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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

expert advice needed quickly, please !

19 replies

Rochwen · 04/04/2007 15:37

My friend had a dd 24 hours ago, ventouse but relaxed delivery, baby weighs respecatble 8lbs, both are (resonalbly well). The problem is that although she latches on ok (according to the midwifes at the ward) but doesn't seem to do any actual sucking and drinking. My friend is getting very very stressed and the mw at the ward are pushing her to use formula as the wee on is 'starving'.

My first advice was to keep trying and keep calm, ask for a lactation consultant to come to her and also ask for a pump so even if she has to feed the wee one formula she can still work on her own supply until the wee one has learnt. I jsut worry that my friend is too exhausted by now that she doesn't have the 'bottle' (excuse the pun) to be assertive and ask for all these things.

Please I need advice quickly as my friend is at the end of her tether and I fear that if it doesn't get sorted soon she'll just give in to the bottles (and she really wants to bf).

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tiktok · 04/04/2007 15:40

8 lbs babies do not starve on day 1....

Baby and mum need to be together skin to skin, with no panic about whether or not she is latched on at the right time or not. Baby can then find her own way to the breast.

She doesn't need a pump, not on day 1. She can hand express to get things going though - baby can be tempted with whatever she can express.

Speak to the feeding specialist at the hospital. Midwives frightening women about bottles and starving should be wheeled out and shot....um, sorry, I mean 'asked to stop'

Swizzler · 04/04/2007 15:42

If it's only 24 hours, the baby may be too tired to feed - DS latched on immediately after birth but then didn't really feed all the next day. I was worried but the mws were pretty relaxed about it. I kept putting him to the breast when I thought he was hungry and in a day or so he was feeding well (and hasn't stopped!). It's still v v early days and prob no need for expressing or formula yet. I'm not an expert tho, so hopefully someone will be along soon.

Here are some telephone lines to ring for advice:

LLL 0845 120 2918
NCT: 1870 444 8708

Swizzler · 04/04/2007 15:43

that should be 0870

tortoiseSHELL · 04/04/2007 15:46

Rochwen, ds1 did exactly this - latched on but didn't feed at all - no sucking.

What really helped me was one nurse. She had the common sense to sit with me and when ds1 had woken up (i.e didn't try to wake him) encouraged me to 'seize the moment'. Because HE was ready he then fed. Having said that, it was difficult because my supply took forever to get going, which I partly put down to the delay in feeding him. So once she does start feeding, encourage your friend to feed as often as possible.

It really just took one nurse with a bit of common sense and intelligence to sort ds1 out!!!

Rochwen · 04/04/2007 15:46

thank you so much for the prompt advice !

I will phone her and can now, with expert advice behind me, tell her not to panic.

Thanks again !

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Rochwen · 04/04/2007 15:46

quick question, will it get easier for her when the milk comes in?

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auntymandy · 04/04/2007 15:48

not an expert but totally agree with everything thats being said. Babies dont always weed in the first 24 hours, they are tired too. I think all mine slept through on their first night in the big world. If baby is latching on they soon get the hang of sucking when they need to. Just relax and cuddle loads and just keep 'tempting'
Dont express!!

tiktok · 04/04/2007 15:50

When the milk comes in it might get easier, but she shouldn't sit back and wait for this to happen. It is important the baby starts to feed at the breast, but there is no need to panic. Skin to skin (I said that!), co-bathing, no pushing the baby on, hand expressing to get the colostrum to the baby, and all should be well

Rochwen · 04/04/2007 15:52

The problem is that unless the baby feeds (either bf or ff) they won't let her out of hospital (and yes I know she can just recharge herself but she won't do that).

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Swizzler · 04/04/2007 15:52

Not sure if it will get easier, I found bfing a biut tricky in the first few weeks depsite never having huge problems. It does get a lot easier later on. She needs lots of support in the early weeks - get her to stay in bed/on the sofa if poss and just feed feed feed! Oh, and the most helpful comment I had in hospital was that in a couple of days (before the milk came in) he would be feeding constantly and I would be panicking, but it was only to get my supply up and things would settle down. He did and they did! Lots of resources at www.kellymom.com if that would help.

If you're nearby, she might appreciate a visit and some practical help once home from hospital.

auntymandy · 04/04/2007 15:53

she can tell them the baby has fed!! Community midwife will probably be more help anyway!!.. I didnt say that!!!

Swizzler · 04/04/2007 15:54

As tiktok suggests, what about hand expressing before trying to latch her LO on? Might work if she needs to demonstrate feeding (sounds a bit odd to me but there you go). On the other hand, while she's in hospital she might be getting a bit of rest and so in no hurry to leave!

Rochwen · 04/04/2007 15:57

swizzler, I did offer to come and visit her and give her moral support but she is so stressed out she just wanted to get the feeding sorted. I don't know what they are doing to her there but I don't think the stress is doing her any good.

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JodieG1 · 04/04/2007 16:04

It took all my babies a day or two to realy wake up and start feeding normally. After that though they really started feeding.

Swizzler · 04/04/2007 16:20

That is so sad - she should be resting and enjoying the first few days, not stressing about feeding! Can she co-sleep while in hospital? When I was in , a mw helpfully brought a pillow through and put up the side of the bed so DS could sleep with me - it did help. As did lots of cuddles

Swizzler · 04/04/2007 16:20

Whereabouts is she? If there's a local bfing counseller she could do a hospital visit.

Swizzler · 04/04/2007 16:21

btw am happy to try and find one for you if you need - I kow one based in E London and she might be able to help with phone numbers

Rochwen · 09/04/2007 20:47

Just a quick update.

My friend and her dd went home at the end of last week and are doing fine. The wee one is feeding beautifully and mum is much more relaxed.

They did give her formula in the hospital but she managed to discharge herself the next day and is now very proud to be breastfeeding.

She wants to thank you all for your advice and kind words.

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Rochwen · 09/04/2007 20:48

forgot to add, when the baby did wake up she just started sucking by herself. I can't believe the midwife didn't know about that.

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