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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Started expressing just over two weeks old....

24 replies

Brandnewmamma · 05/10/2013 13:45

Baby losing weight and got concerned.. Have bought a medella pump and I notice I only make two ounces (combination of output from both sides)

I know that formula fed babies feed six times a day 4oz so no wonder my little one hungry.. Hand in mouth the whole time placid baby.. Doesn't wake much during night so district nurse said to wake him.

Last night we gave him a formula bottle and I pumped so my supply wouldn't drop again. I am going to offer breast every hour and a half and sent husband to buy fenugreek.

Any advice welcome...thank you Flowers

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peanutMD · 05/10/2013 13:54

My DD is 7 months and thriving well on breast milk, i can't get a single ounce out with numerous pumps. How much your baby gets at the breast has no relation to how much you get out with a pump.

Please don't streas yourself it can take a few Weeks fir your supply to settle.

I had to feed pretty much constantly fire the first few weeks so keep at it, if that's what you want to do, and all your hard work will pay off.

Good luck :)

Original poster
Brandnewmamma · 05/10/2013 14:23

Thank you peanut..I didn't realise that? No wonder the nurse discouraged. Use of pump!!!

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tiktok · 05/10/2013 23:51

Brandnew, can you give more info?

Is your baby actually losing weight? How old is he?

Why are you seeing district nurse? Are there other health problems?

(or do you mean midwife or HV?)

geminigirl · 06/10/2013 00:53

Oh my goodness, I have been exactly where you are now, it can be so difficult to know what the best thing to do is. I would latch baby on and let him feed as long as he wants, there is nothing as efficient as a baby at emptying a breast. If you are trying to get supply up, pump in between feeds as eventually your body will realise that there is a greater demand and your supply will start to increase. When the flow has stopped while using the pump, try to hand express as you could get a good 10 to 15 most more.

Don't replace a feed with a formula feed if you can manage it. I tried fenugreek too, I think it helped but one of the most helpful herbal things was fennel tea. You would need to sip maybe three or four mugs a day.

Don't forget to take care of such things as the amount of rest you take and to make sure that your diet is up to scratch too. I really hope you can get through these tough days, if you can stick with it, it really is worth it. Good luck Brandnewmamma

geminigirl · 06/10/2013 00:54

Oops, end of first paragraph should read 10-15 mls more....bloody autocorrect!

Original poster
Brandnewmamma · 06/10/2013 13:02

Thank you so much.. Live in Ireland so district nurse is who supports in rural areas. Baby went from 8 lb 3 to 7 lb 9.. Husband got the seeds by mistake so will get the tea Tom bit can't drive so it will be Tom night... Will try all suggestions.. Thanks again

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tiktok · 06/10/2013 15:49

Thanks, Brandnew but how old is your baby?? :)

That weight loss is well within normal if your baby is 4-5 days old.

If your baby is 2 weeks old and the weight loss is recent, then it's a different story.

geminigirl · 06/10/2013 16:30

Can you contact NCT or la Leche for some more hands on help or a local mothers and babies or breast feeding spport group? I know how hard it is to get out of the house after having your first baby so can completely understand if you don't feel like going down that road. I hope you can keep away from reaching for the bottle, that's what was the undoing of me the first time, I persevered the second time and it was a result.

Original poster
Brandnewmamma · 06/10/2013 19:49

Baby was losing weight at just over two weeks.. They thought it due to the fact that i sidnt offer it enough though he was cluster feeding in hospital I was harder wen I got home.. So I put a temporary stop to visitors and e put on a couple of ounces.

Needless to say.. Some people weren't impressed with the need for me to be on my own with him.. Whole oter storyGrin

The trouble is I live rurally and after c section and husband back to work but can contact them via phone and two lactation consulants at local hospital which I could get to by taxi when I think of it now they said I can go back in.

He is three weeks tomorrow so will get him weighed again. I offer him breast a lot today and actually fifty minutes latched on one feed and he seems to be stronger .. Thank you.. Also I set alarm to feed him more at night.

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geminigirl · 06/10/2013 20:11

You're doing well, it's a great idea to feed more at night as your prolactin levels are high and will stimulate your supply. Well done on latching him on more, it can be easy just to give a bottle cos you instantly have a satisfied baby but then automatically your supply goes down, it's a very fine balancing act.

I also had c/s with both of mine and when DH went back to work I really struggled with feeding. Hope the fennel tea is helping, the fenugreek was ok I think but your sweat absolutely stinks of it!

