DS1 is 13 days old and I'm struggling to know what to do for the best. Getting a different answer from every midwife / hv so seeking the collective wisdom of mumsnet
I've been trying to bf but really struggling and am worried I might be damaging my supply this early on by starting to express.
It's been a horrible fortnight tbh. 2 weeks overdue, 6 days in hospital, ecs. Since home, a close family member gravely ill and not expected to survive this weekend. DS constantly hungry and unable to settle, won't let us put him down, midwives just telling me this is normal and to feed on demand but this resulted in basically trying to feed an increasingly distressed baby for 2+ hr stretches who never seemed to be full. And then wouldn't sleep in crib or anywhere but arms. And one cracked nipple.
Told midwife yesterday that I was really struggling and she said baby was hungry and to express and top up with formula if needed to let me get some rest. (This contradicts what I was told before, I have been asking about expressing since last week and consistently told that until bf is fully established I really shouldn't.)
Last night and today I have been expressing from the cracked nipple and giving this plus other boob at feeds. The amount of milk varies from 40 - 80+ mls which is a lot more than I thought a baby that age would take?
If I give DS the bottle first, he is a lot calmer when bfing. He also seems to be getting full and (finally) sleepy as the feed is a lot faster. When going purely on boob the feed takes forever and he gulps in a lot of air as he gets worked up.
Questions: should I be giving the boob first instead of the bottle or does it not matter?
How long can I leave cracked nipple to heal before offering back for bf?
How often should I express?
Any advice much appreciated!
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Infant feeding
Hungry newborn
24 replies
ToffeeForEveryone · 19/03/2016 20:04
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