Baby dropping centiles - so scared

[sofierat]

Hello, first post here and not really sure how this is going to pan out as feeling quite hysterical to be typing!
Bab was born at 7lb5 after an emergency induction culminating in emergency c section when the oxygen in his blood started dropping - this was after 36 hours of labour contractions every 2 minutes for me after i reacted insanely sensitively to the induction hormones. He pood all over himself during c section so i didn't get him for over an hour whilst they cleaned him out and sorted his breathing. Breastfeeding he wouldnt latch but i managed to express and finger feed him every hour and a half for the 7 days we were in hospital - he ended up with jaundice and was under lights.
Eventually we were discharged and continued getting lactation advice but he still wouldnt latch so we expressed and finger fed for 3 weeks until he returned to his birth weight. He was diagnosed with tongue tie which was fixed but didnt seem to help his latch.
The lactation advisor suggested we try nipple shields which worked in gettibg him to feed at the breast. However he feeds constantly! We were told this was a growth spurt at around 6 weeks but nothing has changed and he is now 10 weeks 3 days and at the boob constantly. We try and latch him without the shield and he occasionally feeds without it for 5 to 10 mins before getting cross and thrashing so i use it again.
The poor boy never really seems satisfied and is only content for a few minutes before crying - so i feed him to comfort him which stops the crying but means i am doing it constantly!
We thought he was upset because of wind and then recovery ftom having two inguinal hernias surgically fixed, but now he burps really well and the surgery was 2 weeks ago, so we went to the doctor who diagnosed silent reflux from his hiccupping, gurgly tummy and his crying whenever he finishes feeding or is lain on his back (ive been carrying him upright in his ergo during the day - only way he will nap without screaming).

The doctor also weighed him and he has gone down 2 centiles to the 0.4th. Im despairing and so sad and scared because all i do is feed him constantly and he is dropping centiles. If he has silent reflux and isn't posseting or being sick and im feeding him constantly how is he not gaining enough weight? We have been referred to a paed dietician who i am scared will tell me to formula feed him.
Im just so tired and scared :(

Im not limiting feeding!! I meant the only way he naps during the day is if i take him for a 2 hour walk otherwise he doesnt sleep! Because he feeds constantly the rest of the time in this break my boobs fill up painfully because they are used to him being there constantly otherwise! I just burst into tears thinking you think i delay his feeding..clearly a bit emotional and tired.

You must be exhausted Sofie.I don't think people were suggesting you were leaving him go hungry, just a lot of people receive poor advice to allow their breasts "fill up" between feeds. It sounds as though there is no supply issue so if your baby isn't gaining it suggests either a milk transfer issue or another issue stopping your baby gain. Either way I think you need some professional help. Tiktok has excellent advice. Is there a breastfeeding group or lactation consultant you could see for advice? Ideally someone who can check for tongue tie. Request a referral to paediatrics especially if he seems unhappy. And I agree with not worrying about nipple confusion at 10weeks so if your baby will take a bottle could someone else try give one feed and allow you get a little sleep? Cup feeding is possible but can take a bit of practice so maybe your HV could talk you through it if you needed help.