Ds2 is 19 days old.
It's been a bit of a rollercoaster with weight. He had lost 9.8% by day 3, my milk didn't come in until day 5, then it rallied and he gained loads, then I got an INCREDIBLE cold around day 10, worst I've had in years, and stupidly took cold remedies with pseudoephedrine (not realising they affect supply - d'oh, sil who is gp said they were fine!) and he lost again and then HE got the cold which he is only getting over now. I have been using a nasal aspirator on him and he has been very bunged up but feeding has been alright if not brilliant.
So... he feeds every two hours, except for evening cluster feeding and a 4 hour-feed-3 hour night time. About fifteen-30 minutes on first side, usually 5-10 on the second. He comes off the breast by his own accord. His latch on my right side is very good, but on the left it often requires a wee bit of work but we usually get it right. I have no nipple pain/crackedness or anything like that. Straight line across my body, nose to nipple, wide open mouth, bottom lip curled back, nipple is very elongated when it comes out though my areola area is HUGE and it is a struggle to get him to take a massive amount of breast tissue, but he is taking it from the underside as he should.
He is sucking and swallowing well and I can see that little muscle in his temple going good guns and it feels vigorous and I can hear him swallow great big gulps, with about 2-3 obvious letdowns per breast. He is doing a large, heavy wet nappy at every feed and 4-5 dirty nappies in each 24 hour period.
He is alert, clear eyed and up until today pretty satisfied but is fussing and feeding more today but today is also the first day I haven't had to suck great big green snots (sorry!) from his nose, so I am guessing he is ready to rally.
Questions:
- I realised from another thread here I had been inadvertently block feeding him as I misunderstood midwife advice and thought I was only "allowed" feed from one breast in any two hour period. This was probably really really rubbish for my supply..
- I expressed after a feed today but only got 1oz out with a double pump - it's my first time expressing with him, is that bad?
- Do I just trust he needs a bit longer to get over his cold and keep going, or do I need to start expressing more and refeeding? I won't do it after every feed, I just can't face that.. but I don't want to end up giving formula and I can see it happening if I start to freak out about his weight (long story/PND-OCD etc).
He seems to be a very happy feeder. I want to trust my instincts this will rectify itself without masses of intervention as I just can't face having a load of professionals involved right now as I have millions of appointments as it is with the PND etc. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for all your help.