Breastfeeding woes

[Bobbiepin]

Dd is less than a week old & we're trying to get to grips with breastfeeding. She's finally got a good latch & my milk has come in. Problem is, she falls asleep mid feed, usually after about 10-15 mins and doesn't come off. Once she is off, she's not satisfied and will cry for another feed, meaning she's bouncing between boobs for ages and a single feed takes forever.

Is there anything I can do (bar stripping her off mid feed as the HV suggested - she gets so worked up when she'd cold) to keep her going on a feed until she's actually satisfied?

Try gently tickling her cheek with your finger. That can stimulate them to keep going.

But don't worry, this is very normal and part of them establishing a good supply. It won't last for long in the grand scheme of things, but I appreciate it may feel like an eternity now.

It sounds like you're doing a great job.

I'd say this is normal. I'd just let her have her fifteen mins and fall asleep, and then when she wakes offer the other boob. Boobs are great, they love staying snuggled, doesn't mean she's not satisfied.

This is a good thing - it will help your supply.
Get the snacks; stick something good on tv and enjoy the snuggles!

If she isn't gaining enough weight or feeding enough over 24hrs then that's a slightly different story - but little regular snack feeds then falling asleep is known as cluster feeding and very important!

You can unlatch her putting your little finger in the corner of her mouth. This may make her wake up or it may not.

Feeds can be like this at the beginning. As long as she is happy, gaining weight and weeing and pooing enough then enjoy lots of TV.

It sounds normal and cute! My boy would fall asleep after just a few seconds when he was a newborn so I was forever tickling his feet to get him to carry on feeding!

Yep they do this a lot! I think my son was nearer 4months old before he could feed and not fall asleep! When they are newborns, the suckling action and the milk are so comforting them just drift in and out of sleep.

To be fair, my other son who was bottle fed also did this! I know some mums had babies who could easily drain whole bottle from very early but mine would have 1-2oz, have a little snooze, wake up for a bit more and repeat!

It’s hard going for the first few months but it does get easier and really is so worth it. I got good at being able to pop my son in a sling when he’d dropped off so I could at least make a cuppa or have a wee! I found always being nap-trapped hard so the sling was a godsend!

My midwife told me to change happy half way through.

Ah OK, seems this is normal. My first didn't do this but we also didn't have a particularly successful bf experience so I suppose I'll have to keep at it. Looks like we'll be staying home a bit longer.

Thanks everyone

This^

Ds did this as well and would have had little snacky feeds on and off all day. There were some days I tracked it and he'd have fed on and off for more than 9hrs - breastfeeding is more than a full time job for many people!

I always found that rubbing ds feet on the soles or blowing gently on his face helped get him going again. It's normal and you really only need to worry if they aren't gaining weight. Ds really struggled to put weight on so I had to wake him to feed and there were nights where he was just so out cold i had him stripped down, nappy changed and all the rest and he was just barely awake!

Had this with both babies and bf til over a year each time. It was a rubbish initial stage. Tickled toes, blew on face, undressed. Soon we were on a roll

Dd is being weighed by the HV today - on day 5 she'd lost over 8% of her birth weight. Everyone keeps saying we're doing the right thing but still having to top her up with formula. How can I be doing the right thing if she's losing so much weight?

It is normal for babies to lose weight in the first few weeks - and depending on your birth there are other factors which may influence weight at birth. The midwives will keep an eye on this to make sure it isn't too much weight loss and if it is they may refer you for extra support.

Keep going. You've got this 🩷

Just to say, we had this exact situation with our 6 week old and it was the start of really tricky feeding difficulties. Keep an eye on it, if theyve not gained weight after the initial expected loss then speak to your midwife to get referred to their specialist feeding team as you may need extra support. Mine was latching but very shallowly and barely getting any milk, so between that and the sleepiness he started losing weight quickly. Good luck!

Is she settled in her self? Lots of wet nappies?
I'd try longer on one boob rather than swapping breast milk comes out as - drink, main course , dessert. She could be missing the fatty dessert milk. So when she wakes offer the same boob before moving on to second one. Or offer other boob at next feed.

