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Breastfeeding
nickim616
member
Frustrated New Mom :(...should I supplement?
nickim616
member
We welcomed our son into the world this past Sunday. At 4 days old today we find out that he has lost 1 whole pound since birth. I know that a baby's weight is supposed to go down at first, but I find this concerning. (Dr, says not to worry, we will monitor progress for a few weeks.)
My goal is to EBF but I'm beginning to think something is not working. We have been having very frustrating nursing session with LO crying and pushing away from the breast. He will latch and suck for a few minutes, but I do not think he is getting enough. (Meeting the recommended wet diapers, but not dirty.)
Any advice on making this early BF easier is much appreciated!
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Re: Frustrated New Mom :(...should I supplement?
Hi! Congrats and hang in there - the first few weeks are so hard with a new baby. How much did he weigh when he was born?
I would trust your doctor and keep BF'ing - it's best for your baby!
If you want some peace of mind, maybe try pumping for one of his feedings and see how much you produce?
We gave our 1st baby a bottle at 7 days old because he wasn't pooping, so the doctor said try pumping to see how much milk you have and do a bottle. It was the best thing we did - we started the routine of doing 1 pumped bottle per day with daddy.
Just know that pumping produces a bit less than baby can get because the baby is more efficient at sucking. Also, newborns only take 1-2 ounces at a feeding and maybe less in the first few days. And sometimes it takes a few days for your milk to fully let down and you just start with colostrum which is a rich golden yellow and full of nutrients!
And if he's frustrated - maybe try hanging over him and letting gravity help your milk flow down and also massage/rub your boobs along the sides to help the milk flow faster until it comes in fully.
Stick with it! I have 2 BF babies who are big and healthy!
I feel for you momma! My daughter is 10 weeks old and I am EBFing but trust me when I say it has been a pretty challenging and at times very frustrating experience. Good for you for even giving it a try! You have to make the best decision for you and your son and if that means supplementing then so be it. Formula is not the devil:). However, if your Dr is not concerned at this point than try to do your best not to get too worked up about it (I know it is easier said than done). I am sure your Dr will watch your son's progress and let you know when he/she feels as you may need to explore other options. My first word of advice would be to contact a Lactation Consultant. I have gone to see one multiple times in the last 10 weeks and it has helped out tremendously! Second, give yourself and your son a little time....be patient....this is new to both of you and may take a little longer than 4 days to get it down. Good luck!
My son and daughter were both big babies, almost 10 lbs at birth. Both lost 10% of their body weight within 3 days and I was worried sick. It seemed as though my milk would never come in! I supplemented them with formula at the hospital and ended up always supplementing along with BFing for 1 year with DS, due to low supply cause by a hormonal imbalance. He is and has always been in 97%. Currently I supplement DD with about 2 oz of formula per day for convenience as my supply is much better this time around. My point is that even though they may lose weight in the beginning, mine are 97% so it obviously didn't effect them long-term. Hang in there.
Hang in there it will get easier!! Like Amy G said your milk may not be in yet which is very normal. Also if you were given IV fluids or had an epidural your lo weight may have been artificially high from fluid retention so lossing a pound is not surprising.
I would call a LC to see if they can help and check lo for being toung tied. But if you want to ebf keep at it and it will work.
First of all, congratulations on the birth of your son! Those first few weeks can be so stressful. Do you have an LC you can see? My LO lost lots of weight at the beginning and took a little longer than some to learn to latch, but I ended up having a plentiful supply, and we've had a happy and healthy BFing relationship her whole life without having to supplement.
When our doctor was concerned about LO's weight loss, I went to weight checks with an LC who was able to watch me feed LO and assure me that things were moving in the right direction.
GL! BFing is challenging to learn at first, but it gets easier, I promise