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Trying to fill 11lb 9oz newborn 🙁

83 replies

nellyellz · 28/03/2017 22:45

Hi, I'm new to this message board but was hoping for some help. Over the weekend I gave birth to my DS but at 11lb9oz and a half it was quite an ordeal!

Now the tea work begins and he is unfillable! Last night in the hospital the midwives 'topped up' his breastfeeding with formula which settled him for six hours till seven this morning, bliss! But now the appetite is developing further and he has pretty much fed non stop all day from me as well as needing 60 ml formula in syringes. Nearly 11pm and he's still not full and I don't know what I'm doing wrong or is anyone has an idea how much 'top up' is acceptable per feed for this weight of baby? The midwives said 20ml but he's having more than that so far.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
dontpokethebear · 28/03/2017 23:21

I just gritted my teeth and bared it I'm afraid.
It wasn't even the usual sore nipple type pain. It was like being stabbed in the nipples, but from the inside.
It will get better when your milk comes in. Just persevere.

Don't worry too much about the formula top ups. A fed baby is a happy baby and all that. A couple of formula feeds isn't going to ruin it.

AssassinatedBeauty · 28/03/2017 23:22

I would be concerned about his latch being wrong if it's painful nearly all the time. There's a technique called the exaggerated latch (or flipple) which you can look up online to help get a good latch. Has he been checked for tongue tie at all?

I think you need some real life expert help, a proper lactation consultant, as often midwives and HV are not as well trained or as expert as they could be.

smellyboot · 28/03/2017 23:22

Do check if there is a BF cafe or support group near by. They are a total lifeline for all of this. If you want to BF you will... day 4 and the milk arrival is looming

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

AssassinatedBeauty · 28/03/2017 23:23

I would also say that once you've bruised or damaged your nipples then it can be agony for a while until they heal. Lansinoh cream is a great for helping with healing.

LauraPalmersBodybag · 28/03/2017 23:26

Also Nelly sounds like you're having a nightmare with pain. Can you get your midwife to refer you to a lactation consultant or infant feeding clinic? Also, La Leche League have a helpline. Kellymom is a great source of bf info re: pain, position, latch

I think some pain whilst nipples toughen up is to be expected. One of mine bled in hospital and I do remember pain. My daughter had a toungue tie abd a bit of a lousy latch though she seemed to feed ok - I should have got more help earlier, instead I ended up with mastitis at 6 weeks.

Sorry for such long posts - trying to pass on what knowledge I have!

4yoniD · 28/03/2017 23:30

My own experience may not ?? match others... I had pain when bf'ing newborn dd2. She looked latched on well but it hurt soooo much. My nipples were bleeding, I was using breast pads to absorb blood instead of milk. I eventually got help and a fantastic health visitor latched dd2 on perfectly. Instantly there was no pain ... at all... even though my nipples were shredded. I was amazed, but consistently if I got her latched on well it was painless, despite the shocking mess I'd gotten into. Possibly worth bearing in mind?

Also dd was 9lb, bf endlessly to begin with, but it all worked out. Hth, good luck, keep going but get help if you need it.

littledinaco · 28/03/2017 23:37

Congratulations on your baby.

Have a read about the 'top up trap' and make sure you are doing 'paced feeding' with any bottles you give him.

Many people choose to mix feed but it does usually have an impact on supply in the early days.

I would maybe consider speaking with a lactation consultabt as it doesn't sound like you've been given the best advice in hospital and a LC may be able to help with the pain.

In relation to him rooting but not going back on, lots of skin to skin and swapping sides/different positions (especially biological nursing position) can often help.

passthewineplz · 28/03/2017 23:43

BF shouldn't be painful all the way through a feed. You do however get an initial pain which lasts a few seconds as you start feeding due to the 'let down' reflex.

If you're having pain that lasts longer than a few seconds, take him off your breast by putting your little finger into the corner of his mouth to break the latch, and reposition him.

You need to hold him close to you in a straight line, with his nose towards your nipple, and he needs a nice wide mouth so that your nipple is at the back of his mouth on the soft pallet. He also needs to be able to move his head, so that he can move it back when he's finished.

If he's latched on correctly after the initial latch on pain, you shouldn't have any pain and he should have nice full cheeks, his bottom lip should be turned outwards and he will change the pattern of how he sucks (slow, faster etc).

Signs of poor attachment are lots of tutting sucking noises, painful nipples, and squashed nipples after feeding. Baby will also be unsettled and may want feeding more often.

In the first few weeks, it's feed feed feed. This is natures way of building your supply up, this is normal. Remember his tummy is tiny.

If you want to top him up, please be aware this can mess with your supply, as if he was BF he would be helping your body to produce more milk.

Formula is also harder for a baby to digest, this is why some babies that are FF sleep longer..... BM is easier for a baby to digest so this is one of the reasons BF babies feed more regularly.

Google breastfeeding positions and have a look at a few videos. Also AAsk your MW to check your latch and positioning and ask what BF support is in your area, it's also good to chat to other mums at places like baby cafes ect

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/breastfeeding-positioning-attachment.aspx

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/03/2017 23:46

I had constant pain, no matter how many times I relatched. I used nipple shields. Which were great but she took a lot of weaning off them. Ended up BFing for 14 months!

usernamewastooobv · 28/03/2017 23:46

It took about 2 weeks before my baby would latch properly and I was producing enough milk. The midwifes at my hospital hand milked me to make sure baby got enough - now there's an experience to be missed.

