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Lots of Issues...Help/Advice Please

amyrecamyrec
in Breastfeeding

My dd is 4 days old and we are having some issues.  She was 5.7 at birth, 5 at our first LC visit and 4.15 at the pedi today.  LC "diagnosed": her as an uncoordinated sucker and today pedi told us to keep trying to nurse her and to give her formula after.

 The main problem is her sleepiness.  Nothing can get her interested.  Also they said to wake her every 2.5-3 hours during the day to feed her, but she is not interested and doesn't show many hunger cues.

We do OK at the LC but I am having a hard time applying what we do there at home.  I'm having trouble getting her latched on correctly as well.

So I guess I justt have to keep up this routine until she learns or wakes up a bit.

 Any words of wisdom or similar experiences?  I hope I can keep it up!

 

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Re: Lots of Issues...Help/Advice Please

  • Notwifezilla7Notwifezilla7 member

    First off, it's so frustrating at first. Don't get yourself down. The best remedies I have had to keep DD awake were the following: get her undressed- almost make her a little cold, tickle her feet/face to try and get her awake, switch breasts, try different places nursing perhaps near a window

    Hang in there! Keep trying to offer the breast.

     

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  • K-K-K-KatieK-K-K-Katie

    sorry i'm new to this too so i dont have much advice... but wanted to say good luck!  stick with it... she'll get it!  she's so young, i had a really hard time breastfeeding the first week or two but then it got a lot better.

    as for the waking her part - yep they told us to make her cold to keep her up.  maybe a bath will help (or just wet washcloth)?  our DD always woke up to scream after baths. :-)

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  • BrainySmurfetteBrainySmurfette

    My DD was born at 34 weeks, and she really had problems with BF at the beginning.  I pumped, and we did a lot of bottle feeding the beginning.  With some daily practice at BF, we were able to transition fully to BF a little after 3 months.

    Since your baby is was a bit on the early and smaller side, this may be just an immaturity problem.  I would keep working on BF, but pump and give some bottles, too.  While she will probably will learn eventually, it may take a bit longer than is healthy for her.  Also, preemies are frequently given pacifiers to help strengthen their ability to suck and BF properly.  This is usually advised against for full-term babies, but it might be helpful in your situation.

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  • FriendlyFannyFriendlyFanny

    They are so sleepy in the beginning. My DD rarely showed obvious hunger cues. I would just put her to breast every time she woke, regardless of true cues. It will get better. Keep seeing the LC if the latch issue is still troubling. Get DH to help her latch, call a friend or family member to help, do it in front of a mirror so you can see.

    If you want her to receive BM instead of supplemental formula, pump and bottle feed, but always try to get her to latch and suck/swallow/breath or it is a slippery slope to exclusive pumping. Also putting her to breast will get your milk to come in quicker and with better supply.

    You could also ask the LC about using an SNS and/or breast shield so you get nipple stimulation, she gets something easy to latch and doesn't have to work too hard for it. Where there is a will, there is a way!

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  • SassystaceSassystace
    You do have to keep trying. Hang in there, it will get better!  Everyday she should get less and less sleepy.  Do all the things the pps have suggested to keep her awake because she's got to eat and start gaining weight. There is a big learning curve as they learn to bf too. It's new to both of you so give her lots of chances throughout the day. Keep working on getting her to latch, it's tough but you have to keep working.  And get in to see you LC again if you aren't improving tomorrow. My DD lost a lot of weight in the hospital because it took a while for my milk to come in.  We supplemented using a cathedar tube that we could push small amounts of formula into her mouth as she sucked to avoid using a bottle. This way she kept practicing nursing and got nutrition too.  Those first few weeks were really tough, it gets better, I promise!
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  • meganet22meganet22

    I kept dd awake by sitting her up and rubbing her back while putting pressure on it.  This would usually keep her awake enough to start feeding and sometimes i would have to repeat during the feeding in the beginning.

    Going back to an lc is a good idea also becuase you want to do things to improve her ability to breastfeed.  Ask about a breast shield since these make it easier for babies to latch and feed.  Hang in there, it gets easier.

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  • divakotkadivakotka

    Does she suck on your finger? If so, I used a Hazelbaker finger feeder in the beginning with pumped breast milk. That and a nipple shield were lifesavers for me.

     

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  • babygirl809babygirl809

    My second son was a lot smaller than my first, so I think he size had a lot to do with our issues that we had in the beginning. My oldest was over 10 lbs at birth, and was 2 weeks late so he had a lot more development than my 7 lb two week early baby.

    I would get the baby naked. I tickled his feet and under his  chin. I would express some milk first so it was on my nipples when it was time to feed. He is tongue-tied (his tongue is attached very close to his teeth) so his latch to quite a while and quite sore nipples on my part.

    Good luck it is so worth it.

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