to be panicking about breastfeeding?

[WaterWellies]

My little boy is a few days old. He was very small when he was born and struggled with regulating his blood sugar, and this combined with him having zero brown fat, meant we had to top him up with formula.

I'm on day 6 now and still only expressing colostrum. I've just expressed a good 50mls, but because baby is still so small, he's still having to have it out of a bottle.

I'm panicking that my milk hasn't come in properly yet and it's day 6 already. I'm also worried I won't be able to wean him off bottles and on to my boob (though he does latch on okay, and sucks for a minute or so until he realises nothing is coming out/gets too tired).

Does anyone have any advice for me? Really, really worried as would love him to be ebf...

How small was/is he? My friend has just had a 36 weeker at just under 6lbs and the lactation consultant said what the advice should have been considering she was so small was to express and express and express, using a hired hospital grade pump if possible. All the advice about putting baby to the breast repeatedly and skin to skin is correct but only if baby is strong enough to suck in first place.

Could you afford one session with a lactation consultant or is there a session locally with one you could bring her along to? Ready hope it works out for you!

Thanks everyone. I'm so thankful for all of this advice.

@pandarific he was 5lb2 so really little.

Hi how are you doing today?

@holidaylady I wish I hadn't have panicked. Baby is now ebf and bottles are a thing of the past. I just needed it to click. Such a huge relief.

Thank you everyone for your advice 🙏🏽 much of it was so useful.

To anyone who is struggling to breastfeed a really tiny baby, please know that even when you think you can't do anymore, you really will get there. There will be medical professionals out there who tell you it's unlikely you can switch back after a bottle, but that is so untrue. I did it and I honestly felt like giving up. My advice is to just ditch the bottles. Even if just for a day. It was the advice my HV gave me. She said baby won't starve in 12 hours and will tell me if he's hungry. It worked and after 6 days of bottles, baby is now ebf at 9 days. I did it all in 3 days of hard work, patience and perseverance :)

Thanks again everyone for your help. 🙏🏽

Oh that's a lovely update. Glad you could get where you wanted to be, it's such a relief when things finally go the way you want them to!

Well done, I hope you enjoy you breastfeeding journey together.

What a lovely update! Well done –you've done amazingly well!

You can compress boob while feeding which increases flow.

Kellymom site is very good forntips

Well done op, now that you are feeding regularly watch out for the sore nipples- lots of cream after each feed, and make sure you eat and drink enough.

@missymayhemsmum my left nipple has blisters on it :(

Well done! I’m the same but we are now week 12. Still topping up, had tongue snipped but confirmed it had regrown. It’s such hard work. Previous babies breastfed and grew with zero top ups or issues. It’s a shock to have a FTT.

each time you feed have a drink you need to keep yourself hydrated - (ahem not alcohol :) later you can have the occasional one but not quite yet :) )

Oh if you have sore boob - baby (I was told by midwife) gets most of milk in first 3 min - when I had sore boob I always started on that side but only fed for short period less than 5 min & let db finish on other side just do this for a few feeds so your milk is kept up that side but it has a little rest by end of day your boob should feel a bit more comfortable but it will still have milk (3 db fed up to 9 mth each)

Congratulations - so glad it has worked for you.

Well done OP, great achievement to be back ebf again And congratulations on your baby.

Put some breast milk on your sore nipple, lots of air to it as well. Mine were both completely shredded and this worked really well. (Was advised by a fab lactation consultant to do this rather than lanisoh cream). I was also given something by the hospital, a gel mesh type thing to soothe. Apparently cabbage leaves work well too but I haven't tried that. Hope it's better soon.

Wonderful news! Enjoy your baby OP.

Lovely update OP. Hope it’s still going well for you

Well done! Multi mam compresses are brilliant on sore nipples.

Well done. Once established end is soo rewarding. Such inspirational words too. Is he feeding on the right now?

Don't use cabbage leaves as @Rarotonga suggests, they are suggested for drying up your supply. Whether they work like that or not, it isn't worth the risk.

Ah phew.
The right support at the right time can really help a breastfeeding mum.
Hope you are able to continue as long as you want to.
Come back for more support if you need it X