Help! Baby won't wake to feed!

[ericapt]

My little guy is 6 1/2 weeks old. I have had difficulty keeping him awake for feedings since day one, but it had improved some. The past few days it seems like it is worse again. He doesn't have a fever, but just seems more sleepy/lethargic. He will nurse for a few minutes and then fall asleep or pull off of my breast. It takes me several minutes to get him awake enough to eat again. We repeat this several times until he has nursed 10 minutes or so. I don't feel like my breast is ever empty so I don't know when and if I should switch to the second breast. Please help! If I put him down when he falls asleep it isn't long before he's crying and rooting again. What should I do? Is it possible that he gets enough in the first few minutes? Why doesn't he eat if he's hungry?

[elagantabyss]

Take his clothes off and rub a cool wash cloth on him while he is on the B. It is totaly normal. He is just cozy and comfy next to you. More than likely he is getting plenty to eat. At this point you are nursing on demand. All is well but if you still feel uncomfortable take him in for a weight check!

[@llli*LLLJessica]

Hi! Do you know about how many wet diapers he has per day? This is usually the best way to tell if he's getting enough.
Some babies only need minutes at the breast, can you hear swallowing or feel your let-down?

[ericapt]

Currently he has about 7-9 wet diapers per day, but that is with me forcing him to wake up several times to eat as I mentioned. He was gaining weight well, but it takes him so long to get in just a few minutes of good suck-swallow that I don't know if I need to keep putting him on the breast once he falls asleep/pulls away. Our nursing sessions last 1 to 1 1/2 hours, so that doesn't leave much time for him to sleep in between feedings. Sometimes I have to wake him from naps, so maybe he is still tired. Should I let him sleep longer even if it means he won't eat for 3 1/2 hours or so? Or should I just not nurse him as long and hope that he is getting enough? The problem is he stops, but then wants to go back on after sever minutes of sleeping. Any suggestions? Thank you

[ericapt]

Also, yes I do feel let down and when he comes off of the breast there is usually still milk coming out. He isn't emptying me so should I switch sides or pump to empty the first breast? Usually I hear him swallow until he is sleeping. He even chokes/pulls off my breast because of a fast let-down. Anything I can do to shorten feedings by keeping him on the breast until he is done? Please read the response I wrote above as well. Thank you in advance!

[taramoon13]

i had the same problem and it used to freak me out too, i think nursing is just sooo soothing to them, they drift off & then when they wake up they realize, hey i'm still hungry! i was told that even if they only feed for a couple minutes you should still switch breasts, although you have to be careful of engorgement. i think if the first breast still feels really full i would start them on that one the next time to get it emptied out. i think you'll find over time that they stay awake longer for feedings, it just takes them awhile to get the hang of it. mine is 5 months & sometimes he still drifts off after 10 minutes, but boy sometimes he'll eat for 45 minutes straight!! as hard as it is, just try not to watch the clock too much as it'll drive you crazy!! sounds like you are doing great!!!!

[@llli*andrea.wolford]

baby is young yet and still trying to build your milk supply.
ITs common for babies that young to need to nurse up to 12 times in 24 hours and thats normal for them.
They will nurse more often as they get older and bigger.

[taramoon13]

unfortunately, you can't force them to eat, even if they decide they are hungry 5 minutes after they refuse you just have to pull out all of your patience & go with it. i wouldn't wake them up to feed as they also need lots of sleep now too. just be ready for them when they wake on their own as they'll probably be starving & maybe will go longer with nursing at that point. your baby is probably going through a major growth spurt which means eat, eat, eat & sleep, sleep, sleep.

[@llli*LLLJessica]

Ok let me see if I am understanding what he's doing, he's taking so long to eat because he's starting to nurse but falls asleep mid-suck, then wakes up in a few minutes fussy because he's not finished?
You could try breast compression to see if it keeps him interested enough to keep nursing, although falling asleep at the breast is normal! http://www.kellymom.com/store/freeha...ompression.pdf
You could try letting him sleep a little longer then nurse and see how that goes, it's ok to let him space out his feedings a little if he's still got good diaper output, gaining weight and is generally happy.
Try lots of skin to skin contact, and maybe walking around with him in a sling nursing - switch it up on him a little.
Sleepy babies all over the world are stressing out their mama's! You are not alone!

[ericapt]

Jessica-
Thanks for the advice. I do perform breast compressions while nursing; it works sometimes. Where can I get a sling to carry him in. I looked on the internet before, but couldn't tell if they would work. I will be going back to work soon and am concerned that it will be hard to continue breastfeeding since he is SO SLOW! I enjoy nursing him, but I'm an organized/schedule driven person and I'm worried that him being so slow may affect my ability to continue. Do you know if it matters how many bottles vs. nursing sessions/day he has as long as I am pumping to make up for the missed sessions? Is there anything to do to make him more effiecient. thanks again!