Low milk supply, baby is losing weight. Any advice or similar experiences?

[dkinlondon]

I have a six day old baby who has just been admitted to the hospital because he has lost 18% of his body weight.
We did have a rough start (baby and I were separated for 24h on his second day because he had medical examinations at another hospital), and he was on IV fluids for one and a half days as well as antibiotics.

Now it seems I am not producing enough milk, either due to a bad start And this although I am literally feeding my baby constantly on both breasts with only 1 to max 2 hours between feeds and each feed taking half to one and a half hours.

I would really love to breastfeed exclusively and not having to top up with formula, so would love to hear if anyone has any advice or similar experiences they want to share? Is it unlikely I will be able to breastfeed exclusively or does anyone have any experience on that? Thanks

Hello just a quick message to recommend Domperidone for increasing supply - my HV recommended it and GP prescribed it. Currently BFing my almost three year old to sleep, who struggled to BF in the early days and we ended up back in hospital due to weight loss and being instructed to top up with formula. It turned out she had tongue tie which was eventually sorted when she was eight weeks old and we reduced the formula top ups gradually after that. Good luck and sorry you've had such a difficult start.

Make sure you are doing lots of skin to skin. Spend lots of time in bed together getting skin to skin to help increase milk supply. Also, have you tried pumping as well?

Thanks for sharing your stories. Always interesting to hear other people's stories.
@Mamabear12 yes I've started pumping now after every feed. Hopefully this will help increase the supply. I've also visited a breastfeeding councillor who's given me some useful tips for a better latch

Some babies are more efficient then others and as they get older they usually become more efficient. I’m on my third dc and she is the most efficient feeder. She drinks 10 mins and is done. Although, she does want to feed again 2 hours later most of the time! But my first would feed forever like 40 mins and it felt so long. But by 3 months she would feed 5 mins and be done. It is hard early days and I remember thinking just one more week or month and then suddenly she was 13 months! Now it’s the same. Feeding is going well but baby has reflux and I get frustrated as my dh blames me like it’s something I’m eating!! Which yes it might be and I’ve stopped dairy and other foods, but no change in her reflux and basically I’m being asked constantly “what did you eat??” And then I feel like giving up and eating everything I want!! But I keep going and trying to figure out if any food is making her more uncomfortable.