Printable View
Alas my baby goes from sleeping beauty to banshee in a moment as she hates being nude. So at the moment feeding her is either a matter of how to keep her awake and even awake enough to open her mouth wide enough to attach properly, or how to attach a screaming baby with an extremely powerful head and neck
LL - yes, both of you on the mattress facing each other. I found it a really tricky position to get used to at first (sorry - that doesn't sound helpful does it) so I woud definitely suggest getting the hospital LC to come and help you with it. It became the only position I fed DD2 in at night because she was feeding so constantly, and we coslept.
As for the formula, as you know I birthed where you are now and on the 2nd full night when DD1 "woke up" and was really hungry and I didn't have milk through yet I was simply brought a bottle of formula to give her. The midwife was oh so caring and supportive while she told me it would be fine, just til my milk came in blah blah. Stupidly I was pretty uneducated back then and all I knew was my baby was screaming her lungs out so I took it. So, as pro BF as they are, I think they're still pro a quiet ward too ITMS!
Yay to your husband for stepping in on your behalf when you were so exhausted - what a champ.
She's little and sleepy still, it's quite normal. Being a bit 'mean' about keeping her awake to feed is ok for now - she'll sort it out in a bit of time and soon you won't need to worry about it. Remember it's very, very early days still. That's good you've found an LC to help you out - stick with her and if someone says or suggests something you're not comfortable with, ask for a second opinion.
Poos count for wees. in the early weeks, poos are generally a better sign of input than wees - 4 in a day is a VERY good sign she's getting plenty of milk. Wet nappy wise, you expect 1 wet nappy per day of life until your milk is in. After that, it's 4-5 heavy wet disposables. But, as I said, 1-2 poos per day at a minimum is really a better indicator to watch. Usually, after 6-7 weeks the poos ease off and that's when babies can start going longer periods between poos (those stories of bf babies going weeks between poosplosions we've all heard about)
I reckon you're doing really well. And hooray for your DH too, what a good daddy taking care of his girls.
Oh, and quick ETA - screaming is a good sign. She's good :)
Ladylove your little girl sounds like a perfectly normal newborn to me. The size of a newborns stomach is only 50ml so she may truly be getting enough from the BF, especially if you have a decent supply. :)
Newborns tend to be very sleepy the first week, they are still getting over the birth.
Try not to be so hard on yourself - you & baby girl are both learning, you will get the rhythm soon enough.
As for her screaming it could be due to a few things - wind trapped in her system even from the last feed - she could have a bit of reflux (where the milk come back up & hurts their little throat) - or she just might be so hungry she panics.
Is she waking up for feeds on her own?
If her poos are looking wet it probably because the pee is mixed in with the poo. If she was dehydrated the MW wouldn't be letting you go home yet.
I know the first couple of weeks with a new baby can be difficult/confusing - I have 3 littles running around, also I used to work with mothers & children.
Hang in there! Because you sound like you are doing an excellent job!
Yes she's waking for feeds but not always within the three or four hour mark. Sometimes longer sometimes shorter. E.g. This evening she demanded two feeds about two hours apart which I know is fine. Problem is, the first feed she would or could only drink for five mins from one breast. Then two hours later she drank for 15 mins again from one breast only. In both cases she fell asleep at the boob and I couldn't rouse her for long enough to keep feeding or switch boobs.
You are doing an amazing job. And you are so close to the point where it all falls into place. Don't doubt yourself - and don't get too wound up in the numbers. Feed frequently. 3/4 hourly is still VERY few feeds overall (Most of us wouldn't get by putting stuff into our mouths only 7 times per day) Pretty soon she'll be demanding more and that will be a good thing.
I wondered, is your baby jaundiced? That will pass soon if it's the case, and you will have a different baby on your hands.
The hospital needs to be taken to task for suggesting formula rather than helping the mother increase the baby's milk intake. Good on you and your man.
Once you get through the next few weeks all those problems will go away. slightly older babies stay awake for feeds and feed faster. They have bigger mouths, so they attach better and stay attached better. Just keep getting the milk into the baby, and the baby will grow and fix all the other issues!
