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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Please please help new born feeding

47 replies

Pilki · 19/04/2009 22:00

Hiya

Gave birth yesterday to DD and am having a nightmare with feeding,
She breastfed once well and then suffered for the first day with really bad mucas and was bringing a lot of mucas up so only had two more feeds and both were forced on her and only lasted minutes,

I BF her this morning at half nine and was discharged at midday. She hadnt been fed since half nine this morning and just wouldnt latch on and the midwife on the phone was really unhelpful. So I got some SMA and fed her that at about eight o clock.

It said to make 90mls and she only had about 35mls and not Im petrifed that Im crap and not feeding her properly.

It doesnt help that my hormones are everywhere and I cant seem to breastfeed. I have the midwife coming tomorrow but should I formula feed again tonight and should it be in 4 hourly intervals. and should she be having more ??

hope it all makes sense. if anybody has any help at all it would be such a help.

OP posts:
Grendle · 19/04/2009 22:08

Congratulations no your new dd .

Have you tried hand expressing? Instructions here. Your baby only needs really small quantities of milk at this age, as her tummy is about the size of a small marble. You could sterilise a teaspoon (boil for 5 mins) and see if you could hand express that amount. Newborns typically feed around every 2-3hrs, though it does vary.

Spending loads of time cuddling skin to skin will help your milk supply and she may start to show interest in the breast (without any pressure to feed if she doesn't want to). Some mums find squeezing a drop into their nipple helps to get their baby's interes and if they lie semi-reclines with their baby on their tummy head in the cleavage then they will bob about and actually latch themselves on.

In the morning you could try ringing the National Breastfeeding helpline for support, the number's 0300 100 0212.

Flibbertyjibbet · 19/04/2009 22:08

Hi her tummy is teeny weeny and 90mls would be a lot for a day old baby.
I don't want to give particular advice about formula/intervals/breastfeeing as there are ladies on here actually trained and qualified to do that.
What I will say though is congratulations on your lovely baby!! and, breastfeeding in the early days can seem all over the place and as a new mum you think you don't know what you are doing.
My ds1 had a lot of mucus because he had swallowed a lot of meconium, it did make feeding difficult for the first few days. You are NOT crap you are a new mum, just try to stick with breastfeeding as you need to stimulate your supply as much as you can at the moment.

What area are you in there might be a breastfeeding counselling service, they are fab where I am and have a 24 hour helpline that I can find for you if you like? They won't hang up just because you are out of their area.

SoupDragon · 19/04/2009 22:10

Go to bed with your new DD and stay there. As Grendle says, lots of skin-to-skin contact.

Grendle · 19/04/2009 22:10

Sorry, also meant to say, forcing her to the breast is probably counter-productive, as most babies dislike this and can then form a negative association. also, 90mls would be a huge amount for such a young baby .

For an explanation of early milk and tummy size see here.

gagarin · 19/04/2009 22:11

Pilki - don't panic. You are doing really well to be asking for help rather than sitting in a corner worrying!

Breast feeding can be hard to get going for any number of reasons BUT the key thing is to keep at it.

Undressing your baby down to her nappy and lying her on your naked skin next to your breast. Let her snuggle up, stroke her back and cuddle. When she is relaxed try and get her into a feeding position and tempt her with your nipple - tickle her lips with it and see what happens!

It is early days to be having big feeds - latching on every 2 hours over night may well get things going but she will only ned little snacks at the moment.

Keep going if you can - and try to avoid the bottle at this very early stage.

Original poster
Pilki · 19/04/2009 22:14

Im in the Lancashire area Flibbertyjibbet.
The number would be fantastic.

Think I must be having a touch of the baby blues at the moment as well,

She is lying in her little seat with a clean nappy and is fast asleep but Im just sat here petrified that something will go wrong.

If she was hungry she would cry wouldnt she ???

She had 35 mls at about 8 o clock so when would you reccomend trying to feed again??
will try breastfeeding first and then bottle if I cant.

Sorry for rambling

OP posts:
fishie · 19/04/2009 22:16

pilki also tell all the people around you that you really want to bf and they can help you best by making sure you can.

so you shouldn't try to do anything else but that. no housework or getting dressed up for visitors. just getting to know your baby.

Grendle · 19/04/2009 22:17

Some babies can be a bit sleepy int he first few days and a little slow to get going. I wouldn't leave her more than 3hrs max between feeds. Not all newborns cry when they are hungry initially, and actually crying is a late hunger cue. Look for lip smacking, turning her head, cheqing fist. In fact, any sign of being wakeful .

Grendle · 19/04/2009 22:17

cheqing = chewing, sorry

Flibbertyjibbet · 19/04/2009 22:19

OOh I am in lancashire! Just posted on your other thread then got all confused about where my earlier post had gone

My ds2 would feed for hours on end and then crash out totally for several hours.

Number coming up. They can probably do a home visit too if you are in the area they cover which is a lot of lancashire and over into West yorkshire.

If you aren't in the area they cover then ring anyway.

