Newborn questions

cdmkruger · June 2016

When everyone has theyre babies i hope this can be a discussion for questions and answers for what youre having trouble with and how others have coped.
I had my baby girl June 1st and came home June 2nd. We are struggling, but we are slowly getting to know each other.
Has anyone had problems in the first couple days getting baby enough food? My milk hasnt come in yet and it seems my colostrum isnt satisfying her. We had to supplement with formula the first night. Hurts a lot to feel like i cant give her what she needs. Im hoping for no nipple confusion but im definitely worried. Anyone else experience this?

NLewis1 · June 2016

Why do you think you aren't satisfying her? Is she fussing at the breast and won't latch? Keeps popping on and off? Eats every hour? If she just eats very often - that can be totally normal.

peaceinnature · June 2016

DS lost more than 10% of his birthweight by day 3 so we started supplementing with formula, but we used a supplemental nursing system to avoid nipple confusion. You can buy a whole kit, but the midwives just gave us some feeding tubes which we used with regular bottles. It worked well for the first 6-8 weeks, but then we just switched to bottles since my supply never really caught up. But I credit the SNS with being able to still nurse him between bottles up to 6 months.

cdmkruger · June 2016

Shes super fussy and pops on and off. I dont mind her nursing a lot. She just will act finished, wont lach anymore pushes me away, then screams even after ive get a couple good burps from her

sorarose · June 2016

cdmkruger said:

Shes super fussy and pops on and off. I dont mind her nursing a lot. She just will act finished, wont lach anymore pushes me away, then screams even after ive get a couple good burps from her

Short of weighing her, you can get an idea from diaper output. DS became dehydrated because I wasn't producing enough (and he also lost too much weight), but we could tell fairly quickly by the diapers.

mollie2383 · June 2016

Hang in there! Those first few days breast feeding are so hard! I would suggest talking to a lactation consultant if you haven't already. They can be so helpful. But mostly, don't be to hard on yourself. I'm sure you and baby will settle in soon. Good luck.

Lyette1206 · June 2016

I second getting a Lactation consultant asap - be strong, this was honestly the hardest part when I had my daughter. My milk didn't come in at all so we used formula for the first few days while I pumped (we also had latch problems, as in she wouldn't at all, so I had no choice but to pump). After a few days with the pump, I was producing enough that she was just getting breast milk by bottle. Then, we used a nipple shield to transition her on to the breast. We used the shield for about 6 weeks and then we were finally able to drop it and she started latching. From then on - completely breastfed for as long as we wanted!!
We saw a few Lactation consultants and I'm not sure they ever made me feel better - they had good information though. The best help was a post partem doula who would specialized in breastfeeding support. She'd come and show me nursing positions and how to get comfortable, and mostly just listen to me cry and talk about my frustrations. Best thing ever!!

hollywoodave531 · June 2016

I am in support of the SNS. It helps deliver additional milk to the nipple so that the baby will stay latched and is not getting frustrated. Eventually once your milk comes in you can probably transition off of it and a nipple shield. Again a good LC would customize a plan for you. Check with your hospital and good luck to you! Just keep at it and don't get frustrated. Take it day by day.

aoliveira0726 · June 2016

I have a question for all the new mamas!! My hunby and i went thru the nursery tonight and are trying to make a list of other stuff we think we may need for when our DD arrives. We got a ton of stuff from the shower but what are some things you found you needed that you didnt think of while waiting for your bundles of joy to arrive?

splsmama2016 · June 2016

I have flat nipples so I was struggling hard core to feed DD in the hospital. The lactation specialist was NO help at all, and actually made me feel beyond inadequate when I asked for a nipple shield to help me out. She lied through her teeth saying I needed a prescription for one, and when i responded that I'd just have someone run to target and buy me one, she caved and gave it to me. Ultimately we had to supplement with formula because she dropped 12oz in 24 hours, and I'm still supplementing at night (so DH can feed while i pump). It took about 4-5 days for my milk to come in, and when it did, happy ugly tears.

We are still struggling with latching, and im afraid she has a little nipple confusion, but honestly, as long as she's eating, I really don't care. We still do skin to skin, but as long as she's eating that's all that matters to us.

MynaBird · June 2016

aoliveira0726 said:

I have a question for all the new mamas!! My hunby and i went thru the nursery tonight and are trying to make a list of other stuff we think we may need for when our DD arrives. We got a ton of stuff from the shower but what are some things you found you needed that you didnt think of while waiting for your bundles of joy to arrive?

