Feeding the baby madness...

[Hope81]

Amelie is 2 days old, or 3? God I didn't have 1 h of sleep the past 3-4 days so I can't really think...she was born 17 September afternoon anyway.
We have some real problems with latching that come from both her and me but meantime though she latched sometimes and she sucked quite long time she became drowsy and she lost quite a lot of weight...
So after phone calls and lots of talking with the pediatrician we decided to feed her every 3 h with formula 60 ml, while meantime sometimes we try to latch her and when we can't Wei use the pump to stimulate the breast so hopefully my milk will come in...
The pump gets nth out, nth at all and after the baby latched last time and sucked for 30 min she still drank 60 ml of formula meaning that she Dosent really get loads from the breast...
Thankfully she started to be more alert now that she got some food in her and I pray that my milk a least will come in...
From there it will be of she keeps not latching probably exclusive pumping and God help us all...
Never mind how much of a failure I feel I did try endless times...
Also I am a mess completely every time she cries inconsolable i start crying thinking i did sth to upset her...Now my brain knows all newborn cry my heart though refuses to listen to any logic....

 

[Mrsstuart01]

Sleep deprivation will do that to you Hun and I doubt it will help your milk come in either. Drink gallons of water, have decent meals and put your oh in charge so you can have a good few hours sleep. If she cries get him to take her for a walk so it doesn't disturb you. We forget how much our bodies have been through giving birth and you're not getting a chance to recharge. You need to do that for your milk to come in. And remember babies cry to talk to us. My little one cried inconsolably in hospital and stopped after a few days, just give lots of cuddles and love! But dad can do that for a while so you can sleep xx

 

[Em91]

you're doing really well to persevere with breast feeding, if she's only a couple of days old you might get more expressing by hand. my milk took a long time to come in. I was told to have lots of skin to skin and make sure your eating and drinking right. When I was combination feeding I always offered the breast first then topped up with formula afterwards so that the majority of what she got was breast milk.
It will get easier though
your not doing anything wrong to make her cry, it sounds like you could gol do with a sleep for a start, could your oh keep an eye on her inbetween a feed so you can have a rest?

hopefully the other ladies will have more advise for you.

Using tapatalk so excuse the typos! & I can't see tickers

 

[Lolly85x]

Aw hope... Your not a failure. So don't be to hard on yourself... Some babies just don't want to breastfeed. It's good you've had her latching. I don't know how you are coping on such little sleep.
I am FF I did try BF for 5 days and my little boy had lost weight, my milk supply was rubbish and I caved and gave him a bottle... I suppose I could have persevered but for me it was the right thing to do.
So don't be hard on yourself if she's needing a little formula top up...xxx

 

[DaisyPurple]

Firstly congratulations darling, I'm so pleased to hear that she is here xxx and please don't be so hard on yourself, you must get plenty of rest, fluids and eat regularly, as the other girls have said. And well.. welcome to motherhood it will get easier lots of love xx

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2

 

[Esperanza84]

First of all I must say I agree with the other ladies here - drink a lot and relax (sleep)!!

Isn't it normal for them to lose some weight the first days for than to go back up again?? I remember I was told this. About latching, check this website out - many useful tips and videos (also in English). Make sure you have as much as your breast as possible in her mouth (difficult to explain, but you might understand me) and that she latches often. Suddenly you will have BIG pamela boobs!! Also, my sister was struggling a bit with bf and she called the "breastfeeding help line" (yes, we do have a line like that here in Norway, consisting of experienced mummies that do this on their spare time). She did not have any milk - this old lady told her to breath, relax and take a beer. She took a beer, relaxed and suddenly she had milk and the baby latched perfectly Anyway, however you end up feeding your baby you should not feel bad!!! The most important thing is that you are both happy!!!

xx

 

[hellywelly]

I explained how similar our situations are in my other post - although you are doing better than me as my little girl never managed to latch on, even with someone coming to the house to help me every day for a week! We had the same issues with weight loss etc, and I always offered breast first before bottle etc. It took a while for the pump to work but when my milk did come in I could get quite a bit and she had mainly breastmilk for the first fortnight. I think you should keep trying as long as you can as it's still early days, BUT if it doesn't work out, please don't waste time feeling a failure. I did and quite frankly I'm annoyed at myself. I almost lost sight of enjoying my new baby I was so wrapped up in feeling guilty about not breastfeeding. I finally realised she is healthy and well and doesn't care where her dinner comes from as long as she gets it! Good luck and try and get some sleep - every mountain is harder to climb when you haven't slept in days. xxx

 

[BabyBrain]

Post birth hormones suck bum cheeks sweetie, coupled with the fact that being pregnant is far easier than having a baby in your arms, no sleep, feeling like crap, crying so much you are in danger of dehydrating, everyone expecting you to "know" what to do and feeling guilty for all manner of things the first few days/weeks are incredibly hard.

You are doing your best and under the circumstances you are doing amazingly well. Albert wouldn't latch either and I had to express with cracked and bleeding nipples. Then at 2am one morning my hand pump developed a really embarrassing squeak that rang through the house like an air raid siren lol.

