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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Help with DS2 please.

40 replies

kayzr · 15/12/2008 19:55

Not sure where to post this really.

Does anyone have any advice to get DS2 to settle in his moses basket?

I am so tempted to see if we still have any dummies left from DS1 but I think we got rid of them. He won't settle at all really and its getting really hard to even do something as simple as having some dinner.

I'm not getting hardly any sleep at all. As soon as he finishes feeding I put him down and he cries. So we've been co-sleeping, which we don't really like doing but it's the only way I get any sleep. We were awake from 1 this morning with a few half hour naps. I am ashamed to say I honestly thought about FF at 3 this morning like I did with DS1 but I am determined to keep trying.

The MW said to try to feed him again, from the other breast but 9 times out of 10 he just goes to sleep. Even if DH picks him up and cuddles him he'll go to sleep.

He does have slight jaundice and is 3 days old. He weighed 10lb 5oz when he was born so not sure if that is a factor.

Any and all ideas are welcome.

Thanks.

OP posts:
notnowbernard · 15/12/2008 19:56

Has your milk come in yet?

AT 3 days old I would feed, feed, feed

scorpio1 · 15/12/2008 19:57

Mine have never settled in a basket unti labout a week old, they are so used to being so close to us.

Great on the BF Keep going, FF is not the answer to this.

scorpio1 · 15/12/2008 19:58

Also you and DH do shifts, you go to bed after a feed, then your dh can wake you up to feed again whilst he sleeps.

It won't last long

Original poster
kayzr · 15/12/2008 19:58

No it hasn't.

I keep trying to feed as much as possible but he falls asleep at the breast alot.

OP posts:
scorpio1 · 15/12/2008 19:59

He will fall asleep at boob loads...imagine how warm and comfy and lush it is to him

notnowbernard · 15/12/2008 20:00

Once your milk comes in it could help a lot with him being more settled

Try and keep him awake at the breast - you could blow gently on his face or rub his feet or something

Offer it each time he gets unsettled

Skin-to-skin is good as well

techpep · 15/12/2008 20:01

I am no expert but would guess that his birth weight has something to do with it, he needs to feed regularly to make sure that your milk comes in-fast enough to satisfy him. If you are happy to carry on breastfeeding i would try to stick at it, and think this time next week he will probably be a lot more settled. I know a week when you are exhausted seems a long time but try to stick it out. Good Luck!!!

scorpio1 · 15/12/2008 20:01

i used to tickle Mimi's side

thisisyesterday · 15/12/2008 20:01

he is doing what he is supposed to do right now, feed, feed, feed to bring the milk in and get your supply going.
if he is jaundiced it's even more important that he feeds lots as it will help.

Original poster
kayzr · 15/12/2008 20:11

When does the milk come in? Is it really obvious?

OP posts:
scorpio1 · 15/12/2008 20:11

after about 3-4 days. very obvious for me...big full sometimes hard hot breasts, dripping

notnowbernard · 15/12/2008 21:35

It won't be long now

As Scorpio says. BIG bazookas

Hopefully you will then get to see that wonderful 'drunk on breastmilk' look

thisisyesterday · 16/12/2008 18:56

mine came in on day 4, so hopefully will be soon for you kayzr

Original poster
kayzr · 16/12/2008 21:04

I think it is coming in today. MW told me to express today as it will help it come in faster. Also she said DH could do some feeds so I can get some rest.

OP posts:
notnowbernard · 16/12/2008 22:33

That's great

I would personally prefer to just bf for the first few weeks (def the first few days) rather than express

IME feeding alone was enough to get the milk supply going, and to get the baby used to and practised at bfeeding

Good luck, hope it goes well for you. And congratulations, btw!

SilverSixpence · 16/12/2008 22:45

when DS was sleepy I would blow on him, tickle his chin or (when it was time) change his nappy and then feed again. Good luck.

fledtoscotland · 16/12/2008 23:40

My two never liked moses baskets. DS2 sleeps on a big cushion on the floor but at 3days he certainly didnt like being put down. i just feel that a baby has been inside you for 9months being cuddles constantly and then they are expected to lie alone in a basket and just settle. I dont get it (sorry). Cuddle and feed all you like - and have food you can eat one handed

re expressing and bottle feeding, i maybe wrong, but i thought your breastfeeding had to be established (eg 6-8 weeks into it) before you could express and bottlefeed so as to avoid confusion both for the baby feeding and your supply.

Original poster
kayzr · 17/12/2008 07:28

Thanks.
MW said the 6 week thing is rubbish. I've had to express as they are so full they are starting to hurt.

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 17/12/2008 09:25

kayzr, if you're expressing as well as feeding you will be telling your body that you need all this milk! they WILL feel full and engorged, but that will subside.
if you're expressing on top of baby feeding then it won't go as quickly because your body won't know that you don't need all that milk. iyswim??

it's easiest just to let baby feed. if you're feeling uncomfy, just stick him on to relieve it a bit
you don't need the hassle of expressing on top of caring for a newborn. IMO.

Original poster
kayzr · 17/12/2008 11:38

A different MW came today. She said that unless we really want to she thinks it is too early to give DS2 a bottle.

She also said to only express if when I am feeding the other breast leaks quite badly.

I'm going to try just doing that and hope that if the other MW comes back she isn't going to moan. She was pretty forceful about expressing.

OP posts:
notnowbernard · 17/12/2008 18:39

Kayzr, am sorry you seem to be getting mixed messages from the healthcare professionals It's not helpful is it?

From what you've described, I'd be more inclined to go with the advice given by the second most recent midwife

The fact that your breasts seem full and are a bit sore suggests you have lots of milk. I remember the feeling!

I used to just express a bit off by hand (a small amount, just to relieve them a bit) It helped a lot

How is ds feeding atm? Does he seem any more settled now?

Original poster
kayzr · 17/12/2008 19:06

Yeah he does. He still won't sleep in his moses basket at night so we're co-sleeping but he will go down during the day.
Its really nice because I get a break to play with DS1.

Feeding is going a bit better. I'm having trouble latching him on as he tends to push the breast away with his hand. So I'm trying and mainly failing to get him to stop doing it.

Breasts are very full, very painful and boiling hot, so I'm hand expressing and occasionally using the pump if doing it by hand doesn't help.

OP posts:
notnowbernard · 17/12/2008 19:19

Glad he's sleeping better in the day

A tip that helped me with dd1 a savoy cabbage leaf in each bra cup (sounds mad but it does work!) APparently there is a particular enzyme in the leaf that helps with the swollen, sore feeling. Your boobs should settle down a bit after a few days

Original poster
kayzr · 17/12/2008 19:28

I think I might have to buy one tomorrow.

OP posts:
notnowbernard · 17/12/2008 19:32

It really helped me. Keep it in the fridge, helps even more