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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Newborn not getting enough colostrum

41 replies

Strawberry06 · 22/02/2024 16:20

Had my baby yesterday by ELCS. I've been struggling to get him to latch or when I do whether he's getting enough colostrum (if any) but yesterday the midwives said it's fine as he was a decent weight (8lb7) and has reserves/just needs a tiny bit.

Now suddenly today they are concerned as he's starting to show signs of jaundice and very very sleepy and not doing anything at my breast.

I've had no choice but to give him a syringe of formula which the midwives have said will set the clock back and he will hopefully start to feed.

I've had loads of help and everyone has said we're doing it correctly yet my nipples are bruised and now I'm worried he won't be interested as he's had a bit of formula or it will be too painful for me to carry on though I want to persevere.

No tongue tie either

Feeling very emotional :-(

OP posts:
BigFluffyHoodie · 22/02/2024 16:23

Congratulations OP!

I persevered with BF and it hurt. A lot. We got cabbage leaves and put them in my bras (roll them with something first to break the leaves a bit). What really helped was nipple shields. Can you get some of those from the midwives?

StepIntoMyOffice · 22/02/2024 16:25

Congratulations on your new arrival 🎊

I know it's easy to say but please don't worry, you're only 1 day in and it takes time to establish the latch. If you really want to breastfeed then you have to persevere. Even done correctly it's still painful to begin with but you can use lanolin nipple cream to help a bit. However, don't feel pressured to breastfeed. There is lots of support but it really is trial and error, give yourself time. Baby will be absolutely fine x

treehousethunderstorm · 22/02/2024 16:26

Are you able to hand/manual pump any colostrum to feed by syringe or bottle? I remember doing this for my preemie.

I would try breast feeding and then give an extra feed which I had pumped, but it was a bit different as she needed to gain weight being so little.

When milk came in we carried on with the feed, top up, pump routine and then just feeding. I'm glad we stuck with it as feeding was a breeze afterwards.

Try not to feel disappointed, the most important thing is baby is fed enough by whichever method.

Original poster
Strawberry06 · 22/02/2024 16:29

@BigFluffyHoodie they said colostrum is likely to just get stuck in the nipple shield.

OP posts:
Original poster
Strawberry06 · 22/02/2024 16:30

@treehousethunderstorm I forgot to say they've given me a pump. I had it on each breast for 15 minutes at a time and nothing! Though a different midwife said the colostrum drops are so tiny the pump wouldn't really get them out, designed more for flowing milk

OP posts:
BigFluffyHoodie · 22/02/2024 16:33

Don't worry about a syringe of formula putting him off BF. Just keep putting him to the breast. It's a two-way thing - your body will respond to his sucking.

FlyingHighFlyingLow · 22/02/2024 16:38

Have they tried to help you hand express your colostrum straight into syringe? My nipples never bruised or anything, what shape are your nipples after a feed? Lots say latch is fine when it isn't. Try getting specialist breastfeeding support. Consultant, local charity etc.

WendyHoused · 22/02/2024 16:39

Keep at it, you’re doing all the right things.

When you go into labour there are all the hormones and signals to your breasts to start producing colostrum immediately.

When you have an elective section, your body hasn’t had those signals so isn’t ready. Your baby suckling at the breast will stimulate colostrum but it will take a day or two, and there’s no harm in a small amount of formula to help baby along while your colostrum comes in.

Two of my three sections were planned, and each took a couple of days for colostrum to come in. I had a very experienced and supportive midwife who explained this was only to be expected.

Congratulations on your baby!

Original poster
Strawberry06 · 22/02/2024 16:45

@FlyingHighFlyingLow the midwife did it for me yesterday while he was at breast and said loads was coming out! I also managed to get a few drops but since he's been sucking incorrectly it's now extremely painful to squeeze it out.

The 'feeds' we have had I wonder if he's had any at all, I don't think so :-(

OP posts:
neleh87 · 22/02/2024 16:47

DS was sleepy and couldn't latch at first. I hand expressed colostrum and baby had it in a syringe. I then expressed with a pump when my milk came in, but topped up with formula. We combi fed for a few weeks, but I then EBF for 6 months, when DS started having a bottle of formula at bedtime. He's 10 months now and still breastfed most of the time.

No real advice as all situations are different, but I wanted to reassure you that things can change as baby gets less sleepy.

Also, I found it a LOT easier once I was at home and not in the hospital.

Autumn1990 · 22/02/2024 16:49

Don’t worry. Both mine needed formula at the beginning and ended up bf for years.
Always offer the formula after a bf. Once your milk comes in it should be fine.

