Im scared my baby might be straving please help!!

Tempestt - posted on 05/10/2010

Make sure you are eating enough, at least an extra 500 calories. Make sure you are relaxed and get your baby latched on before he cries, learning his hunger cues are your best bet. My nurse in the hospital said to me don't worry, your baby isn't starving, they can live for days on the "brown" fat while your waiting for your milk to come in, thats how you hear of abandoned babies surviving(sad story but thats how my nurse explained it). In the beginning you only produce a few teaspoons of colostrum. This contains the vital antibodies, they don't require a lot because there bellies are so small! I went from not seeing any milk to being engorged fast. It gets soooo much easier and it is just a great bonding experience. Just keep your feedings consistent and form a schedule, if he doesn't wake up for a feeding after three hours, wake him up yourself by rubbing the tip of your nipple on his bottom lip. Also if he falls asleep at the breast tickle the bottom of his feet or his chin to get him to continue sucking, diaper him and massage him before feedings so latching on is easier for him, it's hard them they are sleepy! Good luck, it seems scary in the beginning but it's all worth while when they gaze into your eyes when your feeding them and the skin to skin contact is amazing for bonding, don't get discouraged! The latch is the most important make sure he has at least half the areaola in his mouth, if not this can cause some painful swollen, tender nipples later on...I learned the hard way!

PS: Feed him on both sides, fifteen minutes a side ( your breasts typically empty after fifteen minutes"), if he doesn't want the other side don't force him, but at the next feeding offer him that one first, it can become engorged leading to plugged milk ducts and all the things you don't want also you do not want your milk supply to establish unevenly. If you need anymore more help contact me, I had a visiting nurse come once a week from the time that I was 3 months pregnant walking me through breastfeeding :-)

Kari - posted on 05/10/2010

FYI - how much you pump is NOT a good determination of how much you make... so please don't judge it by that. Your baby can suck a lot better than a pump can and a lot of factors go into play when producing milk via nursing vs. pumping...so if you only get an ounce pumping you are still ok!!! :) :)

Melissa - posted on 05/10/2010

Most hospitals now have a lactation consultant, if not then contact someone in your local La Leche League. I was freaking out the first few weeks too and that was with my second son. I think its a normal thought to cross a new moms mind, Just make sure that you are sitting somewhere quiet when you nurse somwhere where you can relax and enjoy spending time with your baby. Before you know it he will be gaining weight and cooing at you.

Kathy - posted on 05/10/2010

It's not a good idea to introduce a bottle at this early age, because the difference in sucking could lead to nipple confusion. It would be preferable to put him directly to the breast.Your baby's sucking is FAR more efficient than any pump.

Carey - posted on 05/10/2010

All of the advice is great. I have 3 boys (4,3, and 1 yr). Just relax and know that your body and baby know what to do. When you are not nursing, cuddle your baby. Having him close to you will help your milk release. I used to position my baby on my chest and lay down to relax, it will help you both. I didn't think my first was getting anything either, and he gained 2 pounds in the first 3 weeks. Just nurse as often as he wants and you can.

Laurie - posted on 05/10/2010

I would try and pump and see if that gets your milk to come in. Or i would try some lactation suppliments along with pumping to see if that will stimulate your milk

Virginia - posted on 05/10/2010

My son was not getting enough milk because I had low supply and didn't know it. He would pull off the breast, cry and then root around even if I nursed him for an hour straight. He lost a good bit of weight and I was terrified too. The first rule is feed the baby - so, get out your breast pump and give him the milk in the bottle or if your milk really has not come in at all or you can't produce enough, give him as much milk as you can make and then top him off with formula. I had to pump and give my son my milk in a bottle and supplement with formula because I have never been able to keep up with my son's appetitie.

Nurse often (every 2 hours) and then when he is done feeding, pump out whatever is remaing in your breasts and give it to him in a bottle. This will help produce more milk because you are draining the breast completely at each feeding. Good luck.

Also, call your pediatirician and ask if you can come in to have your son weighed evey few days to make sure he is gaining weight. Just do the best that you can with breast feeding and get the milk into him any way that you can.

Kathy - posted on 05/09/2010

Keep reminding yourself of the benefits of colustrum.

Becky - posted on 05/09/2010

It takes about 3 days before your milk comes in. As long as the baby isn't lethargic and very difficult to wake up then he's fine. Try to relax - you need to learn how to breastfeed and baby also needs to learn how to latch properly. Stick with it - don't lose hope!! Stay positive - it is so worth it!! Also keep track of wet and poopie diapers - what goes in will also come out and there should be at least 6 wet diapers a day, but usually more. Good luck!!

Schmoopy - posted on 05/09/2010

Hang in there...

Get Fenugreek capsules and PUMP - every 2-3 hours, round the clock. Your milk will come in. Just stick with it!!!

www.kellymom.com is a great website for BFing support.

