Day 1 baby not latching well - advice/reassurance please

[Wholelottalove]

DS was born last night at 9.30 and in last 24hrs has latched on well to feed about 3-4 times. Having issues getting him to open mouth wide for good latch. He seems to be rooting a lot but crying when I offer the breast. He's quite sleepy. Have been advised to hand express colostrum and give via syringe - he's had approx 1.5 mils like this.

Just looking for reassurance all ok. He's 8lb 5, had fast HB, just gas and air at end. How much ought I let him sleep tonight? Waking him to try and feed seems to just upset him. He's just had 1/2 mil expressed colostrum. Had good feed on his own steam at 2.30.

TIA

Congratulations

NOT a bf expert by any means, but would say have as much skin to skin as is physically possible (IME this encouraged feeding)

My first 2 didn't need waking/reminding/encouragement to feed but DC3 was sleepy, so I did try and get him on every 2hrs for the first 2 days

Am sure someone more knowledgable will be along soon

Well done again

Congratulations on your new son.:) It sounds like he's doing great. I'd play it by ear if he's sleepy but just put him to the breast as frequently as he likes when he's awake.

i would take him to bed with you, both naked and just offer the breast every time he stirs

you could also try biological nurturing with him... google it, i think there are some videos

congratulations.

My DD didn't latch for 36 hours. We're at 9 months now.

Remember did a few hand express and syringe feeds. She did a good few feeds the second day, then third day I think only 1 good feed at the end (I was a bit worried but the MWs were happy). When my milk came in, I had to express a bit off so she had room to get on (warm flannel helped).

I remember being surprised that it takes them a good couple of weeks before they can latch on. Would often take 20 mins to get her feeding because of flaying arms.

She did a few 6 hour sleeps in the first week (never again) but she wasn't a sleepy baby so I didn't disturb. Otherwise I'd probably have done tried every 3 hours in the day, 4 at night.

and do as thisis says. good luck and enjoy

I second trying biological nurturing - letting the baby latch on themselves (they are born with this instinct). My ds was a sleepy, jaundiced newborn, think I only managed to get him to feed twice in the first 24 hours but by about day 4 or 5 we'd got the hang of it. He never opened his mouth wide like babies "should" either.

My DD did not latch on until day 3. She was sleepy, slightly jaundiced and just not interested at all. I hand expressed as often as I could and she was cup fed small quantities of precious colostrum. Keep doing this as it is so good for your DS. Just keep offering your boob and try not to worry that he is not getting huge quantities at the moment, his tummy is so small so he doesn't need lots. Agree with the skin to skin contact.

Congratulations! Try not to get too stressed at the moment. There is still time for him to latch on. My DD is now 8.5 months old and sill breastfed despite not feeding in the first 3 days

Thanks everyone. Had difficult night but he has latched once or twice. Still expressing into syringe for him as hard to wake him for feeds. Wondering if fast birth has shocked him and he is sleeping it off.

Also doing skin to skin and trying to fend off visitors. DH has taken DD out so I can get some 1:1 time with DS.

Sounds like you are doing well Wholelottalove - hang on in there! As others have said, it is pretty common for babies to be sleepy in the first few days, you have time to work on this. It's excellent that you are expressing now, as that will be building your milk supply.

Personally I would be offering the breast much more often (at least every 2 hours day/3 hours night) but honestly don't know if there is a 'right' thing to do on that front, so much conflicting info. If we are lucky, Tiktok may be around to advise ...

Biological nurturing is definitely worth trying. The great thing about that is it takes the pressure off and opens up great big windows of time for him to become ready and interested. Also, I reckon it is no hardship to lie down for a few hours with a gorgeous little naked baby on your chest

Or another approach - if he's rooting, but crying when you offer the breast, that suggests that he is getting frustrated at not being able to latch properly. Sometimes you can use this frustration to encourage him to open his mouth wide ... what you could try is 'teasing' him a bit. Cup your breast from underneath, with your fingers circling the areola in a 'C' shape - try stroking his top lip with the nipple so that he roots for it, but don't let him have it until you can see that big wide gape. He may well get annoyed, but when he opens his mouth to protest you can shove it right in! It feels awkward at first, but after a few weeks of practice should get much easier.

Sorry, sounds slightly crude but hope it may help anyway The best of luck - and do keep posting.

Thanks :). He's latched a bit better once now. Hoping we can have plenty of time overnight to offer more frequently. He is impossible to wake though when he's not interested - worse than DD and she was bad! MW has been and said he is totally healthy, just sleepy, but to try and encourage my milk in asap by expressing/using pump as he is not really sucking much to stimulate my breasts. Still giving colostrum by the 1-2ml in syringe, but boobs starting to feel slightly battered from all the squeezing now. Feel like supply is starting to increase though so I'm hopeful it will all click into place in next 24 hrs.

How are things wholelottalove?