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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

AArrgh 20 days in and BF going down the toilet

41 replies

moaningminnie2020 · 06/01/2009 23:48

Any advice welcome, DS is 20 days old and I had been exc BF. Really wanted to BF longer than the three months DD had, but at first weigh in at 13 days he had lost a load of weight, birth weight 7lb 6.5, went to 6lb9.

I was shocked as he had been feeding happily, latches beautifully and seems settled, wetting nappies etc.

HV said to just strongly encourage him to feed more, so I've been waking him for feeds through the days and encouraging him all I can but he is only feeding for a few mins then goes to sleep and won't take any more, even if I change his nappy to wake him up, tickle his feet, reduce his clothing, you name it.

Weighed again at 19 days, lost another ounce. He looks like a scrawny scrap of a thing and I sadly agreed with HV to offer him top ups of formula or EBM if I can express enough. With DD once a bottle came in the BF just started to die as she much preferred a bottle - any bottle, EBM or formula. I tried the cup/spoon but it just made him very cross.

HV reckons that he may feed better when he's experienced the joy of a full tummy and is stronger when he's put a bit of fat down...I just think I might be stuffed and he's going to end up FF alone very soon

Is there any hope?

OP posts:
Original poster
moaningminnie2020 · 07/01/2009 22:58

tiktok- great to hear that pumping may be enough to keep supply going, I'm using a medela swing, the 2phase electric pump, and also got an Avent isis manual one that I had bought initially with DD.

I've been putting him to the breast just before I express whether he's keen or not as it seems to help stimulate things, and using a breast shell on spare boob while I feed him for the drips. I managed to pump while feeding last night but found I just didn't have enough hands really.

Ideally I'd like to get him back to excl BF once he's fattened up a bit and more lively but just need to get a bit of weight on him first...he did seem keener on the EBM than the formula though which cheered me up a bit

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Grendle · 07/01/2009 23:33

You're welcome . The BfN drugs in breastmilk line is only one part of their work. They also provide similar breastfeeding support to ABM, LLL and NCT via a general telephone helpline and run local breastfeeding support centres.

Aitch · 08/01/2009 12:32

oh i understand being cheered by that. dd2 was born prem so needed formula in the early days as i think the act of feeding was too exhausting for her to be able to meet all her needs. so we jiggled things about, expressing A LOT and using ebm and then formula if we ran out of ebm etc and she put a bit of weight on and that gave me the opportunity to phase out the extras. i also take fenugreek by the bucketload and domperidone, but they're for supply and it sounds like yours is great, it's just your son who's tiring. i'm sure you'll be great this time, you know so much more with the second, don't you?

Original poster
moaningminnie2020 · 09/01/2009 01:09

He's been much more alert and enthusiastic about trying to BF today, taken the top ups well, managed to make it about 60% EBM to 40%FF but not a lot in the fridge for tomorrow as he's been cluster feeding this evening and I couldn't express much tonight.

But am feeling better about it all, he's getting weighed on Monday so I'll try to pop back and let you know if he's getting any fatter.

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Turniphead1 · 09/01/2009 03:40

Minnie - can I just second Aitch's referral to the Dr Jack Newman website. Having struggled with b'fing first and second time round, I have found this the most valuable resource third time around in getting a good latch and upping my supply. Previously none of my babes have gained weight well at all.

See the help section with pdf about the latch and video clips on "good drinking" etc etc. I found that tilting baby's head right back and clipping up and over (as he describes and see video clips) made feeding so much more efficient and thus DD2 less likely to fall asleep at breast. Breast compressions really help at the end. I have also found that (for some reason) switching from cross cradle hold to underarm half way through the feed on one breast seemed to wake her up and get her to take more.

I really hope it all improves for you. You are doing a great job.

Turniphead1 · 09/01/2009 03:44

Just rereading some of the thread, I know you were saying latch and so on not a problem - but it may be that latch could be improved iyswim? Dr Jack seems to think no such things as lazy babies...

Original poster
moaningminnie2020 · 10/01/2009 00:22

I don't think I believe in lazy babies either, or surely we would have died out long ago??

Have put the Dr jack Newman site and the others in my favourites to have a longer look at tomorrow.

He's been feeding for longer periods today and the nappies, although wet before, are much wetter and more poos too, quite alert again today and been managing to express fairly well after feeds when DD's not switching the pump off for me so another better day

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Original poster
moaningminnie2020 · 12/01/2009 22:40

Just a quick update - the expressing is still going ok at the mo and he was weighed today - he has put on 13 ounces in the last week so starting to catch up a bit at last. Not quite back up to birthweight but only 1.5oz below now.

The Dr Jack Newman site was fab - can't believe I never heard of it before.

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moondog · 12/01/2009 22:46

Blimey.Brilliant!

Original poster
moaningminnie2020 · 12/01/2009 22:48

I'm rather chuffed, I have to say!

Be even better when the HV isn't coming every week and I can stop having to tidy up before she arrives lol.

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bubbleymummy · 12/01/2009 22:57

That's fantastic - well done to you both!

LackaDAISYcal · 12/01/2009 22:58

great news

Original poster
moaningminnie2020 · 18/02/2009 17:59

Quick update from me as I've seen a few similar messages recently -

DS is now excl BF

I slowly weaned him off the top ups once his weight was better and he was reliably feeding better and it seems to be working. He's still only little at 9lb2 but lively and smiling and cooing and sleeps a bit at night.

Am so glad I persevered, I honestly thought the BF was doomed and he'd be fully FF by now. So I thought I'd share a bit of good news for a change

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Original poster
moaningminnie2020 · 18/02/2009 18:03

By the way, I ended up expressing all his topups after a few days, so when I started weaning him off I didn't have to worry that my supply and his needs were vastly different. He still had to work harder for it of course, but it meant I wasn't worried about that too.

In hindsight I think I did it right on top of his 6week growth spurt though, so we've had a LOT of cluster feeding but its so lovely not to be sterilising and faffing about with bottles as well as BF.

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charitygirl · 18/02/2009 18:06

brilliant! god, i love stories like this!

Original poster
moaningminnie2020 · 18/04/2009 15:13

Had to pop back one last time - he is now 17 weeks, been putting on 8.5 - 9.5oz a week for the last 6/8 weeks, feeding going very well

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