Help needed for my friend - baby not feeding brilliantly

[rubyslippers]

BF had a DS on Sunday

he is lovely

he isn't feeding too well and is going a long time between feeds

he starts to root and lick his lips and make all the right sort of actions to indicate he wants a feed but when he gets to the breast he won't latch or falls back asleep or starts to cry and get all agitated

he does eventually feed

She has tried skin to skin, different holds, putting some milk on her nipple

is there anything else?

My DD was permanently attached to be when she was born so i feel at a bit of a loss

any advice would be much appreciated

TIA

I've got no tips really but was he early, even a tiny bit?

My grandson was born 6 months ago and was a week early due to a cesearian. He was a slow feeder and the midwife wanted him to be woken EVERY four hours, my daughter tried but it was impossible, so she left him until he was ready. They both relaxed and he started to feed properly.

Wait till he gets to 14 and raids the cupboards bare!!!

p.s. Congratulations to your friend!

This is very early days, and your friend is doing the right thing, just not enough of it - 'trying' skin to skin is not enough. This is not something to 'try' but the all-day way of caring for a baby. She also needs to express (by hand) colostrum and give it to the baby on a spoon/cup/syringe to ensure he does not dehydrate.

His behaviour at the breast sounds like one of both of these things has happened:

• ventouse/forceps giving him a bruised head
• over-enthusiastic handling/pushing on

The skin to skin and careful patience will overcome the second. Time will overcome the first.

thank you so, so much

Will pass this thread to my friend

He was actually nearly 2 weeks late!