Early Breast feeding questions

[Jojo84]

So my LO is about 34hrd old and I need some guidance on bf

He's been on the breast a lot but never taken much from it. I have a really good supply of colostrum but he just doesn't seen to want a lot. Twice he's taken 15 min feeds and the rest if the time under 5 mins

Tonight he's been in the breast 3x since 8pm but each time just fir a few sucks and there him done. I'm not worried About having to feed him a lot m just concerned yes not tsing enough.

He's had 2 dirty nappies and 2 wet ones today?

Does it sound like I'm doing ok?

 

[ScotchEgg]

They say it's far more important to keep an eye on what comes out than what goes in.

Mine wasn't feeding enough in the first few days and the midwife could tell as he showed a few signs of jaundice (nothing serious just had to up his feeds). It's worth keeping an eye out for those signs.

It could be that he's an efficient feeder. If you're worried I'd keep talking to the support locally. Take as much as you can get and ask every question you want to.

 

[Jojo84]

I'm still in hospital at the mo and intend to stay until I'm ready to go. They said not to expect too much from him or myself and every baby is different. Just can't help but worry a little I suppose

 

[Jojo84]

So despite one feeding mw telling me everything was fine the hospital I was transferred to have said they think he's getting frustrated xos I have slightly flat nipples so it's hard for him. Got me on the breast pump for 10 mins and managed to express 30mls of colostrum which is apparently quite a lot. Then he took a good feed as the pump had brought the nipple out enough and he fed for 15 Mins then had another 10mls from the bottle expresses milk. Hoping he settles for a little whole so I can sleep a little.

 

[Sophie_P]

Sounds like your doing fab jojo x

 

[Jojo84]

I think I've carried twice already just over the pressure to do right by him. Was looking dt him last night and couldn't quite get how I could bake that littke perfect thing. I'm so in love already and I just hope he feels the same

 

[ScotchEgg]

He does.

I have flat nipples and when he was tiny I found a few seconds on the pump would bring them out enough for him to get a better latch so he could pull them out the rest of the way himself. Breast shells worn for 15 minutes before a feed do the same job too although it's hard to tell when to put them on when you're feeding on demand.

Within a few weeks my LO could get them out on his own and now he's a pro so it will improve

 

[Jojo84]

Oh that's so reassuring thank you! ATM I'm pumping every 3 hrs and popping him on after for a feed and he's tending to get most if what he heeds then topping up with expressed milk. Hopefully I can use my pump at home to pump before feeds to bring them out a bit. I have a breast shield but he's hit or miss depending on grumpiness. I got 25 into him at 9.30 and he's been down since.

 

[purpleslurple]

Sounds like you're doing brilliantly! Remember how tiny his tummy is at the moment. My HV suggested I feed then if he falls to sleep go and change him to wake him up and feed him again - I found my son would then feed the same length of time again.

Keep going and don't be too easily tempted to top up with formula yet - trust your body to build up its supply by feeding as much as possible. Good luck!

 

[Jojo84]

Well today routine was this...

9.00am express for 20min
9.20am took 5 minutes on breast
9.25 took 20mls expressed milk
12.00 20 mins express
12.20 two mouthfuls on breast until he have in
12.45 has 25mls expressed milk
3pm expressed for 20mone
2.20 refused to suckle but latched on
2.30 had 15mls expressed milk

I'm going to keep this going 6pm, 9pm, midnight, 3am, 6am, 9am, 12pm but try 30 on pump to see how we do

He's been so much more calm today - sleeping in his cot, crying a little but water ly settles, doesn't seem to be hungry between feeds too much so if this is a good night going to decide atm lunchtime if I want to go home and get bf support from mw, feeding mw and bf support group.

This sound ok? They've said they can tell I'm dedicated to it and should be done to do home as I have an electric pump

 

[Becky1]

Sounds like you're doing a great job - it's not easy expressing and feeding as it takes double the time. Remember he's learning to feed to so hopefully as he gets better at latching he'll get better at pulling your nipple out further - it'll all be worth the hard work in the end xxx

 

[PixiePie]

Don't worry, he sounds like he's getting plenty!
My LO had so many problems in the first week of breast feeding that his blood sugar dropped so low he was too tired to even try anymore!
We ended up expressing and trying to cup feed him, which wasn't working well either.

Turns out that not only do I have flat nipples (which refuse to stay erect long enough for my baby to latch on) but my boy also has a tongue tie so we just weren't meeting each other!!

Nipple shields have been a god send for me and he's happily feeding away and draining me dry on a 2 hourly basis right now..

So don't give up! Once your actual milk comes in it does get easier though and your little one will be getting plenty to drink too
Well done for persevering too! The bond you get with your baby when you breast feed is fantastic

 

[Jojo84]

He latches in but just doesn't even Try to suckle.

He had about 35mls at 4.30 and just had 30mls now. I for a nap between 5-7 and he had a binding time with daddy then I'll pump again for his feed at 10:30 we have some formula and things in case he needs topping up but im finding average I'm gwtting f out if 20mins expressing was 20mls yesterday and is now 30mls. He does seem so content after he's had it and he's down for a nap just in time for mummy and daddy to watch eastenders and eat their tea.

 

[BevG]

keep going, i had lots of latching issues with dd2 for the first couple of weeks and was expressing and topping up, as they get bigger and stronger their mouths work better. id also suggest not expressing a full feed out before getting him to latch, pump just enough to draw out your nips then latch him and pump the feed afterwards for his next top up, if you drain the breast just before offering it to him then he wont be getting much and might not be interested in working that hard to get a 2nd letdown. i always expressed after shed fed and topped up with what id expressed after the previous feed

 

[Jojo84]

ive had the mw out today and she had a go with thelatch and said it just doesnt look like hes going to... i used the pumop to bring nippls out a little but hes just not interested - Either becsause its just too hard for him or he just doesnt want to. she said shes come across some babies who siplyu prefer bottle. anyway im trying him but hes just not getting there so basically juist expressing and bottle feeding him now. works well. i'm one bottle ahead and express after each feed he has so im ready fo the nec=xt one and using 1 formula bottle at night.