Breastfeed and Newborn Weight Loss

[GPatz]

As background, I breastfeed DS2 until 20 months.

I gave birth to DD around midnight on 03/04/19. DD weighed 7lb, 4oz.

VBAC following an eight hour hormone induction. Placenta manually delivered, suffered blood loss, was given significant amounts of fluid to counteract. Just avoided a transfusion.

Overnight hospital stay. Latch needs work and keeps slipping to nipple, but five dirty nappies and six wet nappies by the time we leave hospital at 16:30 on 04/04/19 (39 hours after birth).

Cluster feeding on 04/04/19 and on demand feeding (or waking at least three hours for a feed). Wet and dirty nappy output still good, colostrum deposits a few times on winding. Latch still being worked on, small mouth.

Midwife appointment at 13:30 on 05/04/19 advises that baby weighs 6.3 pounds. Loss of 11% of body weight in 64 hours after birth.

Midwife visiting this morning to offer support. Whilst I know the latch is currently not giving the optimal feed, given the nappies and deposits, what could I do to improve the situation? I have been correcting the latch each time and guiding DD to open her mouth as wide as possible to achieve the optimum feed I've started expressing alongside and noted I'm not getting much, but aware that this is no indication of amount that DD is getting. DD root's clearly and roots frequently. Has been declared a 'hungry baby' by hospital midwives who have observed frequency of feeds and who have also observed/supported on latch technique.

Feeling rather useless.

And advice most gratefully received!

Honestly, just keep feeding. Put her to the breast at every hunger sign and let her stay as long as she wants. Output is good which is a great indicator. Keep a close eye on latch and that she's swallowing. You can try breast compression as she feeds. I'm assuming she's alert and not overly sleepy...sounds ridiculous with a newborn I know.

I had similar issues and panicked, started expressing after every feed, introduced formula top ups and woke DD to feed every 2.5 hours. This was all on midwives advice! I stressed and exhausted myself out so much over the next few weeks that my supply and mental health really suffered. Dropped all the faff and went back to breastfeeding on demand and she thrived.

I'm convinced some babies are just born big and go on to find their natural line.

I would say you need to make sure you're eating lots and drinking lots of water for now so your body is well hydrated has energy going spare. Spend time skin to skin and cuddling your baby and looking at them and smelling their head and admiring them a lot. This should all help stimulate your hormones and get the milk production going. Encourage your baby to feed as often as they can and let them suckle and use your boob for comfort- offer whenever they seem unsettled or do any cues and keep going until they come off themself. Then offer the other boob to check if they want that one in case they're not done yet. The more they do this the more signals are being sent that more milk is required. I also recommend eating lots hobnobs and watching your favourite programmes as oats are supposed to help and this will make being on the sofa for ages easier. Have you tried feeding lying down? It can make feeds when you're really tired or at night time safer and easier if you do this as a planned thing. Make sure you're not trying to do anything else at all really. If you've got people who can help with housework and childcare let them help for now. Establishing breastfeeding is exhausting and takes a lot of work in the first few weeks and doesn't leave much energy left for housework or running around. Well done OP I hope you're being looked after.