I did manage in the end to breastfeed DS1 for more than 12 months but we had a very rocky start, mostly because of supply issues. Ended up having c-section, lost a lot of blood, was quite poorly, and milk didn't come in until late. And I think I didn't realise how often /much he needed to feed, so didn't do enough to stimulate supply. He lost a lot of weight (just under 10% so not admitted) but was told to supplement with formula from two weeks (eventually reduced this), and also put myself on an arduous pumping schedule with a hospital grade pump (which did eventually give me a normal supply by 2 months or so but was really gruelling, and which I can't repeat). Although I didn't have gestational diabetes he was a big overdue baby (9 1/2 lbs) and I think things might have gone better if I had supplemented for first few days with small amounts of formula while waiting for my milk.
DC2 is predicted to be an even bigger baby (over 10lbs by term) and I am likely to end up with another c-section (am trying for a VBAC before 40 weeks but hospital won't let me go past that date for various reasons). What can I do either now or during hospital stay to improve things this time? Would pumping with a hand pump from the beginning get things going? Should I ask for his blood sugars to be checked? Again I passed my gestational diabetes test but I "feel" as if something is off with my blood sugar and don't know why babies are growing so big otherwise, because I am slim (BMI under 20) normal weight gain in pregnancy, no family history of big babies. Also wondered about buying some scales so I can be more alert to any weight loss? Felt I really let DS down by not feeding enough in early days and want to do better this time! Any advice would be great.
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Infant feeding
How to do better with DC2?
3 replies
hopsalong · 07/04/2017 11:15
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