4 day old started to breastfeed well and now its like he's forgotten? HELP

[cityangel]

ds was feeding well on both boobs with a good suckle and now its like he's forgotten.

I have colostrum and when I squeeze each boob it still seems to be coming out. DS was able to latch but now frantically bangs the breast making a grunting type noise, getting very agitated. Even with boob in his mouth and all the same positioning doesn't suckle.

First time mum any help appreciated

[HairyMaclary]

I had this with DS2, in his case he had jaundice and was v sleepy so stopped 'trying'. I expressed and cup fed him from 4 days old to 9 days old until I could get to a breast feeding counsellor. I would recommend ringing one of the BF lines, I spoke to 2 different people, they were great, one even came to our house to see if she could help but as he'd just fallen asleep we decided not to wake him. In the end the I went to a drop in BF clinic at the hospital and after 40 mins 1 : 1 with an amazing lady he started feeding again. Do you have a sling? If so I would wear him skin to skin as much as possible. For my son he had forgotten how to suck, not helped by me cup feeding for so long but with support about positioning and some encouragement he got it again. Do get properly trained support now (not your midwife unless she really knows her stuff) and I'm sure it will all be fine!

Just re read this and realised the length of it - sorry!

[BouncingTurtle]

That's good advice Hairy, but don't worry too much about the cup feeding - it is much better to cup feed than to bottle feed if you want to get bfing established as there is a high chance of nipple confusion in a baby this young.
I second visiting a bfc. Have you tried gently stroking the baby's mouth with your nipple to try and encourage him to open wide?

[cityangel]

Thanks for reminding me about the breastfeeding lines. When dh wakes up (we're in shifts) I think we'll both call. Its silly because after a bit if skin to skin and 30 mins crying on dh (while I slept) he then takes again.

[BouncingTurtle]

Yep, lots of skin to skin - can you strip yourselves off (baby in nappy!) and cuddle up in bed together - put your DH on tea-and-biscuits duty, get some books & mags to read or stick telly on if you can and just keep offering. Besides you need to get as much rest as you can to help your recovery from labour.

[HolidaysQueen]

Not sure if it is the same as me, but my DS fed unhappily at 4-5 days old when my milk was coming in. Midwife advised me to get in a warm bath and express a little milk then get into bed and have lots of skin to skin. It did the trick.

[princesslina]

Hope you manage to get in touch with a bfc as I think that that extra support will be very reassuring for you. Agree with lots of skin to skin and if your breasts are becoming engourged and hard then expressing a little before feed could make it easier to latch on, also you could try breast compressions to encourage feeding so when he begins to suckle you do gentle compressions so his sucks are rewarded with milk quickly and he will not get so frustrated perhaps?
Will he suckle on you finger if you put it in your mouth?
Don't despare I am sure you will get there in the end.
xxx

[cityangel]

thanks for all the help.. in the end I think it was because he was ill as we ended up being admitted to hospital for dehydration as he went all lethargic and stopped feeding. back out now and his suckle is way better now my milk is in. Thanks again.