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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Newborn can't get enough - milk not come in yet

11 replies

mum2phoebs · 26/04/2010 05:47

My newborn DD2 - 48 hrs old started feeding every 4 hours but has suddenly increased that to 2 hours and then feeds for an hour!

I personally can't see much milk coming out yet. I'm worried that until my milk comes in I'm not going to be giving her enough.

It's killing me too, womb contracting throughout the feed and I know shes not latching on properly yet so this could get very sore.

Because shes on for so long and often I'm wondering if shes just using me as a comforter? When I pull away she goes mad and hangs on for dear life!!

I know once my milk comes in all will be fine as DD1 always had plenty. Do I get some formula as a back-up??

OP posts:

mcflumpy · 26/04/2010 06:58

More experienced bf's will be along in a moment but I'd say trust your body. Your LO may be having a growth spurt and is cluster feeding, this will naturally increase your supply. I found it very difficult to trust myself st this stage but if your DD is content between feeds, she's probably getting enough. The growth spurts cone and go but the do pass, these were always very difficult times for me personally but after approx 6 weeks it got a lot easier.

Do you have any lasinoh nipple cream? If not maybe get DH to pop out and get some, it helps.

Also get someone in real life to help you with the latch either midwife, health visitor or local bf support group. It's definitely worth having their number to hand.

If you're worried, get her weight checked although at such an early stage, it's normal for babies to lose a bit of their birth weight.

For what it's worth, my DD used to feed for an hour until she was about 16 weeks then literally overnight it changed and she'd take 10 minutes max.

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! Hang in there it gets easier...honestly.

SparkleandShine · 26/04/2010 07:05

my second baby was a very different feeder to my first....

ds1 fed for an hour (or more!) each feed.

ds2 I got really worried about as it was 10-15 minutes at most.

both were fine!

don't forget cluster feeding is to increase your supply so it should only be temporary

greenbananas · 26/04/2010 07:32

Congratulations - well done you!! As mcflumpy said, ask somebody in the real world for help with the latch, but if your baby is latched on properly, then everything is fine, really it is. Although your milk has not yet come in, your baby is getting colostrum, which is incredibly rich and incredibly good for her, so please don't worry about a thing. Even a couple of drops is good.

Afterpains are normal, although not very nice at the time. Breastfeeding actually helps your womb to contract again as it should. You can take paracetomol while you are breastfeeding - if you need to.

It's totally normal for a newborn to want to feed ALL the time. Apart from anything else, she is establishing your future milk supply, which increases when she suckles. You're right, breastfeeding is comforting for her - and that's okay too as you have both been through a major upheaval in the last few days...

Maybe you could prepare yourself for a few days doing nothing but breastfeeding, sleeping and relaxing. After all, you deserve a rest! Did you know that in many cultures around the world, new mums are expected to do no housework etc. for about 6 weeks while breastfeeding gets properly established? (so you have a great excuse to get everyone else to bring you cups of tea and snacks and do all the washing up).

Original poster

mum2phoebs · 26/04/2010 08:23

Thanks to all the early risers for their support and advice - had a bit of a panic about everything in the early hours!

In the end we came downstairs where it was a bit cooler, lighter and comfier so I could feed her.

One good thing is my DD1 has slept till 8am, but we've got less than an hour to get her ready for playschool!!!

My husband said if he could help he would and has been awake the whole time I have getting pints of water etc... I said it could just be a comfort thing so we could always see if she'll latch on to him for a bit of "comfort" !!!

OP posts:

RubyBuckleberry · 26/04/2010 08:33

aaahhh congratulations on your new baby! all that bfing will do your supply the world of good i'm sure! i know what you mean about the latch though - it is so hard when they're tiny. DS's latch looked fine but was painful and got worse and worse - cue cracks . he bf so much at first. but it IS comforting for them, and this early on it is meant to be, i'm sure!

its so weird to think they are all different and will be different feeders too . i only have one but want more and it is mad to think that it will be a totally different exerience!

good luck

Morloth · 26/04/2010 11:38

We have been referring to DS2 as our little vampire/leech. He is pretty much permanently attached and has been since he latched on in the labour room.

Start using lanisoh now, before your nips get cracked, everytime they come off (either finished feed or switching sides), has made such a difference for me compared to the state of my nipples with DS1.

I think comfort sucking is still good for supply, certainly seems to be working for DS2 if the rolls of chub are anything to go by.

Focus on sorting latch/getting comfortable and let bubs at it for as long as she likes.

I took paracetamol a lot for the after shocks.

Original poster

mum2phoebs · 26/04/2010 12:45

Just seen my midwife and she said baby is latched on just fine so I can stop worrying about that. The last 2 feeds have been a much more normal length of time. Think my milk has started to come in too so will stop panicking! I've been using kamillosan on my nipples right from the start used it last time and it was bliss!

Thanks all!

OP posts:

MumNWLondon · 26/04/2010 17:57

My baby now 9 days old but that was me last week. I basically had to feed him every 90 mins until my milk came in.... plus it was so painful with the afterpains - I found little and often was better as after about 5 mins it was too painful to continue - did find nurofen helped more than paracetamol.

By day 3 much more milk and by day 4 plenty of milk.... Will get easier.

RubyBuckleberry · 26/04/2010 18:31

if you want to delatch her, use your finger - don't pull her off! someone on here was saying they did that! oouccchhhh!

(Sorry bit random but thought i'd mention it!)

Original poster

mum2phoebs · 26/04/2010 22:06

RubyBuckleberry ouch! No intention of pulling her off - don't worry

OP posts:

stinkypinky · 27/04/2010 10:03

If I pulled DD (6 days) off, I would lose a nipple!

DD still cluster feeding every evening - very big baby though.

You are doing a grand job, as is baby

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