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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

11lb 11oz 3 day old DS2 - thoughts please

28 replies

merryberry · 14/03/2008 19:25

From phone. Apologies if terse and takes a few posts. In hospital for light on moderate jaundice. Both of us resting well. I am eating, drinking fine. Latch good. Suction of 4 moth old on fresh nipples- shocker- small blood blister forming on left nip. Ignore? Was topping up 15 to 30ml per colostrum feed. Milk started in this am. Now on boob every 90 mins for hour, emptying them. Just gave 60ml to obtain dinner break . Am thinking carry on demand feeds but how Much top up when? With aim to excl BF

OP posts:
fishie · 14/03/2008 19:28

congrats

is there any help available at hospital, sounds like positioning not great. or maybe ring one of the helplines, shall i post the numbers for you?

Lulumama · 14/03/2008 19:29

eeek, don;t think top up at this stage will help in terms of establishing ecxlusive breast feeding.... is latch ok? needs to get to breast and feed as much as possible to make sure supply meets demand....

breasts don;t get empty

you need tiktok or howbreastfeedingworks.com/tag/breastfeeding/ with the 4 free helppline numbers

fishie · 14/03/2008 19:30

oh and size of baby shouldn't make any difference to your ability to feed, your supply will match need.

monkeytrousers · 14/03/2008 19:31

Sorry, I'm confused. Why do you need to top up? DS was 10 and a half at birth and fed ravenously on demand, put on a lot of weight every week - basically thrived.

Your supply will adjust to his need.

Congrats bTW!

Original poster
merryberry · 14/03/2008 19:32

Please numbers! Many thanks x

OP posts:
hoxtonchick · 14/03/2008 19:33

Breastfeeding Supportlines
National Breastfeeding Helpline 0844 20 909 20

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers helpline 08444 122 949

Breastfeeding Network Supporterline: 0844 412 4664 Breastfeeding Network Drugline: 0844 412 4665

La Leche League Telephone Helpline: 0845 120 2918

National Childbirth Trust Breastfeeding line: 0870 444 8708

hth merry. take care. xxx

fishie · 14/03/2008 19:38

maybe they are putting the pressure on re jaundice and feeding? def get proper advice so you are sure of what to do. i found friday nights a really good time to get hold bfc, they usually have children too so aren't out gadding about!

Original poster
merryberry · 14/03/2008 19:38

It is the jaundice. Supposed to increase thirst. Certainly ravenous. Dedicated to managed move to excl BF. Not sure need to martyr nipples and some rest to crash feeding what may as well be a 3 month old! He is so lovely. Gorgeous george. Aka GG in honour of size of small horse

OP posts:
fishie · 14/03/2008 19:41

ds had jaundice and bf support shit so he didn't get latched on for five days. i did absolutely minimal top ups and nobody said a word re jaundice, although it wasn't so bad as to need lights. if lights then yes different circs.

you def need a bfc to advise.

beautifuldays · 14/03/2008 19:43

they do feed a lot when they are new and esp when jaundiced. i remember my dd feeding for 45mins out of every hour when she was 3 days old. would second advice about not topping up as that will reduce your supply. just keep feeding as much as you can and try to sleep in between!

also get a bf councillor to check your positioning if your nips are sore.

congratulations on your baby boy!

Original poster
merryberry · 14/03/2008 19:45

Yes on lights. Will prob call weekend...do you know about blood blisters? Really feel just leave it. Not fussed to use shields as advised

OP posts:
Monkeybird · 14/03/2008 19:49

my big babies cluster fed for 20 mins per hr on day 2 and 3: normal...

fishie · 14/03/2008 19:51

don't use shields, they can interfere with supply.

blood blister was first sign of a latch problem for me.

sorry, i seem to be adopting terse language too! better to ring tonight and try for someone to come and see you tomorrow, it can easily get really difficult. and so often one reads here that day 3 is awful too (have blocked it from my memory)

Monkeybird · 14/03/2008 19:53

blisters: ask for jelonet MWs might have some? or get lansinoh: moist wound healing better than air drying. When they abrade/pop, will need to keep moist to heal well, otherwise scabs will just keep breaking open

Monkeybird · 14/03/2008 19:54

me too (terse language!): have assumed internet phone so trying to be brief!

Monkeybird · 14/03/2008 19:57

I believe tops up not standard practice for jaundice unless there is a specific clinical reason: ask what that is if MWs are advising you. You need to just feed feed feed. Have been there, well not quite that big but all circa 9-10lbs and empathise with barracuda suck and food needs of a 3 mo...

Monkeybird · 14/03/2008 19:57

I believe tops up not standard practice for jaundice unless there is a specific clinical reason: ask what that is if MWs are advising you. You need to just feed feed feed. Have been there, well not quite that big but all circa 9-10lbs and empathise with barracuda suck and food needs of a 3 mo...

StarlightMcKenzie · 14/03/2008 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
merryberry · 14/03/2008 20:09

Thanks so much. Barracuda! Yes that is it! Will tough on. Your insights all cheering. Trust MN a lot now... Staff so kind but all contradictory. And take offence if their adviced not heeded in detail.

OP posts:
MehgaLegs · 14/03/2008 20:10

Mine all big and all jaundiced (terse).

Ex BF them all but first few days were hard work. Had blood blister with DS4 but it went after a few days. Blardy hurts but it will settle down.

Well done on your whopping baby boy - you beat my biggest ny 12 ozs! George also very good choice

Monkeybird · 14/03/2008 20:16

far be it from me to say trust MN more than medical staff (I would never say that ) but the key is either experienced BFers who know how it works, or trained BFCs I reckon. Might find some hard data on jaundice and BF on www.kellymom.com or www.drjacknewman.com if you can keep accessing internet

Original poster
merryberry · 15/03/2008 08:12

Just breast thru night. Slept well. Nipp no worse. And off the jaundice light this am! So much easier to hold and manage. Now where is my water? So thirsty

OP posts:
Monkeybird · 15/03/2008 12:32

brilliant news re: getting through night on BF alone, and off jaundice light etc... Try to get someone to get something for your blisters today though even if they're not hurting since if they do become sore in middle of night, you need to be prepared!

Just ask us if you need anything...!

dizzydixies · 15/03/2008 12:44

dd2 was >11lb too, well done you! she latched on and fed and I didn't top up - you're doing really well and he'll be fine

remember to let your nips dry in the air naturally and keep asking

keep drinking water and resting too!

best of luck

Monkeybird · 15/03/2008 12:56

Dizzy, sorry to butt in but air-drying is not recommended these days as the best option for sore or damaged nipples. The reason is that any abrasion (eg cuts, grazes, damage, open blisters etc) will scab over in the air. There is a method of healing called moist-wound healing which means you cover the sore in a layer of something like vaseline (Lansinoh is good, as is vaseline soaked gauze like Jelonet) and this allows the skin underneath to heal without scabbing. If the sore bits scab, all that will happen is next time the baby takes a vigorous suck, they'll open up again and the healing process will have to start again.

Moist wound healing may take a bit longer that scabbing over but is much better for nipples when BF. If the nipples are not damaged then air drying might help, but merry already has blood blisters that may open up.