Breastfeeding...

[polarbearfans]

The baby is almost 2 weeks. So far she is just not gaining back any weight.

We did a weighed feeding, and she took in 2 oz, which they said was good. That was just a quick feeding in office.

The pediatrician recommended maybe pumping once she is done to get more of the hindmilk out, but I feel like she doesn't leave much.

She does have kind of a weak suck, even when I get a good latch. It started out strong but got weak over time at the hospital when they started giving the soothie and a couple bottles (regret allowing this to happen; the nurse pushed it so I could sleep not anything medically needed). I wasn't really handling things well and was only holding the baby when they brought her to eat. I was so overwhelmed and frustrated by the constant parade of hospital staff. Breastfeeding improved greatly once I got home and started doing skin-to-skin and holding her more.

I'm on the phone daily with the lactation consultants, and they said I need to get through the weekend and set something up with the outpatient lactation consultants on Monday or the in home consultant. She eats a lot and often. Has tons of good pee and poop diapers. She is clearly growing and getting bigger. But her weight never improves. I don't know what is not working.

Anyone else have issues breastfeeding that they came back from? I'm so stressed over this. I don't know if I am just not producing quality breast milk or if something else is going on. If my milk isn't good, we will have to move to formula. What they gave us at the hospital made her so uncomfortable and miserable but I am sure they make something she can tolerate. I have been trying so hard for breastfeeding since my gastro recommended it to give her digestive system a strong start so she hopefully doesn't have the issues I have. Genetics plays its part, but environment has its part. Obviously getting her fed is the most important and if that is formula then that is what we will do.

[pugz]

has she been checked for tongue/lip ties yet? 2oz in a weighed feeding at that age is good. Is she back at birth weight and just not gaining? Or has she not reached birth weight yet? We had to wake every 2.5 hours to feed until DD got to birth weight.

that is the extent of the advice I can give so I will tag in our experts AmyRI @tokenhoser karinothing jenny1980 frkls

[Deleted]

I'm sorry you're having a hard time! Two ounces is great for a quick feeding. Is that the only weighed one you've done? Does she seem satisfied after nursing? I would try to see a lactation consultant on Monday too.

Is she losing weight or just not gaining? I probably wouldn't pump yet if it was just the latter. I'm dealing with a three week old who prefers the bottle so I'd try to avoid that issue if at all possible.

[polarbearfans]

She was 7lbs 12 oz at birth. She is currently 7lbs 2oz. She lost 2 oz from a check that was 2 days earlier.

I think she was 7lbs 2 oz when we left the hospital. Her first 2 weight checks after leaving the hospital she lost a little bit each one; down to 7lbs 1oz. She finally gained an ounce and then another, but we don't seem to be improving.

She has another weight check Monday.

As far as I know she hasn't been checked for tongue tie or anything. We are just starting meds for acid reflux that she hates... Prescription that I believe is Zantac. She does seem to be less gassy and not in so much pain when on her back. It's only been a few days. I know from my own history with gerd that it takes about a week to really feel better.

eta: I am feeding on demand or waking her every 2-3 hours. Sometimes she wants to eat every hour/1.5 hours, sometimes every 2-3. I don't let her sleep more than 3 hours, except the night she started the meds. She slept 6 hours. I tried to wake her numerous times and she just would not wake up. I think we over did things that day and she was overly tired. We ran a couple errands after her appointment and we were out for about 4 hours. I fed her several times, but it was a stressful day for her.

[curbsideprophet]

2oz a feed sounds good. Is she being weighed on the same scale? If not that could be part of the problem. I would wake every three hours from the start of the feed since she is not back to birth weight yet. Did you have a lot of fluids during labor? That also could have inflated her birth weight.

[polarbearfans]

Jul 25, 2015 19:13:21 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

2oz a feed sounds good. Is she being weighed on the same scale? If not that could be part of the problem. I would wake every three hours from the start of the feed since she is not back to birth weight yet. Did you have a lot of fluids during labor? That also could have inflated her birth weight.

Not sure about fluids... It was all so fast. I had a very quick labor and delivery.

