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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

please give me advice

21 replies

Bumpiemalumpie · 28/01/2014 04:35

hello, I am in need of dire advice

lo and I were discharged yesterday at 2days old.

I ended up having a emcs so all a little sore. however, I thought feeding was going well.

today he seemed to feed a lot so I was sure my milk was coming in. but now I'm not sure.

he has been restless all night and send to make a little shreek when I put him to the breast. he latches but didn't suckle.

I am really worried as he hasn't eaten since around 10pm and I am worried even then I as kidding myself.

I desperately want to ebf as all other plan failed I.e emcs.

please hekp I feel very alone

OP posts:
sharonosaurus · 28/01/2014 04:40

Can you squeeze round your boob a little bit to express a tiny bit, & hold baby near boob,
baby might get a taste for it & latch on,

Im pretty sure my DD slept nearly all night around that 2nd night,

Hope someone can give you better advice in a minute x

sharonosaurus · 28/01/2014 04:42

I meant she slept, as in she wasn't hungry as she had fed constantly all day x

isisisis · 28/01/2014 04:48

I'm sure others will be along soon with proper advice, but firstly you're doing a brilliant job.
Just keep putting baby on, you've both got to learn & the only way is to practice. At that tiny they'll only need tiny, tiny amounts little & often.
And please don't think you have 'failed' by having an EMCS. You haven't - you've grown a whole person, that's a massive achievement! I say this as someone who hypno birthed like crazy & ended up with an EMCS.
Have you seen the Kelly mom website? That has lots of help until someone else comes along.

GiraffesAndButterflies · 28/01/2014 05:02

I am by no means knowledgable but a few tips:
Watch his nappies- if he is making wet nappies and his poo is getting yellower then you know he is getting your milk.
Try skin-to-skin - ie him wearing just a nappy and you topless, and snuggle with him, this will encourage him to feed
Feed as often as he wants it (watch for rooting, head bobbing, and other hunger cues), and don't worry if he seems to feed constantly, it's his way of stimulating your milk.

this link is really helpful, it's from the Kellymom website about what to expect early on

La Leche League have a helpline you can ring for support, 0845 120 2918 (it's staffed by volunteer mums) you could try them in the morning?

Congratulations on your new baby Flowers

RockCrushesLizard · 28/01/2014 05:13

I know what you mean about BF feeling extra important after EMCS - I felt the same way, even though it isn't logical.

Keeping giving your LO the chance to feed is the important thing, because they take such tiny amounts to start with, and gradually build up - I remember it seemed like she hardly took anything at the beginning.

If you're offering regularly, and LO is latching, I'd say you're doing great at such an early stage.
Congratulations on your baby x

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 28/01/2014 05:15

Thank you for the kind words. I am still recording from 30hrs back to back labour and then begging for a cse too as I was so scared for lo!

he has just done 4mins sucking on right and 2 on left. he just doesn't seem to suckle much to night! I am extra neurotic as a mW said upon discharge, oh he looks jaundice, dont go beyond 3 hours between fed

OP posts:
lovetheseasons1 · 28/01/2014 05:22

Congratulations on the birth of your little one! I also had emcs after a expecting a home birth - recovering from a cs takes time, do you have anyone there to help you get the baby feeding?

It does take practice with you and the baby to get them to latch. My partner helped latch the baby on when I struggled - could you try this? Also keep your fluids up, you need a large amount of water and drinks to keep producing milk. Fennel tea is good for this.

I would call your midwife first thing (say 7am) if you're not sure that the baby has fed all night just to double check she/he is not getting dehydrated. I'm no expert as my baby is now 12 weeks and I am ebf her but I will say once I got over the first week or so and got the hang of it I started to really enjoy bf. You can do it :-))

Have you tried stripping the baby down to a vest as they feed better of they are a little cold (helps them stay awake but obviously don't let them freeze!). Also stroking their cheek to encourage them to suckle or playing with their feet can keep them awake and focused on feeding.

Keep going but do take advice early this morning. Also the NCT has a great helpline which I have used I think from 8am but do google it - anyone can call and you don't need to be a member.

