bf help needed urgently

[Shyera]

Having problems with my week old. Bf was going well until this morning. Everytime i try and feed him he begins to scream he won't even try to suck and when he does he will suck two three times then let go and scream.

I can hear noises from his tummy i have given him infacol and seems to help. He has not done a dirty nappy since Tuesday. I have been having to express all day and top up with formula as he has not latched on since this morning.

Really upset don't know what more to do he seems in pain whimpering in his sleep

sorry not a clue (mostly ff)

but a bump for someone more helpful

Maybe try a different position. My boy always prefered the rugby hold but my daughter liked to be cradled. After I'd cradle Ds face down on my arm 'Tiger in the tree' hold as he had awful colic.

Not sure either but didn't want you to feel all alone. Hang on in there & someone who knows what they're on about will be along soon.

I think a 1 week old baby should poo more frequently - can you call your MW/HV tomorrow morning?

Meanwhile you could try feeding him in a slightly warm bath to soothe/calm him or lots of skin to skin.

That sounds really tough.

Try kellymom - vg bf website. Also google La Leche League (on phone or i'd link).

No poo for even a week or more is normal with bf babies btw.

It isn't usual at all for a 1 week old baby, please consider ringing the GP OOH to get the baby checked. It sounds like a baby concern rather than a feeding concern just now.

Are the nappies good and wet OP?

Not normal for a 1 wk old at all to have no poo for 5 days. I would call nhs direct or something.

Bf babies often stop frequent pooing after a couple of months or so.

I agree about trying a new position. I find lying down on your side is best as your baby is relaxed and comfortable and you're more likely to be relaxed too.

My DS went through a couple of days of being seemingly unable to feed in a 'normal' position and it freaked me out but a change of scene and position helped nearly every time.

Good luck!

When I had my baby a few weeks ago they gave me a 24/7 tel no to ring if there were concerns about me or baby while I was still under mw care. I imagine you are still under mw care- can you have a look through the sheafs of paper you were given and see if there is such a number? No poo for five days is worth seeking real life attention, I think.

I really feel for you. Hardest job in the world with no instruction manual! I second trying a different position. Also try offering both breasts each time. After a couple of weeks I could only feed DD1 on one side which was explained as the flow from one side wasn?t as good as the other and DD1 was getting frustrated.

As for dirty nappies, after DD1 went 10 days without a poo I was told that was perfectly normal by a bf counsellor. It was explained to me that there is so little waste in breast milk that there isn?t always anything to be passed through. It is all absorbed by the baby.

Hope your DS is settling down. Good luck x

It is absolutely not normal in a baby aged a week for there to be no poo - all this stuff about it being normal does not apply to newborns. It is always a 'red flag' in a baby of this age...always.

It is not a big deal in itself, but it is a sign that feeding and general well-being should be looked at and a baby aged a week who sucks a couple of times and then screams, and whimpers like this needs an urgent medical opinion - you need to call the maternity unit/your doctor now and ask for advice, shyera.

Don't leave it until the morning.

The helplines are all closed until tomorrow morning, and this in any case is beyond the scope of the helplines.

Hope you get good help, and things get sorted.

Oops. Sorry about getting the poo thing wrong. How's your baby today OP?

Apologies if what I have said was wrong. I was only passing on what was told in the past. Hope things are better today.

Thanks for telling me, nappymaestro, that's good to know :)

hEY sHY, just started reading this thread - really want to know how you got on. Hope everything is ok. I am surprised your mid wife didnt pick up on this and do something about it - my mid wife was visiting me every day. I was lead to believe they should poo the tar stuff for about 3 days then produce 1-3 chicken korma type nappies a day if getting plenty of milk. Your baby does sound like it needed medical help. It is such a worrying time anyway. really feel for you and babs, got my fingers crossed you are both sorted xxx

I agree with you GEM that the mw seems to have missed something here. Sadly the midwives don't seem to visit as often as they used to- well around my area anyway.

Hope things are OK Shyera- perhaps you could come back and update everyone when you get a chance.

Just bumping this, hope all is well OP