Newborn Breastfeeding
Mums often worry that their baby is breastfeeding too frequently in the first weeks after birth. A common complaint is that the baby keeps falling asleep on the breast and stops drinking.
It is important to remember that your baby has a tiny tummy so he can only drink small amounts of milk at the start. And like you, he will be tired after the trauma of birth.
Try to remind yourself that he is just learning how to suck and swallow milk from a breast. This is much more difficult and tiring than swallowing amniotic fluid!
Another common problem with falling asleep on the breast is that he may be drinking a lot of fore-milk which is not very fulfilling and therefore never gets enough of the thick, creamy and nourishing and hunger-satisfying hindmilk .
Try not to worry too much as his feeding will improve as he gets older.
If sleeping on the breast is happening a lot, then try wetting his face with cotton wool soaked in cooled pre-boiled water to awaken him and try not to let him get too warm as he is feeding. Often it helps to strip baby down to his vest during feeds if sleeping is a problem.
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