And you can always call your local La Leche League chapter. They have volunteer experts who will offer phone consultations for free. http://www.llli.org/

Francine - posted on 05/09/2010

Ginesca, They are right, relax, stay calm, keep your food and fluid up, and see a Lactation Consultant. Another option (one which I used) is nipple shields. My shape is all wrong and my daughter couldn't latch. The shields gave her something to latch onto.

Good luck!!!

Brittany - posted on 05/08/2010

First off Congrats on the new baby! Breast feeding for me was very stressful and took a lot of patience (i mostly pumped) but it was the best thing for my child and great bonding moments I can always remember. Some women just can't produce enough milk. Try pumping and storing the milk. That may be better especially if your baby is having a problem latching! Good luck Hun!

Kristen - posted on 05/08/2010

Good advice - to summarize, stay calm, drink plenty of water, eat well - dark leafy greens are good. To up your supply you can take fenugreek, eat oatmeal every day, drink water, and there's an herbal tea called Mother's Milk that is available in LOTS of regular grocery stores (it's by Traditional Medicinals).
The main thing to remember is what others have said - your milk will come in, your baby has a tiny tummy and will fill quickly on colostrum and will need to nurse frequently - they eat a little, they sleep, the pee, they eat a little...you get the point :o) Supply and demand is the game, and even if he's just playing around, the skin to skin contact will encourage your milk production as well as the suckling.
Pumping isn't a bad idea, BUT it's much better to just put baby on the breast - it's more stimulating for your production, better for baby, and pumping can be discouraging. Pumps are not nearly as productive as a suckling baby, so it's hard to measure, and completely inaccurate to do so, by what you pump. Make sure that if you are pumping, you do it AFTER baby eats :o)
Try not to panic too much, and know that this is completely normal. You're doing a great job!

Jessica - posted on 05/08/2010

Calm down, take a deep breath, and contact your healthcare's nurseline (or lactation consultant if you've got one). La Leche League can also be contacted. It's only been a few days, you will both be fine :)

Barbora Milena - posted on 05/08/2010

All what was said above is true, so just follow those wonderful advices... u need to relax, get a sleep, eat properly and get loads of fluids, cuddle your baby as much as possible, that will release the hormone your body needs for making the milk, try massage your breast and squeeze your nipple to see what is coming out... I had colustrum for 2days and then the milk came... the colustrum is enough for them in the first days and you can say he is drikin colustrum also by his poop, it should be very dark brown of to black and its like a glue...on milk the poop goes lighter n softer... if u r worried the milk is not comin, just call ur LLL for an assistence...but dont let anything to spoil those wonderful first days with your baby!!!!

Susan - posted on 05/08/2010

i think probably you are stressing and this will reduce milk but milk can come in at diffrent stages depending on if this is first child or not ,try resting and relaxing .and eating healthy drinking plenty of milk and eating cheese and salad and wholemeal .try speaking to other breastfeeding mums and maybe check with midwife you are latching baby on right try using a pillow at first so easier for baby to latchmy milk came in on 4-5 th day with my 5th child but with my first it took a week to 10 days baby will also have growth spurts and around 3 weeks and 6 weeks when he will feed more often but body will get use to making more milk when baby demands it .your babies cries will also help your milk production because a gland in your brain will register crying with hungry baby and make more milk the womans body is great thing you just have to believe in yourself and place yourself among other breastfeeding mums join a breastfeeding mother and baby group.midwife should have a list.

Kathy - posted on 05/08/2010

Hi Ginesca,

Firstly, congratulations on the arrival of your little boy! Those first days are scarey, aren't they! Some babies find it difficult get the whole latching process, but the nurses should be able to help you. Your baby NEEDS the nutrition-rich colustrum (or first milk) which is produced within the first day of giving birth. This is from Wikipedia:

"Newborns have very small digestive systems, and colostrum delivers its nutrients in a very concentrated low-volume form. It has a mild laxative effect, encouraging the passing of the baby's first stool, which is called meconium. This clears excess bilirubin, a waste product of dead red blood cells which is produced in large quantities at birth due to blood volume reduction, from the infant's body and helps prevent jaundice. Colostrum is known to contain antibodies called immunoglobulins... and growth factors.."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colostrum

This is vital nutrition until your milk proper comes in. As for your worries about an adequate supply, if your baby is having plenty of wet nappies and the occasional pooey one, he is getting enough to eat, and there is no need to supplement. It's probably not a good idea to supplement at the moment anyway, as he is still getting the latching/suckling sorted and he'll get confused if you introduce another type of sucking.

I'm sure things will work out - you sound really caring. Relax and look after yourself! See the kellymom site as suggested above, or this one:
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/b... This is the Australian Breastfeeding Association's page on latching.

