Forced onto formula feed from day 1 after birth...

[tinkerbelle]

Haven't posted my BA yet but yay, he's finally here! I have a beautiful little baby boy!!.. now 5 days old..
Lacking time to write on and check into BB now, as its been full on!!
But.. wanted to ask a quick question.. if anyone has been through same thing as me?!?!?
The hospital lost my results of my swabs for group B strep, so tehy didnt know if I was positive or negative. Anyway, so I got pressured for antibiotics the second my water broke, and then pressured for formula feeding the second he was born... got told 12hrs after he was born that my milk's not coming in fast enough, he's not feeding well, and he might get an infection if they dont put him on formula.. (never mind the fact that I had absolutely NO help from a single midwive over the entire night after he was born with anything, let alone breastfeeding - was left alone in my room trying to comfort a newborn and having no idea I was meant to put him on the breast to try feeding, so I just rocked him all night trying to get him to calm down- it was so stressful).
So then the following morning 11am, I get told if I dont start formula feeding as he's not sucking well (poor little boy had not even had any practice), they will be taking him to special nursery to have a tube put down his throat to feed him.. and I have 2 hrs to get the formula feed! (as I wasnt going to agree to S-26).
I still cant believe it all and am really PO'D!!
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with him!! He is so healthy, despite a tiny touch of jaundice..
So anyway, Im trying to persist with breast feeding, but still getting told I have to top up with formula.. he's starting to get a bit frustrated at the breast and Im getting worried we might lose our opportunities to really get this breastfeeding established..
If anyone has any advice or has been through anything similar, I would really appreciate it...
Thanks,

[AJC]

OMG, I am absolutely shocked that a hospital full of 'health professionals' has treated you this way *hugs*. My milk came in on day 3 and DS had slight jaundice for the first week or so but only slight not enough to worry about. At this stage your DS's stomach is probably the size of a marble, so that will give you an idea of how much milk he needs. I would put him on the breast as much as the opportunity presents, ie when he is hungry or restless. The more he sucks the more it will stimulate your BM production. Also see if you can find someone from ABA to speak to or come visit you. ABA are brilliant help and encouragement especially in the early days. A few of the MW's were useless when I was on hossie with DS and I think it is because they just have no idea and either don't have kids, didn't BF or it was too long ago for them to remember. My DS was in SCN and one night a nurse was so discouraging re: BF I went back to my room and just cried and cried. I was emotional and vulnerable and hormones all over the place. I feel so upset for you about your experience, makes me cranky to think they have treated you this way. What I think is so important though is your determination to make BF work for you and your DS despite your current, situation. That itself I commend you and am sure with your attitude it will work. BTW, my DS was born 34.4 weeks and they tried to give me 'he can't suck properly yet' line. I will never forget the MW's jaw just dropped when she saw him attach like a little champ! If you try to express a little (usually there is a pump in the nursery) that can help increase supply too. I am sure the other ladies here at BB will be amazing support so read some of the other BF threads and you will get some more info and help. Huge huge huge hugs. Oh.... And congratulations on your special little man!!!

[HotI]

That's horrible treatment. Milk often doesn't come in til day 3 or 4 or 5, colustrum is all that baby needs before this.

Let bub at the breast as often as you can. When bub is awake, offer the breast. Lots of skin cuddles. Have you seen any videos on Baby Led Attachment? It's pretty cool, here is some onfo from the ABA Australian Breastfeeding Association - Baby-led attachment

Does your hospital have Lactation Consultants you can see? Or the local maternal health service.

If you are getting stressed before bub feeds, just take a few minutes to cuddle him and enjoy his baby smell. This can help both of you 'get in the mood' for a feed.

You can also ring the ABA on 1800 686 2 686 if you want to chat to someone to ask questions about breastfeeding.

[studymum]

OMG I just want to hug you and congratulatons. I can't comment on having a bad experience myself because my hospy was fantastic, I felt so encouraged to establish bf.

Firstly demand to stop those top ups, it is not going to help you milk come in and it is going to confuse him as to what is going on. My milk didn't come into almost day 6 with DD1, we fed fine. Bottles are easier, they free flow with pretty much no effort, he really needs to learn to breastfeed first, the more he gets bottle possibly the more he might start to reject you. They can be really sleepy the first few days, doesn't mean they are not doing well, or they can't suck, they just need a little extra encouragement.

I still can't believe a hospital could be like that. From what you have said there is no reason at all for the formula.

Remember they cannot force you into treatments such as shoving a tube down his throat without your consent. Please don't be pressured into anything you don't want to do. Maybe at the hospital is not going to be the best thing for you. I'd be finding a private lc personally.

[fionas]

Try not to stress. This is by no means ideal, but please don't feel that you have missed the boat either. Please don't feel like the opportunity is slipping away each time you give formula. Yes, best not to give any in an ideal world but don't feel like you're doomed either. I say that because I thought all was lost when I couldn't BF despite trying for three weeks and DD2 not attaching. I stopped for six weeks and then relactated. Your baby is so young and you still have so much time.

Get all the help you need. As the others have said, see a LC. You can get this sorted with some perserverance, patience and gentleness with yourself.

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Congratulations on your little one.
You need to write a formal complaint to the hospital. The information and treatment you have been given is not best practice and probably not in keeping with hospital policy - but the hospital will never know or have the opportunity t ensure that this doesn't happen to other women unless you tell them.
The world of breastfeeding can be a strange one. Most mothers find that attending an Australian Breastfeeding Association class before their baby is born is a huge help in understanding how breastfeeding works and what is normal for babies in the early days and weeks.
I wonder, how often does your baby feed at the breast? How big was he when he was born? How much formula is he haing now? The first milk babies recieve is colostrum, and they would only expect to get about a teaspoon per feed. It's all they need - they have stores of brown fat which are utilised at this time. Milk normally comes in day 3 or 4. It's important babies feed frequently at the breast - 8-12 times in 24 hours. Big feeds of formula may make them sleepy and not able to breastfeed as often ast they need to.
The good news is most women go on to breastfeed fine, even after such a difficult time early on.

[onthefly]

First - Congratulations on your little boy!

Wow, that's terrible. And I'm surprised, aren't you at King Eddy's?
DEMAND to speak to a lactation consultant if you havne't already. You need real life support and assistance from someone who knows what they're doing and understands how breastfeeding works. Remember you can always call the ABA for advice also.
How they can tell you your milk isn't coming in fast enough after one day I cannot fathom - it takes 3-6 days usually (or something like that)

Sit yourself down with a drink of water, take a deep breath and let it out - relex. Then take your top off and let you baby lie on your chest (you may need to lie back a little so he can stay there). Babies are born with a rooting/sucking reflex. They will seek out the breast, latch on and feed all by themselves. Sometimes teh best way to start out is to give them the chance to do that. This won't work so well if he's already hungry (crying etc) so best to try immediately after a sleep, when he's just starting to root around, bobbing and looking for the breast.

All the best