Bf'ing and EASY routine for 2 1/2 week old

[soji]

Hi ladies -

I'm trying to slowly start the EASY routine with my newborn.  For the first 2 weeks all he did was bf and sleep.  He's back at birthweight and he was full term (7 lbs 11 oz).  What I've noticed is that he CONSTANTLY sleeps during the bf and I have to work really hard to get a complete feed (bf, then change diaper and position, back to bf).  We usually go for about 15-25 minutes and I stay on one side to make sure he gets all that good hind milk.  The last 2 days he's been much more alert but his natural inclination is to do the EASY routine all backwards.  He eats, then falls asleep, I try really hard to give him a few minutes of activity time then put him down again for his next feed (about 2 hours later - we're on a 2 1/2 to 3 hour feeding routine).  He wakes up early from his sleep and he fusses for the next 30 minutes to 1 hour.  Is it really too early for me to be worried about him falling into the EASY routine?  Is there something I should be doing to make it easier for him to stay asleep?  He smells my milk and then he really wants to feed again, but I know that he's not really hungry quite yet.  Also, I have a 2 year old at home and I can't keep holding him (which almost always comforts him) until his last feed. 

Also, he seems to sleep better in the bouncy chair than in his crib.  Is it bad to have him nap in his bouncy chair and sleep at night in his crib?  My older daughter had reflux and I'm afraid this one is starting to show signs of reflux, too.

I don't want to be stressed out about it and too strict, but I also don't want to create any bad habits that I will have to break later on.

Any advice is much appreciated!

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

You sound like you're doing really well, actually!  Sleeping in a bouncy chair at this age is usually just fine - especially if you're worried about reflux, but you can also try raising the head of his crib.

Did you read this FAQ about BF and EASY in the early weeks?
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64627.0

[soji]

Thanks for the post.  My DS is now 4 weeks old and he is more alert but he's still falling asleep at the breast.  I'm jsut really concerned that he's learning to sleep at the breast, have a short activity time, fall asleep and then wake up early every nap.  Any suggestions?  I'm starting to feel like I will be holding him until his next feed every time and am starting to get very anxious about it.

[soji]

oops, one more thing.  SHould i be popping my LO off the breast when I think he's sleeping?  What if he's sucking w the breast compressions?  does that count?  Sometimes I will pop him off after 15 or 20 minutes and then change his diaper and try to get him to go back on and he just refuses.  He's completley asleep (even tho he was awake just a minute ago when I changed his diaper!)

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

At only 4 weeks old, I wouldn't worry too much.  He's still spending an awful lot of his time asleep.  He's due for a growth spurt at around 4 weeks and a big one at 6 weeks - things tend to settle out around then or a bit later.  Keep doing the breast compressions.  If he's sucking and swallowing (long slow sucks that mean he's getting milk, and not just the little butterfly ones that are for comfort or to trigger a letdown), the he can stay on.   If he really doesn't wake when you try, then let him sleep.  Is his weight gain good? Lots of wet and dirty diapers?  How long is he going overnight between feeds?

[soji]

His weight gain is very good and we have lots of poopy and wet diapers.  At night - well, 2 nights ago he gave us two 4 hour intervals (yeah!) but last night he was up every 2-2 1/2 hours for a feed and waking up almost every hour.  DH would go in and soothe him back to sleep and then he'd be up wailing for a feed in another hour.  The 2 hour thing started at about 10 pm last night so maybe it's another growth spurt?  We'll see how today goes.  I fed him at 6:30 this morning and then pumped 1 1/2 ounces - we want to get him to his first bottle today.  I'm hoping he will sleep until at least 9 so that there will be enough milk back in my body by then!

We're working on his routine so I'm trying to work on his naps right now too.  It's a lot of work, isn't it?  When do they stop jolting again?  He seems to wake up every 5 minutes during his nap. 

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Definitely sounds like a growth spurt - should last a few days.  BTW, milk is made when they nurse....it doesn't *fill up* in your breasts when they sit there idle.  If it's too close between feeds, you might not be able to make as much in the spur of the moment (your body gets used to producing the milk at certain times and kind of prepares for it), but there will always be some, if he works at it!

As for the jolting, are you swaddling?  It can REALLY help.

[soji]

Thanks for the info re the breast milk.  He actually just finished feeding (started at 8:30) and I was amazed at how much milk i had for him! 

Yes, we do swaddle.  We use the Miracle Blanket but he's still waking up A LOT.  He has reflux and we are treating that (w/ medicine and elevated crib, etc..)  The sleeping has just gotten much worse over the last few days then before.  I just don't get it?!

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Well, if he's in a growth spurt, it can definitely affect the sleep.  See how the next few days play out...