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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Advice for newborn please

24 replies

gallicgirl · 15/03/2015 20:22

Hi. Hope soneone is around to offer advice.

DS was born at lunchtime. He is suckling lots but latch isn't great. The mw will visit tomorrow so can try to sort that then.

However, tonight I'm a bit concerned about his hydration as I'm not at all convinced I'm producing colostrum yet. While he's attached one side, I'm massaging other nipple and it's dry.

Am I worrying about nothing or should I consider a bit of formula at some point to keep him going until milk comes in?

OP posts:

OhisHOME · 15/03/2015 20:28

I never saw a single drop of colostrum but dd thrived. Try a rugby ball hold for better positioning or KellyMom or a bf helpline

IsItSummerYet · 15/03/2015 20:29

Is he having wet nappies? That's always a good sign to look for.

Ikillpotplants · 15/03/2015 20:32

I agree wet nappies is a good check, and breastfeeding clinics can be excellent. Your midwife could let you know where they are if you're not sure. Congratulations btw!

Original poster

gallicgirl · 15/03/2015 20:34

No to wet nappy but after posting I noticed he's filled a dirty nappy!

I think he might be tongue tied Ohis but I will check kellymom and I'm determined to see BF counselor this time and get BF sorted.

I'll keep an eye on nappies then and see how we get on overnight.

OP posts:

SconeCreamJam · 15/03/2015 20:37

If he's done a dirty nappy you can be fairly sure he's getting fluid. Wet nappies are minimal in first few days. Hope it goes well with bf support.

SconeCreamJam · 15/03/2015 20:38

And congrats on new baby

Original poster

gallicgirl · 15/03/2015 20:44

Thank you.

Lovely mothers day delivery. :)

He's all tiny and squishy.

OP posts:

Footle · 15/03/2015 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Katie2489 · 15/03/2015 20:50

Agree with keeping an eye on nappies. Keep on offering whenever you can. Hopefully mw will be able to help soon. I believe they are born with 'reserves' for the first few days so a very tiny amount of colostrum is just fine. Ideal really considering their tiny stomachs. You will have enough colostrum for tonight. Fwiw mine fed every half hour or so for the first 12 - 24 hours and the latch wasn't great, i find it takes a while to figure out what's what. Congratulations on your new baby. Good luck tonight!

llamallamaredpyjama · 15/03/2015 20:51

Congratulations!!

Let him park on both your boobs, he'll want to stay there probably all night. Keep practising latch and he'll be getting what he needs.

Tummy to mummy, nose to nipple, wait for open teeny tiny mouth and plug him on.

You'll find your stride, it'll just take time. Good luck

BathshebaDarkstone · 15/03/2015 20:53

YY to wet nappies. Keep letting him suckle and your colostrum will come in. Try not to worry.

Original poster

gallicgirl · 15/03/2015 20:54

We're in bed having skin to skin and he's been at breast whenever he's awake so plenty of stimulation.

Thanks for the reassurance about colostrum. Sounds like we might be ok.

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 15/03/2015 20:55

Wet/dirty all counts for the same at his age :) Congrats!

Colostrum is so thick and in such tiny amounts that it's hard to get any out yourself. But babies can.

Cobo · 15/03/2015 21:00

I had to express colostrum as DS was in intensive care, and I found it bloody hard to get any out. When it did come it was literally a drop at a time, so I'm not surprised you're not seeing any. I'm sure if you let him feed he'll be getting what he needs. If it helps, I found holding the breast above the areola with thumb and forefinger in a C shape and squeezing would get a drop. But even if that doesn't work for you, that doesn't mean you're not producing it. And congratulations. :)

llamallamaredpyjama · 16/03/2015 07:24

How was your night? Good luck with the midwife today. I hope you got some rest overnight.

Original poster

gallicgirl · 16/03/2015 10:19

Quite a good night, thanks.

He's had wet and dirty nappies but wouldn't feed through night. On the plus side we got some sleep.

Intend to spend the day lazing around feeding so hopefully building up supply.

OP posts:

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 16/03/2015 11:01

Oooh Gallic. Was it you I was talking to about timing contractions. Congratulations!!

If your DS was only born yesterday then, actually, quite a long stretch when they aren't that interested is common. They are wiped out after the birth and sometimes they just want to do a long stint of sleep to recover. All three of mine did it on their first day or night. If he's feeding lots now and has wet nappies, I wouldn't worry as a one off. The mw told me that people often get themselves in a panic, but it's if it becomes a pattern rather than a one-off birth recovery that you need to keep an eye on it.

If you ever have worries about wet nappies again, tuck a cotton pad inside the nappy. Their wees are so tiny you sometimes don't know that they are going

Skin to skin is great. And definitely do ask the mw for help.

Congratulations again!

ohdearitshappeningtome · 16/03/2015 11:04

Did you have a hospital delivery or a home delivery?

SophieandHerSnail · 16/03/2015 11:14

Congratulations, how lovely.

Have you already had a baby? I found with my second that my breasts adapted immediately, I never felt full or leaked (I know you haven't mentioned this as an issue but just thought I would mention it).

boloriabullet · 16/03/2015 20:08

Ring the postnatal ward you were discharged from. There is a midwife there 24 hours a day. They should have provided you with this number before you left. Otherwise, if you had a home birth, ring your community midwife. Best of luck xx

Cobo · 16/03/2015 20:25

SophieadHerSnail, really glad you posted that. I've been worrying that my supply isn't great because I'm never as full or leaky as I was with first DS. Had to pump for first few weeks this time round as DS in intensive care, and we've had issues with weight gain, but all other signs of having milk are fine, so it's reassuring that it might be just because it's my second time and maybe breasts just "know what they're doing".

Original poster

gallicgirl · 16/03/2015 21:49

So many replies!

It was a home birth and saw community mw today who confirmed tongue tie. My nipples also confirm

I have seen colostrum today so no worries about that now. Just a question of getting BF established and TT sorted. DS has paediatric check tomorrow so will bring it up then.

Thanks everyone :)

OP posts:

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 16/03/2015 21:55

Congratulations!

Glad you got the tt confirmed so fast. Push for it to be snipped quickly and there's no reason things can't calm down really fast.

SophieandHerSnail · 16/03/2015 21:59

Glad it helped cobo.

gallicgirl my DC2 had a tongue tie, also picked up early on (we also had a homebirth). The earliest appointment we could get was 14 days, so she had it snipped then. I also rang the local La Leche League leader to get advice on contacts for private practice, in case an appointment didn't come through soon enough - can't remember how much I was quoted but it was under £200 - so I would suggest making similar enquiries locally as a back up plan.

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