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Should I keep trying to wake him to nurse?

by Karina
(United States)

Hi I luv ur website!

My lo is 6 wks old & I am ebf. At night he wakes up every 2-31/2 hrs. If I'm lucky he will go 4 hrs but that's not always. Well lately during the night feeding he eats 10-15 min on one breast. I burp him then switch over to the other side.

Sometimes he only eats 5 min or nothing at all. He falls asleep & I can't wake him. I'm so tired at night that I just swaddled him again & lay him in his bassinette.

Should I keep trying to wake him to nurse in the other side? I wish he would sleep longer too. Thank you for your help!

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Should I keep trying to wake him to nurse?

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Mar 28, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		You dont need to wake him
by: Tracy

Hi Karina

Thanks for the complement. ;-)

A baby that is older than 6 weeks does not "need" to breastfeed through the night like a newborn, so I would recommend just breastfeeding him when he demands it. So now you can enjoy the times he doesn't wake up!

You do not need to worry about breastfeeding him on the other breast until he wakes again, your body will adapt to the amount of milk that needs to be produced.

Also I would recommend that instead of breastfeeding him 5 minutes on one side and then switching sides that you actually let him drink from only one breast every time he drinks. This is so that he can get to the more substantial milk "hindmilk" at the back of the breast. This hindmilk is much more fatty and nutritious which will keep baby fuller for longer periods of time. Meaning you get to sleep longer stretches at night!

But now you might ask...what about my other breast? As long as you alternate with each feeding, your body will adapt. In the beginning if you do feel a little engorged on the "waiting side" you can pump a little milk or hand express some milk to relieve the pressure.

Pages that might also help...

Foremilk hindmilk imbalance
Weaning baby at night
Cluster feedings

Please let me know how things go!

Kind regards
Tracy

Mar 29, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you much for your response!
by: Karina Jaimes

Tracy,

Thank you much for your response! I had a rough day with baby. He was very fussy & didn't want to settle
well for a nap during the day. But at night I fed him around 9ish only on one breast. He was very fussy afterwards but my husband finally got him to fall asleep at 11pm. He woke up at 3 am. I just finished feeding him in a very full breast for 20 min. I'll see long he goes for. I though I was suppose to have him eat at both sides & was always trying to keep him awake with diaper changes & tickeling.

Thank you again for the information. This is my third baby but I still need the help! I've used your website many times and it's helped me a lot.
Mar 29, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		...
by: Tracy

Hi Karina

Shame man, I know what it's like when baby just wont settle down, my little boy use to do the same...he use to cry every night until 11pm, that was until he was about three months or so. They say it's mostly developmental.

I'm having my next baby now in June, so I guess I'll be joining you soon!

You know when I had to breastfeed the first time, I was also told to breastfeed on both breasts with each feeding, but the nurses and even the doctors don't really have much experience or knowledge when it comes to breastfeeding.

I'm so happy that you find my website useful, its great to know!

Let me know again sometime how you guys are doing.
Kind regards
Tracy

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