b'fing please help me!!!
- Thread starter cassi
- Start date
I have fed him since i got home at 5:45pm constantly up untill now 21
0pm and he is now sitting on Alans lap still crying! He cant possibly be hungy? He fell asleep a couple of times and then he realised he wasnt sucking a few mins later and started to cry again? He just isnt content if he is awake unless he is on the breast its really getting me down 
Still no poo and no heavy nappies either, when he was on the EBM he was pooing after most feeds and had really wet nappies which has all changed now he has only been on the breast for the last night. This morning was the same and last night he only went off because alan bought him into the bed and held the dummy in for him...and was waking constanly, he slept abit today when we took him out in the car seat but still that was only because he had a dummy...it really seems like he isnt getting anything from me??
0pm and he is now sitting on Alans lap still crying! He cant possibly be hungy? He fell asleep a couple of times and then he realised he wasnt sucking a few mins later and started to cry again? He just isnt content if he is awake unless he is on the breast its really getting me down Still no poo and no heavy nappies either, when he was on the EBM he was pooing after most feeds and had really wet nappies which has all changed now he has only been on the breast for the last night. This morning was the same and last night he only went off because alan bought him into the bed and held the dummy in for him...and was waking constanly, he slept abit today when we took him out in the car seat but still that was only because he had a dummy...it really seems like he isnt getting anything from me??Hi Cassi
It sounds like Jakob is cluster feeding. Newborns often feed, feed, feed early evening - Olivia used to feed constantly from 7-10/11 at night, when she was dozing on me I would try and put her in her carrycot but she would wake up crying after 5 or 10 minutes. That's when I either gave her the dummy or carried her in the sling or put her in the swinging chair - these soothed her without her going back on the boob.
Is the Midwife still coming in everyday to see you? Could you get her to check your latch just to ensure Jakob is getting everything he should during the feed?
I know how tiring the early days are, you're doing such a great job and it's going to get so much easier soon.
Lucy x
It sounds like Jakob is cluster feeding. Newborns often feed, feed, feed early evening - Olivia used to feed constantly from 7-10/11 at night, when she was dozing on me I would try and put her in her carrycot but she would wake up crying after 5 or 10 minutes. That's when I either gave her the dummy or carried her in the sling or put her in the swinging chair - these soothed her without her going back on the boob.
Is the Midwife still coming in everyday to see you? Could you get her to check your latch just to ensure Jakob is getting everything he should during the feed?
I know how tiring the early days are, you're doing such a great job and it's going to get so much easier soon.
Lucy x
how long did olivia do this for? cause its not just the morning with jakob its been all day he only slept this afternoon because he had a dummy and we took him out in the car. Even if i cuddle Jakob he cries, if i put him down with a dummy he just drops it..he is back on me again now .
I was going to the bfing clinic at the hospital when we were in and they said his latch is good ...but i have never been able to hear swallowing, they just said he is a quiet? most of the times i take him off i cant see milk in his mouth but a couple of times tonight he has come off with some dripping down his chin, and i always give them a squeeze during a feed and check there is some there and there is, but when he comes off there is no dripping or trace of milk on the breast?
is it possible he is feeding but not getting enough at all? i dont feel like going to bed tonight cause its harder to get up every five mins than already been up but i know that sleep helps produce youre milk but how can i sleep if he is constantly crying for breast? he wasnt like this with the ebm he was much more content.
i really dont wanna give up but im getting closer...im really sorry to keep going on even with all the great info so far but im just finding it hrd n i still dont know what to think or do about this?
I was going to the bfing clinic at the hospital when we were in and they said his latch is good ...but i have never been able to hear swallowing, they just said he is a quiet? most of the times i take him off i cant see milk in his mouth but a couple of times tonight he has come off with some dripping down his chin, and i always give them a squeeze during a feed and check there is some there and there is, but when he comes off there is no dripping or trace of milk on the breast?
is it possible he is feeding but not getting enough at all? i dont feel like going to bed tonight cause its harder to get up every five mins than already been up
but i know that sleep helps produce youre milk but how can i sleep if he is constantly crying for breast? he wasnt like this with the ebm he was much more content.i really dont wanna give up but im getting closer...im really sorry to keep going on even with all the great info so far but im just finding it hrd n i still dont know what to think or do about this?
CassiHun, there's a lot more to being a mummy than just the feeding. If you want to do something else other than breastfeeding then that's something only you can decide.
We are just trying to give you support because there's lots of info out there how "breast is best" but not a lot of info on newborns feeding habits/behaviour etc. Goodness knows how many posts I made on this forum and another one (I hope Laura doesn't mind but Cassi this forum might help you, it's got a lot of bf councellors posting on it http://www.mumsnet.com/talk?subtop=0&topicid=1364&stamp=061030215600&off=0&tot=5392 when Olivia was young.
