MSE Newborn to 1 year Baby Club 1

4nnabella

Gilly - silly question but did you make your own rice-filled sock? I think we need to try one of those...

Gillyx

Yeah! Done it when the midwife was in and I had to bring a sock h
through with a hole in it and didnt realise until I'd poured the rice in

I used one of those individual boil in the bag portions and that was enough.

mozzyc

Hi ladies!!

Just posted on the pregnancy bored. My baby boy Charlie was born 17th Feb, 3:20am, 7.8lbs. Was a short but traumatic birth for me. 1st stage labour was 5hrs 10min, 2nd stage was 25min, 3rd stage 10min. All my pain was in my back, no where else, and the pain relief was very slow to come. Gas and air was only offered when I was around 6-7cm dilated. Pethidine did nothing, and the epidural was given when I was 10cm, I had to wait an hour for it. I have a 3rd degree tear/cut from one end to another

But my boy is gorgeous!!

Question time - at first he latched on fine, now he just won't latch and doesn't seem interested at all. I know the milk only comes in a bit later, but i;m worried that he's not getting enough now and just don't know what to do. I've sat there with skin to skin for ages, but the minute I try put him to the breast, he pulls away and starts fighting it. Last night different story, he latched on for almost 30min. Now today hardly anything. I'm worried about dehydration. Any ideas?

Thanks!!

Gillyx

Can't help with the latching on Mozzy as my boy pretty much did the same thing, to start with he latched, then just wouldn't and eventually I gave in because we were both distressed and noone could help get him to latch on.

Don't beat yourself up about the birth, with the pushing stage happening so fast, it's understandable you had a tear and were cut. Just take it easy with recovery, and one thing that really helped me (TMI maybe) but every day after my shower I'd get OH to take baby and I'd lay up on bed with a towel under me and let myself get "aired" if that makes sense, even the 10 minutes with nothing rubbing against the wound if you like :rotfl: seemed to help

SmlSave

Mozzyc, it sounds like youre doing the right thing. I would see if you have a breastmates near you, get in contact with their breastfeeding consultant. I would have given up if it wasnt for mine! After all the midwives, hv and hospital consultant being unable to help im indebted to my local breastmates. Cant sing their praises enough. :-)
Also try a laid back feeding position, some great advice i had was that their are 360 different positions to feed in :-) even with the baby upside down! Plus cabbage leaves in your bra, drink guiness/mackinsons - i found it really helped get my milk going.

I have to share this - jacob popped on his potty! :-) total luck, i saw him straining at naked time and sat him down - ta da :-) am very chuffed

*Ro*

Well done u Mozzy!! Congratulations!
Love the name

Re bf ask mw to help latch
Could manually express into sterilised cup and use a syringe to squirt into side of mouth (we were advised could do this if baby tired to latch after initial feed) might be worth ago if worried but seek advice from mw

Make sure they give u good pain relief for home and I recommend a valley cushion I borrowed one from local mw free think u can pay to hire via local nct wish I had got one sooner as found it dif to sit
Hope u are getting enough to eat and u may want some tmi prunes as tabs can u know...!

Ro xxxxxx !

Also re bf could express a bit on your nips to try and tempt LO to latch

So sorry that the birth was traumatic I felt like that too x x

Crabapple

Congratulations Mozzy! Lovely news.

My LO did similar, fed early on then was too tired to latch. MW helped with position to help her but we did end up doing like Ro says and I hand expressed some colostrum which was collected by syringe and put slowly into her mouth. We also did lots of skin-to-skin and she perked up and started to feed later on.

Get what help you can from the professionals. They'll be focussing on his feeding anyway and give you advice. Good luck.

I also had a 3rd degree tear:(. Can only repeat the advice on comfy cushions, valley if possible, jug of water by the toilet, lots of soaks in a warm bath when you can, and pelvic floor exercises will all help. I've got an appointment 1st March to have my stitches checked, but now 5 weeks past delivery and I don't have much trouble. Oh, and use but don't overdo the stool softener they will give you (and finding the balance can be a little difficult).

mozzyc

Thanks Ladies. OH was worried, so have given him 20ml of sma first milk. I'll keep doing skin to skin and trying, especially till my milk comes in. Feel like I've failed, but going to keep at it. I'll try him on the breast at midnight again.

Thanks RE advice on tear. Not looking forward to first bowel movement

Lucy1973

mozzyc wrote: »

Thanks Ladies. OH was worried, so have given him 20ml of sma first milk. I'll keep doing skin to skin and trying, especially till my milk comes in. Feel like I've failed, but going to keep at it. I'll try him on the breast at midnight again.

Thanks RE advice on tear. Not looking forward to first bowel movement

How are you finding the hospital? X

Gillyx

Please don't feel like youve failed mozzy, I felt the same in hospital when I gave LO aptamil in hospital, but if Charlie is being fed thats all that matters and you can still keep trying.

R.e the bowel movement I had a tear and was cut too and I didnt even get stool softners, and it wasnt too bad at all, infact peeing was worse for me. Just make sure you keep up your intake of fruit/veg and fibre. Im still having weetabox and a glass of fresh orange for breakfast/lunch every day.