Breastfeeding advice for my sister and her 1 day old baby - Helpful tips please!!!!

[Pat]

Hi, my sister gave birth yesterday and her baby is still not latching on properly. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to be getting much help/advice in the hospital so she's stressing (and of course she's knackered after a long labour) and the baby is upset. I'm planning to visit later to try and offer sensible big sisterly advice and just want to be very clear/positive on what will help her. So, basically any top tips please?!!! (I'll wade through all these various threads as well to try and find advice). It was a long time ago when I gave birth .... so I've just realised I can't remember all the good advice I had at the time!

If the baby isn't feeding at all, Pat, then your sis needs to be expressing colostrum by hand and giving it to the baby by syringe/spoon.

Skin to skin contact as often as poss, and gentle handling - no shoving of baby onto breast (or breast into baby) as this can do more harm than good.

Find someone who knows what's what to support her.

Good luck

Lots of skin to skin cuddles, get herslef as comfortable a position as possible, sitting up with lots of pillows, and try either across hold or rugby hold. Even a few suckles are worthwhile to start off.

definitely get in touch with one of the breastfeeding support organisations, on the phone at least, pref face to face. good luck, x

try to get a bf counsellor to see her in hospital - its much tougher when she leaves. and get them to sit with her an watch a feed.

try to get a bf counsellor to see her in hospital - its much tougher when she leaves. and get them to sit with her an watch a feed.

Is there anyone there (is she still in hospital?) who can show her how to position the baby well? That really is the key to it all IME. A midwife or breastfeeding counsellor should be there. If she is at home they still should be seeing her daily.

Thanks - I was on the phone to her a little while ago and she has expressed a very small amount of colostrum ready to drip into her baby's mouth when she wakes (at least she was sleeping for a while!). I told her to ask for b/f counseller - not sure if they have one. I'll find out later when I get there. Yes - she's still in hospital. A midwife had just popped in when I was on the phone so hopefully she will have had more support before I get there. It's all the day 1 panics so I just want to be sure she's being supported.

Lying down to feed might help her to relax, and is also a different position to try. If you stay with her while she tries this, the midwives shouldn't mind if she falls asleep, even if they don't 'allow' bedsharing.

Hope she's better soon x

I didnt get any support in hospital and got out quick! I expressed for 1st week, then tried him for max of 20 minutes before giving bottle of EBM. After a week he started latching on. I have very flat nipples, and pumping made them abit more latchable aswell. I gave baby milk by spoon in hospital. I phased out the bottle then after about 10 days. As long as hes getting it in, its fine

also having a V pillow behind me, and one on my lap, with baby lying down and hand under back of neck was good. If she is large boobed (like me) try with babies feet and body under arm going sort of the opposite way.

Thank you everyone. Have just printed this and will read on my way to the hospital now.