Need help with newborn please

CJPowers · May 2014

My DS is 4 days old and I was hoping to EBF him. He lost more than 10% of his birth weight and had high billi so Dr.'s were concerned and asked that I supplement 2oz of BM or formula, but when I pumped I got nothing so we had to give him some formula. This did help him gain weight and have wet and soiled diapers. We only gave a few supplements, maybe 4 and I tried to pump at the same time (getting only drops). I feel inadequate, like I can't feed my baby. I know I need to just keep nursing him, but my question is... What do I do when I feed him on one side and he empties me and pulls off, then feed him on the other side and then he starts doing this panic thing. He shakes his head back and forth with his mouth wide over my nipple and starts crying. There is nothing left. What do I do? Give formula and pump at that time? Please help.

CJPowers · May 2014

Thank you, I really needed that message. I have been sad wondering why I'm not producing enough and what is wrong with my body. With DD I had tons of milk by the time she was alert enough to be hungry! DS is always awake and always hungry! I will give him formula and pump when he is freaking out.

Myaflowers · May 2014

I don't have anything to add to what PP said, but I wanted to give you some encouragement! My DD and I had a rough start. She was in the NICU and I wasn't able to pump enough for her, so she got formula. They way overfed her and used fast flow nipples, but we were eventually able to get to exclusively nursing. She is 16 months old and still nursing. Hang in there and keep trying! You're doing great!

izzetoot · May 2014

Congrats mama! I am in a very similar situation now (and reading around to see if anyone else has good advise:) Im a FTM and my LO is 6days old. He does the same thing to me by bobbing his head with a wide open mouth but wont latch. I think he is just uncomfortable so I try different positions until he calms down and latches. The 'football hold' seems to be his favorite and he likes to have his feet confined in the nook of my elbow.

Ive also noticed that he feeds better and longer if I don't switch sides. I let him feed on one side as long as he wants (12-30+mins) and then 2-3 hrs later do the same on the other side. That way I don't interupt him while he eats.

Good luck and share some advice once you figure out what works best for you and your little man!

Pankers · May 2014

Please don't feel inadequate, my milk didn't come in for ages, like over 10 days (LO was a little early by 23 days). We were pretty much ff for the first 2-3 weeks because I was having such supply issues. LO is 12 weeks tomorrow and we've not supplemented for a week and no formula for over 2 weeks now!!!! You can do it, it just takes time, patience and in my case lots of supplements and drugs

. Like other PPs have said, see an LC, I tried 2 and the second one was amazing and got me where I am today. Good luck. And if you have to supplement with formula, it is not the end of the world. You are giving you LO some breast milk which is amazing.

rm2013 · May 2014

You've got good advice from PPs, just wanted to say hang in there! I had a similar situation where my milk didn't come in right away after a c/s and we had to supplement due to too much weight loss. I rented a hospital pump and would only get like 1/2 an ounce from pumping. We just kept at it and nursed around the clock and gradually my milk came in but we still had to supplement (in decreasing amounts as my supply came in more). It wasn't until the third week after LO was born that I didn't need to supplement at all. But it was so worth it and we are still EBF at 14 months. So don't get discouraged and know that you can do it!

CJPowers · May 2014

Thank you everyone for all the great advice. I own a hospital grade pump and hands free nursing bra. I have only given my little guy 4 supplements (that's only 1 per day and he is feeding about 12 times per day). He has also downed the bottle in like 5 minutes. He's tiny but he can throw them back. I'm nursing him about every hour to two hours. During the day he nurses on each side for 20 min effectively ( good latch, can hear a rhythmic suck, swallow pattern, etc). Th problem is from 9 pm - 2 am he is fussy and hungry and does the open mouth panic thing. I have tried, football, side lying and standard positions. All are just the same. If I'm feeding every hour and it takes 40 min to feed, when am I going to pump? Thank you all so much! I didn't cry today so it was a great day.! I can do this!

mommatotwo2 · May 2014

Congrats Momma! You're doing an awesome job.

I don't think you need to pump in addition to your 12 feeds a day, especially if you are only supplementing once. You could pump that one time, if someone else could give baby the bottle. Make sure to do paced feeding (bottle parallel to the floor, taking a long time to feed). Is baby having wet diapers throughout the day? Are you able to hand express milk? Don't give up, you can do this! Hydrate, eat, rest and keep nursing! Your milk will come in fully soon, and you know from experience, it will get easier after that.

Hang in there!!

Unknown · May 2014

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shira49 · May 2014

Always try skin-to-skin when baby starts to get upset. It's like a reset button!

jgreig83 · May 2014

It took 6 days for me too. The emotions you are experiencing are completely normal. Keep trying to feed as much as possible. I would feed both sides (with her hitting me in frustration) and then give her about an ounce of formula. This kept me sane knowing she was getting nutrients, and at the same time still helping my milk come in. My advice is to cool down your nipples after with a cold cloth, and if possible use a warm one before bfing to help with chapping/blisters.

CJPowers · May 2014

Thank you guys so much! Today was great! He ate every 2 hours. Unfortunately he has been nursing nonstop for 5 hours this evening. I handed him to my husband with some formula and went up to take a bath! I need a break and so do my nipples! It's always this time of night where he is nursing constantly and I end up having to give formula and I pump. What am I doing wrong?

CJPowers · May 2014

Thanks! The cluster feeding time is extra tough because I have to give DD a bath and put her to bed during that exact time. My husband has been doing that so I can be with DS, but he goes back to work next week. Hopefully I can figure something out. Do you guys think the cluster feeds are because they are hungry or just want to be comforted?

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