I used a Breast pump to help stimulate the milk as well as feed baby and it was also less painful. Nipple shields can help but only once baby is latched properly and milk is coming through. Good luck - it's so worth the effort. Today was my last day of breast feeding my 2 year old and I remember only the joy of the time spent feeding my baby and none of the pain of cracked nipples, heavy breasts or the embarrassment of leaky nipples!

passthewineplz · 28/03/2017 23:49

This is a really good visual aid which is in the NHS start4life 'off to the best start booklet'

www.nhs.uk/start4life/breastfeeding#steps

Persianprincess69 · 28/03/2017 23:52

Have they checked for a tongue tie on your baby. My son seemed to be latched on but I fact wasn't and because of his tongue tie he couldn't hold onto the nipple to get a proper sucking motion. I used nipple shields the whole time feeding him because the pain was unbearable without and he then fed fine! Hope this helps. Congratulations x

Mrstumbletap · 28/03/2017 23:54

Congratulations OP!

My DS was massive too! And after 3 days (post c section) the midwife said he wasn't getting enough and to top up with formula. So it really helped. I then started pumping and using formula together and it was great as I could see how much he was getting. I think the first few days before my milk came in he was just bloomin starving and could not be filled up! Formula was amazing g it really chilled him out, which then in turn chilled me out.

A few years later he still has a massive appetite, he will eat as much lasagne as me, so prepare yourself! Grin

Coconut0il · 29/03/2017 00:04

Congratulations OP!

Constant feeding is normal, DS2 was attached almost constantly from the minute he was born. He fed, fed, fed and then fed more. As a newborn he would go 10 minutes before wanting to go back on during the day. Maybe 2 hours between feeds during the night. A comfortable position on the sofa, drinks, snacks, food you can eat with one hand and the remote is what you need. Try to relax and follow his lead. Co sleeping was easier for me.

Try to find some proper bf support. The pain doesn't sound normal and it's best to get things like the latch or possible tongue tie sorted out.

Check for wet nappies to make sure he's getting milk, if so I'd drop the top ups for now.

Joffmognum · 29/03/2017 00:07

I'm EBF a 24lb baby, granted it's quite a bit older Grin

PurpleThursday · 29/03/2017 00:20

The brilliant purple tube of cream is called Lansinoh. I could not have managed without it www.lansinoh.co.uk/products/hpa-lanolin

PurpleThursday · 29/03/2017 00:21

And congrats OP! The latch is important, find a good midwife/health visitor if you can to make sure it is just right. It is so worth sticking with the feeding if you can.

nellyellz · 29/03/2017 01:11

Yes that's the pain! Don't know how you coped!!

OP posts:
nellyellz · 29/03/2017 01:27

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. I have been using the nipple shields today but they aren't helping massively. I'm following the latching method to and seem to have a good latch but then the pain the still there. Because he's wanting to feed constantly (I mean no breaks at all) the pain is becoming too much. Hopefully the breast feeding support visitor tomorrow can give me some hope, as I e tried everything the hospital suggested with no joy Confused

OP posts:
Desmondo2016 · 29/03/2017 04:07

You definitely need to get some professional support. However (and I'm not saying whether what you're experiencing is or isn't normal) but even healthy correct breast feeding can really bloody hurt in the early days. REALLY hurt. To the point that it's easy to assume somethings not right. I'm breastfeeding my 4th (after a longggg break) and I'd totally forgotten this. It was agony for a few days, painful for two weeks and some discomfort for about 4 weeks. After this it was/is completely pain free.

graciestocksfield · 29/03/2017 04:23

Newborns often just want to suck and be close to you rather than needing to feed all the time. After each feed put Kamilosan chamomile ointment on your nipples straight away, it also acts as a barrier for the next feed, if it hasn't completely soaked in, and isn't usually unpleasant to the baby (and is not harmful). Try and leave it an hour where he isn't on the breast at first, then you might get to two hours. I gave DDs a dummy or my (very clean) little finger to suck in between.

graciestocksfield · 29/03/2017 04:33

And what the others said re getting help with bf. When I was doing it properly it hurt for a couple of seconds then was fine, and after a few weeks didn't hurt at all. You have to offer them more than just the nipple, the little mouth needs to go over the areola as well. This diagram might help:

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I felt like I was shoving a load of breast at them! But they latch on properly that way. Good luck with everything.

And if you do decide FF works better for you, go for it.

Aliveinwanderland · 29/03/2017 05:04

I found it incredibly painful for the first 2/3 weeks. I would dread every feed and the first few sucks were toe curling. We stuck with it and now the first suck still feels more like a bite but then the rest of the feed is pain free. I think DS was just too small for a comfortable latch, I had it checked by so many people and they all said it was fine but I still found it painful.

littleoctonauts · 29/03/2017 09:19

OP you're doing amazing

It will get easier

Have a look at these videos by Global Health Media, they are used worldwide and are used by the Infant Feeding Coordinator in my area.

Good ones to watch (and revisit) are
Attaching your baby at the breast
Is my baby getting enough milk
Breast pain
Nipple pain

Click on the ones for mothers

Are you doing skin to skin? You can do it anytime, as much as you can, it will get the relaxing oxytocin hormone flowing and can settle you and babySmile
FlowersCakeBrew

seven201 · 29/03/2017 09:27

I remember this! Ouch. I used nipple shields, lanisoh and paracetamol. I carried on with the nipple shields for 1month as it was like excreting fire but paracetamol for the first couple of weeks when needed. It will get much easier with time. I constantly accidentally fell asleep with dd feeding and woke up terrified every time. Congrats on your new baby Flowers

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