Breastfeeding Help

Gingham_Ribbon

Oh she's brand new! Congratulations. Relax, take her to bed and let her suck as much as she can. And either call the NCT line or the maternity hospital near you who might have a breastfeeding support line.

It is unlikely that you can't feed her. It takes a few days for the milk to come in properly. Do speak to someone who really knows about breastfeeding rather than someone who means well but doesn't know what to suggest. (Like some GPs.)

Carmina_Piranha_3

you don't have to be a member of the NCT to call their breastfeeding line to get advice. it's staffed by volunteers.

i was trying to breastfeed but i was still in hospital when roo was this age and a midwife took him away and gave him a bottle (everyone wanted to get some sleep!). he only needed about half an ounce of milk, so it's possible you're producing enough for your babe.

djtonyb

My lo was born at 2.30am on a tuesday morning and my milk put in an appearance mid afternoon on the Saturday.

Give it time and consult a breasfeeding counsellor if your unsure.

We had a fantastic one in the hospital who would spend hours supporting you when you needed it most

flier

do you have a community midwife who you saw while you were pg? She should be able to help you. If not, then as prev suggested a bf counsellor at the hospital or the NCT.
Try not to worry as it is still vv early days, and the more you worry the harder it will be for you to relax and feed.
Good Luck and congratulations on the birth of your daughter!

Eels100

As a first-time expectant mum with a grim determination to breastfeed successfully I just want to say a hearty thanks to everyone who's been so generous with advice and support (even though this is someone else's thread!), it's given me huge confidence to see such a great response to a worried mum. And what's more MS than breastfeeding?! All the very best India, I can't offer advice but I'm sure you'll be fine, I wish you every success.

inkie

India - you will not have any problems, only a very small percentage of women are physiologically unable to breastfeed. If there was any doubt about your baby not feeding, you would not have been discharged home. The MW will be around, and we have a responsibility to see you up until day 10, which can be extended up to day 28 - you will not be left to your own devices!

It takes usually about 3 days (can be delayed for various reasons) for the milk to come in - and so it's still early days for you, yet, but one day soon you will wake up with full breasts!!
Just keep allowing your baby unlimited suckling at the breast, get plenty to eat and drink, plenty of resting up at home - the colostrum that your babe will eb getting at the moment is really high in calories and so will give your baby all she wants.

Us MW's are here to help, and so even though your MW will be calling everyday, if you need some professional advice prior to her coming again, call the number that she will have given you - help is on hand 24 hrs per day.

And enjoy!

chevalier

What I did that seemed to work, was that every time I went to the loo, I had a glass of water afterwards. This meant that my body had enough liquid for me and ds.

Cut out tea and coffee as much as possible as these are diuretics so you will lose the water your body needs.

Keep persevering. It is all cyclic. The more you feed the more you get. As long as you drink lots of water, I am sure it will all work out fine.

Good luck
chev

thriftlady_2

india wrote: »

I keep crying because I feel like I've let her down.

No, you keep crying because you had a baby 3 days ago it's what you're supposed to do

I had a similar experience with my first baby. I just couldn't get him to feed and the midwives had to give him a bottle. I felt like a failure and I cried of course. By the end of the week the milk had come in and everything was fine. I ended up feeding him for a year (and the next 2 babies).Don't give up, ring the NCT and relax.

Congratulations btw :j

Poppy9

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your daughter.

I know how you feel as I never felt my milk come in. My boobs never got hard, painful or even full feeling. I became quite down in hospital as a couple of midwives made comments of how pale she was and questioned me if I was feeding properly etc. They also weighed on the Sunday and went off to check the chart as she had lost so much weight to see if it was acceptable (If I remember rightly she was 9lb born and went down to 8lb 4oz - and yes it was acceptable). My DD was born on Thursday evening and by Monday I was so wound up I gave her a small bottle of formula to see if she was hungry. She wasn't - she barely drunk anything. This gave me the confidence to continue feeding her. I also discharged myself from hospital as I didn't feel it was helping being there.

I never did get the hard boobs and never leaked. I also couldn't express milk. DD wasn't a hungry baby so she never fed for long or that frequently but she thrived. I found my HV really helpful. She told me not to worry about how often she was feeding or how long she was feeding for etc but to see how alert she was. DD never gained much weight either. She continued to BF till about 4 months old when she decided she didn't want to anymore. She never took much interest in a bottle either and it was a struggle to get milk down her. She is a healthy 12 year old now.

So talk to your midwife or Health Visitor. Don't be afraid to ask for help as all new mums need support. I made contact with the cesarean support network as felt so low after my emergency CS. It was so good to talk to someone who understood how I felt. When they send me some literature on the comments and feelings some women have after a CS I was in tears as I could identify with almost every comment. You are not alone most new mother has low points, it's just some don't admit to it. Everyone is different and just because other mums are saying their boobs are full, heavy, hard etc with milk it doesn't mean yours will be. In 4 months I never ached to feed DD, my boobs were no bigger (thank God!) but she was getting her milk.

super41

So much good advice from everyone here.
Please don't give up thinking you are a failure as it's early days yet. Definitely get some support, or if you don't feel like ringing the NCT or breastfeeding support line perhaps your partner or a friend could do that for you? I think some people will even visit you at home. I had a fab MW who really helped me get my DS feeding. He needed help with latching on. So after a shaky start I'm still feeding him 10 months on! Your baby is probably getting some colostrum, you just don't realise.
As well as lots of drinks you need to be eating well with lots of snacks such as a banana, sandwich etc.
Good luck and congratulations on your new arrival.