How to Keep a Sleepy Baby Awake and Active at the Breast
|
Most newborns need to feed eight to 12 times per 24 hours to gain and grow well. A typical feeding pattern for newborns is cluster nursing, meaning baby may cluster feedings together (every hour or half-hour) during part of the day (often during the evening) and go for longer stretches at other times (one 4 to 5 hour sleep stretch is normal).
|
|---|
|
Is nursing fewer than eight to 12 times per 24 hours,
|
|
Is falling asleep too early in the feeding (before at least 10 to 15 minutes of good active sucking on first breast),
|
|
Is not gaining well (at least 6 to 8 oz. per week),
|
|
Has fewer than four good-sized stools per 24 hours (this is not a problem if weight gain is good),
|
|
Is jaundiced.
|
|
If baby needs to be awakened for more feedings each day (baby is nursing fewer than eight times per 24 hours):
|
|---|
|
Make sure baby is not too warm. As baby gets warmer, sleepiness increases and active sucking decreases. Dress baby in the same weight clothing that you would wear.
|
|
Wait until baby is in a light sleep cycle before waking---eyes moving under eyelids, mouth moving, anything moving. Baby passes in and out of deep sleep often. Just wait.
|
|
When baby is ready to wake, try the "Doll's Eye" technique:
|
|
1. Lay baby in your lap facing up with baby's head at your knees and his or her feet at your torso.
2. Put your thumbs under baby's armpits and your fingers behind his or her head. 3. Do "baby sit-ups" by repeatedly laying baby down flat in your lap and sitting him or her up. 4. Don't do this too slowly, as it can put baby back to sleep rather than rousing him or her. 5. Some babies will rouse (root, open their eyes, act agitated) after only a few sit ups, while others will take several minutes. |
|
If the "Doll's Eye" doesn't work, lay your baby on his or her back on a firm surface (a bed, sofa, or plush carpeting is too soft). Try laying baby on a thin baby blanket on tile, wood, or a thin rug. Wait until roused.
|
|
To keep the baby nursing actively for longer at the breast (baby is nursing less than 10 to 15 min.):
|
|---|
|
Work to Improve Baby's Latch
When baby takes more breast over the tongue, he/she gets more milk with every suck (and you may also be more comfortable). To cue baby to open wide, align baby nose to nipple and allow baby's chin to touch the breast lightly. Wait until baby opens WIDE, like a yawn. Help baby on farther with a gentle push. Baby should latch off-center, so lower jaw is as far as possible from the base of the nipple. Open wider, on farther.
|
|
Use Breast Compression
|
|
1. Until baby is nursing better, support the breast throughout the feeding (don't let go!). Hold the breast with thumb on one side and four fingers on the other. Keep fingers and thumb well back from the areola.
2. Watch baby's nursing, looking for movement in the ear/temple area. When this movement stops (baby is just nibbling or pausing for longer than 5 seconds), compress the breast--not so hard that it hurts, but firmly enough to increase milk flow. Baby should start sucking actively again as the milk flows faster. 3. Don't release the breast! Keep compressing until active nursing stops again (watch ear/temple area), then release the pressure. If baby doesn't start sucking when the pressure is released, wait a short time before compressing again to give the hand a rest. 4. Before compressing again, shift the hand holding the breast to a slightly different area of the breast. Repeat until compressing and releasing no longer causes active sucking, then switch to the other breast. |
|
1. Lay baby in your lap facing up with baby's head at your knees and his or her feet at your torso.
2. Put your thumbs under baby's armpits and your fingers behind his or her head. 3. Do "baby sit-ups" by repeatedly laying baby down flat in your lap and sitting him or her up. 4. Don't do this too slowly, as it can put baby back to sleep rather than rousing him or her. 5. Some babies will rouse (root, open their eyes, act agitated) after only a few sit ups, while others will take several minutes. |
|
Do Switch Nursing
(watch the baby, not the clock): |
|
1. When breast compression no longer works to keep baby active, break the suction, and take baby off the breast.
2. Use the "Doll's Eye" technique (or lay baby on a firm surface) until baby is rooting and agitated. 3. Put baby to the other breast. 4. Repeat, using breast compression and switch nursing as many times as needed until they no longer work. |
|
Other things to try
|
|
1. Use a different nursing position. Sometimes a different angle can give a better latch.
2. Change the baby's diaper. Another way to rouse and stimulate baby between breasts. 3. Gently give baby a foot massage while nursing. A helper can do this more easily. |