. I'm not pumping in addition to feeding - just a little after each feeding mostly and if we have enough for a bottle so DH can feed him, I do a full pump then to make sure my supply is even.

FWIW, my LO also has an upper lip tie, and things did improve over time. Gotcha about the pumping for replacement bottle feeds. As long as you don't start getting clogged ducts and such from engorgement, AFAIK, that's the main concern around oversupply. That and LO missing out on hind milk. Nice that your H can take some of the feedings already!

[billyhorrible]

My oldest had breastmilk jaundice, which definitely affected his sleepiness/nursing. (Luckily it's not dangerous like regular jaundice abs they grow out of it.) IIRC it peaks around 10-14 days.

None of the recommended tricks worked for him either. The only way I could keep him awake was keeping a bowl of water beside me while I nursed and squeeze a full washcloth over him when he fell asleep. (Over his torso, I wasn't waterboarding my son)

He got much less sleepy after the first couple of weeks.

[seamonster]

Oct 22, 2016 14:15:29 GMT -5 macaronmama said:

DS does have a tiny little lip tie, but the LC at the hospital said that it wasn't a big deal as his latch was pretty good, according to them, and he'd adjust a little with time. I do occasionally worry that his latch is a little shallow, I might consulate with my doula about that vs. the pediatrician. Will hope that as he gets older, this becomes less of an issue.

As for the pumping, vvvvvfee, bluefairy5, there are several reasons I'm trying so early but the largest atm is a sanity check. I'm not pumping in addition to feeding - just a little after each feeding mostly and if we have enough for a bottle so DH can feed him, I do a full pump then to make sure my supply is even.

You can help deepen the latch in cradle hold by pressing gently between LO'sleep shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

Did the LC say anything about a tongue tie? Lip ties almost always are associated with a tongue tie of some type.

Can you get a referral to nurse ERT or pediatric dentist about the tie? For some babies it doesn't make a difference even with a major tie and others have problems even with a minor tie. I'd lean towards revising the tie if possible for both nursing issues and future teeth and speech issues.

[Ray]

F was like this also - he took forever to eat and it was exhausting. He's 3months now and is usually done in 10-15 minutes. It may seem like a long time away but I'm going to give you the cliché "time flies" line and say he may get better/more efficient as time goes on!

[penguin129]

HL is like this. She was treated for jaundice for a few days and I wonder if the effects of the jaundice, one being sleepiness, last for a few days even if their levels are good. I'm going to ask the nurses when I go back in at 2. I've tried the tricks as well macaronmama and they just aren't working. Hopefully it will get better for both of us with time.

I have to pump because HL is in the NICU and having problems eating enough. They put her feeding tube back in today. We're just a mess over here.