No milk no we're home? What happened? What do I do?

[Mibby]

Hi

Baby was born Monday morning, got bf going in hospital, monday was a bit hit n miss but several consecutive good feeds tuesday then wednesday the nurses kept interupting us to do checks before they let us out. Got home about 4pm yesterday, couple of good feeds about 5/7pm then its gone to pot, lots of screaming/ wouldnt latch overnight and this morning. Tried expressing after lunch and there seems to be almost nothing there, I've resulted to formula in desparation to get something down her. Any ideas?

Has your baby lost weight then Mibby?

Mibby, you will be able to bf, I have one inverted nipple and it always causes me more trouble to feed from and took longer for lo to work out how to do it. It does get easier.

Mibby, didn't want to read and run.

Congratulations on your baby! Please don't get down about the breastfeeding. Just try and relax and hopefully with some good advice and patience everything will get going for you.

It can be tricky to begin with but stick with it, breastfeeding is definitely worth the perseverance!

Good Luck!

And definitely go for the flapjacks, and cake. And pretty much anything you can lay your hands on

Crikeybadger Yes, shes lost quite a bit since birth but midwife said it was 'within limits' so I just need to stop her loosing more.
Bf has gone quite well today, several longish nursing sessions and shes latching well on left side, about 5 min with shield then i can take it away and she latches back and feeds without it.
Still struggling with rhs tho, DH reckons they're two different flavours:) Have managed to express a bit from rhs tho so hope tomorrow will be good also

Thanks for all the support, it makes a big difference to know 'its not just me'!

That sounds encouraging Mibby- and good that she will eventually latch on without the shield.

I think a lot of people struggle with one side, I know I did - however, we're still feeding 13 months on...just on the favourite side though.

Does trying a different position help - rugby hold for eg.?

Mibby lol at your DH saying you have 2 different flavours! Mine was always saying that the left must be strawberry and the right chocolate as DS hugely preferred the right for many months. He's not bothered by sides much now though (11months old)

Many mums find that their baby prefers one side to the other (often the left IIRC because they cn her your heart beat better there). If youare feeding in the cradle hold from left side you could try just gently shifting baby into rugby hold on the right, so you aren't turning him round IYKWIM? That way he can latch onto the right ina similar way to the left.

Sorry, she I mean

She fed up to midnight last night then had a top up and started again this morning. T shirt was soaked from overnight leakage both side. First latch was difficult this morning, took ages to get going but fed well and second feed was much easier. Still all on left (could well be the heartbeat thing MummyBerryJuice) but it feels like things are moving in the right direction :)

Well done you! Breast feeding is bloody hard in the beginning, so give yourself a clap on the back! Can DH/parents/ a good friend help stock the fridge up with yummy soups and casaroles so you and baby can focus on eachother for a few days? I also found it help when DM took baby after a feed for the first few days so I could get a 2 hour sleep in between feeds in the afternoon.

We're well stocked with food and DH is cooking under instruction (V impressed with him, he does not cook).
Mum and Dad came over to meet DD (Dad has been off colour so wouldnt come till he felt better) and Mum bought cakes and did our ironing so Im feeling spoilt.
She seems to be doing ok, lots of wet/ dirty nappies so I guess its just a case of 'keep calm and keep going'.

Off to try expressing RHS now

You're doing really well

My sil used nipple shields for quite a few weeks off and on because of problems she had. She fed her dd very successfully for the best part of a year.

Regarding weight loss - obviously it's important for the midwife to assure herself that both you and dd are doing well. She has a legal responsibility to ensure your well being. Going forward however you don't have to have your dd weighed as much - or ever. Most people like too but frequent weighing can cause a lot of anxiety for no useful purpose. Just something to bear in mind. You are looking at how your dd is and as long as she is weeing plentifully and able to latch on you're doing great.

She latches with the shield then usually after 10 min I can unlatch her and re latch without it. Still LHS only tho.

Just expressed 1oz from RHS so we will feed this later. Really pleased :), first decent amount using the pump

Oh well done

She wil be getting more out than that when she feeds so don't worry about the relative amounts. That's great for you to do when your baby is less than a week old!

With the LHS/RHS thing - you say you had an epidural? Did you also have a instrumental delivery? I'm just wondering if she's uncomfortable on that side as an after-effect of the birth? If so some babies really respond well to cranial osteopathy. It's nothing at all to worry about - just something you may wish to try.

Are you trying her on the RHS in the same position (so lying on the opposite side)? My NCT bfing leader suggested trying rugby ball hold on the second side if you find one side is a lot easier - that way you get to use your "main" arm (e.g. right arm if right-handed) for the hold and baby gets to lie on the same side.

NorthernLurker Yes Epidural and forceps. Will look into the cranial osteopath thing. Thanks

japhrimel We've tried the rugby ball thing for the rhs, still not very successful, she just doesn't seem to like it. Midwife tried helping me with rhs/ rugby ball this morning too and still she wouldn't feed.
'
She was weighed tho and hasnt lost any more so I'm quite pleased. Milk definitely 'in' in increasing amounts too :)

Just expressed 2oz from right then got her to latch and feed :)

Only a couple of min as she was sleepy and not very hungry but at least its something :)

Well done Mibby Keep going - I am only a month into this, and despite various issues, it is sooo much easier and less stressful after a fortnight than a week, and easier again after a month

Stick with it, and keep asking these fab, knowledgable people for help

Several feeds on LHS today, tho its getting very sore. Few minutes on the right, she'll latch straight after expressing but wont stay there long. Have expressed a reasonable amount too, and bottle fed all that so I'm starting to feel like its working. Hope tomorrows weigh doesn't prove me wrong!

She's put some weight on :)

Not a lot but at least its heading the right way