Enough colostrum- help?

[Boompi]

We have had our first day home with our little girl who was born on wednesday. She seems to be latching ok but suckles for ages and then fusses, rooting and knawing her hands like she is hungry. She wont suck on my finger. I cant seem to express much colostrum and Im worried she is starving/dehyrated. All her nappies are full of muconium but cant tell if she is passing urine. Should I give her formula?

Congratulations, Boompi.

Has your midwife not made a home visit yet? From memory you should be producing milk by now, but someone will be around soon with some good advice.

Why are you trying to express colostrum?

Just keep putting her to the breast and this will help your milk come in - don't give formula as this will mean less stimulation for you - and therefore less milk.

My midwife told me that the second day would be the worst with constant feeding and she was right. It is natural to worry that your baby is starving, but I think she would be unlikely to fuss if she was because she wouldn't have the energy - she would be lethargic.

Sure lots of others will be here soon with support and some helpline numbers etc.

i never amanaged to express more than an ounce and i bf exclusively for 4 months. you cant use that as a guide so please dont let it upset you. i am sure your baby will be fine, it sometimes takes a little while for you to get into the swing of things. if you want to carry on bf, formula is a bad idea atm

Boompi - just let her suckle for as long as she wants to and try not to stress about it if you can. The early days are all about the two of you learning how to feed, establishing a supply, and you reassuring her that it's ok in the outside world as her mummy is there - the sucking is just as much about comfort as it is about food.
If you want to establish a good milk supply don't give her formula - it's her sucking that's telling your body to make milk. Your milk probably won't come in for a couple of days yet - but she'll be fine.
People who know more than me will be around soon with more reassurance.
All the best and congrats.

It could be that your milk is coming in right now. With both my children they were very unsettled on the day my milk came in - dd cried non-stop for 5 hours, and wouldn't feed at all, despite having been almost permanently attached to my boobs for the previous 36 hours. I was an absolute wreck. But the following day I could see that the colostrum had milky streaks in it, and by the end of the day the baby was clearly getting enough from his or her sessions at the breast.

Don't bother trying to express colostrum, it's apparently very difficult to express, and in any case it's better to let her have it rather than try and save it.

Let your dd feed whenever she likes, at this age you can put her to the breast every hour or so if she hasn't fed, and don't worry how long or how often she feeds. Lie down and put her face down on your chest, that's a very soothing position for babies - my two still creep onto my chest, or dh's chest, for comfort, and they're 2 and 5! Keep her in your or your dp's arms as much as you like - you can't 'spoil' her at this age!

And - welcome to the rollercoaster ride of your life !

Get your MW to check she's latching on ok. It's also better if you don't hold your breast underneath as this could be closing off some of your milk ducts, therefore inhibiting stimulation to the areola & this may even lead to mastitis. If you have full/large breasts you may find it easier to position her body under your armpit, as it were, with her nose facing between your boobs. Also, make sure her bottom lip isn't curled under as this can have the same effect.

She will be getting colostrum, but remember it's not very filling but it does contain all the important antibodies. Unfortunately, it can feel like you're bf constantly in the first few days/weeks but its the only way to establish the supply your baby needs.

Is the soft spot (fontanelle) on top of her head sunken in? This is a sign of dehydration in babies, but I doubt this will be the case this early. HTH

Message withdrawn

How are things now?

Hello Boompi! - From saturday onwards your milk should start to come in & you'll feel engorged. Has this happened? Keep your little one bf for as long & frequently as she wants so that your breasts will react to the supply & demand of bf production. Get as much of the areola into your bay's mouth as possible when she latches on to increase the stimulation your getting to produce milk. Best wishes xxx

Oonce you have stopped being engorged then don't worry that you have no milk! You wouldn't want to be engorged for a whole year!