If your house is two+ levels, I recommend setting up changing stations on each level. Especially when you first get home, you don't want to have to walk up or down stairs to change a diaper.

I found that that I left picking up a lot of the small things until after the baby was born -- hairbrush, nail clippers, etc. And you can't have too many burp cloths.

HeartLikeMine3 · June 2016

sdLindenberg said:

I have flat nipples so I was struggling hard core to feed DD in the hospital. The lactation specialist was NO help at all, and actually made me feel beyond inadequate when I asked for a nipple shield to help me out. She lied through her teeth saying I needed a prescription for one, and when i responded that I'd just have someone run to target and buy me one, she caved and gave it to me. Ultimately we had to supplement with formula because she dropped 12oz in 24 hours, and I'm still supplementing at night (so DH can feed while i pump). It took about 4-5 days for my milk to come in, and when it did, happy ugly tears.

We are still struggling with latching, and im afraid she has a little nipple confusion, but honestly, as long as she's eating, I really don't care. We still do skin to skin, but as long as she's eating that's all that matters to us.

My nipples were pretty flat and I would use a manual pump to get them to standout more before latching LO on have you tried that? Hope you find something that works for you breastfeeding is hard!

Lyette1206 · June 2016

sdLindenberg said:

I have flat nipples so I was struggling hard core to feed DD in the hospital. The lactation specialist was NO help at all, and actually made me feel beyond inadequate when I asked for a nipple shield to help me out. She lied through her teeth saying I needed a prescription for one, and when i responded that I'd just have someone run to target and buy me one, she caved and gave it to me. Ultimately we had to supplement with formula because she dropped 12oz in 24 hours, and I'm still supplementing at night (so DH can feed while i pump). It took about 4-5 days for my milk to come in, and when it did, happy ugly tears.

We are still struggling with latching, and im afraid she has a little nipple confusion, but honestly, as long as she's eating, I really don't care. We still do skin to skin, but as long as she's eating that's all that matters to us.

Oh the flat nipple club!! I didn't find out I had flag nipples until the recovery room after my Csection (looked normal to me?). My daughter wouldn't latch for the longest time without a nipple shield. We used it for about 6 weeks before we transitioned off of it. one thing that helped was getting her to latch while we were in the bath together. I had her on my chest and it was so relaxing and it just happened. But I also know of moms who always used a nipple shield with no problem.
So weird that the specialist wouldn't give you the shield. I know they can cause problems with supply sometimes but they're a useful tool when used properly!

sorarose · June 2016

Lyette1206 said:

sdLindenberg said:

I have flat nipples so I was struggling hard core to feed DD in the hospital. The lactation specialist was NO help at all, and actually made me feel beyond inadequate when I asked for a nipple shield to help me out. She lied through her teeth saying I needed a prescription for one, and when i responded that I'd just have someone run to target and buy me one, she caved and gave it to me. Ultimately we had to supplement with formula because she dropped 12oz in 24 hours, and I'm still supplementing at night (so DH can feed while i pump). It took about 4-5 days for my milk to come in, and when it did, happy ugly tears.

We are still struggling with latching, and im afraid she has a little nipple confusion, but honestly, as long as she's eating, I really don't care. We still do skin to skin, but as long as she's eating that's all that matters to us.

Oh the flat nipple club!! I didn't find out I had flag nipples until the recovery room after my Csection (looked normal to me?). My daughter wouldn't latch for the longest time without a nipple shield. We used it for about 6 weeks before we transitioned off of it. one thing that helped was getting her to latch while we were in the bath together. I had her on my chest and it was so relaxing and it just happened. But I also know of moms who always used a nipple shield with no problem.
So weird that the specialist wouldn't give you the shield. I know they can cause problems with supply sometimes but they're a useful tool when used properly!

My LC at the hospital basically gave me the nipple shield immediately because DS wasn't getting the hang of it after like 5 seconds. To this day, I blame the NS for my supply issues. With that said, I don't have flat nipples, just large ones, and I'm surprised your LC lied to you. Not cool at all.

cy&damonsmommy · June 2016

aoliveira0726 said:

I have a question for all the new mamas!! My hunby and i went thru the nursery tonight and are trying to make a list of other stuff we think we may need for when our DD arrives. We got a ton of stuff from the shower but what are some things you found you needed that you didnt think of while waiting for your bundles of joy to arrive?

I always recommend having gas-x, Tylenol, and teething gel on hand. Stuff you don't think about til you need it at 3 am and nothing is open

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Newborn questions

Re: Newborn questions

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

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