If you can get her to sleep after a formula feed then take the opportunity to have a long hot bath, wash your hair and put a bit of make up on. The next sleep she has eat and drink as much as you can and the next time curl up in bed and sleep. You aren't a machine chick xxxxxxxxx

 

[katie_lou]

Hun u need to try and sleep when ur baby does and also drink plenty of water sleep depravation is horrible xxxx

 

[Loula]

I found that sleeping when baby slept in the aternoon even for just half an hour did me the world of good xxx

 

[Hope81]

Everything makes so much sense of what you say.
We are going back to the hospital for a blood test today so I will ask them to latch her for me once more while we are there.
I am extremely determined that my baby will get some breast milk so ff only is not an option for me if I can help it.
As the pediatrician told me, we don't care that match of she ever larches or not, providing that my milk will come in eventually I will express all the meals if she can't latch.
Esperanza I had no idea about the help line. I may give that a try. Though I can't say that I didn't get help with that. The mw latch her for me every single time and really took time to explain me. Theoretically I know how to do it, but my baby either she Dosent open her mouth at all whatever you try and wriggles around like you try to hurt her or she opens her mouth Just a little, larches only on the nipple, sucks one time and let it go..
About sleep now it's only my fault I suppose... I am overtired but not sleepy ifykwim? I keep having in mind all the things I need to do and I just can't doze off and even if it happens for a sec I wake up immediately with the vey noise she makes....so yep I must be an idiot to not be able to sleep when I am so tired...
Anyway this feed didn't try to latch her as my nipples are bleeding and I want to give them a proper rest to actually have a chance when my milk will come. So Instead I am going to get comfy on the sofa and pump just for the nipple simulation part as I don't get any out of it.
Baby brain I really like the way that you are thinking and I may try that if we settle in a couple of days.

I let my oh sleep so I will ask him at noon to take her downstairs to sleep so I can hopefully get a couples of h of sleep if I will manage to switch my brain off.

Thank you all once more and sorry if I keep going all around repeating myself. I think I don't make much sense at the moment...

 

[jojo_2012]

A pump isn't a good representation of what your baby is getting. Keep trying the breast it's the only way her latch will improve. It really does feel like 24/7 in the beginning.

 

[Hope81]

Jo Jo I didn't even need the pump to tell you she wasn't getting any, or close to any.
She was drowsy, dropped 400 g in a day and that more that she was allowed to drop in 10 days...
So she was really not doing ok.

 

[TORino]

Big hugs lovely.

Remember the lavender on a tissue in your pillowcase. I swear by it to help me to relax now. I was wired like you for the first few weeks. It's very draining.

You are doing fantastically though so well done.

I don't know what to suggest with the feeding. Sounds like you are doing everything you can. Is she taking milk from a bottle fine? Or are you giving her it from a cup?

She could just be all worked up from being born and out of sorts etc so just keep trying. If your nips are cracked then use the Lansinoh as much as possible

Xxxx

 

[kaytee11]

You're doing great Hope but you baby will be fine on formula for now at the end of the day its also full of nutrients and she needs milk. While you also need some sleep !! Like Tor said lavender on a tissue, im obsessed with lavnder so if u have it on a bottle and some plain moistuiser drop some into it and rub it into your feet and chest where it will be soaked into your body quickest I remember you dont have a bath so i wont suggest that but definately a hot shower ! maybe even put your feet ina tub of warm water with some lavender in it while feeding baby next ?? xx

 

[Hope81]

Tor she is sucking at the bottle like its the last drop on earth... She is drinking 2 oz in like 5 min...
I first gave her with a cup but was too slow and she was getting frustrated.

I will try the lavander thank you for reminding me.

 

[kaytee11]

Maybe up an oz and see will she finish it? if not its not much you've wasted Aila was only 7lbs but was able to nearly polish off 3oz instantly ! xx

 

[Mrsstuart01]

Definitely get oh to take her out in the pram for an hour after her feed so you have a chance to drop off without hearing her noises and waking up.
My little man didn't know how to suck when he went on the breast at first but with a lot of patience and a lot of cheek stroking and blowing in his face (to keep him awake) he finally got it. Stay in bed for a few days, have lo with you skin to skin, smother your nipples in lansinoh, take your time and enjoy the cuddles.
Also give the pump a rest for now, it made my nipples sorer! I found lansinoh and breast milk (when it came) were the best cures and even though my nipples were sore when starting feeding it only lasted a few days xx

 

[Hope81]

Kaytee yes I was thinking to try that though I usually give her 2 to hopefully be content but not overfull to maybe latch her.
But next feed I will make more and see

 

[dyscochick]

Hi hun, I can offer no advice but just wanted to say I'm still here for you, i'm sure its exhausting but remember how good you are at relaxing and meditating, try and get into that state, even if you don't fully sleep. Make sure OH takes the baby out of ear shot so you can relax, without distraction. Its what he can do to help right now, that and feed YOU! xxxx