Please help me :-(

[tracyy]

My son is 17 days old and I'm breast feeding him. He went from 8lb 12ozs at birth to 7lb 6ozs in three days. So was admitted into hospital with dehydration, jaundice and high sodium levels.
I continuted to breast feed and expressed to cup feed under advice. He put a small amount of weight on and we were discharged. We carried on with that feeding plan but he lost some more weight and got taken back in hospital. Over the next week he gained then lost very small amounts.

He is currently at his heaviest since birth at 7lb 15oz. I'm still breast feeding and expressing once a day just to give me a break. He is feeding every hour to two hours and will stay on me for about 30 mins. Whenever he is awake he wants feeding or it could be comfort?? Breast feeding support have watched many feeds and said all is ok.

Would you be worried? please be honest

and should i introduce formula top ups?? My nipples are killing me, to the point where it brings tears to my eyes.

Please help me

 

[lomelly]

I was in your situation, except that they wouldn't let me leave the hospital till he was gaining weight. I asked them for a formula top up because either my milk wasn't coming in proper, he wasn't latching proper (it hurt SO MUCH, no matter what I did or what position). I think he has a partial lip tie they never caught but that's besides the point.
I topped up with formula for about a month until he was gaining, and I was expressing enough to give him. I just couldn't bare to know he was hungry, and he would get frustrated on my boob and hurt me to the point my nipples were cracked and bleeding
Only you can decide what's best, but I wouldn't be too worried about the weight loss as it's under a pound

 

[TheNewMrs]

Have them check you lip/ tongue ties. It could be a milk tansfer issue and ask for a weighted feed to be done. x

 

[Springflower]

Nipple shields saved me. Have you thought about using them? I was ready to give up, it was incredibly painful and I was starting to resent my lo. Im still using them on and off.

Id give them a go.

x

 

[tracyy]

The doctor a few days ago mentioned tongue tie. But it's never been me ruined before and the doc just said its only slight so shouldn't be an issue. I'm beginning to think it might be. He's been unhappy all day today so he fed on me for forty mins, then had a ebm top up of 50ml then still wasn't happy so had 50ml of formula. Then fell sound asleep.

Should I keep topping up with formula?

 

[jessicaR4bbit]

I wouldn't be quick to dismiss the tongue tie issue. Try and get a second opinion. Are you able to express breast milk and offer that instead? That way he gets a little extra top up and you are helping, not hindering your supply. What is the nappy output like also? I don't think his weight loss is that bad, but like a pp said it could be a milk transfer issue due to poor latch.

 

[TheNewMrs]

Tongue tie can restrict the movement of the tongue and really interfere with milk transfer. Please seek a second opinion x