Newborn Breastfeeding help

Bellesjp · 2023-02-05T05:25:05+00:00

Hi all Baby is 48 hours old, know it's early days but struggling with feeding. Was very sleepy the first day and struggled to get her to wake for feed but she fed well the first night in the hospital and latched ok. Today she hardly woke for feed at all, tried to wake her by changing, tickling feet etc but as soon as she latched just fell asleep. Thought would be better tonight but the same and have ended up giving her some formula which she drank but feeling like a failure and hope I haven't ruined breastfeeding now? Any tips to try and get her to wake for feeding? She just seems happy to sleep but worried she will get dehydrated. Have expressed and syringed a few syringes of colostrum today but not enough I don't think. Got midwife coming today for visit but could be any time up to 5pm and that's a long way away 😩

WeWereInParis · 05/02/2023 05:33

Congratulations on your baby!

I'm not an expert but one thing a HCA showed me in hospital with DD1 that seemed to work was when she's latched on, use the side of your finger to gently stroke back and forth under her chin. It stimulates them to suck apparently, and worked for my DD when she was doing similar.

Original poster

Bellesjp · 05/02/2023 05:53

Thankyou @WeWereInParis I have tried that a bit earlier but didn't help for long :( haven't been able to even get her to latch properly tonight, she just falls asleep as soon as you pick her up

OP posts:

custardbear · 05/02/2023 05:57

Are you doing skin to skin? Also squeeze the foot a little if she's falling asleep.
Good luck! Don't worry about the formula, but do make a good plan with MW today as to how to proceed and what to do if she doesn't take milk

MoreThanRubies · 05/02/2023 06:03

You are not a failure; you’re doing a great job. You haven’t ruined breastfeeding.

Does the hospital you have birth at have a number you can call? Mine has one that was open 24 hours and you could talk to a midwife. They should be very happy to talk about a baby that young who isn’t feeding. Otherwise, ring your midwife for advice as soon as they open. Push for advice and a visit, these early days are crucial for you and baby. You’re not being a bother, you need assistance.

Keep going with expressing colostrum and get as much down her as possible. My DD was dehydrated and we shoved 7 syringes down her at once to get her to perk up.

Annoy her a bit, undress her and gently hold her up. Check she still has good muscle tone (not floppy). If floppy, call 111 or take to A&E.

Do you have a breast pump? Can try pumping and feeding her from a bottle. You might need to keep pumping too keep up your supply. Midwives can explain. DD was topped up with a bottle for 10 days and she went on to BF beyond a year.

Aim to feed for 10-40 mins approx, every 2-3 hours measured from start of feed.

Sounds like you’re doing the right things - keep pushing for support though.

ovaltina · 05/02/2023 06:07

Hi OP congrats on you new baby!

And well done on doing as much breastfeeding as you have done already, both on breast and expressing/syringe.

Don't worry about the formula feed, that won't have ruined anything - the odd one in the future is fine too if you want to do that.

I found if every 2-3 hours during the day I picked baby up and tried to put them on the breast, over time (a few days) they got it.

You're both learning as it's new for them too (my first born was also very sleepy - where's that instinct to feed hey?! but perseverance paid off in the end).

I think it will be easier once your milk comes in in day 3 or 4.

I found an app quite handy to keep note on when they feed and from which boob. My daughter for weeks only ever drank from one breast at a time,

They're all so different!

Breastfeeding can be hard in the early days as they need around 8-10 feeds a day, but it gets easier quickly once it's established.

All the best OP, you'll be grand.

MoreThanRubies · 05/02/2023 06:07

Also, as I understand it, the issue with giving formula in the early days is not that it’s somehow bad for the baby (it’s not, it’s life saving food), it’s that your breasts aren’t receiving all the “make milk!” signals that they get when a baby feeds directly (or you pump), so your supply doesn’t get established. Ask your midwife for more information, or ring National breastfeeding helpline, or NCT breastfeeding line, both are brilliant. But don’t fret about the formula.

bravotango · 05/02/2023 06:14

Congratulations! Don't worry at all about the formula. If your latch is good I would echo PP and suggest tons of skin to skin (I was told to spend my days doing "top off telly time") and maybe strip baby down to a vest for feeds so they're not too warm/sleepy? Also if you have a breastfeeding support number to ring then do that - in my trust they're called the Bambi's but text your midwife, she'll know. Have you tried some alternative feeding positions?

bravotango · 05/02/2023 06:17

I also used a manual pump in the early days, not to express but to get my nipples to sort of stick out a bit more which helped my DS latch more efficiently. Just a £20er Medela one from Amazon.

