Author Topic: 4hr routine for big newborn?? (Read 3938 times)

Lewa2 · « **on:** August 03, 2013, 07:25:09 am »

Liam is 7 days old and is a bit of a sleepy baby. He's also very large, born 9lbs 15oz. I'm a bit concerned that he isn't feeding enough. He has 6 or 7 feeds over 24hrs. He feeds well and I seem to have an abundance of milk, he also has a wet nappy at every feed. Last night he went to sleep at 6pm, woke at 1am for a feed (had to strip him down to his nappy to wake him properly) and again at 7am. This seems like a fantastic sleep routine for an older baby but is it alright for a newborn? I wake him up during the day if its more than 4 hrs between feeds - any earlier and I just fight him to stay awake for ages so he doesn't feed any sooner!

So I guess I'm asking for advice on if I should wake him more often or if you think because he's such a big baby he's ok to be on the 4 hour routine already?? I plan to weigh him on Monday at the clinic to make sure he's still gaining weight. Thanks for any opinions

*Ali* · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2013, 07:52:35 am »

Tracy did recommend at least 3hrly feeds until 3mo as they have such small tummies that feeding less often does mean they may take less over all.

The WHO and LLL recommend 8-12 BFs a day for the first 6 weeks (maybe longer).

Having said that I do know of even small babies (some premature) who feed 4hrly from birth.

Have you spoken to your dr or midwife/health visitor? What do they think?

When I had mine I was advised to wake them after 3hrs of sleep in the day and 4hrs of sleep at night for the first two weeks. That meant roughly every 4 and 5 hrs I was waking to feed as they fed for about an hour each time. They soon started waking more during the day and night though and were less sleepy.

Is he having plenty of wet and dirty nappies? Have you had him weighed at all since he was born? Had he lost much weight? Do you feel he is having a decent feed each time and draining the breasts? How long is he latched on for?

Lewa2 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2013, 09:12:52 am »

He was weighed twice in hospital and had started regaining weight by day 4. I haven't weighed him since then but I will on Monday when the clinic is open. I'll talk to the health nurses there and see what they say as well. His latch is good and he seems to drain the breast well and have a wet nappy at each feed. Even though this is my third, they have all been so different that it is impossible to compare! I think the weight will tell us if he's feeding enough.

Fiver · « **Reply #3 on:** August 03, 2013, 18:20:27 pm »

I'd probably wake if it was me. Newborns are notoriously sleepy and do sometimes get more sleepy if they're not eating quite enough.

All that comes with the caveats of wet and dirty nappies and reasonable weight gain.

Lewa2 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2013, 20:58:42 pm »

I weighed DS on Monday and he had lost weight (even though he had started to put some on in hospital). Spoke with the health nurse and I started waking DS more often for feeds. Today is D Day - if he hasn't started to put weight on I'll have to take him to the paediatrician straight away. We'll head to the clinic after breakfast......Fingers crossed!

*Ali* · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2013, 22:16:24 pm »

Fingers crossed waking him helps. How often are you feeding him now?

Have you seen our tips for feeding sleepy babies? Tips for Sleepy Newborns

Lewa2 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2013, 02:06:55 am »

Not good news - he's lost another 30g. I have to feed him every 2 hours now as well as pump and give him ebm whenever I can. Seeing the paediatrician tomorrow to rule out anything more serious.

Ali I did read the tips, thanks. He feeds well when we do skin to skin and he's a bit cold, and being tickled mercilessly! Poor thing!

katie80 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2013, 03:32:26 am »

(((Hugs))), Lewa. My DS was also big (10lb1), but not so sleepy so I never had an issue with that (my DD was the sleepy one). I know it's hard to know he's lost weight, but keep feeding and he'll gain it back. You're still in the early days and have ample time to make lots of milk. My DS seemed to lose a lot in the hospital (although he was carefully monitored because he was out of the normal weight range), but what my LC told me was to not worry too much, because even though the amount seemed bigger, percentage-wise it wasn't as big of an issue. It sounds like you're getting lots of support now, which is great. Keep up the good work, those sleepy ones are tough (I much preferred my crying to be fed newborn

).

*Ali* · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2013, 07:37:23 am »

Just remember it's not forever. He'll be back to feeding at longer intervals soon I'm sure.

Fiver · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2013, 17:51:07 pm »

Hope it went ok. Did you have any fluids in labour as they can artificially increase birth weight and make it seem like they've lost more than they have.

Lewa2 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 08, 2013, 09:18:14 am »

No fluids in Labour - I was wondering why the paed was asking about that! DS has lost 12% of birth weight so I have to supplement with 4 bottles of 60ml a day for a week till I see the paed again. I can pump about half of that without going overboard so will have to use formula for the rest

To top it off, I've got my MIL telling me stories about when she had her children the hospital gave the babies a bottle of formula and it all turned out alright for her. I know she means well but I know all too well what can happen when you supplement as my first son never got off formula even though I tried for 7 months to do everything possible!

katie80 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 08, 2013, 13:49:15 pm »

(((Hugs))) hon, hang in there.

cuckoochick · « **Reply #12 on:** August 08, 2013, 14:33:46 pm »

Hugs sweetie, you will do all you can

koe2moe · « **Reply #13 on:** August 08, 2013, 16:04:02 pm »

Lots of hugs that he gains weight soon!!! Pumping is hard!! Fx for u

Fiver · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2013, 18:44:35 pm »

Get him to the breast as much as you possibly can (if you can do every 2 hours, that would be fab!) and pump on top. Yes, it's a hard slog, but it will be worth it (and always give a BF before any FF - also, if you offer any FF, do it during the daytime and not evening/night as your prolactin levels are higher during the hours of darkness so any FFs will have less of an impact on supply if given during the day).

