Dear Jennifer:

Have you seen LLLI's tear off sheet on sleepy babies: "Tips for Rousing a
Sleepy Newborn"? It lists waking techniques, techniques for increasing
stimulation, and techniques for keeping the baby interested.

The techniques for keeping the baby interested include: making sure that
the weight of her breast stays of her baby's chin (by supporting her breast
with her hand), expressing milk onto the baby's lips, switching when
sucking slows down, changing diaper and/or burping the baby between sides,
nursing in a football or cross cradle hold position, and/or massaging the
crown of the baby's head in a circular motion while nursing.

In my own study of one, my sleepy newborn took 13 days from birth to become
less sleepy and take the initiative in letting me know that she wanted to
nurse. (Of course, I'm sure I missed some of the cues that she did give,
since I'd grown up with no breastfeeding role models and didn't know
everything I should have been watching for!) After 13 days, she was more
alert while breastfeeding and her increased alertness resulted in less time
spent breastfeeding. I no longer had to wake her to nurse or use special
techniques to keep her interested--all of which took a lot of time. If I'd
stopped breastfeeding during the first 13 days (in which I slept very
little), I never would have found out that there was a light coming at the
end of that exhausting tunnel--nor gone on to enjoy a truly wonderful
breastfeeding relationship with my daughter.

Does this mother have help around the house and caring for her two older
children? Such help could be critical for her making it through these
tiring early weeks. And does she know how to nurse with her baby in a sling
or is she interested in learning? Nursing a baby in a sling can let baby
stay happily attached without mother feeling "tied down." And what about
connecting her with La Leche League or a peer counselor? Mother-to-mother
support is so important.

Best wishes,

Cynthia

Cynthia Good Mojab, MS clinical psychology, IBCLC, RLC
Ammawell
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://home.attbi.com/~ammawell

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