Need encouragement please!! UPDATE & Question Post 7

[haydn'smommy]

My ds was born on Tues at 3am. We are trying to bf. I saw immediately that his latch was not great and went to the IBCLC yesterday and she felt he his tongue-tied. I took him today to have that clipped. It immediately took the pain away for me. Now my concern is that my milk is not in yet. He's nursing constantly. At least every 1-2hrs and I'm letting him stay on there as much and as long as he wants. He has had 2 wets today but no poop and he's looking jaundiced. Is there anything else I can do?

Oh and he's having a lot of gas and is spitting up some. Any ideas?

[Youngfrankenstein]

It's not unusually for the milk not to be there yet. If you are offering the breast a lot that should be good. Get him in some sunlight in his birthday suit several times a day. That should help with the jaundice.

From kellymom:
Re milk coming in

Milk production doesn’t start out as a supply and demand process. During pregnancy and the first few days postpartum, milk supply is hormonally driven – this is called the endocrine control system. Essentially, as long as the proper hormones are in place, mom will start making colostrum about halfway through pregnancy (Lactogenesis I) and her milk will increase in volume (Lactogenesis II) around 30-40 hours after birth.

During the latter part of pregnancy, the breasts are making colostrum, but high levels of progesterone inhibit milk secretion and keep the volume “turned down”. At birth, the delivery of the placenta results in a sudden drop in progesterone/estrogen/HPL levels. This abrupt withdrawal of progesterone in the presence of high prolactin levels cues Lactogenesis II (copious milk production). Other hormones (insulin, thyroxine, cortisol) are also involved, but their roles are not yet well understood. Although biochemical markers indicate that Lactogenesis II commences approximately 30-40 hours after birth, mothers do not typically begin feeling increased breast fullness (the sensation of milk "coming in") until 50-73 hours (2-3 days) after birth.

Re diapers:
IS BABY GETTING ENOUGH? -- QUICK REFERENCE CARD
~~~ BIRTH to 6 WEEKS ~~~
WEIGHT GAIN:
If baby is gaining well on mom’s milk alone, then baby is getting enough. A 5-7% weight loss during the first 3-4 days after birth is normal. Baby should regain birth weight by 2 weeks. Once mom’s milk comes in, average weight gain is 6 oz/week. If these goals are not met, call your lactation consultant. More on weight gain.
WET DIAPERS: 5 - 6+ sopping wet diapers per day (after 1st week).
Expect one wet diaper on day one, increasing to 5-6 by one week. To feel what a sufficiently wet diaper is like, pour 3 tablespoons (45 mL) of water into a clean diaper (if baby wets more often, then the amount of urine per diaper may be less). Urine should be pale and mild smelling.
DIRTY DIAPERS: 3 – 4+ dirty diapers per day (after day 4).
Stools should be yellow (no meconium) by day 5 and the size of a US quarter (2.5 cm) or larger. The normal stool of a breastfed baby is usually yellow and is loose (soft to watery, may be seedy or curdy). More on infant stooling.
OTHER POSITIVE SIGNS: After a feeding, mom’s breast feels softer and baby seems reasonably content. Baby is alert, active and meeting developmental milestones.

Spitting up and gas can be normal. I would do another LC visit ASAP to make sure things are headed in the right way. You're doing great and hang in there!

[femalephish]

:

hang in there, you're doing great! your milk WILL come in and it's not uncommon for babies to get grumpy on day 3+ because they are starting to feel ready for milk. you can prolly call the LC, most of them are great and would be happy to give you some reassurance.

nursing was hard for me in the begining and I am SO glad that I stuck withh it. I'm NAKing right now. (that's; Nursing At Keyboard. smile)

you're doing an awesome job, Mama. good for you or recognizing that you needed help so soon. keep up the good work!

[KristaDJ]

Just reiterating what was already said and offering

[lness]

Like everyone else said, sounds fine. It'll come in -- you can't miss it when it does!
DD had jaundice like you're seeing. Didn't fully go away til nearly a month old but she's fine now. It's pretty common - get some sun, and feed often, that should take care of it in time.

[etsdtm99]

you're doing great! my milk came in on day 5 with my first (born monday, milk in friday/saturday) , no supplementing, and she did get grouchy and didn't have enough poops but by 1 week she was doing fine and gaining weight again, watch for multiple signs of dehydration and just hang in there! try breast compressions to help get the colostrum out .. (there are videos on you tube) awesome job getting to an LC and getting his tongue clipped so quickly!

[haydn'smommy]

The LC came to our house for a visit yesterday. She said latch looks good but he gets sleepy fast and slips off so to take him off and relatch when that happens. He's down now to 8lbs4oz (from 8lbs13oz). I think my milk is coming in some. I can hear him swallowing sometimes and feel just a little fuller. He's pooping more (4 times yesterday) and it's less black meconium and more a yellow brown runny poop. But he's still not really peeing much.
What do you all think of him not peeing but pooping? And, is it possible that I'm just not going to make enough milk? I had so many problems with my first child and had to EP for 3.5 months until he finally would nurse occasionally and my supply was awful and required massive doses of domperidone to maintain.
Should I start anything now (mother's milk tea or fenugreek or domeridone) to help supply or am I just overthinking this and need to try to be patient? I'm so desperate to have this work right this time that I'm willing to do just about anything to make it happen because I just cannot exclusively pump for another baby and suffer with the depression that that caused.

[ewe+lamb]

OK take a deep breath and .... relax - it's all going to be fine, try not to be so anxious - easier said than done - I know, but do try to relax a little! If he's pooping and not peeing then it should be ok, how many nappies a day do you reckon?

It's too soon really to start anything regarding supply, wait until your milk is in to see what the supply is like - it takes around 4 weeks to establish a good milk supply but you could try breast compression for sleepy baby at the breast - it could be very helpful and rather than explain it all have a look on www.drjacknewman.com and click on videos and then look for breast compression with tongue clip - it'll show you what to do.

You're doing great - hang in there, also remember the size of baby's tummy, a small marble on newborn, a large marble at 3 days and a ping pong ball on day 10 so small amounts and often is what he needs to be satisfied and to keep close to you! Hang in there, keep posting and you'll get all the support and encouragement you need!!
ewe