The last two checks were on the same scale at the new pediatrician we are seeing. The previous ones were at a different doctor that we will no longer be seeing for various reasons, mainly she does not provide the level of care my baby needs. Those checks were all on different scales each time which I questioned.

[genet313]

Ditto PPs re: using the same scale, that's pretty crucial.   You should be able to get your pedi to weigh her on the same scale every time - my pedi's nurses would mark what scale she's weighed on and then bring that scale into the room every time we went back.

I would continue to feed every 2 hours (and yes, I know it sucks, I had to do the same, with the MOTN alarms and everything) and just keep doing lots of skin to skin - don't let visitors take her for too long, hole up in your bedroom or on the couch and just do your thing.   Let her stay on the boob as long as she wants.  

I think the pedi has a good idea re: pumping.

I'll just also share that my DD was 5 11 at birth (so way smaller than yours), went down to 4 13 at her low point (cue panic looks from my pedi and my family, with pleas to give her formula).  I was also panicked, which didn't help.   I saw an LC, she spent a couple hours with me, helped me with DD's latch and taught me how to make sure she was actually sucking and I saw her multiple times for follow ups.  

Eventually DD was back to birth weight at 2.5 or 3 weeks PP, I believe.  She's now 6 months, we've been BFing the entire time, she doubled her birth weight by 4 months and just gained another 2 lbs these last 2 months.    So yes, she's still small (5-10% for weight) but since we turned a corner with BFing and she's been growing just fine - there is hope, you can do this.

And even if it doesn't work out, formula is just fine and you will get your baby fed.  Hugs.  Hang in there. 

[spankswife]

DS lost weight til 2 weeks. Then finally leveled, then gained 3 lbs from 4 weeks to 8 weeks. Just be patient. Keep going. Feed often. In his third week I did give formula, after a feeding. Always bf first, otherwise you aren't sending demand signals.

Things really got better after the 6 week growth spurt. I'm finally at a point where we have days with no formula. Sometimes I give it for convenience too, but my supply really caught up. Lots of persistence.

[VillainV]

My DS was a really slow gainer, and didn't get back to birth weight until he was about 3.5 weeks old. 2oz in a weighted feed is good, and the right number of pee and poop diapers per day sounds awesome. Honestly, a difference of 1-2 oz per weigh-in on different scales isn't really a huge deal to me. I mean, she will pee or poop more than 1-2 ounces, so depending on when her last wet/dirty diaper was relative to the weight-check...

Are you feeding from both breasts? Do you start with the breast that you finished on last time?

Do you feel like you're getting good info from the LCs you've talked to? If not, do you have a local chapter of La Leche League?

[polarbearfans]

Jul 25, 2015 20:51:30 GMT -5 VillainV said:

My DS was a really slow gainer, and didn't get back to birth weight until he was about 3.5 weeks old. 2oz in a weighted feed is good, and the right number of pee and poop diapers per day sounds awesome. Honestly, a difference of 1-2 oz per weigh-in on different scales isn't really a huge deal to me. I mean, she will pee or poop more than 1-2 ounces, so depending on when her last wet/dirty diaper was relative to the weight-check...

Are you feeding from both breasts? Do you start with the breast that you finished on last time?

Do you feel like you're getting good info from the LCs you've talked to? If not, do you have a local chapter of La Leche League?

She is usually done after one breast. So if she just does the one, I will start with the other. If she does take a 2nd breast, I will start with that one next feeding.

In the hospital, one LC was great. She is the one who did the class I took. I have talked with her on the phone a couple times too, and she has been the best. Otherwise it is hit or miss. I feel like I need to see someone in person again, which outpatient isn't available yet through the hospital I delivered at so I need to go elsewhere or have someone come to me. My husbands vote is to have the LC come to the house, so that is my first call on Monday. All the locations I can go to are kind of far, so I would prefer someone comes to the house also. It would also be nice to be where she is actually eating.

There is la leche league group that meets in a nearby city, and i see they have a meeting next month. I had plans to go. There is another group too in a city I go to often, but same deal with meeting being next month.

