My newborn won't breastfeed!!

[Bunk78]

Hi there.
I had to have an emergency c section on Tuesday-my beautiful baby was rather big! We started on breastfeeding, seemed to work. However, couple of nights ago, I gave him some formula as I was in pain and he needed a good feed, I think. My milk only came through properly this afternoon, so I have been supplementing with formula. This morning, he wouldn't take my breast, and this afternoon the same. He on seems to want formula now.

Help, what can I do to get him to latch?

Thanks for any advice

Have you tried hand expressing just before you offer him the breast so you've had your let down and it's easy for him to get milk?

Not an expert at all but it's much less work for them to get milk out of a bottle than you so he may be going for the easier option.....

Congratulations on your baby.

Take him to bed with you. strip him down to his nappy, strip yourself down on top too. It is also better to avoid any smelly stuff after your baths as babies need to smell your own odour and newborns have a highly developed sense of smell.

allow your baby to lie next to or on top of you for as long as it takes. Side by side feeding in bed is also very good for right after a c/s. It is easy to miss the early signs of hunger with your first so make sure he has easy access to milk when he is ready to feed rather than waiting for you to recognize his hunger cues but here they are to help you along.

Common infant hunger cues include:
Early

* Smacking or licking lips
* Opening and closing mouth
* Sucking on lips, tongue, hands, fingers, toes, toys, or clothing

Active

* Rooting around on the chest of whoever is carrying him
* Trying to position for nursing, either by lying back or pulling on your clothes
* Fidgeting or squirming around a lot
* Hitting you on the arm or chest repeatedly
* Fussing or breathing fast

Late

* Moving head frantically from side to side
* Crying

here is a good video on biological nurturing which is what I was trying to describe to you.

There are many people more experienced than I here, but my DS was early and had trouble feeding - I just put him on the boob first, tried to get him latched on (lots of nipple twiddling to get it pointy enough to poke into his mouth ), then went to the bottle after 10min of trying. Eventually (about a week or two) he got the knack. We're still going now, at 11mo.

Good luck, and enjoy your baby

You need to get your milk supply back up. Bear in mind you never run out of milk, but giving formula so early will probably have reduced your supply. You need to let him feed, and feed, and feed, in order to get your supply up. Cut the formula right back - ideally stop giving it. Trust your body. You can give him enough milk. You could even give him enough if you had twins!

Just to encourage you that you will have enough milk the first baby I breast fed was 10lb 6oz and stayed on the 98th centile for height and weight for the 1st 12 months, we managed without formula - and she only woke once at night between 7&7 after the month week, believe in yourself and yes get thee to bed with him and lots of feeding.

Thanks, everyone, for support and good advice. I don't think my breast milk has come in proper, though, yet. My breasts are not hard really etc. The midwife said it wouod be delayed because of emergency c, don't know why, so I fear that at the moment there really is only a little bit of milk in my breast at the moment.....thoughts?

Keep going, I had a very shaky start with breatfeeding as dd was in the scbu and I was ill but pure determination got me through!!! Your body can and will produce enough milk, have a some faith, trust your body!! Babies enjoy bfing but esp in the early days it is hard work and tiring for them and it also takes them a little while to figure out the most efficient ways to get the milk. Eat and drink lots, my boobls didn't feel really full until dd was 3 months but she didn't starve before then!!!

You've got a big baby there, it's not as though he's a tiddler. He'll be fine. You'll be giving him colustrum at the moment, which is rich and full of the good stuff. It's what he needs at the moment. Just because your boobs aren't like missiles, doesn't mean you're not giving your baby what he needs.

bunk78, your baby is so small and his tummy is tiny - he doesn't need lots to eat/drink just now. Small, frequent feeds will be enough to fill his tummy. Even though your milk may not fully be in, you have colostrum which is so good for your little boy. Encourage him to latch on as much as possible - don't try and space feeds just now. Feeding as much as possible will stimulate your milk supply. When my milk came in my boobs felt ok - I did not get huge hard boobs, not all women do (although my boobs are huge as it is!)

My milk came in on day 3 but my DD did not feed until day 4...6 months on and we are still going strong!

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

your breast do not have to get all hard if your milk comes in. If a baby is being put frequently to the breast, normally between 8 and 12 times in 24 hrs, and is removing the colostrum / milk effectively, then they don't tend to become engorged.

also, you said the midwives said that your milk may be delayed because of the c/s. Colostrum is sufficient for your baby till your milk comes in. And frequent stimulation of your breasts by your baby will make it come in sooner so there is no need for formula whilst you wait.

~Birth weight has nothing to do with how often a healthy newborn ought to be put to the breast. they all need to be put to the breast around as often as they cue for it. (see my first post for feeding cues.)

Here's the thing: I try to give my baby my breast he latches on for about 10-15 seconds, then she pushes off and gets ratty when I persist with it :( (ever happened to anyone?). In the mean time I have now expressed a little to give to him so that I keep lactating. Midwife coming tomorrow so will seek out further advice.

Many thanks ladies!

sounds like baby is cross because the let down is immediately unlike a bottle which is IYWIM or that the let down means the flow is too rabid and baby is struggling to cope with it.