Jennifer - posted on 05/07/2010

I agree with all the wonderful advice above. I can empathize with your worries. My first son seemed to take to nursing with no problems at all, my second son was a struggle. It took a few days for my milk to come in, he was frustrated and crying, I was frustrated and crying! It was a mess! There is a light at the end of the tunnel...just keep working at it. Be patient, take deep-slow breaths, and let the tension out of your shoulders. I didn't think it would matter much, but it's remarkable how much just those simple changes can help your milk letdown. Again, nurse, nurse, nurse. Your nipples may get sore and that may make you shy away from wanting to have your son nurse, nurse, nurse :-) but I highly recommend Lansinoh's lanolin, it was a miracle for my sore nipples (again, learned that from my second one). If you are still unsure of how much milk you are producing, lean on your pediatrician and their nurses for support. They are wonderful at it! You'll be a pro in no time, go easy on yourself and just enjoy bonding with your son!

Sammie - posted on 05/07/2010

It takes 3-7 days for your milk to come in. Your baby is getting colostrum, which is very important, full of anti bodies and will help boost his immune system. Its all he needs until your milk is in. Babies are born with extra fat(brown fat), so that they wont starve to death with just colostrum for the first 3-7 days. Can you squeeze your nipple and get some yellow looking stuff out? If so, that is colostrum and you should be fine. And your baby will want to nurse often, let him nurse, nurse, nurse, this will help get your milk in.

Emily - posted on 05/07/2010

Your milk will come in! It can sometimes take awhile.

This is really important to understand: your baby's tummy is super TINY! On his first day of life it was the size of a marble. So really your colostrum is all he needs right now. It will fill him up! It's possible he's screaming because he's just tired. If you're having latch problems, get some help from a lactation consultant.

Trina - posted on 05/07/2010

Give it just another day or two. Kellymom.com is a great place for help. Sometimes it can take a few days. Your baby is probably still getting colostrum. Go to kellymom and look . I used to go there all of the time. My milk took four days in all I think. Like the others mentioned, pumping might make it come in a little faster.

Kristin - posted on 05/07/2010

First, relax. Now, keep putting him to the breast as often as you can. You also need to get enough fluids and eat well for yourself. Call a lactation specialist or a La Leche League leader for advice or assistance too. They will tell you this as well. Breastfeeding is all about supply and demand. The more he sucks, the more you will produce. Pumping after he feeds can help, if you can relax. Also, supplementing will solve the hunger issue in the short term, but will interfere with latching and your supply.

It sounds like he is getting frustrated by a slow let down. This can happen because of a latch that is slightly off, nipple tenderness, and your stress about his not getting enough. A latch that is off will cause nipple discomfort. Frankly, my boys both latched perfectly and mine still were sore. It was like feeding a barracuda and a shark in each case. Just keep at it, they toughen up or become less sensitive. The specialist or leader can help with these issues. For your tensions, just take deep breaths, smile, and think of something really wonderful or happy.

How are your son's diapers? Is he wetting and pooping pretty regularly? You will be in to weigh him to check that he is gaining weight soon too. Also, you can always go in for a weight check, just to see what's going on. Your child's pediatrician and the nurses in the office will likely be able to help you with latching as well, at least in some areas. Do not feel that you have to use formula if you don't want to, even if they advise it. You are very early into breastfeeding right now.

When he fusses, just try to burp him, calm him, and try again. Really the first few weeks, it seems like ALL you are doing is getting a breast out to feed them. For a while with one of mine, I seriously considered going shirtless I was taking them out so often.

Basically, he might be hungry, but you can absolutely give him what he wants and needs. Take a breath, relax, you can do this.

Dora - posted on 05/07/2010

Do you have a breast pump or can you get one? I would recommend pumping to see how much you produce then make a decision on whether or not you will continue with breast feeding or supplement with formula. I had that problem for the first 2wks so my pediatrician said to breast feed then offer my son 1.5 ounces of formula. If your woried about formula there is now organic formula available so you don't have to worry about all the chemicals, preservatives, etc........

Stephanie - posted on 05/07/2010

some babies only eat a little bit for the first week or so then start slowly increasing. If he is staying at same weight or gaining he's fine. Also, calm down and relax. The calmer you are the better your milk supply and the easier it will come in. If he's not constantly screaming or real fussy that's a sign that he getting enough. If he was starving he would let you know. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and take multi-vitamins or your prenatals to help keep your supply up. There's also some herbs and remedies out there that help boost your supply. My milk peetered out when my first was about 2 months because of hormone shift. So I would suppliment with formula once a day just to give a little extra just to be on the safe side so I was still primarily breast feeding. If you suppliment though use a nurser bottle with SLOW flow nipples. It helps keep the baby from having nipple confusion and will still want to breast feed. :-)

Brittany - posted on 05/07/2010

i couldnt produce milk at first but i started to use a breast pump every 2 hours i started with only drops then finally it broke loose, hav e u tired using a pump just to get the even flow to start helpin it draw out? i hope this helps