Older teenagers like to sleep until noon-1-2 p.m. Then at 10-12 at midnight, they get all dressed up and go out and party. (If you ask them Where are you going? – they say out! ) They drink a lot, and after a big night of partying, they come home at 5-6 a.m, and fall into a deep sleep until noon. Sound familiar to your newborn?
Newborns tend to sleep well all day and party and drink all night!! New moms need to know that this is normal, typical newborn behavior. It has nothing to do with perhaps you dont have enough milk, your baby is big and needs more than you have, your milk hasnt come in yet, yada, yada, yada!
Babies cluster feed at night; small frequent feedings for 3-5 hours straight. They eat every 45 minutes to one hour for just 5-10 minutes, fall asleep, then one hour later they scream for more. They do this because they are programmed to and from a physiological point-of-view, it makes perfect sense.
In the first few weeks following birth, stimulation of the prolactin receptors in the brain is crucial for moms to develop a good milk supply – and prolactin levels are highest at night!!! When babies suck all night, they are increasing their moms milk production for now and the weeks to come.
That is why it is important to let babies feed at night- often and frequently! When your baby finally falls into a deep sleep at 5-6 a.m., that is the time you should do the same thing. Take the phone off the hook, and realize that your baby will probably have a nice, long recovery sleep for 4-5 hours. Let them and enjoy the sleep yourself!! So let your babies PARTY ON!!!! at night!
Wendy Goodman, RN, MEd, IBCLCFor Baby and You
4babyandyou.com