Lewa2 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2013, 23:29:51 pm »

Thanks for the hugs and advice! I'm doing 2 to 2.5 hourly feeds but with 4 bottles of ebm or formula as well he's not that interested! To get 15 mins on each side usually takes an hour - but we're hanging in there. At least he falls asleep easily so I spend about 1 minute putting him to bed! Makes night feeds much more bearable

Proud Mammy · « **Reply #16 on:** August 09, 2013, 16:18:30 pm »

((((Hugs))))
Hang in there - you sound like you are doing an amazing job, fair pay to you & as PP said; it won't be forever "this too shall pass".
As regards MIL, yes, I'm sure she does think she's helping with her comment but you just do what you feel is best by you and Liam.

....better days to come (& all that

).

Fiver · « **Reply #17 on:** August 09, 2013, 17:15:42 pm »

Quote from: Lewa2 on August 08, 2013, 23:29:51 pm

o get 15 mins on each side usually takes an hour

Sorry, I'm not quite sure what you mean here. Could you explain, please?

Lewa2 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 10, 2013, 02:30:48 am »

I'm supposed to get Liam to do 15 mins of good sucking (not comfort sucking) on each side (total 30 mins), but he is sleepy so I have to continually wake him up so it takes me up to an hour all up. After an hour I give up regardless of how long he's been "nutritively" sucking (as the nurse calls it). Does that make more sense?

Fiver · « **Reply #19 on:** August 10, 2013, 20:21:12 pm »

Yes, that makes sense, but sometimes the comfort sucking actually gets out more of the fatty hindmilk than the "nutritive" does, if that makes any sense?

If it were me, I'd switch to the other side once he started getting sleepy or do some breast compressions to try to keep him a bit more interested.

Has he been checked for anything (like a tongue tie) that could be affecting milk transfer?

Lewa2 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 11, 2013, 06:12:01 am »

Yes I asked the paed specifically about tongue tie as DS1 had it and I had supply issues with him too. Looking forward to tomorrow so I can weigh him and see if anything is working!!

Fiver · « **Reply #21 on:** August 11, 2013, 18:49:19 pm »

If your paed knows what s/he's talking about with TT then hopefully that's that ruled out. Did they just look or feel?

Erin M · « **Reply #22 on:** August 13, 2013, 02:49:17 am »

Good luck with the weighing!

cuckoochick · « **Reply #23 on:** August 13, 2013, 14:28:45 pm »

Thinking of you! Xxx

Lewa2 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 14, 2013, 03:37:08 am »

Liam is still significantly underweight but at least we know why now - he has a UTI. He had a renal ultrasound yesterday which looks alright although we won't get the full report for a few days. The paed thinks with antibiotics he should get better and start putting on weight by next week.

However I'm on 2 lots of antibiotics for a uterine infection but im bleeding again so it looks like ill be back at the doctors tomorrow to get an ultrasound to check for retained placenta fragments

hoping things get easier soon!!

katie80 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 14, 2013, 04:00:09 am »

Oh honey, lots of (((hugs))), what an ordeal. I hope everything gets cleared up soon for you both. Hang in there!

Proud Mammy · « **Reply #26 on:** August 14, 2013, 08:13:00 am »

Oh Lewa

you and Liam are really getting a tough time of it

Hoping that the antibiotics clear Liam's infection swiftly and that no retained fragments show on the US tom.
Also, another thing to bear in mind if you've to take antibiotics and are BF - be sure to start on acidophilus (or the likes) to prevent thrush between you and Liam.

cuckoochick · « **Reply #27 on:** August 14, 2013, 08:39:07 am »

More hugs hun. You are really having it rough now and your poor little guy. Hope you both recover soon.

Lewa2 · « **Reply #28 on:** August 14, 2013, 09:24:37 am »

Thanks - luckily I've got heaps of help with the other 2 kids so all I do is feed Liam all day! I am taking a probiotic to help with thrush. I'm also on Motilium for milk supply so I'm taking 10 pills a day!!

*Ali* · « **Reply #29 on:** August 14, 2013, 09:50:25 am »

Get well soon to you both

koe2moe · « **Reply #30 on:** August 14, 2013, 11:31:31 am »

Lots of speedy recovery and weight gain vibes (for Lo obviously lol)

Lewa2 · « **Reply #31 on:** August 14, 2013, 12:14:53 pm »

I'm happy for any weight loss for me!

Fiver · « **Reply #32 on:** August 14, 2013, 17:04:41 pm »

Any retained fragments could be impacting on milk production. Hope you get you both sorted very soon x

Erin M · « **Reply #33 on:** August 15, 2013, 02:01:12 am »

Speedy recovery vibes for you both! Glad you've got help with the other two.

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Author Topic: 4hr routine for big newborn?? (Read 3938 times)