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Infant feeding

Newborn breastfeeding - help needed!

11 replies

VelvetB · 02/05/2016 08:57

Hi all
I gave birth to my second DS yesterday - luckily had a really quick and natural birth and were home in 12 hours. I had real trouble breastfeeding my first as he didn't latch at all (later found out he is dyspraxic so may have contributed). Though I also wonder if I had persevered if we might have eventually cracked it.

I really really want to breastfeed this one. He latched on at the hospital and fed roughly every 1 to 2 hours yesterday for about 10 mins. He seems contented and we've had wet nappies and two poos in the first 24 hours.

However the midwife at the hospital encouraged me to wake him every 3 hours to feed last night which I've found really difficult. He doesn't want to wake up to breastfeed and when he does he only feeds for 5 mins or so at a time. This morning I have him some formula as I'm just so worried he's not getting enough milk. However he's just brought most of that back up so at least the breastfed milk he is getting is staying down!

Just after advice really to keep breastfeeding - should I be worried if he's not feeding often during the night? Will he just let me know when he is hungry?

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WellErrr · 02/05/2016 09:01

Just keep feeding. Don't give formula at this point if you want to breastfeed. You need to feed lots to build up supply.

It's normal for them to be sleepy for the first few days. Did you have many drugs in the birth?

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tiktok · 02/05/2016 09:04

Your baby is so new and its normal to feed for short periods - totally normal 😀 he does not need huge volumes. Breastmilk feeds average about 7 mls in the first couple of days. The midwife was sensible to encourage you to feed at night but unless there is a problem you don't need to worry if it's not three hourly on the dot. Just offer and make it available.

Honestly giving formula at this stage is hardly ever necessary with a healthy term baby. If you think he needs more just bf him more 😀Formula can really undermine your wish to bf.

A call to the midwife or any of the helplines might be helpful. Don't let your lack of confidence stop you doing what you want to do!

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sonlypuppyfat · 02/05/2016 09:05

You will dry your milk up if you give formula. Mine slept for hours and hours when first born.

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RayofFuckingSunshine · 02/05/2016 09:09

For the first couple of days newborns are generally very sleepy. I found it really difficult to wake DD2 for the first 48 or so hours. Offer him the breast frequently, but don't be surprised if he doesn't take it every time or for very long. He doesn't need topping up with formula, he's doing exactly what is natural. In a couple of days he will undoubtedly start cluster feeding to bring up your supply. The kellymom website has a lot of useful information and le leche league are good people to contact if you have any issues or want reassurance that something is normal.

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mikado1 · 02/05/2016 09:10

Echoing the advice above. Don't give formula, it's supply and demand and he will let you know. Trust him. I personally wouldn't wake him unless he has jaundice/v low weight. I remember less than 10min feeds the furst week followed by hours of sleep. If you can relax into it, that is the beauty of bf; no measuring, no wondering if he's had enough. Go with him and enjoy all that cuddling. Congratulations!

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rubberducker · 02/05/2016 09:17

Mine were both very sleepy in the first couple of days so when I tried to feed them they'd take a bit and then just fall asleep. My pragmatic and old school midwife told me to strip them down to their nappy and to flick the bottom of their feet to try to get them to stay awake longer to take more of a feed. It did work to an extent although always felt a bit mean stripping lovely cosy baby out of their sleepsuit.

If you can avoid giving formula at this early stage it will probably help in the long term. If you're getting plenty of wet nappies that they are probably taking more than you think.

Good luck!

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VelvetB · 02/05/2016 09:17

Thankyou all so much that's really reassuring - it's so easy to doubt yourself!

I didn't have any drugs during labour as I only made it to hospital 10 minutes before he arrived. Labour was really quick and really intense, which although was great was quite scary and has left me a bit shell shocked to say the least.

I'm definitely going to keep persevering, my midwife will be round in a couple of hours do will also have a good chat with her.

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Jenijena · 02/05/2016 09:21

My baby is a month old now. With dS1, we were in hospital with a strict 3 hour feeding regime with formula, due to medical reasons. This one was born at 5pm and fed a little in the following six hours, and then slept for about seven. I was totally panicking, based on my previous experiences, but the midwives were very reassuring that this, rather than my previous example, was normal. For my own benefit rather than his I syringed off some colostrum to give him which woke him up enough to get him latched on.

A month later he is feeding lots and lots and lots...

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luckiestgirlintheworld · 02/05/2016 09:22

Just breastfeed at every opportunity this first couple of weeks. All the time. That will get your supply up nicely.
My two only ever fed for 5 minutes at a time.
Also I remember the phase of finding it difficult to wake them to feed only lasts a few days. And then you kick yourself for not appreciating that sleep more because they're waking every hour!

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CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 02/05/2016 09:25

Congratulations on your baby Flowers

My babies were both small and a bit jaundiced and I had to wake them to feed. I would tickle their feet, blow on their ears and change their nappies to wake them. Sometimes I would just hand express a few drops of Colostrum into ds' mouth to get him interested in a feed.

I really wouldn't give formula at this stage unless advised by a medical professional as this could interfere with establishing a milk supply.

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LisaRinnasLips · 02/05/2016 09:45

Newborns feeds loads - it doesn't mean they're not getting enough.

Don't give formula.

I fed my dd every 30 mins when she was first born, she wouldn't stop! It was to help your supply keep up.

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