Breast/EBM/Formula

[UpAllNight2012]

Please help - newborn (day 3). Still in hospital (due to mec infection which has cleared but need to finish antibiotic course).

Have been receiving all sorts of conflicting advice from paediatricians / mid-wives / support workers. I know they all know their stuff in their own way but the advice is different depending on who comes in. Also, the fact that they're so gagged about advising formula makes it harder.

I know breast is best and I want him to have that but there has been slight jaundice and we need to get him over that.

Started with direct breast + bits (

Typo: she's

No advice I'm afraid, just bumping the thread for you. Congrats on your new baby!

Keep trying with the breastfeeding - a bit of jaundice is perfectly normal and will go away with breastfeeding too. At three days your baby isn't actually hungry yet and your milk hasn't come in, which is why it's so hard to express and there's very little going into your baby. Try direct feeding every 90 minutes and do as much skin to skin as possible - holding your baby will increase your oxytocin levels and therefore your supply. Keep going, it's worth it!

Er she is 3 days old her tummy will only hold about 10 ml of milk. The best way too clear is to feed little and often, there is little evidence that formula is any better at this then breastmilk.

Giving a large volume of formula like that at this early stage will make her sleep as she is very full (think eating Christmas dinner). It will also interfear with establishing your milk supply, you need to be feeding or expressing at lest 10/ 12 times a day (24 hours) to encourage your mature milk to come in.

Agree strongly with the others. New born babies news only colostrum fircthecfurst few data until milk comes in. Formula is not colostrum and colostrum cannot be reproduced synthetically.

I know this must be a stressful weary time but you need to trust your body/milk.

There should be an infant feeding advisor - do ask if she can see you. It's ludicrous that a mother is beset by conflicting advice. The maternity unit needs to know that a mother in their care is asking the internet for guidance on feeding because she has been left not knowing whose advice to follow.
:(

And as ever - no one here should be telling OP what to do. How the fllipping heck do we know what her baby needs or what she should do???!!

It is certainly the case that 3 day babies don't normally need 35 mls at each feed but there are individual circumstances which might make normal advice inappropriate. Who knows if the OP has reported accurately and fully what's been going on?

OP - get decent advice in real life from someone who can see you, see your baby, knows the history and can support you. Mumsnet can support you too, and can share information and point you in the right direction for good help, but please don't dismiss what HCPs have said to you solely on the basis on what is said here.

Sorry, yes I missed a lot of info out of my post on where op should be seeking help. Should reframe from posting maybe before my brain has woken up a bit more.

But I was trying to explain why a 3 day old baby would be sleepy after being given that amount of formula.

A slightly jaundice baby who is waking up wanting to feed is a good sign.

Jaundice is normal - 86% of babies get it to some extent. Have you checked whether your baby's jaundice is within normal limits?

Really you need some good support around you, unfortunately a lot of HCPs are not well-trained in breastfeeding so fall back on what they do feel comfortable with - formula and known amounts.

Ask to be referred to a breastfeeding specialist who will be able to advise you whether you do really need to give formula or not.

My DD had jaundice and I just kept feeding and feeding. The amount babies need in the first week is 10-20 mls per feed. 35ml does seem an awful lot for a 3 day old.

Good luck.

How's it going, UpAllNight?