Sleeps all the time...

vtmamajuju

The only time she's awake is to eat and she's never awake for long- only enough to feed on one side, sometimes doesn't even empty me. I feel so engorged and it hurts! Is it ok to let her sleep or should I be forcing her to eat more often. Will it ruin my supply by nursing so little? All the info I find is about babies who eat too often, even in books. She doesn't eat enough!

erikamrscollins

My little one used to do that how old is she he's almost two weeks n he's grew out of it but you can let her sleep n nurse on demand you won't loose your supply n she knows when she is hungry n if your extremely engorged you could try pumping if you have a pump

Jensensmommy15

Do you have a pump? If so I would pump as well.

vtmamajuju

I have a hand pump. I pumped one side today and got 4 oz. Then I read in a breastfeeding book that pumping til your dry will just increase engorgement. I don't mind having a large supply, but it hurts! And I guess my biggest fear is that she'll shrivel up.

1stWoodsBaby

She'll let you know when she is hungry. She wont let herself go hungry. Don't worry momma.

mom2be

As long as she has enough wet and dirty diapers then u and she will be okay. Sometimes newborns sleep so much they get dehydrated so just watch her diaper output.

brodysmamma

My son was jaundice and jaundice babies sleep more (or so I was told) I made sure to feed him every 2 hours. And he never ate for very long so I made sure he wasn't to warm and burp him when he fell asleep and change diaper. If he woke up after all that I would offer my boob again. If he slept through I would do it again in 2 hours.

vtmamajuju

@Samantha Thank you for your post. It was extremely helpful. My baby has jaundice and I wasn't aware that had to do with why she slept so much. The Dr said to feed her every 2 hrs but I wasn't following it because of how hard it is to wake her up.
How long did you have to feed so often? And once the jaundice went away was your son a lot different?

Granny2B

To help w jauntice, make sure baby gets some sunlight - either outside or a sunny window. If outside, not long at a time to avoid sunburn. Sunlight will make jauntice go away much faster. The more skin exposed, the better.

vtmamajuju

@Granny2B Thank you. Yes, I knew sunlight was best. Unfortunately it has been cold and cloudy here all week. I guess that is a downside to having a baby in winter.

brodysmamma

Yes he is awake more and it was hard to wake him up so I would take a wipe and run it along his back leg or side to help wake him as well when he really wouldn't wake up. I put him in a diaper in front of the window between hours 11-1 because sun is at its highest and they get more light. Some days if it was really sunny out after every feeding I put him in window and the heat turned up more. His jaundice isn't completely gone yet and he is still a differentiate baby. Wakes himself up to eat lol. And I fed like that until this past week so maybe two weeks. But I was really worried about his jaundice. Day 5 is when the levels peak and then they drop. I also feed know demand now and some times he will eat every two hours again. But yes feed a ton because it helps push the billierubin through poopy and peed diapers.

brodysmamma

You can still put baby in front if window to get the light. Its not direct sun light but it helps. I live in Washington and its always cloudy and rainy lol.