When the boob is not enough?

[MyZoeJane]

I'm beating myself up here because it is day four and my newborn son simply is NOT satisfied by the boob alone. Yesterday I had to supplement with three bottles of formula with 2 ounces in each. Have already given two 2oz bottles today.

He nurses A LOT and WELL. He is getting milk today, but I can tell it has not fully come in yet. I nursed my firstborn exculsively without supplementation til she began solids, and continued nursing her til she was 2 and half. I'm not a newbie here! So why do I feel like I am failing my 4 day old son?!

I'm eating oatmeal and waiting for my sister to deliver some fenugreek tea. That's the extent of what I know about increasing supply, other than the obvious need to just keep nursing as much as possible.

FYI, when I do give the formula, I pump to keep the stimulation up, but am not getting more than 1oz so far. It doesn't help that my son is a BARACUDA at the breast. I know his latch is good... it's just SO STRONG that my nipples are already cracked and bled once.

I can handle this, though. I went through it for a couple of weeks with DD. It got better. But I can't stop worrying about the formula I'm giving him!

What other choice do I have, though until my supply can meet his demand? Help!

[mysticmomma]

Your milk is hardly in. At this point, your babies stomach is only the size of a marble. Just because he's nursing so much and voracsiously doesn't mean he's not getting enough. It's how he brings your milk in and gets your supply up. Stop the bottles.

[Bokonon]

Pumping 1 ounce at 4 days is awesome! Remember his tummy is so tiny right now that he is designed to subsist on colostrum alone. Nursing constantly is totally normal. Frustrating as all get-out, but normal. Are you drinking enough water and eating enough? Taking pain meds as needed? Getting some rest when you can? All these will help your supply.

[PatioGardener]

You know that baby is getting enough (without supplementation) if he's peeing 4 times in 24 hours on day 4, 5 on day 5, and 6 heavy wet diapers per 24 hours from day 6 on. By day 5 his poops should be 3-4 times a day and yellow (no longer meconium).

Do you have access to an LC or LLL? It may help to have someone check out baby for a tongue-tie, and sometimes a little shift in how mom holds baby to nurse can decrease the soreness at the start.

Hang in there Mama - the more you nurse the more milk you will make. There is likely no need to give baby any supplement, and giving by bottle may be messing up the latch.

[MyZoeJane]

Originally Posted by mysticmomma

Your milk is hardly in. At this point, your babies stomach is only the size of a marble. Just because he's nursing so much and voracsiously doesn't mean he's not getting enough. It's how he brings your milk in and gets your supply up. Stop the bottles.

Okay... if I stop the bottles then do I just let him scream because he isn't getting what he wants? Seriously, I tried just leaving him on the breast this afternoon because I know my breasts are "constantly" making milk... but he pulls off, roots like I swear no baby has rooted before, and then in fits of frustration will begin sucking on whatever is handy... his blanket, his fist, my neck, my arm....

I KNOW that babies are SUPPOSED to subsist on colostrum, which is why I am beating myself up over the supplements. But I swear, if you saw this baby you would think I was starving him.

FWIW, he weighed 9 pounds, 13 ounces at birth, so he isn't exactly tiny. Is it possible that I got a baby with a stomach the size of a golf ball as opposed to a marble?

[mysticmomma]

try cup feeding, finger feeding, syringe feeding. I'm not sure anatomically about how much difference there is possible between newborn stomach size. He's almost 10 pounds. He's got the reserves! I hear you on the frustration.

[MyZoeJane]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

You know that baby is getting enough (without supplementation) if he's peeing 4 times in 24 hours on day 4, 5 on day 5, and 6 heavy wet diapers per 24 hours from day 6 on. By day 5 his poops should be 3-4 times a day and yellow (no longer meconium).

Do you have access to an LC or LLL? It may help to have someone check out baby for a tongue-tie, and sometimes a little shift in how mom holds baby to nurse can decrease the soreness at the start.

Hang in there Mama - the more you nurse the more milk you will make. There is likely no need to give baby any supplement, and giving by bottle may be messing up the latch.

Another reason I began the supplmenting. He had two wet diapers on day one and one good poop. Then day two he didn't wet til late into the night. I got worried.

Now he is peeing and pooping like a champ. He's had three very good seedy yellow "breastmilk poops" today alone.

I'm just hoping that after a dozen nurseathons today my supply is up enough to get him through the night without behaving the way I described.

eta: Yes, a very good family friend is a Lactation consultant. I will call her tomorrow if this is still an issue.