I didn't have any confidence that my milk was satisfying Olivia either. I often fed her every hour/1.5 hours because if nothing else seemed to satisfy her I felt it was my milk not filling her up. However when I spoke to other mums (some formula feeding and some bfing) they told me about how much their babies cried and were unsettled and thats when they gave me the tips to try other forms of calming methods other than putting her back on the boob. It's so hard in these early days when you're still getting used to the feeding and it's impossible to know how much milk the baby has had. I only ever saw milk dripping down the side of her mouth a few times , never saw milk in her mouth either.
Have confidence in your ability Cassi, hope things get better soon
Lucy
Thanks very much lucy .
I have tried other methods like swinging chair but he just screamed....the only thing that seems to work is a dummy but it comes out constantly so you have to constanly hold him and cant put him down at all...he must be exhausted after been like this all day but still isnt sleeping and even with the dummy in now (alan has him again) he is moaning and spitting it out?
I feel so bad because i want him to be happy
.I have tried other methods like swinging chair but he just screamed....the only thing that seems to work is a dummy but it comes out constantly so you have to constanly hold him and cant put him down at all...he must be exhausted after been like this all day but still isnt sleeping and even with the dummy in now (alan has him again) he is moaning and spitting it out?
I feel so bad because i want him to be happy
Hi ya
Another thing that used to calm Olivia was to lie her on my forarm (her head lying in my palm and using my other hand to make sure she didn't fall off) and lift her up and down like I was doing a weigh lift!
Which dummy are you using hun? His mouth is still quite wee so most of them will be hard to keep in.
I know this isn't for everyone but I found Olivia settled and slept alot better in bed next to me. I fed her lying down and that way I got a lot more rest too.
The early weeks are so hard, and they seem like they will last forever but they will pass hun and the feeding will get easier.
I think you should go back to the bfing clinic and speak to them or your midwife - just so you have local advice as well as us on the internet.
Lucy x
Another thing that used to calm Olivia was to lie her on my forarm (her head lying in my palm and using my other hand to make sure she didn't fall off) and lift her up and down like I was doing a weigh lift!
Which dummy are you using hun? His mouth is still quite wee so most of them will be hard to keep in.
I know this isn't for everyone but I found Olivia settled and slept alot better in bed next to me. I fed her lying down and that way I got a lot more rest too.
The early weeks are so hard, and they seem like they will last forever but they will pass hun and the feeding will get easier.
I think you should go back to the bfing clinic and speak to them or your midwife - just so you have local advice as well as us on the internet.
Lucy x
lauramumof2
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cassi,
with jees i was sure about bottlefeeding but with joe i wasnt and i regret bottlefeeding.
i think you will know for sure. i think its a boy thing, they seem trickier than girls.
with jees i was sure about bottlefeeding but with joe i wasnt and i regret bottlefeeding.
i think you will know for sure. i think its a boy thing, they seem trickier than girls.
Hi Cassi, I read in my breastfeeding book that its very common for mum's of babies that have been jaundiced to have a low milk supply and to get baby suckling as much as poss and it can take as long as 2 to 3 days to get your supply up. They say put baby on the boob and top up with formula if necessary.
It also says that to calm a baby put a pillow on your lap and put baby on their tummy and rythmically pat their back. It may take a while but this calms baby down and then you can move the pillow to somewhere safe like a settee surrounded with cushions where they can't fall off.
If you want to give up it would be understandable you have done so well but I remember you really wanted to breastfeed so maybe try one more day and you may find your supply goes up. Leorah also likes to suckle at my breast when she's not hungry but wants comfort, I put her dummy in and leave mý had on it until she falls asleep and it falls out. Sometimes she wakes up but sometimes she doesn't! Someone suggested I thread a muslin cloth through the dummy as this helps weigh it down but I haven't tried that yet.
Good luck, the lack of sleep is definitely making the situation worst, it makes you much more emotional. Can you let your DH look after Jakob for the afternoon and give him a bottle of formula? It sounds like you could do with some rest.
It also says that to calm a baby put a pillow on your lap and put baby on their tummy and rythmically pat their back. It may take a while but this calms baby down and then you can move the pillow to somewhere safe like a settee surrounded with cushions where they can't fall off.
If you want to give up it would be understandable you have done so well but I remember you really wanted to breastfeed so maybe try one more day and you may find your supply goes up. Leorah also likes to suckle at my breast when she's not hungry but wants comfort, I put her dummy in and leave mý had on it until she falls asleep and it falls out. Sometimes she wakes up but sometimes she doesn't! Someone suggested I thread a muslin cloth through the dummy as this helps weigh it down but I haven't tried that yet.
