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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

can't seem to breast feed

63 replies

bamboozleslover · 26/06/2006 11:30

i realy want to breastfeed my 2 day old ds but he won't take to it. he has a few sucks and then gets disinterested and comes off. what can i do?

OP posts:
welshmum · 26/06/2006 11:32

I'm not an expert in this at all but could he be knackered after the birth and not too hungry just yet? I'd keep on trying to feed him. Sure someone better able than me will be along soon to help.
All the very best and congratulations on the arrival of your new boy.

2plus2plus1 · 26/06/2006 11:39

my dd3 was a bit like this. Then a midwife came in stuck half the boob down her throat and held her there (with what I felt was quite a bit of force) until she started suckling rather than sucking (there is a difference apparently). I think I was being far to gentle. Once she got started she didn't need the force.
HTH & GL

MeAndMyBoy · 26/06/2006 11:40

Just wanted to bump this up for you again, I don't have any advice I'm sorry other than, keep trying - maybe snuggle up in bed with lots of skin to skin contact?

Hopefully one of the lovely ladies with lots of experience and knowledge will be along shortly for you.

H x

Emma7 · 26/06/2006 12:00

Conratulations on the birth of your son . My DD was like this too - she didn't feed properly for a few days due to traumatic birth. You need to see a bf counsellor if possible to help you get going - this made all the difference to me as did phoning the local helpline numbers for advice. I found it really hard for the first 3 weeks but now I really enjoy it and I'm so glad that I kept going. I have had loads of advice and encoragement from MNetters too so keep posting. (DD is 9 weeks old now - it goes so fast and definately gets easier!)

LIZS · 26/06/2006 12:01

Just cuddle him close, possibly stripping him down to just a nappy, skin to skin, and gently blowing on him, and feed as little and often as he'll allow. Your milk has possibly yet to come in so he is only taking a little colostrum atm . Is he jaundiced or did he have an assisted delivery as that could make him a bit drowsy and it is therefore all the more important to just get him to suck as and when.

You may also like to get a breastfeeding counsellor (not your regular midwife) to observe and suggest alternative positions and check he is latching on effectively, but remember he is still very young and it is a learning curve for both him and you.

Good luck and congratulations

welshmum · 26/06/2006 12:05

Bamboosleslover I noticed you posting about formula too? The thing is that to bf you need to carry on stimulating your own milk supply by letting your ds suck.
Maybe you should get in touch with a bf counsellor to set you up with the best start- if you're sure that's what you want to do.

LIZS · 26/06/2006 12:13

Just seen your other post . Are you already mixed feeding ? If you are also offering formula he may simply not be hungry enough for more than a few curious sucks but if you persist his interest will gradually increase. You may well find that by the time your milk arrives you find less need to supplement. Sounds like you could use some sound advice as to how to get b'feeding established if that is what you'd prefer. Do you have a bfc 's number ?

tiktok · 26/06/2006 12:22

Bamboo - skin to skin contact is the way to go. Your baby should not be in a crib away from you at all. The few sucks may be fine at this stage but he needs lots of closeness to you to stimulate his natural instincts - and no formula at all unless there is a medical problem. You may need help to gently hand express to get some colostrum into him.

Not sure if you are at home or hospital - if in hospital see if there is a bf specialist on hand to help. And/or call one of the bf helplines.

Good luck!

kiskidee · 26/06/2006 12:24

nothing new to add but want to reiterate:
stop giving formula if you want to bf.
lots of skin to skin as everyone says - him stripped down to nappy and under your shirt to keep him snug and smelling you.
if he squeaks, put him to your nipple.
if you have someone to help you, take a bath with him.

contact a bf helpline and keep posting here if you have more questions.

kiskidee · 26/06/2006 12:25

nothing new to add but want to reiterate:
stop giving formula if you want to bf.
lots of skin to skin as everyone says - him stripped down to nappy and under your shirt to keep him snug and smelling you.
if he squeaks, put him to your nipple.
if you have someone to help you, take a bath with him.

contact a bf helpline and keep posting here if you have more questions.

LIZS · 26/06/2006 17:25

this thread may be of interest.

FlameBoo · 26/06/2006 17:32

All the advice is great - I just wanted to say that I love your name

moondog · 26/06/2006 17:38

Bamboozle,who is helping you and whereare you??

The Association for Breastfeeding Mothers has a good helpline.
Give them a call.

0870 401 7711

It's hard for us to help when we have so little information to go on but I wish you all the best.
It can be tricky at first but with support and determination,you can do it.

sugarfree · 26/06/2006 17:41

Wish I'd had you lot when mine were all newborns

moondog · 26/06/2006 18:01

SF,this alone makes MN worth it I reckon.i

sugarfree · 26/06/2006 18:10

I agree! I would have paid bloody good money for the breastfeeding advice Ive read on here.

moondog · 26/06/2006 18:13

SF,how old are yours now?
Did you have no help then??

sugarfree · 26/06/2006 18:19

Oh,it's along old story MD and my youngest is 2.8.
Put it this way,after 3 births(and that adds up to about 14 days in hospital) I had 1 session with 1 person that was any use at all.

If you're out there HCSW with no formal training but a huge interest and infectious enthusiasm that sat with me in the middle of the night for 2 hours,listening to both me and ds3 howl with distress,until we got the latch properly sorted,(not half sorted like every feed with every baby I had,had been up til then)and then chat to me while he had a proper 10 minute with gulping and everything!!!

THANK-YOU!
(Just you could have been around for the following week when it all went tits-up (literally))

moondog · 26/06/2006 18:21

It really can be so bloody hard.
I had a huge shock at this.

sugarfree · 26/06/2006 18:21

Sorry for hijack op.
(I have 'grief/guilt/pity issues' that pop out now and again.)

sugarfree · 26/06/2006 18:25

I once had to leave a Mothercare baby feeding room in tears when a mum started breast feeding next to me and my poor baby and his poxy bottle.

Hormones had me in an awful fierce grip.
I can cope now and just smile and turn a bit

moondog · 26/06/2006 18:32

Those bloody hormones.They send you mental.

purplemonkeydishwasher · 26/06/2006 18:35

Bamboozle - try different positions as well. I found that I could only feed my DS in the 'rugby ball' position or lying down for the first couple of weeks.

yoyo · 26/06/2006 18:37

I went to Chloe Fisher's BF clinic with DD1 and despite daily visits for weeks where my breasts were (wo)manhandled I was eventually told to mix feed or have DD1 hospitalised for "failure to thrive". I did, she thrived and we were fully BFing by the time she was 6 months old (continued to BF until she was 2).
With DD2 I had the most fantastic MW who sat with me and encouraged me all the way UNTIL she was properly latched on and feeding. She even came out for the middle of the night feeds when she wasn't on duty. I used to take DD2 into the unit and she would have a nice bath, I would have a horlicks and then we'd get down to business. If you can find one supportive person who will just sit and get you through the first couple of weeks you will get there. It took DD2 four weeks to regain her birthweight but it just wasn't an issue and that was brilliant. I fed her until she was 2.5.
DS took to it very easily and by then I was very confident. When the MW in the hospital got difficult the day he was born insisting that he couldn't leave until he'd fed properly (and then disappearing for hours) I just said that he had (obviously wouldn't recommend to a new Mum).
It is new to both of you and can take time but is worth the effort (as long as it is not making you really unhappy so that you don't enjoy your baby).

moondog · 26/06/2006 18:40

Yoyo,not sure about what you mean.
She was hospitalised?
Or you gave her formula or what??