Breastfeeding at night!

[MrsMarrioo]

So my baby is now 3 days old and so far we haven't done too bad with breastfeeding. I've got great support and even when she has struggled with latch, we have got there in the end and she has had a good feed.

The problem!

She won't feed at night, she just won't latch on. I had a c section so during the day we are rugby holding and she feeds well in this position but at night it's like she's just agitated and won't even entertain boob. I've tried several positions but she is just so tiny some just aren't so able.

What can I do? I'm going to contact my lactation consultant tomorrow to address it with her but in the meantime I'm at a loss. She has lost 9% of her body weight but the lactation consultant wasn't concerned because she latched and fed so well!

Really not wanting our breastfeeding journey to end! HELP 🙏

Hey, im not an expert but thought any reply would be good to read at this hour! Laid back/biological nursing could be a good one to try if its comfortable with her lying on your chest. Maybe hand express out a little milk so she doesn't have to get it going herself and can taste it immediately? Alternatively, if she is getting hungry you could express into a cup and try cup feeding, then once she has had some milk and is a little less agitated, try lathing again.

Hi,

Thank you. Yes we're still laid awake she now won't doze back off lol.

She won't unfortunately we have tried that. I've even considered resorting to going downstairs for her night feeds and feeding on the sofa to see if it's that that's the issue but I'm unsure that would work neither. She's not screaming or anything maybe she isn't hungry I'm not sure, but I don't want her losing too much weight!

It's just so baffling because she's fine during the day with a bit of persuasion. My milks coming in and my boobs are literally leaking everywhere so she has it on her face before she's even on the boob lol.

X

Maybe your too full for her? Try hand expressing some off and then trying again.

Congratulations!x

I've has the same issue with DS. I think it's mainly that I'm too engorged and my nipple doesn't stick out as much to let him latch on properly (and then he just gets hysterical rendering and further attempt futile). Maybe try setting your alarm a little earlier than when you've been trying to feed so that you're not so full and I'd still recommend going downstairs - if you have a good set up sitting on your sofa then it might make things easier - c section and trying to get comfy/in the right position in bed is not easy!

I'm downstairs as we speak! And unfortunately it's not working so far, she's just laid on my shoulder looking around whilst my boobs leak everywhere 🙃

I thought I could be too full aswell but I put my haaka on before bed for this reason. I literally have milk rolling down my body though 🤣

It's gonna be a nap when she naps scenario tomorrow!

X

Have you tried lying down on your side? (I'd do this in bed not on the settee)

I haven't, I feel like my boob wouldn't go in her mouth that way, however I will try it tomorrow. I've come downstairs so She doesn't wake my son.

She must be so hungry I feel awful!

X

You could try giving her some milk off a spoon if she gets a taste she might be more inclined to latch.
Would try lying down on your side or laid back position. You can do laid back on the sofa just put your feet up. Would stop her getting too forceful from your milk.

I'm going to give her some from a syringe shortly. At least she's had something, she now hasn't fed since 11pm.

X

If you’re on your side, you can roll a towel up to stick under your boob to try get it in her mouth.
I used to use breast compressions when I was engorged. Basically squeeze from edge of the nipple and flatten it a bit so they can latch on.x

Will give it a go thank you x

She'd definitely be screaming if she was mega hungry so don't worry about that.

Also, a lot of babies don't seem to be that hungry for the first few days and then bam you can't get them off the boob! It will likely sort itself out. But I would definitely try lying down, as will give you a bit of rest too!

Has she feed yet? If she hasn’t I could ring the delivery ward, they will either ask you to come in or send round community midwife this morning to check her over. She needs checking for jaundice.

Op you have said that baby has had no milk since 11pm, people have offered solutions and you keep saying you will try tomorrow or you don't think that will work . I don't understand why not try it now whilst your baby needs fed!! And see if it works.

@miltonj

She'd definitely be screaming if she was mega hungry so don't worry about that.

Also, a lot of babies don't seem to be that hungry for the first few days and then bam you can't get them off the boob! It will likely sort itself out. But I would definitely try lying down, as will give you a bit of rest too!

To be fair @miltonj she said she was going to give her some EBM from a syringe so presume she is going to try the other things tonight when baby is a bit calmer.

OP, sure you know that baby should be getting something every couple of hours at this age. I found, with both of mine, that they were exceptionally sleep in the first few days (possibly the drugs from the sections initially) so to make sure they were getting enough and building up strength I expressed and bottle fed at night. We have never had issues with nipple confusion etc and it meant that baby built up enough strength so that they started to look for food rather than be woken for it.

I side feed now, it works out quite well on one side but less so the other, totally stealing the towel trick from PP to try.

Would you consider expressing milk and giving it to her in a bottle at night? That's what I do with my little one, as she constantly falls asleep during breastfeeding. In the daytime it's not a problem, but she would be constantly on me at night so won't get any sleep. I give the breastmilk in a bottle before her bedtime and she nicely sleeps through the night (since week 6). I hate pumping, but she seems way more settled since we do it this way, so it's worth it!

HP MAGIC - I most certainly did not leave her without anything at all from 11pm. She had my expressed milk from a syringe!

I've had someone round today, she's jaundice and tired therefore I'm now offering breast then bottle with my milk in if she doesn't latch. Once the jaundice has reduced, she should then make more of a fuss on the breast. She's taking my milk from a bottle perfectly fine for now so I will continue to do this until the jaundice reduces and she's less tired.

Oops @miltonj I was clearly sleep deprived when I quoted and tagged this morning - many apologies! 🙈🙈