New to breast feeding after baby in SCBU - please help

[beanster]

Well, our beautiful little daughter was born 9 days ago and had quite an adventurous start to her little life! She ended up on photootherapy and then had to have an exchange blood transfusion at 2 days old, then spent the next 5 days in an incubator on the special care unit. Feeding wasn't so successful cos of the phototherapy so I waqs expressig and she was tube fed for a few days. We tried feeding using nipple shields in the hospital and it worked better than without. She was fed every 3 hours on the unit to keep her fluids up in the incubator we are now home and for the first day (she was 7 days old) she fed about every 4 hours and the feds ranged between 30 - 50 mins a time. Now she is feeding litle and often, sometims only for 15 mins at a time and ranging from 1 to 4 hours inbetwen feeds. he midwife said it might be a growth spurt but I'm getting worried that she is not getting enough from me s needs t feed more - should i try opping her up with aa bottle or expressing and usin that, when should i expresss - any help or advicde would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Esoames]

Try and have confidence in your boobs, they adapt quickly to feeding little and often. They have growth spurts at around ten days and regularly after that. It's hard work, but try and keep going. If she looses weight then maybe think about introducing formula, but trust your boobies

Emma xx

 

[Sam's Mum]

Congratulations!

I wouldn't worry too much about how often she's feeding and for how long. My two had no real pattern to feeds at first - Sam would feed for ages and would sometimes want more after and hour but would sometimes go 4 hours between feeds, and Toby fed very quickly but was the same with timings. As long as she's content after a feed and having lots of wet nappies (and poo is usually a mustardy colour) you don't need to worry. You're doing so well to be still feeding her after the start you've both had!

 

[Maria1977]

Can't offer any advice other than has been said.

Trust your body, your boobs will always make enough.

Sometimes baby will be hungrier sooner, or sometimes longer between feeds. If she goes back on quickly it doesn't mean she didn't get enough from the last feed.

And sometimes, she might just be thirsty.

Your're doing fine, and like Emma said unless she starts losing weight there's no need to be topping up with formula

xxxx

 

[frankie707]

Just wanted to back up what the other girls have said - G was always erratic with feeding until probably about 2 and a half months old and I worried about how much he was getting but she will be getting what she needs from you and the more she feeds the more milk you will produce so dont fight it if she does want to cluster feed.

 

[Rayoflight]

You're doing everything right. Emma is so right with her line about having 'confidence' in your boobs. It is so true! Xxx