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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

1 day old baby struggling with feeding any advice?

34 replies

franksidebottom · 18/05/2015 20:52

Hi. Have a 1 day old baby I'm ff. The baby is only taking 0.5 to 1 oz every 4 hours. She seems to really struggle with the teats and tends to bring quite a bit back. Saw my midwife today who said if she doesn't improve they will bring her back in to hospital so now I am extremely concerned and very upset. She was born at 37+6 and very drowsy. I was given pethidine 2 hours before she was born as my labour went much quicker than anticipated. Does anyone have any advice on bottles to use, teat sizes? Or just any advice in general

OP posts:

VivaLeBeaver · 18/05/2015 20:57

Have you tried a different shape, orthodontic teat?

Also when feeding don't hold her into your body like you would naturally. Hold her so she's at a right angle away from you, so she's facing you. Play with the teat pulling it in and out her mouth at times when she stops feeding.

Sorry, have just googles as I have no idea what 1oz is in mls. That's 28mls. So she's taking 15-28 mls every four hours? That's good, her tummy is only 5ml capacity as a newborn.

Are you getting wet and dirty nappies, how many?

Flop83 · 18/05/2015 21:00

Don't leave this to long please

Original poster

franksidebottom · 18/05/2015 21:07

What do you mean flop 83

OP posts:

Original poster

franksidebottom · 18/05/2015 21:24

Had 3 dirty nappies yesterday, one today she is alert when awake but mostly asleep. She is on slow flow teats. Going to try out variflow teats tomorrow. Not sure if it's worth trying a preemie bottle maybe the teat might be smaller. Going to try waking her every 2 hours, anything else I'm feeling desperate

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VivaLeBeaver · 18/05/2015 21:24

Sorry, have just seen that you said she brings some of the feed back up. It's very hard to quantify how much of the feed they keep down and how much they bring back up. plus there's the possibility she's bringing some up as she's over full.

IM guessing the midwife who saw her didn't think the drowsiness was anything to worry about? Didn't think she was poorly, or she would have taken her back to hospital then? She's not jaundiced is she?

VivaLeBeaver · 18/05/2015 21:27

I really wouldn't wake her every two hours. You'll be knackered and be a basket case.

Even little premmie babies are only on 3 hourly feeds. You need to give the tummy time to digest a feed.

I know it's hard but don't panic. Newborns sleep inbetween feeds. The alertness inbetween feeds and being awake won't come for a while yet. If she's alert during a feed that's really good.

When is the midwife coming back and when is she planning to weigh her?

Original poster

franksidebottom · 18/05/2015 21:27

I don't think she's jaundiced the midwife said she was a lovely colour. She was 6.3lb when born so I know she will have a tiny stomach I would feel happier if she took at least 2oz a feed she just sticks her tounge out with the teat and gags

OP posts:

VivaLeBeaver · 18/05/2015 21:28

This is a really good picture.

1 day old baby struggling with feeding any advice?

VivaLeBeaver · 18/05/2015 21:29

She shouldn't be taking 2oz yet. And this may be why she's bringing some of her feed up.

Flop83 · 18/05/2015 21:30

Don't leave her to long without any milk.

I know she only has a small tummy
But babies can become very poorly very quickly

VivaLeBeaver · 18/05/2015 21:30

Try an orthodontic teat. They curve upwards and can help when they struggle to work out what to do with their tongues.

VivaLeBeaver · 18/05/2015 21:31

She isnt been left without any milk at all.

From what the OP says she's having too much!

Flop83 · 18/05/2015 21:42

To much??

I'm reading it as not enough??

Original poster

franksidebottom · 18/05/2015 21:43

she is taking milk but only between 0.5 to 1 oz a feed the midwife said it's not enough and is coming back on Thursday. She is alert when awake but is sleeping a lot. This is my third child but my other 2 were good feeders

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ChocolateBiscuitCake · 18/05/2015 21:46

Agree entirely with viva.

Dc4 is 5 weeks old and on day 1 was syringe fed 10ml max of colostrum at each feed. Sounds like your dd is having plenty.

Have tried every bottle over the years. Dc4 (born at 38 weeks) uses Medela and small size teats - I can highly recommend. Mothercare sell. You don't want a bigger teat - your baby will end up gulping down more air than milk (you will hear a clicking sound when they suck).

Don't panic - sounds like she is doing great.

Original poster

franksidebottom · 18/05/2015 21:52

I'm concerned it's not enough but the baby can't seem to cope with feeding. took 1.5 oz at 7pm but burped up about half an ounce of that. She has just taken half an ounce again and has gone back to sleep but I'm winding her and will wake her again but I doubt she'll take more than an ounce on this feed. Not sure if slow flow is just too slow or if the teats are too big. I will try anything.

OP posts:

ChocolateBiscuitCake · 18/05/2015 21:57

She is only 1 day old!!!!

Please don't worry :)

Original poster

franksidebottom · 18/05/2015 21:58

Chocolate biscuit cake I will try medela. Going out tomorrow to rebuy some new bottles. Trying not too panic but have been in tears tonight feeling absolute crap over it

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Original poster

franksidebottom · 18/05/2015 22:00

Chocolate biscuit cake I know but the midwife has sent me into a panic

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eurochick · 18/05/2015 22:04

Surely at one day old a breastfed baby would only be on minuscule amounts of colostrum? 2 oz does sound like a lot to me. My baby was tiny and prem though so perhaps that skews my thinking!

ChocolateBiscuitCake · 18/05/2015 22:06

Noooooooo - don't cry.

I have been in your shoes 5 weeks ago. Your hormones are raging and I can assure you I have cried shed loads too. Please look at Viva's photo of stomach sizes.

Your baby is exhausted from just being born. 1oz sounds more than ample.

The only thing I would change is try to feed 3 hourly by day (and 4 hourly at night).

Which bottle are you using now?

VivaLeBeaver · 18/05/2015 22:06

Hey, I'm a midwife and honestly from what you've said it sounds ok. Please don't be upset.

Sounds like you're doing great as is your dd. She's content, she's alert at feed times and she's taking a good amount at feeds.

Original poster

franksidebottom · 18/05/2015 22:06

Thanks for that picture viva la beaver. Another midwife I spoke to said her stomach was only the size of a five pence piece. And she is only small as well I shall try and not get upset. I feel like I'm failing her because she won't take more

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VivaLeBeaver · 18/05/2015 22:08

Some babies don't feed at all for the first 24 hours, obv that's not ideal but they don't get ill from it. Babies are born with an extra layer of brown fat which they're designed to burn off for energy until milk comes in on day 3 (if you were breastfeeding). That's why its expected that on day 5 most babies will have lost a bit of weight, especially if breastfeeding.

VivaLeBeaver · 18/05/2015 22:10

Honestly be guided by her. It's very tempting with a bottle to try and finish the bottle, get to the marker of whatever oz, etc.

You wouldn't do this with a breastfed baby, when the baby stopped feeding/seemed full you'd stop. So do the same with a bottle fed baby.

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