Alexandra Rose is here and mommy needs help breastfeeding!!

a&s05 · February 2013

My daughter was born Tuesday night, induced 9 days early after my blood pressure and heart rate skyrocketing monday. she latched on immediately when attempting the first time to feed. She started slowing down and was very sleepy during the hospital stay but she lost only a small amount of weight and had many dirty diapers so the doctors said she was doing great. We came home yesterday afternoon and she says a little but at 5 she completely stopped latching and refused to suck. I was still squeezing colostrum into her mouth to help her along. All night long she was screaming but wouldn't latch properly and seems to be frustrated by the lack of milk. I decided, even though I probably shouldn't have, to offer her 1oz of formula in a bottle to see where that gets us and she ate 1/2oz and was satisfied. That was the only formula i offered. i still continued to try feeding her throughout the night and she was sucking a little but not fully latched properly and is pretty fussy. Should I try a nipple shield? Should I wait till my milk actually comes in bc maybe she's just frustrated at the small amount right now? I keep trying her every hour to get her to latch. Is that bad? Will it effect my supply/demand if she's not properly latching this early? Basically asking for any help on this situation

wifeofadam · February 2013

If I were you I would:

Not offer any more formula unless the baby clearly isn't having enough wet diapers. Don't worry about poopy diapers because some BF babies only poop once a week. The formula isn't going to help your milk come in at all.
Get the baby to latch as often as possible to encourage my milk to come in. You could even try to pump in between the latching sessions.
Call a LC to come over and help you.
Colostrum is more than enough for the baby - their stomachs are the size of a walnut right now. So I doubt she is screaming out in hunger. It could be something else bothering her - wet diaper, gassy tummy, pain around the umbilical cord, too warm/cold, etc. I would look into those kinds of things before I assume she isn't getting enough and offer formula.

Eventmerlin · February 2013

Do not feel bad about the formula....I did the same thing! My baby was the same as yours and it has been a struggle to get her to breast. I now use a nipple shield and it has been a godsend. I continue to try to get her to breast without it, but at least I now know she is eating. I also pump and feed her with a bottle if she will not nurse. I have a LC and she is amazing! Also see if there is a support group in your area. It is comforting to talk to other moms who went thru difficulties too.... GL and keep at it!!!!

FemNik214 · February 2013

The only way to up your milk supply is to keep that baby with the boob, get her latched as often as you can. With my first she took right to it(hoping the same for this one) wait until she's rooting for the nipple and when her mouth is open put the whole nipple in her mouth, my sweet Victoria sucked it in like a straw and the LC's got on to me for allowing her to do this since she wasn't getting a proper latch. The first couple of times you get that quick motion it looks like it's rough but it's really not and it'll help her get the latch on that she needs.

It could be other things though that are making her fussy, I know with little V I had to stay away from onions completely because they made her gassy, after 4 months of BF I was able to eat what I wanted since her tummy could handle what mommy ate at that point.

I know it's so hard but just try to relax, and enjoy your little bundle, relaxing also helps with milk supply so take it easy momma.

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Alexandra Rose is here and mommy needs help breastfeeding!!

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