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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Another weight gain issue... Help, new mum in distress...

44 replies

angel1976 · 10/03/2008 20:59

Hi all,

Was completely happy with the way things were going with 16-day-old son (the midwife kept telling me everything is going brilliantly!)... until today... Went to the baby clinic to get him weighed and found out according to the charts that he has fallen from 9% in weight to 2%... The HV wasn't worried and said that as long as he is pooing and peeing then she is not concerned as obviously he has to regain the weight he lost initially. But since the appointment this morning, I've been worried he ISN'T pooing and peeing enough and also, he has been really restless the last two days (feeding loads... and each time for ages!) and I worry now that my milk supply isn't enough for him... Because he has been feeding so much, both my breasts now feel soft (and not full at all!).

So now in floods of tears, poor DH has no idea what brought it on as everything seems to be going well beforehand.

Weight when born: 3130 grammes
Weight at 5 days: Appro. 2900 grammes
Weight at 10 days: Appro. back to birth weight of 3130 grammes
Today (at 16 days): 3200 grammes

Please tell me and reassure me this is normal! I am so losing the plot... I think it's the tiredness too, I don't know if I can face another night of the constant feeding and comforting and putting him back to bed. How does everyone do this?

OP posts:

tiktok · 11/03/2008 09:29

It's fine for a bf mum to eat bananas, smoothies, cheese and crackers, and to have a healthy snack made for her in advance.

It may even make her feel better, less pressured, loved and cared for, more energetic.

But it will have no effect on her milk supply - except indirectly, if feeling good 'allows' her to feed her baby more often and to feel less resentful about it.

How do we know it has no effect? Because the research has been done in several studies across the world (feeding mothers extra and monitoring babies' weights, and comparing the milk from well-fed mothers with poorly-fed mothers).

Why do I always come on here and remind people it has no effect? Because 'eat more/better' is sometimes used as a stick to beat mothers with by HCPs who don't know how to support breastfeeding better, and mothers feel even more pressure and guilt at a time when they are already concerned, tired and stressed....and of course because it's better to be working with effective ways to support breastfeeding, rather than ineffective ones.

Individual experience may appear to differ - it's fine for twinklingfairy to share hers, and her recipe, but sometimes in these situations, others tell people what an OP 'ought' to do, or 'should' do as if there are general truths that apply to everyone.And that can't be right.

Original poster

angel1976 · 11/03/2008 11:58

Hi all,

Thanks for all your advice! LO is still a little unsettled and I seem to be feeding him every hour at the moment during the day! He seems okay at night... Tried to go to a bf support group today and the HV has given me the wrong one! It was some course on being a bf counsellor. A bit embarrassing but the lady running the course does do a bf group tomorrow so will try to make that one...

We do have a baby wrap and DH uses it lots as the LO seems to settle in it well... I'm off to have a rest in a minute as I am so knackered! Will try to eat better for overall health and also to drink lots of water. It just seems a bit hard sometimes when you have a LO latched onto you all day!

OP posts:

Martha200 · 11/03/2008 12:05

Doh to your HV!!

Maybe Tiktok can tell us if there is anything in it.. but having yeast supplement OR a Guinness a day can help milk supply?

My Mum swore by it, the hospital handout had it in too! Now I don't know how true this is, BUT it sounded good to me, and I enjoy one every so often

tiktok · 11/03/2008 12:12

angel - you don't need to drink lots of water!! Really, give yourself a break Drink according to thirst - and you might be a little thirstier than normal, it's true, but deliberately drinking more than you need is not necessary.

Martha - yeast and Guinness will do no harm but there is no evidence they help. It used to be thought that the B6 in both might be a good idea, but no one has shown it works well in practice. If you enjoy either or both, carry on

Martha200 · 11/03/2008 12:18

Thanks Tiktok.
Now, where can I sign up for research in Guinness/BF milk supply trials?

Angel - hang on in there (afraid not much use in the advice part, but it does get better (I have my own struggles at times but each week does appear to be better.)

Bouncingturtle · 11/03/2008 12:18

Take a big pack of hob nobs(or whatever your favourite biscuits are!) to bed with you for the night feeds. I found in the early days that I was ravenous during the night because I was struggling to find time to eat enough during the day and I found it difficult to sleep when hungry. So I would snack on them while ds was feeding. Poor ds was always covered in biscuit crumbs! DS is now 10 weeks, and much bigger gaps between feeds and fewer cluster feeds so have the time to properly feed myself during the day so I'm not hungry at night. I do take a cold drink up with me as I tend to get very thirsty.
Food and drink (especially drink) is important because with the lack of sleep you find yourself feeling run down very easily. If I don't drink enough fluids then I tend to get headaches which are a nightmare if you are surviving on very little sleep!
You are doing really well, make sure that when you are cluster feeding that you get yourself nice and comfy in bed or the sofa, with some mags or books and the telly remote handy. I've been working ,y way through Buffy the Vampire Slayer - now up to the end of season 7!

