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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Advice Re Cup Feeding Please

15 replies

DanJARMouse · 09/12/2007 07:25

after my eventful night at A&E with ds, the paed has advised to try to express and cup feed daniel to take the strain away from bf because he cant breathe properly.... except i dont know how!

any advice and tips welcome x

OP posts:

bealcain · 09/12/2007 07:46

hi, if you have the cap to a bottle, or a medicine cup, they're great. basically just sit the baby on your knee with neck in hand(as if burping) if he cant support his own neck. the gently place the cup to his lips and he wont drink it conventionally he will lap it up.

BTW - how old is he? If you can put him to the breast just before or after you're cup feeding you'll help to maintain milk supply due to stimulation and will be able to keep latch correctly.

Original poster

DanJARMouse · 09/12/2007 09:01

he is only 10 days old, its my first time bfing despite being my 3rd baby.

paed did say to offer cup feed after a normal bf

how do i express the milk? i have tried with the pump but got nothing out

OP posts:

bealcain · 09/12/2007 12:00

sorry the kids were being a NM. have you tried hand expressing? i do it by going on all fours on the floor with a bowl under my boobs and basically squeeze the arola and then pull towards your nipple. you need to do it quite fast at first untill the milk starts flowing then get slower. basically the same as your baby rythmically.

do you mind me asking, why you were in A&E and why the doctor has suggested it? there aren't that many causes that prevent a mother from breastfeeding. doctors are often mislead and under experienced

Original poster

DanJARMouse · 09/12/2007 14:01

He has a croup type infection so his breathing is a little awkward. To be fair, he has managed 5-10min feeds so far this morning so havent bothered with the expressing bit, not sure if he is getting enough or not though.

Im so bloomin useless at all this stuff!

OP posts:

JingleyJen · 09/12/2007 14:07

You are so not useless! you are doing really well..

I would keep trying him on the boobie.. is it the lying down that is making him unable to feed? when DS's had trouble breathing through colds etc it helped to put a little olbas oil on a tissue near where I was feeding.

I would also resign myself to the fact that he is going to feed more often (perhaps it may feel like he is snacking for a few days)
Have they given you any medication for him?

I am sure the cavalry will be here soon with some better advice! Chin up sweet you are doing brilliantly

Original poster

DanJARMouse · 09/12/2007 14:13

Ive got saline drops for his nose, and told to give calpol - but im not happy with that - he's 10 days old ffs!

He has been snacking this morning, but i know its to be expected. He wont feed lying down at the moment at all, so Im shattered!

He is sleeping a lot too though, poor little thing.

I can do this, i will get through this, just could do without it! I was just getting into the swing of this BF malarky, and then we go 2 steps back!

OP posts:

islandofsodor · 09/12/2007 16:01

I cup fed for about a month as my ds refused the breast. Basically just use the top off a normal baby bottle or a little infant feeding cup (you can get them from NCT materity sales) and hold it, slightly tipped to baby's mouth. The baby will sort of lap the milk up. Although it was a bit impersonal I found the best way was to have ds facing me with one of my hands supporting his back/head and the other holding the cup.

JingleyJen · 09/12/2007 16:51

The other thing I was going to say was that if you tilt your body once he is on the boobie (no good for your back!) you can get him more upright during a feed - just thinking as I type - would it work if you lay on your side and he fed from the top breast facing the boobie so it is like he is sitting up but leaning forward (Hard to describe but you would be supported and you could have your free arm supporting him)
May not work - just thinking of things I tried with DS2 when he had bad ears and wouldn't feed because of the pressure.

Sorry can't be more help hope your little man is feeling better soon!

NewBabyStillBelowBirthWeight · 09/12/2007 18:40

I had to abandon breastfeeding last week. I was also told at the hospital to express and feed by cup. In the end I think DD preferred the cup; it is quicker and easier to drink with a blocked nose than breastfeeding. And she completelya refused the breast after a time, gradually refusing more and more feedings and only drinking from the cup. Given a second go I would avoid cup feeding as much as possible or at least make sure your little one only drinks very slowly from the cup. I was encouraged to feed very quickly as my DD fell asleep so easily.

Good luck to you.

bealcain · 09/12/2007 20:24

i agree with what everyone has said, if you can avoid cup feeding then do. my babies have noly ever fed for 10mins at each feed, you may have a quick let down, or flow and be really efficient at producing and delivering your milk. do remember that 10days is a growth spurt time and so he'll probably have been getting into snacking anyway! just remember to sleep or at least rest when he does.

bealcain · 10/12/2007 11:24

Hows it going today DJM?

JingleyJen · 10/12/2007 11:25

I was just thinking the same thing -

Hope all is well..

Original poster

DanJARMouse · 10/12/2007 12:27

he seems so much better, have avoided cup feeding completely, and he seems to have been latched on all morning! Spoke to MW this morning, and she seems to think he is doing really well so no need to even think about it!

YAY! Thanls for the advice though, wasnt sure if daniel would pick up so quick but he has

OP posts:

bealcain · 10/12/2007 12:31

DJM i'm so happy for you, that's excellent. glad you didn;t need to do the expressing for too long. really chuffed for you.

JingleyJen · 10/12/2007 15:43

Ahh what a relief - so good to hear you have worked your way through it.

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