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Infant feeding

Struggling with BF

6 replies

CherryLips1980 · 02/05/2015 07:01

DS is now 4 days old. I'm really, really, REALLY struggling to get him latched on at all, especially at night for some reason. He screams and screams and even when I have my nipple in his mouth, he just cries round it. Or holds it but doesn't suck. He was weighed yesterday and has lost just over 9%. MW watched me feed him and suggested swaddling as he's an arm waver/kicker which worked yesterday afternoon but overnight each feed took half an hour or more to get him to latch on, and then the feed itself would take maybe 20mins - if I could get him to stay on.

I am expressing to try and build up supply but can't yet get an ounce out of each boob at a time - I spent an hour each time with the (electric) pump yesterday. I have him a bottle of the ebm last night which was guzzled in seconds so the poor bugger is hungry. I had problems BF DD and ended up combi and then FF but that turned out to be due to supply/BP issues/medication but she ended up readmitted to hospital as she was dehydrated on day 5. This then caused all sorts of feeding issues (stress) for me and I'm desperate to avoid that this time. At the minute I'm really, really not enjoying this. DS isn't. But I don't want to fail again.

MW examined him and said he doesn't have a tie. Ideas?

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SconeCreamJam · 02/05/2015 08:19

Firstly congrats on your snuggly newborn. How are you and DS positioning yourselves for feeding? Newborns are a bundle of reflexes, if he's positioned well then the reflex to attach and suck should kick in pretty nicely. Have a look at biological nurturing, sometimes called laid back breastfeeding, which will make sure his whole body rests on you so his head is free to find breast and nipple. Often a bit of practice with positioning is all that's needed at this stage. Is there any bf support in your area? Hope the above helps.

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SconeCreamJam · 02/05/2015 08:20

Oh and plenty of skin to skin should be a great help too.

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tiktok · 02/05/2015 08:23

Aw, cherry, sorry to hear that.

You are doing the right thing in expressing and ensuring your baby is hydrated. Pumps are usually poor at extracting colostrum/milk in the first days, and it would be quicker and more efficient to hand express. Midwife should show you if you can't. The amount you are getting though is normal. Your milk may not have come in yet.

Hope the midwife is visiting today. She should be. Meantime, keep your baby skin to skin with you. Don't put him in the crib unless you absolutely have to. Watch for and respond to early feeding cues, which means you get in before he gets frantic.

Hope you have a better day.

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CherryLips1980 · 02/05/2015 11:29

Thank you. I also posted on the local LLL page and within 90minutes had someone here, helping. She also advocated the biological nurturing positioning which so far has been successful - she saw three feeds and I am currently on a fourth....

I'm so much happier than I was and DS seems to be too. Midwife is back tomorrow to reweigh and then again Tuesday.

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Elllimam · 02/05/2015 12:19

Oh that's good. Good luck on the rest of your breastfeeding journey and congratulations on your wee boy