I need some advice please. 1 week old.

[AngelofTroy]

My one week old spend her first week in hospital and her first few days nil by mouth on a drip. She is well now, but was only allowed off of the drip if she took large amounts of formula. She had hand expressed colostrum from me from day 3 and I pumped every 3 hours.
She got better and had a good latch. I had plenty of milk from expressing. I would feed her and give formula top ups as per doctors orders. Then I made a huge mistake. I was stressing myself beyond belief feeding and pumping and sterilising, the pump was shared between the whole ward.. And I quit pumping. I just thought feeding her would be enough.

After two days she woulsn't feed from me at all, she is losing weight again and ny supply has gone. I have hired a hospital grade pump and I am oumping again every 3 hours but getting nothing.

I am getting domperidone tomorrow but I am dispairing. She is no longer interrstrd. Shecloses her eyes and gives up as soon as she is near my breast.

I desperately want to breastfeed even if is combined feeding. What can I do?

 

[Ganton]

I'm sorry to hear your little one has been unwell. Have I understood correctly that you're now out of hospital? Do you have any breastfeeding support groups near you or are there are any midwives specialising in breastfeeding?

I don't know what to suggest other than definitely keep up with the pumping, even if you're not getting anything, have as much skin to skin time with your baby as possible (again, even if she's not feeding), and try to get some experienced advice as soon as you can. I'm lucky that breastfeeding support in my area seems very good and I don't know which services are offered in other areas, but I'd try any or all of the following until getting the help needed:
- arrange for a visit from a bf support worker or attend one of their support sessions.
- contact community midwives and ask for an urgent home visit re breastfeeding.
- contact the labour/postnatal ward for advice. My hospital has 2 specialist midwives who visited the wards every morning.
- contact health visitors for a home visit.
- there are other breastfeeding support groups like LLL, but I personally think you need a face to face visit with someone who can see exactly what's going on and give very specific advice.

 

[Zephram]

Don't stress too much! You're only one week in, you have plenty of time to sort out your supply and latching.

Try skin to skin. Strip off all of her clothes and tickle her to keep her awake. Tickle her feet, neck, wherever you can think of. Lots of newborns need to be kept awake while feeding, don't let her just close her eyes.

I took fenugreek when I had supply issues with my first. I think it worked as we got my supply issues figured out by the time he was 3 weeks. I used to feed him on both sides as long as he would and then pump both boobs right afterwards. I also got basically nothing from the pump but I did it anyway and eventually it all sorted out.