I do remember feeding feeling relentless though. But it does pass.

It's normal 8% is still in the good range just keep putting her on to stimulate milk supply.
Strip off, tickle toes etc to try and keep awake. If you have a panel to zip in your coat and a bf hoody and a sling then you can also learn to feed in the sling. It is a bit hands everywhere at first but is a game changer especially if chasing another one about.
Although given how cold it is staying warm and cosy isn't a bad thing either!

They stimulate supply and will cluster feed around 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks just to warn you.

My baby lost 6% by day 3. Then between weeks 2 and 3 she gained 500g. They can have a slow start and then suddenly catch up. The HV told me a loss of less than 10% is fine. We did one small formula top up a day at that point so I could go and sleep.

I hope the weigh in today went ok for you.

She's not lost any more but not gained either. We keep getting conflicting advice from the HCPs we speak to - offer both breasts, stick to one, feed every 2 hours, leave it 3 hours so she's hungry & drains the breast.

I'm lucky DH is amazing & is doing everything else so I can nap during the day or I'd be broken by now.

It is really hard at first. It’s a good sign she hasn’t lost more. My second baby would fall asleep on the boob every time and was a low centile, I tried everything to wake her up/keep her awake and nothing really worked.

Most health visitors don’t know much about breastfeeding, do you have an infant feeding team at your hospital or a milk mates nearby? Also Kellymom and La Leche League online have good resources.

You of course don’t have to continue but for most people it gets so much easier over the next few weeks.

Sounds like you are doing really well OP. I found it really hard to bf in the early days, it does get easier. Many congratulations on your new baby.

As above, the la leche league give really good advice and I think they have a phone line you can call at any point for free help. But sounds like you are doing great! Don't listen to the person who said go three hours so she drains the breast. Boobs aren't like a cup, they are like a river. The milk doesn't run out. Just feed her whenever she's awake and looks like she'll take some. Brilliant that your partner is so supportive too. Just keep swimming. One day and night at a time. X

This sounds maybe like cluster feeding? I'd put her on, and leave her on the boob as often and as long as it is comfortable for both of you as this will make sure to build and establish your supply. At around 6-8 weeks, breastfeeding often settles a bit, as in your supply becomes more constant and feeding become a bit more spaced and regular (although babies breastfeed also for comfort, to relax, for warmth, for binding, etc. all valid needs, but not just for food). It is hard work, ngl, but sounds like you're doing an amazing job!

Uugh conflicting advice on breastfeeding is so frustrating, such a midnight fuck! One of the best info the game is Emma Pickett, she's got a book called You've Got This In You, which is brilliant and takes you almost week by week, and she also has a podcast and insta. Also, La Leche League website is where you can find the most scientifically correct info on all things feeding.

Ring La Leche League OP. They are amazing. You'll get much better advice from them than HVs. They stopped me starving my first born, who was very like yours.

Has she been checked for jaundice? That can cause baby to be sleepy and less interested in feeding. Even a mild case that doesn't require treatment can impact on feeding.

I'd recommend looking for a local breastfeeding support group. It's good that her latch is ok but there can be so much going on with it comes to breastfeeding, it really pays to have someone knowledgeable to troubleshoot with.

I would try and see a specialist. It sounds like she's falling asleep between let downs and not getting a lot of milk, this is classic hungry baby.

I'd start skin to skin. Watch her swalllow after an initial burst of fast sucks, the milk should let down and she should start swallowing and sucking with about one or two sucks to every swallow, when the swallowing fails off then use breast compressions to get her going again. When the compressions stop working (usually 3 or 4 work well) then switch to the other breast

Repeat all this then switch back. Keep repeating compressions and switches until she is done.

A good IBCLC or breastfeeding counsellor can support you with this but we know it's the most effective way to boost weight and supply quick in sleepy newborns

She could also do with an assessment as to why she is no sleepy. Could be just immaturity compounded by not having got enough milk initially or could be an oral function issue like a tongue tie. I'd find a local group led by a specialist to check these things out or ask your HV to refer you.

More information on compressions and switching here www.lllc.ca/breast-compressions-and-switch-nursing