Good luck, the lack of sleep is definitely making the situation worst, it makes you much more emotional. Can you let your DH look after Jakob for the afternoon and give him a bottle of formula? It sounds like you could do with some rest.
i think yesterday was his growth spurt but mw came today and he hasnt been getting enough from me he has gone from 7lbs12oz (sunday) to 7lbs5oz today i feel so bad. now i am putting him on the breast then topping him up with 2oz ebm or formula when i run out of ebm. i dont want to express anymore cause im just letting my body get used to jakobs needs now. he is much more content today he is with me atm and his eyes are wide open and no crying dont know if its due to the top up or the fact yesterday was a growth spurt? but when he came off the breast earlier he seemed content n started dropping off but i still gave him the top up cause i darnt take any chances.
jakob slept with us last night cause he wouldnt setlle alone..he is content when he is with us.
thanks for all youre support it has reallykept me going. mw coming back on thursday so il see how weight i then...
i feel so bad. now i am putting him on the breast then topping him up with 2oz ebm or formula when i run out of ebm. i dont want to express anymore cause im just letting my body get used to jakobs needs now. he is much more content today he is with me atm and his eyes are wide open and no crying dont know if its due to the top up or the fact yesterday was a growth spurt? but when he came off the breast earlier he seemed content n started dropping off but i still gave him the top up cause i darnt take any chances. jakob slept with us last night cause he wouldnt setlle alone..he is content when he is with us.
thanks for all youre support it has reallykept me going. mw coming back on thursday so il see how weight i then...
I'm glad to hear you had a more settled time.
Did the midwife suggest the formula top-up? If I were you I'd pop back to the breastfeeding group at the hospital for some advice as well because giving top ups will give you a break but could have an impact on your supply. I'm not saying don't do it but I know for instance that there's a method called "piggy back feeding" where you keep the baby at the breast but pop a wee thin tube in their mouth that goes to a bottle (or expressed milk or formula) so the baby is getting the milk but also suckling hard at the breast which is then helping to bring up the mum's supply. Just might be worth getting extra advice now to give you as much support as possible.
Hope you're having a good day,
Lucy
Did the midwife suggest the formula top-up? If I were you I'd pop back to the breastfeeding group at the hospital for some advice as well because giving top ups will give you a break but could have an impact on your supply. I'm not saying don't do it but I know for instance that there's a method called "piggy back feeding" where you keep the baby at the breast but pop a wee thin tube in their mouth that goes to a bottle (or expressed milk or formula) so the baby is getting the milk but also suckling hard at the breast which is then helping to bring up the mum's supply. Just might be worth getting extra advice now to give you as much support as possible.
Hope you're having a good day,
Lucy
Im putting him on the breast first on one side untill he comes off then burping him, doing his nappy to wake him up abit more again and then putting him to the other side till he comes off or starts dropping off..then i give him the top ups, he has seemed much more content when he has come off me today and hasnt seemed to frustrated to find more so it might be that because of yesterdays constant feeding my supply has gone up to give what he needs? but im still giving him the top ups just in case he isnt getting enough, he hasnt rejected them at any stage and hasnt thrown up so im guessing he wasnt getting enough from me? I am going to go back to the bf clinic tomorrow and ill see what they say about the piggy back feeding its a real good idea, thanks . How will i know when my supply is good enough though? I know his weight will be up on thurs because of the top ups (well it should be!) but thereafter what do i do?
Will the piggyback feeding be feasable for me? im inverted and its tricky enough giving him a good latch im just wondering if it will be feasable to then pop a tube in without him coming off? I have seen finger feeding been done and the tubes are quite small so i guess it shouldnt be a problem i shall try tomorrow.
Gosh this feeding thing is all hard but im sure it will get much easier soon i was always told to expect 1 step forward 2 steps backwards with it and its all worth it in the end.
Thanks
Cas x
. How will i know when my supply is good enough though? I know his weight will be up on thurs because of the top ups (well it should be!) but thereafter what do i do? Will the piggyback feeding be feasable for me? im inverted and its tricky enough giving him a good latch im just wondering if it will be feasable to then pop a tube in without him coming off? I have seen finger feeding been done and the tubes are quite small so i guess it shouldnt be a problem i shall try tomorrow
.Gosh this feeding thing is all hard but im sure it will get much easier soon i was always told to expect 1 step forward 2 steps backwards with it and its all worth it in the end
.Thanks
Cas x
Hi Cassi
You sound much more positive today, well done. You're really doing a great job.
I was told an indication of how much the baby is getting is by how many wet and dirty nappies they are having, that newborns should have frequent ones.
Yes apparently the tube is tiny (you know how small the hole is in a teat) so you can just hold it by your nipple when you latch the baby on. It was the same girl at the bfing group that was doing the piggy back feeding that was prescribed the Domperidone to increase her supply after mastitis (she's a newly trained midwife herself). I'm not sure if they will think it's a suitable method for you to use but it's one example of how doing something like this short term could boost your supply and mean you wont always need top ups.
