Baby uncomfortable won't focus on nursing.

[Buzzer Beater]

My 7wo DD had surgery on her foot yesterday. She has club feet and both legs are casted, both feet need surgery. Second foot surgery will be next week.

She is obviously uncomfortable, possibly in pain from the surgery and the giant casts she's got on now (I don't know why they are so dang big!). For almost 24 hours she's eaten very little. She will latch, unlatch constantly, holler, and cry in most positions. I'm trying to feed her frequently for short periods as much as we can get her comfortable and sucking. I feel like we just got this nursing thing down and now this!

How can I tell if she is getting enough to eat? How long til I worry?

And what will happen to my supply? I've tried to pump but only get a half ounce per breast- I haven't been pumping much since she was born and it seems a hard skill to learn under duress. My breasts are killing me and I can't empty them it seems any which way.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[LittleLegos]

Sounds like a tough situation!

Is your DD taking any pain medication? It might help her if she's really miserable. If she is taking something, maybe trying something different may help. Some could be affecting her appetite.

When to worry would be to check her "output" in terms of pee and poop. Of course her bms might be messed up from anesthesia and/or pain meds, but I'd think you should be seeing pees. Checking in with her docs may be helpful too.

In terms of yourself, it is important for you to be comfortable too and not have issues with your breasts and/or your supply. Some helpful pumping tips may be to use hot compresses before pumping and hand express a little. You could also have a warm shower to get the milk flowing and hand express/massage in the shower. You could try to pump on one side while nursing on the other, but that might be really challenging with the casts, ect.

For nursing, you can still do the warm compresses first and massage the breast. Having someone with you to offer support to you, rub your shoulders, ect. You have extra stress with the nursing not going well at the moment and a hurting baby. You need support for yourself too. Extra pillows might be helpful, between the baby's legs (small pillows or rolled towel/blanket). Playing around with positioning, being on a bed, on the floor... As long as you are facing each other, anything goes.

Good luck!
Amy

[Buzzer Beater]

She didn't have anesthesia, just a local anesthetic, and last night she was on Tylenol, which is all they gave us. She was really spitting up, more like upchucking, so I don't know how much Tylenol or milk she she got down. Today at least she's not spitting.

I'm going to try to pump in the shower as I always have a letdown there. I'm hoping she can focus long enough to take a bottle, but she's not used to it.

Thanks for the suggestions.

ETA- she's pooping and peeing normally, I don't know how! She is nursing about 4 minutes on one side before meltdown when she normally stays on 10 or 15 minutes per side.

[sahmmie]

If she hadn't just had surgery I'd say this sounds a lot like reflux, especially with the excessive spitting up. But being that she just went through surgery I'd chalk up to discomfort from that (even the cast could be bugging her) and see if it passes. If not definitely consider reflux as a possibility. Two of my babies had it and this is how it started; fussiness and discomfort at the breast and shortened feedings.

Hope she's feeling better soon.

[sosurreal09]

(((hugs))) mama oh you poor thing and poor DD will be praying for you guys.
i would say try to feed her in her sleep/to sleep and just stay latched as long as you can to increase supply and keep it.