[Calidris]

for a friend.
Baby is about 3 days old, she has been nursing so far, last night apparently was very difficult, with the baby nursing 3 hours at a time and still crying when she came off.
Mother is worried because she can't express any milk (she could before), her nipples are very red.
Yesterday her brests were very hard today they are soft, so I'm thinking the milk came in.
Because the baby was still crying so much she gave her some formula (an oz) and the baby "gobbled it down".

So what can I tell her (not about the evils of formula, she knows that, but at 4 in the am when your baby seems to be starving it's hard to be rational).
Give me advice to pass on, please. I know the 1 oz of formula thing is a slippery slope. (Damn hospital formula sample!)

 

[User101]

Sounds like her milk came in. Expressing milk isn't always a good indicator of anything, because even the best pump in the world isn't a baby. Is it that baby is having a hard time latching? She can hand-express out a little milk to make things easier on the baby.

 

[LittlePeanut]

The baby is doing her best to get mommy's supply established. If that means feeding all night and day then that's what she needs to do. try laying down and feeding her on her side so she can catnap while baby is nursing. The baby is likely cluster feeding right now. It won't be this way forever. Just encourage her to get over the hump!

Send her best wishes from us!

LP

 

[Benji'sMom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calidris for a friend. Baby is about 3 days old, she has been nursing so far, last night apparently was very difficult, with the baby nursing 3 hours at a time and still crying when she came off.

Sounds like cluster feeding at night and also fussy time. (normal stuff) Cluster feeding sometimes happens in the evenings and then baby will sleep for several hours at night, but the clustering could happen at night, which is what this sounds like. Also, newborns can eat more than the usual 8-12 times, it's just how some newborns are. http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussy-evening.html

Quote:

Mother is worried because she can't express any milk (she could before), her nipples are very red.

The amount you can pump or hand express has nothing whatsoever to do with you actual milk supply. And as for the red nipples - well there can be some nipple irritation in the first few weeks due to the fact that newborns want to eat ALL THE TIME.

Quote:

Yesterday her brests were very hard today they are soft, so I'm thinking the milk came in.

Sounds like that could be it. The frequent nursing during the night apparently softened the breasts, nothing to worry about and not a sign of low supply.

Quote:

Because the baby was still crying so much she gave her some formula (an oz) and the baby "gobbled it down".

Also not a sign of low supply or that the baby is not getting enough. More info here: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/lo...ly.html#supply

 

[Calidris]

One thing I love about MDC is all the advice help, I know I said quick, but wow

3 really helpful posts in less than 10 minutes, thanks everyone
I will call her now.

 

[eirual]

I have no experience with true low-supply. I know I FELT like I had low supply in the begining, and was in tears thinking I couldn't nourish my baby. I did my best to express what I could (which was very little) and dropper fed him so I could see exactly what was going into him.

I was a wreck, I called my mom for supprt, I called my midwife- by the time he was ready to eat with everyone there to help me trouble shoot, he went on with a perfect latch and ate like a super star. Not to say it was always that easy. GET THE FORMULA OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! Get mama to try to just relax and trust that she's making enough milk for her babe. Stress can really hold back the milk.

So all I have to suggest is relaxing, working on latch, and NO MORE FORMULA!! Reassure her that frustration, pain, etc IS okay (after getting professional consultation to make sure there's nothing wrong and no damage being done) and that it WILL get better and is completely worth all the effort in the beginning!!

Lots of support and love, and best of luck to new mama!

 

[eirual]

IF after calling the LLL or meeting with a LC she does have low-supply, Domperidone can help bring milk in. From what I understand it can be gotten over the counter....I think...

 

[alegna]

It's too early to really tell if she has low supply or not, but it sounds normal. Give her the link to kellymom there's a chart there about how many diapers per day in the early days. Tell her to get any other formula out of the house so it's not a temptation.

to you and your friend! Those first days can be so hard.

-Angela

 

[Calidris]

Yeah, I called her, tried to reassure her, and sent her the links. I also encouraged her to call one of the BF counsellors (on a Sunday morning!) for help and for Lansinoh.
She has a ped appointment tomorrow (with a very BF supportive doctor) so if she can last til then I'm sure the ped will be able to reassure her too.
I also told her to try to avoid the formula, but if she really felt she had to, to cup feed instead.
She said she couldn't get out anything before or after nursing (hand expressing, she was getting a bit before, which I assume was colustrum).
The only possible red flag (to me) was that the baby did not poop at all yesterday (of course she did right after the formula bottle) and only had 1 wet diaper (she is 3 or 4 days old). Of course with sposies it is sometimes hard to tell if a diaper is wet in the early days.

 

[sunnysideup]

It could be that baby's latch is not good. A bad latch can cause painful nipples, and cause baby to be ineffective at getting milk, which can lead to low supply (if baby's not getting the milk out, mom will stop producing). Have your friend call an LLL Leader or lactation consultant and have her baby's latch checked ASAP.