First 24 hrs breastfeeding - am I getting it right?

[mumtocuddlebundle]

Bit insecure about whether I am doing it right.
Ds was born 10am yesterday. He had mega 30 min feed at 2pm where he was latched on really well. But since then he's been a bit sleepy for much feeding.
He fed for 10 mins at 8pm.
A couple of mins at 1am.
Then 10 mins again at 3am.
I am tryi g to wake him again now for feed but he doesn't seem interestsed.

Does this sound like an ok first 24 hours. Or do you think he's not really had enough? I do try occasionally to feed him. But he's very sleepy and I wonder whether I should take opportunity to rest after birth. Going to try and persevere with it today.

I'd really appreciate some advice. Many thanks.

Firstly congratulations

I think 10 mins is a good length of time for feeds, but he should probably be feeding every couple of hours atm

he is probably tired after being born...

How about changing his nappy/rearranging his clothes to wake him up, or some skin to skin so he can smell you?

Best of luck xx

Congratulations and well done!

Lots of skin to skin (throw a blanket over the pair of you so you don't get cold) and if you are in hospital still get the bed rails put up! If you're at home scootch to the middle of the bed. Have some pillows propping you up so you are not flat on your back but at an angle/semi-reclined.

Skin to skin will mean if baby wants to feed they are in the ideal position to be able to help themselves - you can help things along by hand expressing a little colostrum so it's on the nipple already.

Newborn babies need about 5ml an hour and funnily enough their stomach capacity is 5-7ml in the first 24 hours so they do need feeding very frequently (plus that helps bring your milk in).

Did you have any meds like pethidine or meptid during delivery as that can make baby a little sleepy so you might need to hand express to syringe feed until he wakes up a bit more - ask the MWs for their clinical opinion on this though.

Thanks for your replys. I am home now. Got home in 6 hours. I didn't have any pain relief other than gas and air. I had morphine with my first baby and I think that's what got us off to a really bad start with breastfeeding, as he was so sleepy.
I'm keen not to make the same mistakes this time. But he still hasn't fed properly since 3am. He latches on for a few sucks then looses interest. It's starting to get me a bit stressed. I so wanted a better breastfeeding experience thus time.
I am doing lots if skin to skin and putting him to breast whenever he wakes up a bit.

Would you feel better if he had a syringe feed or finger feed (dipping a clean finger in colostrum and letting baby suck your finger)? Are the MW coming today for a check?

Has baby had a wet or poo-y nappy since birth?

I really wanted to do just straight breastfeeding this time. It felt like we got in a kerfuffle last time with syringes, bottles expressing etc.
Midwive coming later, hoping it will be a nice one, as last time they didn't seem particularly helpful.
Yes we've had 3 poo nappys. And 2 big wees when changing nappys. Plus maybe some in nappys. So things are moving for him.

It sounds like he is getting enough then, I only suggested doing the syringe feeding if you worried and it doesn't sound like you need to be.

Just keep skin to skin, and make the most of any indication that he would like to nurse.

Good luck with the MW visit, fingers crossed for a nice one!

Thank you

I think that sounds fine, some babies are not very interested in milk for the first day or so, as long as they are still weeing and pooing it is generally okay.

My 1st waited 12 hours after birth for a feed and then stayed on for 2 hours - just to give you some ideas of the range of normal! Some painkillers, especially pethidine can make babies more sleepy after birth as well.

Congratulations on your baby and I hope chatting to the MW will leave you feeling a bit more reassured.

Congratulations on your new arrival.

Agree with the others; lots of skin to skin & just feed him as and when he wants it. You'll still be producing colostrum & it takes literally just drops of this to fill him up.

Xxx