Breast feeding help needed for my friend...........2 day old baby.

[emmatmg]

All of my Ds's were bottle fed and what I know about breast feeding I've learnt here so hopfully you'll be able to help.

Her new ds was born 2 days ago and she's just called me to ask if a dry nappy is normal for a 2 day old breast fed baby (her DD was prem so she's doesn't know from past experience) He has done a few poos but she said there hasn't been any wee yet.
I said it could be that he's done them in the poo-y nappies or that because he's so young still she's just not noticing the tiny amount of wee he's done.
Her MW will be coming later but she's very anxious about it. I told her she chould ring the hospital and talk to a MW there.

She also said he just sleeping and sleeping and sleeping. He latches on really well but pretty much doesn't wake to be fed. Is this normal for breast fed babies? Her boobs are agony and she's not sure what to do, I suggested trying to hand express some milk, she's been trying to wake him and latch him on but it's not going well. She's in agony.
What is the correct way to hand express?

Any other suggestions to help her out? she's all set to drive to tescos to buy a breast pump right now!

[suzywong]

well at this stage her milk hasn't come throught yet, that comes on days 3-4. What the baby is taking is the colostrum, the priceless stuff that is rich in antibodies and fluids, it isn't what one might recognise as white milk.

My advice is keep doing what she's doing, if the baby is latching on well there's no problem. Also you should warn her that when her milk does come in, probably today, she will start weeping and crying as it also releases a flood of hormones (tell her dp/h to watch out too LOL). That is what the pressure in her boobs is, most likely, and when the milk proper comes through it will be relieved and her baby will start feeding a lot.

If you can, get her to hold on til the midwife comes, this is a crucial time if she wants to carry on BFing, I mean reassure her she doesn't need a breast pump just get her to hold and carry the baby close to her and he'll feed if he knows she is near.

HTH

[Kelly1978]

The baby should be producing wet nappies and they are nomrally noticeably wet, it shouldbe hard to miss. The poos are prob still meconium at theis stage.

Is she definately getting baby latched on properly? I think sleepiness in the first few days is normal - all mine have been sleepy and it is harder to get milk into them bfeeding if they are sleepy.
Mears' link for hand expresing is really good, here

[cupcakes]

I'm sure her baby is fine - is she worried that he's getting dehydrated in the heat?
I don't rememmber my babies having particularly wet nappies at this stage - it's just colustrum in the first days so is different from milk in how it nourishes the baby. I'm sure if he's hungry he'll let her know!
Her boobs might hurt because the milk is coming in - I personally would delay expressing any milk till the supply has established itself.
Hopefully somebody with more recent knowledge of breastfeeding will be along soon.

[cupcakes]

x posts!

[suzywong]

totally agree with the delaying expressing, more stress for her to handle at this time.

[Kelly1978]

maybe I'm the only mummy with babies that had heavy wet nappies from day one.

[emmatmg]

she had mastisus(sp?) when she BF her DD so she's very scared of getting it again. Would expressing eevn just a tiny bit ease any pressure just now?

[anchovies]

Has her milk just come in then? If so it's normal to be really uncomfortable, her baby will just feed loads and they will sort themselves out, tell her not to worry about mastitis.

[Kelly1978]

If she still only has colostrum, I'd agree with the others, hold off the ecpressing. It prob wouldn't help. I'm not sure you cna ven get mastitus before milk has come in. If it is milk, I personally would express some off to ease pressure.

Maybe she could just take some ibuprofen? It is safe while bfeeding and also has good anit-inflammetary (sp?) effects. I take it when I get a blockage or soreness and it really helps.

[emmatmg]

Yes, She thinks her milk is coming in.

But she can't get baby to feed coz he's so sleepy.

[Kelly1978]

sorry about the typos

[cupcakes]

I don't think expressing would help avoid mastitis would it? Is ibuprofen ok now? I was told only to take paracetamol. (obviously things change tho!)

[Kelly1978]

He prob will start getting a bit more wakeful soon, especially if there is milk there. I used to squeeze a little out and rub it on their mouths and the nipple so they could smell it and tempt them to feed. sounds strange but it worked for us sometimes.
Other times they jsut refused to wake up, and the midwifes would be moaning that they not getting any feeds and threatenign bottles, but they soon made up for it!

[cupcakes]

that's a good idea - letting him get the smell and taste of the milk. Do that!

[Kelly1978]

expressing won't help avoid mastitis, but if she has lots of milk and is really uncomfortable it will help that. Even if she just sits in a nice hot bath and lets a little out. Plus when my milk came in, I would balloon and drip everywhere , so I had to ease the pressure.

I was told ibuprofen is safe, can't think who by. I've had mastitis three or four times so far with the twins and I find it helps, and I haven't needed to go get antibiotics.

[anchovies]

Why don't you suggest she rings her midwife/midwife unit, the laleche league (0845 120 2918)or the NCT (0870 444 8708). I am sure they will be able to give her the best and most up to date advice

[emmatmg]

She's just called back and I've read her your posts, she's very grateful for you advice and will now hold off expressing and is going to buy a cabbage to relieve some pain , we rememeber that one one the phone.


I 've given her the laleche and NCT numbers too.

Thanks girls

[emmatmg]

"remembered that one on the phone"



preview preview preview Em!

[Littlefish]

When I wasn't sure if my dd had weed, my midwife told me to put a cotton wool ball in her nappy. Nappies now are so absorbant that it's sometimes hard to tell whether they are wet or not. If you put a cotton wool ball in, then it's easy to tell.

BTW my GP told me recently not to take ibruprofen while breastfeeding, but to stick to paracetamol.

[Kelly1978]

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Ibuprofen passes into breastmilk in very low levels - less than 0.6 percent of the maternal dose. It is safe to take while breastfeeding.


Seems that there is a lot of conflicting advice about. Cotton wool is a good idea.

[NotQuiteCockney]

She can try to wake the baby more - strip off clothes, get lots of skin to skin. Tickle his toes?

Neither of mine were sleepy, but to still be sleepy on day 2 is not great ... is the baby jaundiced?

[emmatmg]

fab idea about the cooton wool, littlefish. have relayed your message to her.


She's tried cold face washes to wake him, but he's stays sound asleep. Will tell her to do skin to skin.

Going to shops now for asupply of maternity pads and paper knickers for her, she was going to send her DH but is sure he'll come back with the wrong stuff.....g-string panty liners were mentioned... PMSL

[Libb]

I seem to remember struggling with a sleepy baby too - I would tickle DS's feet. Also the weather has been so warm and that just makes us want to sleep, he probably thinks he is back inside - ifyswim!

I found having a warm bath made me leak anyway so I would just express enough to be comfy, it is very frutrating in those first few days - I know I was very worried but then it just suddenly clicked.

Your friend sounds like she is doing a great job!

[NotQuiteCockney]

Bathing with baby is meant to help, too. And if that makes her leak enough to be comfortable, that's great, too.

I hated being really engorged, feeling so stretched and full.

[emmatmg]

Have given her all the advice you've given and she's amazed that so many people answered and cared enough, so thanks from both of us.


I've just delievered the shopping and caught her getting the hoover out!!!!!! I told her that she's not allowed to hoover/dust/clean at all, she's had an episiotomy(sp?)/VBAC the woman is mad. I said I'd confiscate the hoover if I found out she'd used it