Original poster

Bellesjp · 05/02/2023 11:11

Thankyou everyone, just picked up some more syringes from the hosp and midwife coming this afternoon. She doesn't seem upset just not latching much or staying on. Hopefully will have a plan this afternoon x

OP posts:

scotscorner · 05/02/2023 22:46

Keep going OP, don’t worry if it takes a while to get the hang of it! I’ve been there very recently and we’re breastfeeding well now :)

Your newborn sounds similar to mine - here’s the link to the thread I posted in case you find the advice useful.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/parenting/4716608-breastfeeding-baby-wont-latch

Good luck and congratulations on your beautiful baby x

stollen123 · 06/02/2023 00:39

This sounds like my baby - turned out he was jaundiced which was what was making him so sleepy. We had to wake him to feed every 2.5 hours until 3 weeks when he was finally signed off by the midwife although after he had treatment in hospital he was waking up on his own! I found that all the things you're meant to do to wake up the baby like tickling feet didn't work - the only ones that did were to vigorously burp him or rub his ear with my finger which usually got him to start sucking again. Good luck x

Partyandbullshit · 06/02/2023 00:45

Wow this brings back memories! Also of turning to MN in the middle of the night - which it probably is for you! I remember having to undress my babies, tickle their feet, tickle the underside of their chin, and actually nudge my nipple into their mouth by stroking the closed lips with my nipple. I think the smell or milk did something. Both used to feed in their sleep. Soooo cute. They kind of have to learn, and so do your breasts. You’re actually communicating through the breast milk (or something - can’t remember exactly). As I’m writing I remember them vigorously sucking three or four times…then falling asleep again with the effort and the milk dribbling back out of their mouths 😆. Keep at it, everything you’re doing is totally fine and normal. You’ve many days of this ahead, everything will settle down.

Original poster

Bellesjp · 06/02/2023 07:01

Thankyou everyone for your help, had a much better night last night! Had midwife round yesterday afternoon, I'd thought she could be a bit jaundice but she did the check and her levels were under the line where they consider it to be, although she said she could have been and it's leaving her system. They're going to recheck her today.

She had some more colostrum syringes yesterday after this which seemed to perk her up and she had her first proper awake time since coming home from hospital, then latched on and fed! Couldn't believe if, was definitely the point of her being more awake that helped her feed and didn't dose off straight away. She's then been asking for boob all night and I haven't slept but so pleased I could cry! She's still only been feeding for 10/15 mins at a time but what a difference from yesterday..! Also my milk has now come in, wahoo!

Got a feeding consultant midwife coming today apparently so hopefully this will be of further help.

Thankyou all again, was definitely such a help to hear from others when I felt like giving up and thought it was all over x

OP posts:

MoreThanRubies · 06/02/2023 07:07

Brilliant! That’s wonderful to hear. Well done to you and DD both.

PinkPlantCase · 06/02/2023 07:14

Bellesjp · 06/02/2023 07:01

Thankyou everyone for your help, had a much better night last night! Had midwife round yesterday afternoon, I'd thought she could be a bit jaundice but she did the check and her levels were under the line where they consider it to be, although she said she could have been and it's leaving her system. They're going to recheck her today.

She had some more colostrum syringes yesterday after this which seemed to perk her up and she had her first proper awake time since coming home from hospital, then latched on and fed! Couldn't believe if, was definitely the point of her being more awake that helped her feed and didn't dose off straight away. She's then been asking for boob all night and I haven't slept but so pleased I could cry! She's still only been feeding for 10/15 mins at a time but what a difference from yesterday..! Also my milk has now come in, wahoo!

Got a feeding consultant midwife coming today apparently so hopefully this will be of further help.

Thankyou all again, was definitely such a help to hear from others when I felt like giving up and thought it was all over x

This is great news OP!!

Don’t worry about short feeds baby’s stomach is about the size of a walnut if I remember correctly.

Congratulations on your baby 😁

Original poster

Bellesjp · 09/02/2023 21:03

Just wanted to come on and update this thread in case anyone else in same situation. Things are so much better now a few days later! She is now awake more in the day and is asking for feed! I have used nipple shields a few times when I've found her hard to latch which really helps and she feeds for ages with them, the rest of the time she seems ok without.

We have also had some sleep at night for the first time as she seems to be more settled

Just shows how quick things can change, so glad I hung on in there and didn't give up ❤️

OP posts:

scotscorner · 10/02/2023 18:55

Well done OP!!! Great job sticking with it xx