Olika · 22/02/2024 17:00

Congratulations! I wouldn't worry about colostrum. I struggled a lot when DD was born via EMCS as I wasn't able to get her latch. Needed help with all feedings and midwife gave her formula at some point as breastfeeding wasn't giving her enough milk. I somehow got through the first 2.5 days and then one of the midwives suggested shields which changed the way I could finally properly get DD latch and feed.

Bramblecrumble22 · 22/02/2024 17:06

Give yourself some slack. Use lanolin. Cabbage leaves can dry your supply. Your baby will be getting some. If the midwife was getting loads out the other side, I'm sure your baby was getting some out other. The let down happens on both sides. My baby who had some formula at birth for jaundice had a better breastfeeding journey, growth etc than the other who was exclusively breastfed, never a great latch but also no health issues.

Oldermum84 · 22/02/2024 17:19

Hand express. Don't use a pump. If you're doing it correctly it shouldn't hurt.

I was doing it wrong myself (saw a YouTube video and thought I knew how to do it) and a nursery nurse in my hospital helped to show me the right way. She was great - literally syringed the colostrum off my nipple as I expressed. She then would syringe a bit into DS's mouth then put her little finger in for him to suck to get him to connect sucking with getting fed. Within a few hours he was latching. Still ebf 12 weeks later.

Ask for help.

Good luck.

Chitterchatterer · 22/02/2024 17:39

If your primary concern is making sure your baby is fed and hydrated, note that babies are 100 percent fine with formula. Breast milk is nice to have, and not something that babies need.

Strawberrycheesecake7 · 22/02/2024 17:47

Congratulations on your baby. It’s still so early days. Just because baby hasn’t taken to breastfeeding straight away, doesn’t mean he won’t get there. My son was the same. I actually stayed in hospital for a few days because I really wanted to breastfeed and he wouldn’t latch. I think he got it on day three or so. I’m still breastfeeding and he’s now 8 months old. Keep trying and I’m sure you’ll get there. It will also help loads when your milk comes in which probably hasn’t happened yet. But also don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you have to supplement with formula or switch to formula entirely in the end it’s not the end of the world. The important thing is that baby is fed and you’re both healthy and happy.

GreatGateauxsby · 22/02/2024 17:48

I'd hand express and collect with 1ml syringe.

This will save your breasts temporarily and reassure you something is coming out of you/ going in to baby.

Original poster
Strawberry06 · 22/02/2024 18:34

They just took him away for light treatment cause he is jaundiced :-(

OP posts:
BigFluffyHoodie · 22/02/2024 18:37

Strawberry06 · 22/02/2024 18:34

They just took him away for light treatment cause he is jaundiced :-(

Bless him. That happens a lot. And has nothing to do with how he's being fed.

Hang on in there OP, it will all come together in a day or two.

Bramblecrumble22 · 22/02/2024 19:17

Mine had phototherapy straight away when she was diagnosed with jaundice. Dr said it's so common. It's a little sunbed. We could keep her by the bedside for it. He will be ok

calishire · 22/02/2024 20:02

This video is pretty old but shows good technique for expressing colostrum. Lots of good advice for you so far. Try to relax. All will be well.

med.stanford.edu/newborns/professional-education/breastfeeding/hand-expressing-milk.html

Readytoevolve · 22/02/2024 20:28

Formula OP. Fed is best. You can still breast feed. If you can get some in to the baby, the belrubin will wash out very quick. Insist on it.

Readytoevolve · 22/02/2024 20:30

Having been in a similar situation, I cannot comprehend how midwives can stand by knowing the baby isn’t getting enough and still forcing you to keep trying without any luck and not recommending formula. It makes me so angry.

ShowOfHands · 22/02/2024 20:38

My DS fed like a demon, gained lots of weight, I could express lots from the very beginning and so on. He was still really jaundiced! Some babies are and it's not necessarily an indication that BFing isn't going well.

I used to express colostrum and feed it from a syringe (DS was early and a bit sleepy so sometimes struggled with the energy to suck). A very lovely midwife taught me some really handy ways to express and harvest colostrum.

Congratulations. You're doing so well.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/02/2024 20:41

My youngest was getting jaundice too so they supplemented with formula on day 7- a couple of weeks later she wouldn’t take a bottle and was solely breast interested for 5 months, wouldn’t mix feed.
My eldest I exclusively bf for 6 wks and easily took a bottle and mix fed
So don’t assume it’s the end of the road.

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