[possum]

I am wondering if maybe there is something else going on and his constant nursing is the best comfort, but sometimes even that isn't enough. Have you considered seeing someone for some craniosacral work or a chiro? Even fairly uneventful births can get things out of place. FWIW, my son was also a voracious eater, and I think a lot of it had to do with some issues from his rather protracted but otherwise peaceful birth. He was a new guy after a CS session with a very talented CST to whom we will always be grateful.
Melinda

[MyZoeJane]

Originally Posted by possum

I am wondering if maybe there is something else going on and his constant nursing is the best comfort, but sometimes even that isn't enough. Have you considered seeing someone for some craniosacral work or a chiro? Even fairly uneventful births can get things out of place. FWIW, my son was also a voracious eater, and I think a lot of it had to do with some issues from his rather protracted but otherwise peaceful birth. He was a new guy after a CS session with a very talented CST to whom we will always be grateful.
Melinda

Took him to our chiro today, actually! He did one tiny adjustment but other than that, he was a-okay! Here's hoping that might have been playing a role in his insatiability! I have every confidence that he will make it through the night tonight. My breasts are MUCH heavier than they were even just this morning!

And FWIW, when I gave him the supplement, he was instantly satisfied and I SWEAR he was even laughing. LOL

He's a very alert and "happy" baby as far as four day old babies can be. It's almost like he isn't a newborn, though he was only 4 days "postdates", as if that means anything.

[pastrygirl]

My son is nursing nonstop, crying if he's not latched on. Turns out he has a posterior tongue tie, even though his latch is good. He's just not transferring enough milk...

[annettemarie]

How are things going today? Any better?

[MyZoeJane]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

How are things going today? Any better?

Wish I could say it was... I called my LC friend but she was out of town til tonight. My son is still nursing and getting milk (I weighed him, he got three ounces at our last feeding).... but he is unsatisfied after some feedings and I have given three more supplements. It's driving me insane.

I'm going to see the LC tomorrow and will have her check his tongue and latch.

If I don't find and answer I'm going to cry myself to death. I can't handle the postpartum moods AND this defeated feeling at the same time! Doesn't help that he's got a gunky eye and the ped put him on antiobiotic eye ointment. (She also has me treating with breastmilk, but we're being extra cautious by using the ointment. It's been that way since birth and he was born a week ago, so the breatmilk alone hasn't been enough.)

Anyway... I digress....

[kayleesmom]

just wanted to send a hug

[Anastasiya]

Has he been circumcised? I ask because perhaps he only wet late into the day on day two because he hurt, and perhaps he is voraciously sucking because he's in pain and trying to cope, rather than just hungry....

Just tossing out ideas here.

You sound like you have plenty of milk - pumping 1 ounce so soon is GOOD!

[ShwarmaQueen]

Is it hunger or could it be something else that is making him fussy?

Just throwing another idea out there.

I hope things resolve quickly for you mamma.

[MyZoeJane]

Originally Posted by Sancta

Has he been circumcised? I ask because perhaps he only wet late into the day on day two because he hurt, and perhaps he is voraciously sucking because he's in pain and trying to cope, rather than just hungry....

Just tossing out ideas here.

You sound like you have plenty of milk - pumping 1 ounce so soon is GOOD!

nak

no circ!

met with my lc friend today and supply is not an issue. He is wetting and soiling diapers in insane amounts now. he just wants to be on the boob constantly, which is fine. my nipples are abnormal due to old piercing scars that run through them which is what is causing an abnormal "pull" downward... this is what causes my pain for now... but i nursed dd 33 months without an issue once the soreness resolved and i toughened up... so i have no reason to believe the same wont happen this time too.

no explanation for the first five days of insatiable behavior, but now that my supply has increased it is not an issue anymore.

[mysticmomma]

Yay!

[an_aurora]

Awesome! I am glad everything is improving. DS would do the same thing and I ended up giving him a pacifier after he was back to his birth weight and nursing well.

[Anastasiya]

Originally Posted by MyZoeJane

no circ!

Oh! Good!

no explanation for the first five days of insatiable behavior, but now that my supply has increased it is not an issue anymore.

YAY!

[MomtoNoah]

I wouldn't suppl with formula if I were you. your baby is supposed to nurse almost round the clock [or at least mine did] to help your milk come in - a baby's tummy is SUPER small and they get plenty from momma, just let him/her nurse until they want - it's better to help the milk supply and to comfort! =)