Advice to give friend for nb losing weight

[CookAMH]

My friend wrote to say her one week old baby is losing too much weight according to the pedi. She didn't give stats but is supplementing and pumping now. M&D are small and baby was 6lb 3oz. She was They plan to get an LC. I am writing her back with some encouragment including the following:

1. If the LC isn't that helpful, find a new one
2. Feed all she wants when she wants
3. Use the supplementation device to allow closeness and sucking
4. How many poopy diapers, can you tell if she is swallowing
5. IV can artificially inflate birthweight

Anything else? Since it's only the first week, it's SO early still. She is probably easily influenced by the doctor or by her own worry.

[katelove]

If possible, spending a day or two in bed, skin to skin, just resting and feeding may help boost her supply. If supply is an issue. I assume she is demand feeding, allowing the baby to determine length of feeds etc.

I'd also encourage her to maintain her own nutrition and hydration and rest as much as possible.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

same thing happened to my babe. I recommend going to a breastfeeding support group and weighing the baby before a feed and after to determine how much she's getting with each nursing session. Also, to check latch and position.

When my babe lost way too much weight, the ped gave me formula and told me to go home and feed my baby. Instead, I got a hospital grade pump and pumped after every feeding (My hubby syringe-fed the expressed milk to the baby). I woke the baby up to nurse, and offered both breasts at each nursings session.

I'd also recommend fennugreek capsules and lactation teas. Yogi and Traditional Medicinals both make them, or she can buy the loose herbs and brew up large batches at a time. I'm currently also taking the homeopathic ignatia amara, and using Mother's Lactation Tonic compound by Herb Pharm.

If your friend is already supplementing with formula, she should know to pump every single time the baby is given a bottle so that her body knows that she needs to make more milk.

[PatioGardener]

Pees are the most important... by 1 week there should be 6 heavy wet diapers in 24 hours, 3-4 poopy ones and baby should now be gaining weight. Remember that a 7% weight loss is normal, and 1 oz/day gain is typical.

Keep telling her she can do it!