Bad singing is really good for keeping sleepy babies awake too!
my DS only ever fed from both breasts for a feed in the first few weeks - he always preferred the one per feed after that. he was also a baby who would wake screaming for a feed in the early months with very little indication that he was about to wake. but he would then settle & fall asleep quickly while feeding - i used to change his nappy between breasts to keep him awake for the second one & to make sure i was happy he was having a good feed.
it is hard attaching a screaming baby but the best thing you can do is stay as calm as possible - i know i panicked early on & would have troubles getting DS to attach as i was stressing he wouldn't get any milk.
i also found that the hospital was good at telling me how often baby should feed BEFORE my milk came in but didn't tell me to make it more frequent once my milk arrived.
it sounds like you & your DH are making a fantastic team! :)
feeding lying down is awesome if you can do it! a face washer under boob or baby's head can help make nipple and baby match up better
my kids only fed from one side for first few weeks or months.
i found it much easier with DD to work out my own rhythm once i was home, i could try different things without feeling like i was being watched or worrying about others hear baby crying while i was trying to attach.
xx
Well I just arrived home and I do feel more relaxed already simply because I don't have to record how many minutes and in what timeframe baby has fed for the staff to 'approve'. She was weighed again before going home and has put on another 45 grams. I was topping her up with EBM though even though she didn't really want it.
I did my first home BF and she has still only fed for about 7 minutes on one side only. This just doesn't feel like enough though?
And also, my milk is now officially 'in' as my boobs are like rock melons - hard and big! Plus they really hurt and feel glandy near my arm pits.
If bubba is only drinking for a short while and from one breast at a time, how will my breasts drain properly and will she get any hind milk ever?
ahhh....being at home is such a relief (well, that's how i felt!).
great news that your milk has come in - now is the time to feed more frequently if possible, if not, you can express some of the milk - babies can find it hard to attach when your breasts are overly full.
hopefully someone with more experience will pop in, but as far as i was aware, your breasts are never really empty & the hind milk thing isn't as important as some people suggest (but hopefully someone will confirm this). if you are concerned you could always express some milk before you put the baby on the breast? or express after she has finished. you're probably already doing this but if she does spend more time on one breast at a feed then start with the other breast for the next feed.
she will most likely 'wake up' a bit more soon & then she will want more milk!
Ah ok that makes sense. I just changed her (and got to put on her first ever AIO washable nappy!) then put her on the other breast and she fed for a tad less then 10 mins. I'm thinking of expressing maybe twice a day to keep milk supply up just in case this becomes an issue and also to freeze for future use.
you're going so well!! at this point i was sobbing down the phone to the ABA :)
Thanks Sloane. :)
Re expressing should I be doing this before or after a feed? In hospy they had me expressing after feeds. I thought I could express first thing in the morning and last at night?
You can express a small amount before a feed if you feel too full and think your dd will have trouble attaching or after a feed if it's a case of building up an ebm supply etc. Nothing beats the baby actually feeding tho for ensuring supply or getting the milk from the breast, itms?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
i kinda think it is better to just focus on breastfeeding for the first 4-6 weeks if you can. let your baby and boobs communicate on how much milk you will need, rather than confusing them by taking out more than baby needs ITMS.
If you need to express for comfort, or because bub is having difficulty attaching to full breasts, collect the milk but don't go overboard at this stage.
Yay for being home. I was so much happier in my own space too.
I second everything Sloane said. I had to express off a bit too, especially in the early days. My boobs are fairly big anyway and when my milk came in there was no way their tiny mouths could attach without me expressing first. Your little girl is still so tiny but in no time at all she will be doing longer feeds with much more efficient sucking. Neither of mine ever took both breasts in one feed as a regular thing. Its great to have some EBM in the freezer for when/if you need it, but feeding your LO whenever she wants it is going to regulate your supply to her needs.
You're doing a fantastic job. Now the real baby moon begins when you're home with your precious bundle. Enjoy
Ladies if I express off a little at the start how much should it be or for how long approx? (I have an electric pump). She attached and seemed to feed well off my left breast this morning but only for 7 minutes. Also I think last night and yesterday her tummy was unsettled as she had three very runny poos in a row- sort of the colour of curry? I hadn't eaten anything remotely curry like or spicy though. Could it be something I ate or is her tummy adjusting to my milk - this poo pattern coincided with my milk coming in.