It might be worth you asking if they recommend any supplements for you to take to boost your supply, it's interesting what Skatty said about mothers of jaundiced babies having a lower supply (Olivia was slightly jaundiced but didn't need any treatment)
I know the first 3 wks were the hardest for me feeding, I was going to give up every day but then Olivia seemed to get a bit bigger and more awake and become more settled and the pain went away..... 8.5 months later I can't believe time has flown by at the rate it has!
Good luck tomorrow, let us know how you get on
Lucy
You sound much more positive today, well done. You're really doing a great job.
I was told an indication of how much the baby is getting is by how many wet and dirty nappies they are having, that newborns should have frequent ones.
Yes apparently the tube is tiny (you know how small the hole is in a teat) so you can just hold it by your nipple when you latch the baby on. It was the same girl at the bfing group that was doing the piggy back feeding that was prescribed the Domperidone to increase her supply after mastitis (she's a newly trained midwife herself). I'm not sure if they will think it's a suitable method for you to use but it's one example of how doing something like this short term could boost your supply and mean you wont always need top ups.
It might be worth you asking if they recommend any supplements for you to take to boost your supply, it's interesting what Skatty said about mothers of jaundiced babies having a lower supply (Olivia was slightly jaundiced but didn't need any treatment)
I know the first 3 wks were the hardest for me feeding, I was going to give up every day but then Olivia seemed to get a bit bigger and more awake and become more settled and the pain went away..... 8.5 months later I can't believe time has flown by at the rate it has!
Good luck tomorrow, let us know how you get on
Lucy
Hi Cassi
Just wanted to say you are doing so well, it's never easy at first and you are coping really well with it.
I'm so glad you are sticking with it, it DOES get so much better, soon it will be second nature to both of you. All that's gone on so far is perfectly normal, he's still so little, I promise you will start to enjoy it more soon.
Just wanted to say you are doing so well, it's never easy at first and you are coping really well with it.
I'm so glad you are sticking with it, it DOES get so much better, soon it will be second nature to both of you. All that's gone on so far is perfectly normal, he's still so little, I promise you will start to enjoy it more soon.
Hi sorry i havnt been online cats ate modem wire im at my moms at the moment too.
mw said with the top ups he put on weight and if my supply is back in then can try exclusivly breast feeding again, i try and i feed for ages and he still screams, he always settled with the top ups...so i end up giving him top ups still cause he is never full off me.
Im going to see if i can get some supplements cause im putting him to the breast first at every feed but he is never full off me! so i must not be giving him enough?
cas x
mw said with the top ups he put on weight and if my supply is back in then can try exclusivly breast feeding again, i try and i feed for ages and he still screams, he always settled with the top ups...so i end up giving him top ups still cause he is never full off me.
Im going to see if i can get some supplements cause im putting him to the breast first at every feed but he is never full off me! so i must not be giving him enough?
cas x
i went but it was really busy and i had a docs appointment so i didnt get to see the lady because i had to go so that was a waste of time, im going back tomorrow but to be honest i dont think this is working for us. he is still on top ups and having more bottle than breast, he seems to try really hard but not get much from me at all and as a result constantly falls asleep, then he isnt content, whenever i try exclusivly breastfeeding his poo and wee lessens and he spends most of the day crying, wheras when he has the top ups he is alert, content and pooing and weeing like a trooper, my milk was well in (i expressed a bottle in 10 mins) but he is quite a hungry baby, he will feed off me and then down 4 oz !!
I just feel so guilty if i stop but he isnt happy and im not going to try taking his top ups away again because he loses weight whenever i do and is just less alert and generally unhappy and its not fair for him and there is no way i am going to see him having needles poked into him in a hospital again.
What do you all think? in all honesty should i just drop it and give him formula now?
Thanks
cas xx
I just feel so guilty if i stop but he isnt happy and im not going to try taking his top ups away again because he loses weight whenever i do and is just less alert and generally unhappy and its not fair for him and there is no way i am going to see him having needles poked into him in a hospital again.
What do you all think? in all honesty should i just drop it and give him formula now?
Thanks
cas xx
Cassi why not carry on combining the 2 if is working ok so far?
Maybe make sure he has breast first, and express a bit to keep your supply up.
I wouldn't drop it just because he's still having some formula, he'll still be getting lots of goodness with whatever BM he's getting.
Maybe make sure he has breast first, and express a bit to keep your supply up.
I wouldn't drop it just because he's still having some formula, he'll still be getting lots of goodness with whatever BM he's getting.
i know but its gonna be really hard bfing expressing and making up bottles, plus doing everything else now alan is going back to work nights so il be doing all night and all day and its just stressing me out and upsetting me now when i should be enjoying my little boy
