How do i get him to exclusively breast feed?

[chanel]

Hi Ladies,

My lo is now 2wks old and is having 20-30 min breast followed by 40-60ml EBM every 3hours!

He was born at 36.4wks old (6lbs14oz) and jaundiced so was a sleepy boy in the beginning which meant he was only going on the breast for a few sucks before nodding off... it was a real battle trying to get him to take any substantial amount from the breast so i started expressing in the hospital where he was given the top ups. When we got home i tried exclusively breast feeding as his time on the breast was a good 20mins-30mins where he feels like he is proper sucking now with a good latch. However his weight was still falling so i had to start topping him up again.

He is due to be weighed again today fingers crossed he is now going up. However, he now seems unsatisfied if don't give him the top up, he stirs after 2hrs and doesn't seem interested in the breast cause he has himself in a tizz so i end up giving him the EBM or occasionally formula. I am now starting to feel really low about it as i am never done feeding, EBM expressing and sterilizing. My supply seems to be great although i don't think he is on well enough to get to the hind milk which is maybe down to the large amounts of milk i can take off in my 20mins (each side) expressing (160mls in the morning).

Can anyone offer any advice, i am at the stage of wanting to give up but feel so guilty as i have good supply and lo latches well so its just the making sure he is sucking hard enough for long enough to fill himself up.

Thanks in advance,
Cxx

 

[MelanieAnn]

Would an SNS help?

 

[Bumbled Bee]

what is an sns?

I don't have much advice for you, sorry. The only thing I can think of is lots and lots of skin to skin.

 

[Samantha675]

I would stop topping him up and try to get him to nurse more often. The more he nurses, the more milk you will make. When you are topping up, it tells your boobs they are making enough.

Also, the flow of a bottle is faster and he doesn't have to work for it as he does the breast. Try to get to him before he gets worked up. Look for those early nursing ques and get him on the boob before he starts crying. Breast milk digests quickly, so if he nurses, and doesn't seem satisfied shortly after, just nurse him again. Stay on that one side as well.

If you can, just go to bed with your baby and nurse, nurse, nurse for a good day or two, and the will get your supply ramped up as well.

Good luck at the weigh in. How many wet and dirty diapers are you getting? Diapers are a good indication that your son is getting enough milk. I never weighted my son after we left the hospital, I just watched his diapers and how he looked.

 

[chanel]

thanks ladies,

His weight was up today, i am sooo relieved.

We have no problem with the nappies/diapers, he is quite a windy pooper so we can always tell when he is producing a dirty nappy which is several times a day... hope thats not too much!?!?

The mw has suggested similar to you Sam, i need to just keep offering him the breast.

So today he has had EBM for breakfast then only breast feeds every 3hours when he has been waking to be fed. I just hope he is taking enough and his weight doesn't suffer as that has been my main concern thus far.

anyways, i better go for now, it's been 3hours since his last feed and he is still sleeping... should i wake him or let him take the lead!?!

 

[MelanieAnn]

I'm so pleased to hear that his weight is good! What a relief! Congratulations - that is your good effort, and good feeding. You're doing a fab job!!!!

This link will help with whether or not he's getting enough milk: https://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html

An SNS is this: https://www.medela.co.uk/UK/breastfeeding/products/nursing.php https://www.breastfeedingnaturally....xpressed-milk/Supplemental-Nursing-System.cfm. It's a fab method for supplementing at the breast

 

[LotusFlwr]

I would recommend having a lactation consultant check his intake after a feed.

I was expressing and feeding after having LO on the breast and I also wanted to exclusively breastfeed. An LC was able to check how much LO was getting and I learned that he was getting enough and kept sucking on my breast just for comfort. Luckily now we're exclusively feeding.

The way they do this is to weigh before and after a feed and are able to tell how many ounces LO got. Maybe ask HV if they know how you can get this done?

 

[quaints]

As a couple of others have said, just keep putting him back to the breast. Cuddle up in bed together (or stick on some fave films/TV) and enjoy being close together

 

[Samantha675]

With him being a premie, I would wake him up to feed.

 

[Nimyra]

hang in there, you are doing great! My LO was just like yours, born at 36+4 at 7 lbs and we had to supplement early on due to jaundice, sleepy baby and poor latch. at 3 or 4 weeks we stopped supplementing and are doing great. Just keep nursing and cut back on the supplementing, you are on the right track and LO will adjust.