Original poster

angel1976 · 11/03/2008 13:34

While we are on the topic, does anyone have any advice as to when I should start pumping? I've been told different things by different people! I've got a mini electric pump that I daren't use yet! Will it really help to increase your supply if you start pumping? Any advice as to how often to begin with etc?

OP posts:

cmotdibbler · 11/03/2008 14:21

You don't ever have to start pumping if you don't want to !

It can only help to increase your supply if you pump in addition to the bfs that your baby has direct, and as you are already finding your day busy, its not something to add to that right now tbh.

tiktok · 11/03/2008 14:22

Angel - why not forget about pumping for the moment? There's no 'should' and 'should'nt' about when and if to do it.

Do it when it feels convenient to do it and when you have a reason to do it.

Yes, expressing can increase supply, but why bother? You don't need to increase your supply as you are doing fine....and if you did need to increase it, all you would need do is feed the baby more

phlossie · 11/03/2008 14:29

Ah, angel! Your posts brought a little tear to my eye! My ds (also pfb) stopped moving very much towards the end of my pregnancy and I had frequent panic attacks. I remember thinking that all would be fine when he arrived!
One thing I learned (and, miraculously remembered 2nd time around) was that newborns feed constantly and to just go with it. Get your dh to bring you food and drink while you're feeding, and set up 'feeding stations' - comfy places with tv remote/book/magazine a glass of water and a good supply of biscuits and flapjacks.
And don't worry about those stupid centile charts. Babies don't grow in a smooth line, they have stops and spurts - you can tell if he's healthy by just looking at him.
If you're knackered, you could try bringing your baby into bed with you and feeding him lying down - it's more restful.

Original poster

angel1976 · 11/03/2008 14:44

Thanks x10! After him fussing all this morning and feeding constantly, he has now been soundly asleep for almost 3 hours... He's just so beautiful and it just makes my heart ache to think of him not growing... This first time mum thing is sooooooooooooo hard!

OP posts:

mamazee · 11/03/2008 15:27

angel
he is growing... you just can't see it
he cannot help but grow..its his job
rest up and i agree with phlossie..forget about bloomin centile rubbish.
i wouldn't pump...unnecessary faffing
i would also say sling and co sleewping and feeding lying down are the way forward..and don't listen to people who tell you..they will never sleep alone and become too dependent...in my humble opinion its RUBBISH.
x

Original poster

angel1976 · 11/03/2008 17:34

Thanks mamazee... Health visitor is coming on Thursday so fingers crossed! Also going to a baby cafe tomorrow where apparently this lady who is a bf whiz will be there and either reinforce what I am doing or correct it so feel positive about it today!

The baby wrap has been wonderful for DH though initially he thought it looked too hippy! He really enjoys carrying him while I am on a 'break'. LO is sleeping in his own little hammock and he seems to like it so I don't think I will be doing co-sleeping for now! I'll never say never though! Also fed him once this morning lying down and he happily went to sleep on our bed for an hour after that so that was nice.

Thanks for all the support, feeling much better about everything today!

OP posts:

smallwhitecat · 11/03/2008 18:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bexnboo · 11/03/2008 20:53

i used a pump from the day after my baby was born! It def got the milk flowing! She was in special care so would only latch on in the begining for a minute so the pump def upped my milk supply!

mamazee · 11/03/2008 21:12

my pleasure angel..i reckon you just need to big yourself up a bit and realise what an amazing job you are doing.
we women can be terrible at feeling inadequate, insecure, not good enough or just plain wrong and ...sadly..we take that in to motherhood with us but these little babes know better...they know that we are all perfect amazing and fabulous yummy mummys...am also sure your baby knows you are more chilled and getting support. they really pick up on it.
i second bex on super congratulating you for mastering lying down feeding it ain't easy but you did that today AND got out of the house AND went on mumsnet AND arranged to go to a baby cafe...you are in fact a PRO..GO GIRL

Original poster

angel1976 · 12/03/2008 14:46

Hi all,

Just to let you know that we went to the baby cafe this morning and had the nicest bf counsellors there... After a long chat and them looking at baby and his feeding, it looks like little Aidan is tongue tied... That could explain why he takes an hour to feed each time, the pain in my left nipple and his slow weight gain (that's me, not them... they thought I've done really well getting him above his birth weight considering his 'moderate' case of tongue tie...)

So he should be getting it snipped next week and hopefully that will improve things greatly... Thanks for all your support. I met some wonderful mums at the baby cafe too!

OP posts:

smallwhitecat · 12/03/2008 14:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mamazee · 12/03/2008 14:54

Great..at least you know that there is a problem

bet you feel so much better.
i think you have done even better than i thought considering he is tongue tied.
Bless him...he will bllom once it is sorted i am sure.
fab
let us know how it all goes

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