Establishing breastfeeding

[MultipleSoManyPapercuts]

I have just given birth to my second DC and already I'm floundering! Just how long do they sleep for in that first day? He has had one feed about an hour after birth, but didn't take much as he was quite mucousy.... That was at 7 this morning and he's been asleep since then, and the only time he stirred he didn't want to latch.

Is this normal? DS1 was ebf, but he latched fine as far as I can remember, but it's all a bit hazy...

Help!

Congratulations on the birth of your ds! Have you only just given birth today? Are you at home?

When is the midwife coming to check him?

I was told to wake a newborn every three hours to feed but I remember ds feeding straight after birth and then not at all for nearly a day, and I was very worried and of course the midwife had to check him. he was fine.

Make sure you keep all the nappies he wears so that the midwife can check his urine and meconium output.

If in doubt, phone the midwife.

Hi, My 4dc is 6 weeks old tomorrow, he was born at home and had one feed straight after he was born, he only feed for a few minutes then went to sleep. Even when he was awake in the first 24 hours he wasn't that interested in latching. I was reassured by the midwife as he was mucousy he may not be that interested at first but it would come in time. Every time he was alert I continued to offer the breast, it probably wasn't till half way through day two that he became more interested.
Everything was fine, he never even lost any weight in fact when he was weighed he had gained 20g. I would just enjoy the peace and try and get some rest I am sure he will be more interested in a few hours. Good luck and congratulations.

I'm in the hospital, was waiting for midwife but thought i'd ask mn for advice first, often more reliable ask there are no lactation specialists here

Have been told that it is fine, but they will monitor as he hasn't had a proper wee yet.

Thanks for the help, sure we'll get there

Yes it's probably best not to solely rely on the hospital midwives, although I'm sure many of them are very good.

Get plenty of skin to skin, make sure he is warm and offer the breast almost constantly.

I hope you enjoy this special time

It might be that he has his days and nights muddled. I remember DD sleeping 6 or 7 hours in the first day or 2 and being unsure about whether to wake her. She then proceeded to feed all night.

Keep on at the MW (they're busy and help those who shout loudest), but also get some sleep now in case he decides to feed constantly later.

Being mucousy can make feeding tricky for a couple of days. Expressing some colostrum and syringe feeding can help if he's not very interested in latching.

Congrats and good luck. Enjoy! :-)

He finally took a feed at about 7, and then fed every few hours in the night, and now he is back to sleep for a while, so think you're right with the days and nights being mixed! Latching quite well now, and seems to feed quite efficiently.

Just waiting to be discharged, think things will be easier at home, as at the moment I'm just sitting around waiting for the next feed and missing DS1!

Thanks for the advice

He'll get his days and nights sorted eventually. I'm glad he's latching on well :)

Hope you're discharged soon and you enjoy your new, larger, family.

I know it's not easy with a DS1 around, but if you can, get some sleep in the day to make up for the night feeds.

Hope it goes well once you are home

Hi Multiple, Many congratualtions! If this puts your mind at rest, mine actually slept through the first night (naive me expected midwives to come and check on us, and were shocked when I said he hadn't eaten since the previous evening). He was just tired after the EMCS I reckon. I do remember being generally worried that he wasn't eating enough over the next 5 days. He soon made up for that. They do sort themselves out as Cantmake says - and it sounds like your little one is doing well now!