Wake the baby for feeding?

D

deasy_h

Registered User
Hi all,
My baby is 3 weeks old and she had jaundice earlier. So I tend to breastfeed her every 2-3 hour so that she'll pass out "enough" stool & urine. And the jaundice made her really sleepy so I have to wake her up for feeding. But now, as she's growing, do I still have to do that? The nurse said that during day time, I should wake her up if she has slept for more than 3 hours. But no need to wake her at night time.
Has anyone had the same experience?

& how many times should the baby pass out stool & urine?
I spend about 12-15 diapers per day. Mostly my baby passes stool at each diaper changing (sometimes only small amount though).

Thanks.
 
Sounds like she is on a right track. When I left the houspital I got a n urine/stool chart to fill for the first couple of weeks. 12- 15 diapers is plenty. I had a sleepy baby and had to force her to wake up for the first month - I didn't bother at night. Sleep feed at 11pm and then 5 am. after that every 3 hours.
Hope this helps
 
i would let nature take place, i.e. not wake up. some babies are more sleepy by nature than others so i dont see how interfering with that helps
 
If you're worried, try to get her weighed monthly or so just to make sure that she is on her own consistent growth curve. If she is, there's no need to wake her for feedings. Generally that's only necessary if the baby is not putting on weight, but it sounds as though your little one is doing fine :)
 
I think it depends of her weight.I had to wake up my twins until they reach 3.5kg(that s what the pediatrician told me). But they were small to start with
 
I made sure my baby fed every three hours during the day. I had to wake him up for the first 6 weeks or so. Maybe even longer...

Another reason for doing it - other than ensuring enough nutrition overall - is to try to get your baby to take as much of their milk requirement during the day rather than at night. If your baby sleeps all day and doesn't eat much then s/he will want to make up for the nutrition she needs during the night. Having said that, my baby still had his days and nights mixed up for a very long time. Exhausting.
 
both of my kids were small (under 2.5kg) and i NEVER, EVER woke them up. i always believed that if they were hungry, they'd wake up and they did. by 6 months my daughter went from the bottom 2% up to 95% in weight! my son has never eaten as much as my daughter and even now is probably below the 50% (he's six years old, 2 years older than his sister and she is only 2lbs lighter than he).
 
I wonder about this too as I am re-learning about Bf to get ready for my second. I have another question that is sort of related to this one. If you have a sleepy baby, do you pump to build first and then maintain your supply? Thanks.
 
Hi deasy_h - congrats on your baby. My baby was just born almost 6 weeks ago and she too, had a spot of jaundice that showed up on her 1 and then 2 week appointment (totally cleared at 1 month), and I felt she was pretty sleepy at the beginning. Maybe I got paranoid because at the (public) hospital they were really obnoxious about making me feed her every 2-3 hours. But I felt that in her first few weeks she needed to be roused so I woke her up in the day if she went past 3 hrs without waking. I also wanted to start out with a good milk supply.
BUT - I asked the doctor, and he said that unless the baby has more serious jaundice (the kind that requires therapy), it doesn't actually make them sleepy.
Anyway, you just do what you feel is right. Her diapers are many though! If you are feeding her every 3 hours, why so many diapers? This may make it look like she is not urinating so frequently. With each feeding, she should have a wet diaper, and sometimes stool.
 
Thanks all. I think I will continue to wake my baby during the day. She did need a phototherapy when she was about 1 week. That's why I keep freaking out.
I'm also confused about her stool. She always has wet diaper AND stool at each feeding. Even sometimes I also need to change the diaper again AFTER feeding. Do you think it's not normal? The stool is really watery. That's why she is also having diaper rash for almost a week. I really worry about the rashes :(
 
THere is a wide range of what is normal for babies, while many don't have stool after each feed it is quite normal for this to happen and is a good sign that she is taking plenty of milk. It is also quite normal for it to be watery as after all she is only having liquid; however if you are at all concerned then check at the maternal health clinic as they will be able to observe and hopefully reassure you that all is well.
 
Thanks TNT,
Actually I have an appointment with the MCH on 22nd for vaccination. Do I have to make another appointment or can I just ask the doctor to check my baby after the vaccination?
My baby only takes milk for 5-10 minutes (breastfeeding). So I also don't know whether it's enough? Sometimes I have to wake her up during the feeding & ask her to drink more. But it's not always successful.
 
deasy, you MUST relax about all of this. it will affect your supply if you continue to worry about it all.

first: as others have said, it is perfectly normal for babies to have watery stools. they only have liquid intake, it would be very strange for them to have anything solid in their poop if all they are having is liquid.

second: it is also normal for some babies to poop each and every nappy. it is also normal for some babies to only poop every day or two! there is a HUGE range of normal!

third: for nappy rash, buy desitin. it creates a barrier between the bottom and the liquid and prevents rashes from starting (my girl got terrible rashes if she was left even 5 minutes with a wet/dirty nappy).

fourth: some babies are efficient eaters and only EVER suck for 5-10 minutes. both of mine were like this. if your baby is feeding regularly and is producing enough nappies, then you are doing it right.

lastly: you do not need to make another appt with the MHC. the nurses will ALWAYS meet with you to discuss any issues before baby gets the injection.

you need to have confidence in yourself and your abilities.

good luck!
 
Last edited:
Carang, thanks a lot for your advices. Everything is new for me so worry too much.
Will try using Desitin. Actually, I have used Egozite but it only worked for some days then the rashes come back :( So sad to see my little one with red, swollen & sometimes bleeding bottom :((
 
Hi Carang,
My husband has tried to look for Desitin in Taste, Park n Shop & Watson near our place but could not find one. Where & which branch do you usually buy it? Thanks.
 
my kids are older now (4 & 6) so we dont use it anymore. I think we bought it in discovery bay or in central at bumps to babes.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top