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Newborn won't eat! PLEASE HELP!

jenniferkissel32jenniferkissel32 member
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Being that its sunday night and can't call the doctor, I thought maybe someone would have some insight that could help me.  My little girl is now 5 days old, and was eating fairly well while in the hospital.  The past two days, however, I have noticed that she NEVER cries out for food, and I try to feed her at least every 3 hours (sometimes it is a bit longer), but at each feeding she will only nurse for a few minutes and then refuse to eat anymore.  She doesn't cry for food, and doesn't seem like she is in any sort of pain while eating, but is simply just not interested.  I have expressed milk and tried to feed her that milk from a bottle which sometimes helps but not by much, but she will never eat more than 2 ounces TOPS at each feeding, which like I said is not very often anyways.  I don't know what to do to get her to eat more at each feeding.  I have tried stripping her down, changing lighting, changing feeding position, having different people feed her, expressed milk, formula supplement, changing her diaper, etc and nothing seems to be helping.  If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it!  Thank you!  
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Re: Newborn won't eat! PLEASE HELP!

  • carrotcake06carrotcake06 member
    Your baby's stomach is very small - like the size of a marble. Two ounces is a lot for a 5 day old.

    Have you been to the pedi for a weight check? Usually you set up the appt for a day or two after discharge. How close is she to her birthweight?

    Newborns are sleepy. Keep doing what you're doing to try and keep her awake during feedings and aim for at least 8 feedings per day.

    Call your pedi in the AM for a weight check and to discuss your questions.
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  • jenniferkissel32jenniferkissel32 member
    We did go to the dr the day after discharge, and she was down to 6 pounds 12 ounces from 7 pounds 6.6 ounces at birth.  The dr said this was normal, but she wasn't having as many wet diapers as hoped for, which might mean I was dehydrated.  Since then I have upped my water intake and have been drinking a min of 4 liters of water a day in addition to other things like juice, milk, ect.  I guess I don't know how many ounces for sure she is getting while at the breast, but I assumed around the 2 ounce mark because when I pump I usually get about this much in the first 5 minutes, which is about the longest she will go at the breast, and I thought she was suppose to be there for 15-20 min per side.  I'm a FTM, and just worried that she is not getting enough, and since she is so sleepy and never asking for food and refuses the breast and bottle sometimes (past the 3-5 minute mark I would say), I was getting very nervous.  She has had a an orange powder in her urine since she was born, which I was told was another sign of dehydration, which I know can't be from me being dehydrated (I swear I seriously drink SO MUCH WATER).  I will call the doctor in the morning to see if they will weigh her again to make sure things are on track, I just am so worried.
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  • MWagner10MWagner10 member
    Go to a LC in your area and do a weighted feed. You will be suprised she might just be super efficient. Like pp said do your best to wake her every 2 hours during the day and every 3 at night until she is back up to birth weight, then on demand after that. Just make sure she has a good number of diapers, and goes no longer than 6 hours without a wet diaper. A good rule of thumb is the same number of diapers per how many days old she is so today should be 5 diapers then 6 then 8-10 daily after a week.
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  • EggerkrEggerkr member
    My little guy is also 5 days old snd he went two days without eating anything. My little guy is now eating but doesn't eat more than 2oz. Like op said 2oz is a lot. Sounds like you are doing everything right though.
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  • ASmallWonderASmallWonder member
    Others have covered it but you need to feed more often because some babies don't have the desire or instinct yet and 2 ounces is a lot!
    Formerly known as elmoali :)

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  • 313Meg313Meg member
    2oz is normal for a newborn. I had to wake LO to eat for a couple weeks. You definitely want to avoid dehydration. Which will be how much she eats. Make it a point to try to feed her every 2 hrs. Even at night. Until you know she's gaining well.

    Try using your finger and tickle her cheek, ears, under her chin, tap the bottom of her foot to keep her awake. The length of how long she's eating will increase slowly. But right now just try to get in a feeding every 2 hrs. And then call your pedi. Get a weight check or a 2 week check up.
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  • dunvillesdunvilles member

    My DS was a very efficient eater. He would nurse from one breast each time and only take about 5 minutes and he was finished.

    Like PP's said, if she's having enough wet diapers, she is fine. Call your pedi with concerns though.

     

    #rainbows and #unicorns make any situation #cute. keithcorcoran
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