Waking for bottles

[Laura87]

My lo is 1 week old today and i'm having to wake her in the night for feeds.

The midwife in hospital said not to let her go longer than 6 hours between feeds which was fine as she was waking up after about 5 hours anyway. When i got home and a midwife came to see me she told me off for letting her go 5 and half hours during the night without a feed, and said to wake her after 4 hours as she had a little bit of jaundice. I have now been doing this for 4 nights, as she just doesnt seem to wake up like she does during the day. Her jaundice has cleared up a lot now and was wondering if you guys have any advice on how long i should be letting her go now without feeding her? During the day she wakes every 3-4 hours for her feeds.

I hate waking her up so much!!

 

[xpinkness87x]

i was always told never to wake a sleeping baby... Oliver wakes himself every 4-5 hours but when i have spoken to the midwife about it she said that if he sleeps longer not to wake him. If he is full there is no point waking him to put more food in him... he will tend to sick it up anyway!

 

[kirmal12]

Sorry i can't help, but i wish i had your problem!! Mine is the exact opposite, he will not stop eating all day and all night!!

 

[twiggy56]

I was in your exact situation, abigail had prolonged jaundice and when on the breast only woke every 6 hrs (once she went 8 ) for a feed. I never woke her...i fed on demand. Whether that was twice in two hours or once in six....i let her do the demanding. However her jaundice didnt shift so when i got severe mastitis and my milk completely blocked and i had to go on strong antibiotics that would affect her so went to bottles. She started waking every 4 hrs for feeds and has done for the past 2 weeks....jaundice is completely cleared.

But pretty much, sometimes jaundice babies are too lazy to feed, abigail certainly was...and it can be to their own detriment, so even if u feel mean...6 hours is far enough to wait. Waking them feels horrible, but its a case of cruel to be kind i think....

 

[OmarsMum]

Omar was the same & he had jaundice. I used to give him 2-3 oz every 4-5 hrs as he also used to sleep alot. I dont remember waking him up for feeds.

 

[Mynx]

Evie was jaundiced in the first couple of weeks and my MW said to make sure she got fed at least every 3-4 hours, even if that meant waking her up. Evie was a very sleepy baby in the first few weeks, probably down to the jaundice, and I did wake her up for feeds as the jaundice was taking so long to clear up.

 

[purpledahlia]

Yeah i was the same with Ava, I had to wake her if it got to 5 hours and she stopped waking herself in the day when i did that. But it was only for a short period. You dont fully have to wake them tho, i used to just pick her out of the carrycot and feed her and she would take it while asleep and wake up herself while feeding. Her jaundice went aswell. It doesnt take long and soon as shes a few weeks older you dont have to wake her!