It's great if you can have a few whole days to take to the bed and feed as much as baby wants, hard to do but will definitely help. You're doing really well, you sound very determined to overcome this feeding glitch, I hope his weight has come up a bit. Keep at it.

Original poster
Brandnewmamma · 06/10/2013 20:43

Thank you.. I didn't get the fennel tea yet? Should I get that inste of fenugreek or get both ????

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geminigirl · 06/10/2013 21:03

See how you get on with the fenugreek, give it a few days and if you find no difference then try the fennel tea as well.

tiktok · 06/10/2013 21:29

That's important info, brandnew....it's actually a very big deal if a baby starts to lose weight like this.

It is really important that you feed him often - as often as he will take it, both breasts at least, switch nursing so he gets maximum volume, day and night.

It's very concerning he doesn't wake in the night, so your nurse was right to tell you to wake him and you are right to set the alarm.

Frequent feeding, effective feeding, is FAR more important than any herbal drink, FAR more important than you resting, and FAR more important than your diet....and you are right to stay in close touch with the lactation support people.

When is your baby weighed again? It should be urgently, IMO.

Original poster
Brandnewmamma · 06/10/2013 21:41

Thank you so much.. I am very lucky and support of the district nurse is Fantastic but she has been off.. She even visited me on a weekend evening to see we're we alright. He is starting to wake the past two nights at about four but I was concerned.. I know people joke about sleepless nights but I was awake before him worrying!!! He is feeding an awful lot in the day though and plenty of really wet nappies.. Soils every other day so thy say that is a good sign.

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Original poster
Brandnewmamma · 06/10/2013 21:42

That might sound confusing.. I had the nurse available for the first week home after hospital visit

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tiktok · 06/10/2013 21:45

Once a night feeding is not enough ....you'll get a better idea of the state of play once you get him weighed again, so do post again here if you need to.

tiktok · 06/10/2013 21:46

You'd expect him to poo several times a day. Every other day is unusually infrequent for a newborn.

Original poster
Brandnewmamma · 07/10/2013 10:10

Thank you tiktok I think I i will talk to nurse today too he had another poo this morning so maybe we are making slow progress Confused

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tiktok · 07/10/2013 10:17

Good idea, Brandnew and do get him weighed :)

geminigirl · 07/10/2013 12:40

Any update on his weight? Hope he's continuing to feed well straight from the breast?

Original poster
Brandnewmamma · 07/10/2013 18:55

Hello there.. His weight up three ounces, they would like it to be bit higher, I am getting 3 oz when I express now. However, think from the end of the week I am going to mix feed him as I will have given him a month and for peace of mind. Finding I am only happy when I express so I know what has gone into him then it is double the work.

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geminigirl · 07/10/2013 22:53

Of course, ideally, you would continue to breast feed as you have been doing, you have already seen the results of your labours by a slight weight increase and an increase in your supply. Trust your body to do what it is supposed to, it has started to respond to the increased demand! You have done well so far. When is the PHN coming back to check weight again?

Is your son waking more often and producing more poo? Is he jaundiced at all? Sometimes if a baby is jaundiced they tend to be a bit sleepy...the best treatment for a jaundiced baby is frequent feeding but of course they can then be difficult to rouse...vicious circle. If baby is jaundiced nurse him near daylight but not direct sunlight.

If you prefer to express and give by bottle, remember that the pump is not just as efficient as emptying the breast and you should try to hand express when you think you can get no more from both breasts, you would be surprised how much more you can get. Good luck...I will keep watching your thread to see how you are getting on.

tiktok · 07/10/2013 23:33

Brandnew it's good news he is gaining.

However, I can understand the HCPs re still concerned - he does need to regain the lost weight more quickly, really...this will mean feeding very often, both sides, day and night, and it's still not clear from your posts if you are managing to do this.

I hope you end up feeling a bit happier, whatever you choose to do.

Original poster
Brandnewmamma · 08/10/2013 17:47

Thank you so much girls.. Well th fenugreek has seemed to have increased supply but I am going to mix feed for a while I think.. I feel happier and for some reason my milk is increasing despite one or two formular bottle ( only give him 2 oz and express the rest).

You are very kind with all your advice and time. Thank you.. He is not jaundice and gaining and growing as some babygro's are starting to get smaller on him and my mother thinks he looks really well and not to worry about weight and she is very honest. He had the gp visit too and she was happy.

I think it is the six week check unless I request another visit from nurse.

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