You're doing brilliantly - hang in there x

isisisis · 28/01/2014 08:01

Just bumping you for the morning crowd. Is the midwife coming to see you today?
Just a thought, have you got a feeding pillow/couple of bed pillows? You could use them to take baby's weight so you're a bit more hands free to latch & it'll take the pressure off your scar.

sharonosaurus · 28/01/2014 08:09

Hope you are o.k OP, it is hard.
I remember ringing the call bell in tears at the hospital as DD couldnt latch on, its all so very daunting.

You are doing amazing, Thanks

Bexmathews · 28/01/2014 08:24

Hi, I had similar problem in first week and was advised by mw and hv to use a syringe to get milk into dd! Hope it works out for you it does get easier those first couple of weeks are hard xxx

stickysausages · 28/01/2014 09:36

First of all, don't panic!! DS didn't feed for almost a a week, he was bunged up with mucus. It all came good, we ebf for almost 7 months.

Speak to your mw asap, keep doing what you're doing Thanks

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 28/01/2014 14:29

Thank you for all the support, it was just so different from our hospital nights. He went about 6hours but then fed like a trooper!

midwife has been and says I have "good equipment!!!"Grin Wink but he has lost 11% of his bw and slightly jaundice so am on a feeding regime but milk is coming in!!

thank you all, I was in sad sobs then, am in loved sobs now!! bloody hormones!!

OP posts:
lovetheseasons1 · 28/01/2014 16:09

That's great news that your baby is feeding well :)) My DD went 11% under birth weight too and was a bit jaundiced. Just keep feeding, it will feel like you're doing it night and day (you are!) but it's worth it and the weight will go back on. Stay in touch if you want to chat about it. 12 weeks down the line I now love breast feeding x

isisisis · 28/01/2014 16:49

Glad the midwifes been to see you. Keep going, it's a slog at the start but hopefully gets easier & easier. Make sure you're eating & drinking enough yourself.

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 28/01/2014 19:11

Thank you, I have been feeding a lot in the last few hours since the mw came, he did 25 on the left and then I had to plie him off after 35mins as I really needed a wee and dinner!! that was around 2.5hours after 40mins on the right!!

Can I ask, when timing between feeds do you go 3hrs after the start of the last feed or the end? also, how long should I aim for as main on each side??

thank you all, I am hoping for a better night!

OP posts:
ChunkyPickle · 28/01/2014 19:19

I think it's at least every three hours isn't it? DS1 was pretty much on constantly for the first little while, and DS2 spent all evening feeding about every half hour for the first few weeks (and even now at 4 months he feeds every hour/couple of hours in the evening)

I would feel my way somewhere between the two, eg. if it was a 45 minute feed I wouldn't be pressing him to eat again until 3 hours from the end (assuming he was still actually drinking at the end, and he didn't sick most of it back up), if it was a 5 minuter then from the beginning - I'm sure once he's got used to it and is less sleepy he'll be letting you know when he's hungry!

Feeding time entirely depends on the baby I think - DS2 has always been a quick feeder - 5-10 mins max and done. DS1 was a lot more of a grazer and picker, we'd be attached 5 minutes sometimes, 45 minutes others (even when he was much older, he was still sometimes wanting to stay attached for 30 minutes in the morning when he was 2! Although that was as much about cuddles as anything else)

ExBrightonBell · 28/01/2014 19:33

When the midwives say "no more than 3 hours between feeds" they mean from the start of one feed to the start of the next. So for example if the feed is 45 mins you should not go longer than 2hrs 15 mins after that iyswim, so 3 hrs in total from the beginning.

Also, I would suggest that perhaps 3 hourly is a little too infrequent, and perhaps you could try doing 2 hourly or 2.5 hours between feeds. Obviously if your LO wants feeding more often than this then go for it, but offer at least every 2 to 2.5hrs.

It will get easier over time, and as your baby grows he will gradually and naturally go a bit longer between feeds.

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 31/01/2014 10:17

Hello, little update.

it seemed with 'the gold top' coming in, lo was much better and with expressing a bit to help with the engorgement, the feeding world is a better place, especially as we put on 40g in a day!!!

Thank you all so much for the support and guidance

xx

OP posts:
GiraffesAndButterflies · 03/02/2014 09:49

Really glad to hear you're doing better :)

isisisis · 03/02/2014 17:58

Well done Bumpie x

Original poster
Bumpiemalumpie · 03/02/2014 18:36

Thanks guys, it was a dark time but bubba is doing so well!!

the support on mn is amazing!

OP posts:
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