struggling with feeding

[Emmajaine]

Anyone else out there struggling to get their little one to feed on the breast? Alexis is now 4 days old and she doesn't take my breast for more than 30 seconds to a minute (on a good day!) Most of the time I try to attach her and she just screams and cries, or he doesn't 'gape' to let me get enough nipple\areaola in, or she just pulls back \ moves her head to the side, meaning whatever I have managed to get in her mouth comes out.

I'm getting worried, as I know she is obviously not getting enough food (I've been in expressing) but have only been managing to get 3-5ml per express which is what she is then eating,but. Know this is not enough per feed.

What should I do?????

Xx

 

[Asd1]

Have you had her checked for tongue tie at all? My son had this and kept "slipping off the breast" also it's worth getting your positioning checked too, whilst bf is a very natural thing to do it doesn't always come easy don't stress you can do this mumma ! Rule out any issues first then it's all practice for both of you

 

[tinselcat]

Hi hun

I had a myriad of problems at the 4 day mark, but if knowing that it gets better makes you feel any less stressed, I am breastfeeding happily at 15 weeks now. At the start it is normal to make hardly any milk but the baby is designed for this - they only have a tiny tiny tummy too (the size of a small marble), so that amount may be fine at this stage? As long as you keep feeding or expressing regularly, your supplies will ramp up.

I'd agree with Asd1 that it's worth checking if a tongue tie is affecting the baby's latch. If it's not that, then may be worth getting help with trying different feeding positions.

xx

 

[Emmajaine]

I definitely want some help with positioning, was meant to have a midwife visit me yesterday (first day at home after being in hospital since Tuesday,) but no-one turned up! Will be giving them til midday ish, then phoning to find out what they hell is going on!

Thanks for the support ladies, it really does help!

Xx

 

[TTT]

Firstly, stay relaxed. Feeling stressed can make your milk flow less and the baby will pick up on your stress.

Try feeding with no top or bra on and have tour baby in just a nappy. Its of skin to skin will help and no clothes to get in your way. Make sure you're somewhere comfortable too.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself, bf is bloody hard to get the hang of for both of you.

I found it tricky at first but it gets easier by the day. The baby finds it easier as their little.mouth grows bigger too.

The technique I use is: get comfy and in position, hold baby's head in one hand while his bum rests on my lap and hold boob in the other hand. Let his mouth get close to breast whilst his bottom lip touches the bottom of the areola. I lightly press in above my nipple so the nipple points to the roof of his mouth, then when his mouth is nice and wide (but not about to close) I press his head against me nice and quickly but gently.then hold him nice and close to me.

I found his little nose did get buried in the first couple of weeks until he grew a bit bigger.

 

[northerngirl]

I could have written this a a week or so ago! I had huge problems feeding for the first week or so, got so upset about milk production and worrying that Felix wasn't getting enough, he didn't eat for so long he narrowly avoided going into hospital! But echoing others in saying it does get better, try and have some faith in yourself and if you're really committed to breastfeeding then just keep pushing through and you will start to produce more.
I ended up topping up with formula after nearly taking him into hospital and that really took some of the pressure off. That is always an option if things don't improve and you're finding it too much. Now Felix is on about 80% breast milk topped up with formula every now and then if he still feels hungry and I can't keep up with him. See how things go but don't drive yourself crazy, it will get better one way or another! xo

 

[Cakey]

I struggled with exactly the same thing, it got to a point on day 3 where Oscar was screaming and I was sobbing. I decided to express breastmilk and give it him in a bottle. He's so much happier and I've offered boob since but he's just not interested. Just wanted to say if you really feel you can't persevere, there are other options out there good luck xxx

 

[sorpresa_bea]

Agree with everything that's been said and, for wat is worth, as someone who struggled badly to bf my LO from the start, I just want to encourage you to hang in there. Persevere and remain calm, if possible. One way or another you'll find a way to give your baby the best, whether that's a combination of breast and formula, expressed beast milk, just formula. All ways are fine because as a mum you are finding the right solution to look after your baby.

Don't feel under pressure if breastfeeding doesn't fully work to start with. Do the best you can. I had hell for the first 2 weeks with the baby not gaining weight and not feeding properly. Had to express and then top up with formula. Gradually he became stronger, and eventually we managed just breastfeeding. Now at 12 weeks he's strong and healthy and breastfeeding is going well. But I had every possible obstacle in the BF book: mastitis, blocked ducts, low milk supply, sleepy baby with weak suck, poor latching, thrush, extremely sore nipples. I don't think we managed to settle it all until week 8.

Hope your midwife turned up and helped. A lactation consultant can always be of great help in the early days. You're doing wonderfully mama!!

 

[Emmajaine]

Thanks ladies! This is why I love this forum, soo supportive!

Saw midwife yesterday and talked about it all. She hasn't been getting enough food so we are topping up with formula. I'm keeping going with expressing and will keep trying her on the breast, but I have flat nipples so it is extra hard for her, so will be trying some nipple shields to help with that (no one at the hospital mentioned anything about maybe finding it difficult because of my nipples - which I think was wrong of them!)

Topping up with formula has definitely made me much calmer, as I know she is getting enough food, so we can now work on breast feeding and our latch, and fingers crossed drop the amount of formula and increase breast milk.

Thanks again for the advice \ support lovely ladies! Xx

 

[TTT]

That's good to hear. Glad you are getting some support. Good luck with it.

 

[tinselcat]

Hi hun

I have one flat and one very inverted nipple. I found nipple shields a big help overall. I tried 3 different brands as they come in different shapes, I found the ones from Tesco worked best for me but it's all down to the size etc of your own.

I found the flat one popped out reasonably quickly, the inverted one took many weeks and the first half a minute of feeding was excruciating because I think the ligaments (or whatever they are inside) were being stretched each time. However in the end the pain has completely gone.

Keep going, you're doing a fabulous job xx