In the News
If your newborn was sleeping well the first night but is restless and alert the second, you may be dealing with "second night syndrome," an informal term for when babies become fussy and demanding 24-48 hours after birth. “When we see this occurrence in the hospital, we typically refer to the event as ‘cluster feeding,’ particularly in the context of breastfeeding,” said Robert Quillin, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician at Pediatrix® Newborn Services of Texas. He noted that cluster feeding after birth helps babies regulate their blood sugar. “Feeding intervals will decrease from three hours to almost continuous feeding. Actual feeding durations can last up to 45 to 60 minutes,” said Dr. Quillin. To help cope, rest after delivery. “We often encourage mothers to nap when the infant is sleeping in that first 24 hours, especially if they’ve had an early morning delivery,” advised Dr. Quillin. You can also try skin-to-skin. “Assuming an infant is not exhibiting continued signs of being hungry after feeding, the best way to soothe an infant is to place them skin-to-skin with a parent or other willing family member,” said Dr. Quillin.
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