https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 12:44:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2778145 Fri, 06 Oct 2017 16:47:53 +0000 ssmom 2778145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boopers: oh wow such similar experiences! Today was the first day I didn't struggle with getting her onto the other side and she managed to do close to 7 minutes on each. I definitely have an oversupply. Shes going through a growth spurt (I think?!) so maybe that's why she's been able to consume more. I like the idea of the weighted feeding and will look into that. Thanks for the idea!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777805 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 09:19:50 +0000 Boopers 2777805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was dealing with some similar things with my newborn this week. He would only nurse on one side for 10 minutes max and refuse the other side. He was also spitting up after most feedings.</p> <p>At 8 days we went to a lactation consultant and we did a weighted feeding. She said because of my oversupply he was getting such a large amount of milk in such a short amount of time that he didn’t need to nurse very long. He took 3 oz off one side and was content. He also gained back his birth weight plus some by day 8. She said when you have oversupply babies don’t have to work very hard to get milk and it just pours into their mouths like a fire hydrant. </p> <p>She also told me to stop pumping and let my supply regulate. That morning I had pumped the side he hadn’t fed on and got 4 oz in 5 minutes which is waaaay more than a baby this age needs. It’s been almost 48 hours and the engorgement gets better with each feeding but those first 24 hours were rough. </p> <p>If you’re worried I would contact a lactation consultant for a weighted feeding and to give you advice for your oversupply.</p> <p>Today he’s day 10 and still nursing on one side but seems to be an efficient nurser and doesn’t need the other side yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777784 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 08:19:47 +0000 snowjewelz 2777784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ssmom: That's awesome! I know, it's such a roller coaster and always wondering and worrying! Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777761 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 04:24:03 +0000 ssmom 2777761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: next Tuesday! She regained her birthweight and then some just after one week so I know I shouldn't really worry about it, sigh! :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777760 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 04:23:14 +0000 ssmom 2777760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: thank you for sharing your experience! We did have her under the biliblanket the night before we left the hospital so this could also be a result of jaundice...I hadn't even thought about that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777744 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 21:44:16 +0000 Nonimouse 2777744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a pretty big over supply early on. I pumped if it got super uncomfortable (just enough to not feel like I wouild explode) and it evened out within a few weeks. My babies have always nursed just one side, so I alternate boobs, one per nursing session (I always end up grabbing my own boobs to see which is bigger because I never remember which side I nursed last). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777742 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 21:30:33 +0000 snowjewelz 2777742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ssmom: hugs mama :heart: when is the next appt? If she is gaining well hopefully that will put you more at ease! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777740 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 21:20:37 +0000 ssmom 2777740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@danda: I am definitely trying that tonight, thank you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777739 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 21:20:17 +0000 ssmom 2777739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: thanks for sharing your experience! I'm dealing with an oversupply too and it isn't easy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777738 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 21:19:12 +0000 ssmom 2777738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: super frustrating! Doesn't help that I have PPD so when it comes time to try to wake her up for nursing, I get anxiety and start to panic :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777575 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 13:04:47 +0000 gingerbebe 2777575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My newborns had jaundice, so they were extremely sleepy nursers and were definitely not getting enough to eat. The only thing that worked were to change their diapers at the point their sucking kinda slowed down, and then LITERALLY putting ice packs on their face or ribs to startle them awake, once they dozed off, and if they still slept through that, I would set them down on the floor on a muslin blanket and they would wake up after a few seconds from the Moro reflex or suddenly not being warm and snuggled. Feedings took forever and I did have to top off with a bottle of pumped milk or formula a lot in the beginning because they needed the volume to push out the bilirubin. But yeah, none of the normal tricks worked that well for us. It took us weeks before they would just eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777557 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 12:39:41 +0000 danda 2777557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids were 37w6d and 36w4d. With my first, a baby nurse taught me a trick which was the only thing that would wake her up: put her on a receiving blanket diagonally and grab the corners on the left and right side and alternate