Newborn babies

Okay, I'm going to turn into the typical new mother!!

Emily came home today. So far she's averaging about 2.5-3 oz per feeding -- we've had 2 so far since she's been home, about every 4 hours which is what the neonatologist at the hospital told us to do.

I try breast feeding her before feeding her from the bottle, but it's not going well. We only got to try 4 times at the hospital and it's just so awkward and she will completely look like she has a good latch but will just sit there and not do anything and then start crying when she gets nothing. She's used to the immediate gratification since they were giving her bottles while she was in the NICU and I wasn't able to feed her yet because of her lung problems.

So after I try breast feeding since it hasn't been working I've been giving her formula or breast milk that I've pumped in the bottle. 2.5 oz is how much she's taken both times, and then she falls esleep ands leeps until next feeding! In the hospital it seemed likeshe was awake so much more. Is she supposed to sleep so much? Could it just be that she's tired from all the excitement of coming home??

I hope I'm doing the right thing!!

-Melissa

Re: Newborn babies

I would def. keep trying to bf....massage your breasts first and "milk" them a little so the milk is very ready to come outand she can taste it on your nipple. Hopefully, eventually she will take it. You always here about babies not wanting the breast after they've had the bottle, but I've heard many stories where they can go back and forth no problem.
Otherwise, supplementing with the bottle is totally fine. If you can pump enough breast milk, just keep giving that in the bottle rather than formula. If you can't pump enough right away though, supplementing with formula is fine. The more you pump the more you will make. The first few days are the hardest, I was freaking out that first week, but everything turned out fine! Congrats on your daughter, she is beautiful!

Re: Newborn babies

Thank you so much! We've tried a lot of things. We've been trying to sprinkle a few drops of either my milk or formula on my nipple while she's getting the latch to try to make her realize that if she works a little she WILL get something. It has worked some, but not all the time. I also have pretty large breasts and I just feel like that is making it hard and uncomfortable. My mom is a LLL leader and even she said that she thinks that's making it harder. I thought I wouldn't need to go to a LC or LLL meetings beacuse I grew up around it because of my mom, but I think I definately should contact one and have them try to help me before I give up completely. My mom tries to help but she frustrates me and that just makes it harder.

What about the sleeping thing? Is it normal that she's completely conked out all day today?? I wish I had her in the room with me in hospital so I'd know!!

-Melissa

Re: Newborn babies

First off- Im so glad your home

Im having the same troubles with Ryan- He sleeps ALL day... I pretty much wake him for feedings...however at night he is up every 2 hrs on the nose... go figure..lol

My DR said that its perfectly fine..and eventually he'll fix his days and nights...

As far as BFing Im having some difficutly as well... (more so because im a worry wart)

Ryan was give formula in the hospital while I was in recovery (i was not happy about this at all) and he latched on when i finally got o feed him...

Now he goes from the bottle to breast no problem...just keep on trying!!!

Re: Newborn babies

Sounds like you are doing great. Don't give up on breastfeeding though. My daughter is a bit of a lazy sucker now because of the bottles but for me I have to get my milk supply up before we work on making her a good boob sucker again.
My daughter will drink anywhere from 1&1/2 to 3oz at a feeding. Just depends.

Re: Newborn babies

If you think you are too big for her, try to pump a little before each feeding so you will be softer and she may be able to get a better latch. Also, make sure you are using bottles that are made for babies that also BF (it will say so on the package). My LC told me that if you use the other bottles, the baby's mouth is not using the same motion as BF and is getting the BF easier from the bottle, so then they don't want to BF.

Definitely get to an LC as soon as you can. I waited about three weeks and finally went to see one. I should have gone much sooner and avoided all the frustration and pain, and Jesse and I wouldn't have picked up so many bad habits. Good luck!

Re: Newborn babies

I'm fairly big too, and had the same problems with Alex in the beginning... a few things worked for us. The milk on the nipple thing that other people mentioned, but also, what helped a LOT, was to take a hot shower or put a hot washcloth on my boob before feeding... it helps make it easier to latch and the letdown comes much quicker so your little one doesn't have to work as hard. Also, if you have big kahoonas like me it helps to hold it up for her, or to squeeze the nipple out a little for her to latch on. When I was at the hospital, the nurse rolled up a receiving blanket and put it under my boob to hold it up for Alex during the feeding... that helped too.

Don't worry about the sleeping - newborns are supposed to sleep between 16-20 hours a day! Alex slept A LOT in the first few days and we thought she was an angel baby... turned out she was just lethargic from the jaundice... once that wore off, um, yeah, we realized she's not a sleepy baby at all But we still love her oodles and oodles