[pugz]

definitely get someone to come to your house if possible! It is worth the extra cost

[mrsc23]

I'd reach out to the La Leche leader for support. Mine had me come to her house where she provided 2 hours of instruction and assistance. I found it very helpful. I don't know if they all do that,but it's worth reaching out.

[frkls]

it sounds like you are both doing great. 2 oz is awesome, nursing just one side at a time is completely fine.

how often are you nursing? do you nurse on demand or on a schedule? how many times does she nurse at night? where does she sleep? 

it sounds like your nursing sessions themselves are great! i would just suggest increasing frequency.  lots of babies nurse AT LEAST once an hour in the very beginning

i absolutely second the LLL suggestion!

[pooh8402]

Jul 26, 2015 9:36:19 GMT -5 frkls said:

it sounds like your nursing sessions themselves are great! i would just suggest increasing frequency.  lots of babies nurse AT LEAST once an hour in the very beginning

I've been following this thread and this makes me feel so much better! I'm used to sleepy 1-3 day old newborns, not more alert and hungrier one week old newborns. So this eating every hour thing has thrown me for a loop.

[nachos]

Is she gaining length?

My DS was like this. His weight was stable, but because he wasn't gaining, the public health nurses were pushing supplementation. Eventually we figured out that he was getting taller before filling out. I did end up supplementing with him (he also had a weak suck), but once we made the connection that he was still growing, there was a lot less stress (except from my XMIL, who was devastated that he wasn't a 'fat' baby).

Have you thought about using a tube attached to you breast during her feedings to make sure that she's getting more hindmilk (pumped from an earlier feeding) or some formula? It's been a while since I've breastfed, but this was suggested as a possibility back in the day. I don't know if it's still recommended.

You are doing an awesome job and looking for all the right things. Keep it up!

[katlizabeth]

My ds didn't get back to birth weight until after 4 weeks. I was far more stressed out than I probably should have been.

To echo pp:
-2 oz is great!
- nurse more often, especially during the day (it's just easier if you're awake then). At minimum, ever 2 hours.

To add:
I did pump after feelings (ds had a weak suck and we were worried about supply)
I supplemented with my pumped milk (now, it was hell nursing and pumping around the clock and I would honestly recommend formula supplementing to myself because I spent weeks nursing and then pumping...and barely slept)
Ds's suck got stronger at like 8 weeks, which is when he was really starting to gain weight-so the stronger suck might be coming
I bf'd ds until 17 months and ds is a healthy 6 year old now

Good luck. Nursing can mess with your mind-especially if you're the sole food source and you feel pressure to make it work. Don't feel bad if you use some/all formula.

[polarbearfans]

Thank you everyone for the advice and kind words. Today was a good feeding day. I am going to try and not be so stressed and just take it a day at anyone. I will reach out to the LLL and set something up with a lactation consultant.

Her weight check is tomorrow and I will ask for length to also be done. I can see that she is getting bigger. She has outgrown clothes/diapers and really filled out her car seat.

I'm exhausted with all the feeding and the baby still rarely will sleep if I am not holding her because of the reflux. She is not a fan of the RNP :/ My husband goes back to work parttime tomorrow, so no more morning nap. Last night she slept an hour in her bassinet. It took a lot of tries to get the timing right with all the diapers and feeding. I am supposed to keep her upright for 30 minutes after nursing.

Thanks again! It helps to be able to hear from others and to just get things out. None of my friends have kids, and I doubt they want to hear about the challenges.

[polarbearfans]

Up 2oz from Friday but that just made up for the 2 oz she was down.

The doctor wants me to either breastfeed and supplement with formula (forget the name but doesn't have soy or milk); or pump only and feed her with a bottle so we know exactly how much she is eating until I meet with a lactation consultant.

I fed her in office and she took in 2+ oz :/

She is the same length as birth.

I have no idea why she isn't gaining. She eats and her diapers are good. I've left messages with a LLL leader and 2 in-home lactation consultants. If I don't hear back in an hour or so I will call the outpatients locations even though all are 45+ minutes away. I want to see someone as soon as possible. I'm just starting to get a stronger suction back. I don't want to move backwards with the bottles. They made her a lazy eater. She is very good in the left, still a bit weak on the right but that breast doesn't seem to be producing as much now.