lifting the corners up and down so kiddo was rolled back and forth in the blanket. Baby got mad and very awake, and slept thorough everything else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777450 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:40:27 +0000 MrsADS 2777450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pollywog sounds very similar to what I did too. I had a crrrazzzy oversupply and my son always only nursed 1 side at a time, like from the very beginning. I made so much milk I would actually have to get up in the motn and pump the side he was going to feed on before I nursed him b/c otherwise he would get like 8 + ounces out of 1 boob. Not kidding. Too much for a nb with terrible reflux. I also pumped the other side for a while just for comfort (I was incredibly engorged all the time) and also developed a monster freezer stash. Eventually I stopped pumping the other side and just switched sides at every feeding.</p> <p>Unfortunately my son was never sleepy, though! Nonstop screaming from the beginning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777427 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:21:56 +0000 snowjewelz 2777427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eh sometimes it's just a crap shoot haha! </p> <p>I remember those sleep days... So cute! But frustrating when you want them to eat. In the very beginning I fed every 2 hours. Change diapers, get them naked and a little cool, tickle, talk, I've done it all haha! My remedy is just to feed often until they can start not being so sleepy and really eat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777354 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 21:27:20 +0000 Pollywog 2777354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ssmom: for the first month I'd pump the other side for 3 or 4 minutes to relieve the pressure. I ended up building up a huge freezer stash (that he was allergic to and I had to donate). I slowly dropped the pump sessions by a minute a week and my body adjusted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777351 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 21:13:32 +0000 ssmom 2777351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: she's nursing every 2-3 hrs (minus the occasional cluster feeding that happens in the middle of the night, gah!) Thanks for the tip about switching which side goes first!! I hadn't even thought about that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777350 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 21:12:49 +0000 bees_knees 2777350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ssmom: don't pump the other side. Hand express a little if you absolutely need to, just to get more comfortable, but breastmilk is all supply and demand so the more you pump, the more you'll make. You should even out soon! :)</p> <p>ETA: unless you are returning to work and need to get a freezer stash. In that case, maybe you'd want to pump? I SAH so I didn't have a need for gallons of milk in my freezer. Maybe a WOH Mom can chime in! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777347 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 21:04:56 +0000 ssmom 2777347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: wet and poopy diapers at every change and even in between! She's regained her birthweight plus more so I'm not so much concerned about that. Just trying to figure out logistically what to do if I am unable to feed the other side...it'll get engorged by the time we get to the next feeding 3 hrs later? How did you handle that? Thanks so much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777340 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 20:46:59 +0000 bees_knees 2777340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ssmom: how often is she nursing? It could be that's she's just a "one boob baby". Both of my kids would only take one breast per feed (I had an oversupply, and fwiw full feeds only lasted 5ish minutes as well. I'm pretty sure it was just shooting down their throat :silly: )...whenever they woke for their next feed I'd offer the opposite breast. </p> <p>If she is going decent stretches before getting hungry again, and pooping and peeing well, I'd just leave it be. Some babies don't need both breasts in a single feed! Also, i don't know if it's a typo or not, but make sure you alternate which breast you offer her first (you say "by the time it's time to switch her over to my right breast") so both breasts keep a supply and your baby doesn't develop a preference of one side over another. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777339 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 20:45:17 +0000 Pollywog 2777339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>how are her diapers? My LO could only nurse on one side until 4 months. He was maintaining weight so we didn't worry. I have a fast let down and ample supply. If she's eating every 2-3 hours then she's likely fine. Just keep an eye on her diapers and weight gain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-with-breastfeeding-super-sleepy-newborn#post-2777338 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 20:39:31 +0000 ssmom 2777338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is only a week old (and was born at 37W4D) so I am trying to keep things in perspective but I was wondering if anyone has any tips for breastfeeding a sleepy baby? What we are doing now is looking for hunger cues and then getting her up, diaper check/change and then nursing. I've been pretty successful at getting her to latch onto the first side but my biggest challenge is that by the time it's time to switch her over to my right breast, she's completely asleep and won't respond to anything! And I'm only nursing 5-7 minutes per side right now (followed by a pumping session). We've tried the wet towel, touching her feet, stripping her down to her diaper, talking to her, etc. This isn't only at night; it also happens during the daytime when we've got tons of natural light and noise going on. </p> <p>Please share what's worked for you. TIA!!! </p>