They also run bf mums social groups during the week which were a lifeline for me.

fishie · 19/04/2009 22:19

aw pilki. have you had any sleep? can you take her to bed with you? i slept on my back with ds on my stomach (i could have housed several babies on it) for the first few days.

didn't get him latched on for five days either, cup fed little bits of formula.

tomps · 19/04/2009 22:19

Pilki, my baby had loads of mucus too and threw up loads nfor the first 2/3 days - it's really horrible isn't it. I didn't worry too much as was second baby and had very supportive midwives but can imagine how frightening and worrying it is for you. It does get better ! I'm sure you'll both get breastfeeding sorted out if you can get some help - there's lots of good advice here already - good luck with it. ( On the plus side, when we started baby led weaning I didn't worry too much when she gagged on foods as I had witnessed her gag reflex working brilliantly when she was so tiny ! ) Good luck to you both.

Grendle · 19/04/2009 22:19

BfN are active in Lancashire. Any of these near you?

Dillydaydreamer · 19/04/2009 22:19

Hi Pilki congratulations!
Sorry you are struggling atm, I think most people do with first babies but don't worry
Babies of 1 day will only have tiny amounts of milk and it is normal for feeds to only be a few minutes but frequent. Just do as someone else advised, go to bed naked with baby lying beside you not covered by duvet. Leave the boob close enough for her to smell it and when she needs milk she will root/nuzzle. Feed her as she likes and perhaps try squeezing a bit onto her lips.
Try not to worry you are both learning I would say try not to give formula if you want to breast feed, however, I had the opposite problem in that I couldn't keep up with dd2 and fed formula once in the late evening to try to stretch her sleep. This is not recommended but it did help me to rest more in the first few days and I bf for 6mths.
Tiktok will hopefully be along to give better advice.

Dillydaydreamer · 19/04/2009 22:23

Also, if you can practice feeding lying down you will be able to doze while she feeds. Lay on your side and her on her side facing you with her mouth level with your nipple. Put your arm you lie on around the back of her and support her back with the top arm iyswim.

Flibbertyjibbet · 19/04/2009 22:24

breastfeeding support in lancashire

The 24 hour helpline is on the home page.

The website is a bit rubbish actually it looks new, the old one had tons of info on it!

decafgirl · 19/04/2009 22:40

Just wanted to say good luck and try not to worry. My little one hardly fed for a couple of days after he was born. My milk didn't come in till day 3 and all he got was a tiny bit of colostrum (which I had to express & give via syringe) every 3 hours.

I was told not to let him go more than 3 hours without something which I stuck to. It took me another few days to really get the hang of it but then I had so much milk it was ridiculous!

I remember the terror of being at home with him those first few nights well but the ward I'd left were more than happy to talk to me over the phone if I needed advice.

Congratulations on becoming a mum and good luck with feeding - baby will definately let you know when she wants you!

lol xxx

Original poster
Pilki · 19/04/2009 22:53

Thanks everyone, going to try out some of the tips, It's probably not helping getting so uptight about it etc she probably is feeling my worry and tension x

OP posts:
Alittlebitrestless · 19/04/2009 23:11

Firstly, congratualtions on the birth of your DD. As a relatively new mum myself, I know how scary those first few days at home can be (It does get better, I promise you!).

Could you try ringing the hospital/ midwives aagain? You would be completely justified in doing so (they should be there to help you in the early days, particularly when you have concerns about feeding) and hopefully at this time the call would be taken by someone who is a bit more helpful. Maybe they can make sure you are first on the midwife's round in the morning.At this stage you deserve real life, face to face help. If you are feeling exhausted could your partner/ mum ring for you?

You are doing the right thing in asking for help. Let us know how it goes. Congratulations, again.

fishie · 20/04/2009 10:54

hello pilki, how is it going? has the midwife been yet?

Original poster
Pilki · 20/04/2009 12:27

Hiya Ladies

Thank you so much for all your help and support last night, I think I had really a bad case of the baby blues, I hadn't slept for two days and just felt like the worst mum in the world.

I ended up having her in bed with us and letting her breast feed as and when with us lying down facing each other. It seemed to work as she fed for about an hour from 7.30 until 8.30 this morning.
The midwife came this morning and gave me another couple of positions to try and told me to stop beating myself up.

I feel so much better today as managed a few hours sleep which seem to have made all the difference,

She hasnt fed since half eight so Im thinking about trying again soon just to see if she latches on x

Thanks again everyone, it was so nice to have someone there who understands xxx

OP posts:
SparklingSarah · 20/04/2009 13:00

awwwwwwwww!

It's ok - honestly you'll soon be in a pattern and just go with the flow.

it is terrifying suddenly going from pregnant to MOTHER! at least when PG you know they are safe and fed and warm and comfy when they are out it's all a bit oh god it's all down to me!!

big hugs just rest up hold her close and make sure you are eating well and drinking lots

fishie · 20/04/2009 13:10

oh good. are you still giving her formula? you should expect to be breastfeeding A LOT in the beginning. wake her up after 3-4 hours if you need to.

Catilla · 20/04/2009 13:29

That's great progress - well done!

Remember your milk doesn't come in for about 3 days, sometimes more, so you really shouldn't worry at the start. She needs to sleep a lot too. Just keep offering as often as you can and she will get the hang of it!

Dillydaydreamer · 20/04/2009 14:12

Aww, really glad you managed to get a bit of sleep. The first few weeks are always the hardest Once you have faith that you can do it, you will. Glad feeding lying down helped too. I didn't know about that until dd2 and it made all the difference.