Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

DS2 was born on Monday. I've been exclusively breastfeeding but it doesn't seem he's eating enough. He was 8lbs10oz at birth and in 48 hours is down 9 oz to 8llbs1oz. He's been screaming a lot, especially at night. He smacks his little lips and sucks on his hands but when I put him to my breast, he falls asleep within minutes 90% of the time.

Asked to supplement with formula at hospital but they would virtually deny me the formula. My ped saw him today and also thought that he may not be getting enough and is concerned about dehydration so she wants me to supplement. I am fine with this for now.

How can I get DS to stay awake for feedings? (besides tickling feet, face, back, etc) How can I get through this rough stage? I did give him formula and he sucked it down. My milk came in today and I'm so engorged. We are home now.

Help!

Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

Congratulations on your little boy!! I would also try undressing him down to just his pamper OR change his pamper when he falls alseep. I would do that when DS would fall asleep while nursing at night. The air of the diaper change would wake him up and he'd start eating again.

Re: Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

Re: Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

I had the worst time with this when DD was born. No matter what I did, I could get her to wake up for hours sometimes. I tried tickling her feet and a wet washcloth at first and eventually tried pinching her little thighs and wiping her head down with a cold washcloth but NOTHING worked! Try to just keep him latched on as long as you can and hopefully that will stimulate a let down and he can eat in his sleep. I didn't learn about that until DD was much older.

All in all, this lasted two weeks for us. We had weight checks every few days bc DD wasn't gaining. After 1.5 the doctor suggested supplementing but when he saw me almost in tears about that he said if I saw a LC the next day he would give me a few more days. Thankfully we did and it bought me the time we needed for DD to wake up more.

Keep in mind DS is so tiny and new and her needs so little at this time. It's very normal for him to need some time to get back to his birth weight. The LC suggested I hold DD as much as possible to stimulate my production and her desire to nurse. Here is
kellymom's page on sleepy babies which should have some good suggestions too. Supplementing this early can definitely effect your supply in the long run so I would talk to your ped about waiting a little if he's okay with that. GL!

Re: Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

congrats! how many poop and pee diapers? go by that!!
babies are bound to lose weight in the beginning. just keep nursing!!

Re: Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

Do not swaddle, dress him in light clothing to BF, change diaper in between sides, etc. I always had to nudge DDs cheek in the beginning to get her to keep sucking in her sleep. It will get better in a few days when he's awake more. Try not to let him get too comfy at the boob for now. Don't sit in a glider and rock him while nursing either.

Good luck.

Re: Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

DD is almost 4 weeks and we had the same issue in the beginning. She would also latch, suckle 2 or 3 times and fall off the boob! I was a mess trying to BF.

The biggest thing is definitely the diaper change. The other suggestions are good too.

Hang in there! It gets easier.

Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

I had the same problem with both of my kids. Both times peds suggested supplementing since it's a easy solution for them.... Since my kids were also jaundice I tried feeding them every 2 hours, doing all the PP said and strongly consider a lactation consultant. I owe my success to Donna at
lakeshore lactation

Good luck!

Message edited 8/28/2013 6:08:20 PM.

Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

Pretty much very thing everyone else said. When DS was small, I stripped him down to his diaper and wiped his head with wet cloths to wake him up!

Good luck!!

Re: Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

Thanks everyone. I have him in just a t-shirt and diaper every time. He just knocks out completely. NOw my milk came in and I am so engorged. I think it made it harder for him to latch. Am going to try pumping to relieve the pressure and have something to give him. He definitely does not have enough wet diapers. He's had maybe 5 today. And only 1 poopie diaper, although it was a huge poopie diaper, I was shocked, lol. The feeding issues are causing me a lot of anxiety.

My insurance covers 6 sessions with a lactation consultatant at 100% so I am calling one tomorrow. Unfortunately there are only 2 to choose from and one is just too far away.

Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

My DD did the same thing (still does) so I pump & feed, this way I can see how much she is getting & she does not doze off to quickly

Re: Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

I could have written this post word for word. Here is what i did and what worked.

I needed dh with me and he used a wet washcloth on babys head every time he would doze. I would also jiggle my finger under his jaw. This helped then stopped working. Husband the. Moved from a damp cloth to what i called chinese water tourture haha. This annoyed baby but got him to feed.
I though all was well untill baby turned YELLOW and stopped peeing. I was afriad to use a bottle and have the breastfeeding be harder but needed to suppliment.
We used a dropper since they dont need muh right away but also if you have the time the finger technique is great. You pump then dip your finger in the milk and then baby sucks your finger. They get the milk but still use the muscles. And with your finger rather than a nipple you can manuever better. After awhile baby needed more and the above were making feeding a 24 hr event we boughy bottles. Medala slow nipple ( i love medala ) was too fast. Milk was gone in 2 minutes so we spent $$ on "first year breastflow" bottle. They are huge and look funny with so little milk but it mimmicks the breast so baby constantly uses the muscles and doesny get accustomed to feeding being easy.

I know its hard to hear it gets better, frankly it annoyed me because i swore it wouldnt but alas, it does. Keep at it. Pump if youre engorged and use the above ideas. Hold baby on your bare chest so the smells are familiar. Let baby fall asleep on the boob. Its a hassle but everytime they fuss, they will suckle a bit. Soon it will be habit.

Best of luck. Hang in there. Honest

Re: Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

I used to strip DC down, change diapers in between and use a cold washcloth and also, my LC consultant suggested lightly tugging on DC ears and also stroking their cheek (which usually worked).

Message edited 8/29/2013 12:02:47 AM.

Need Breastfeeding help - DS is 2 days old and falls asleep

Congratulations! I would blow on DD's face or lightly stroke her jaw.