katieadams Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 In my experience they always suggest bottle feeding too quickly. In mine they didn't suggest it at all and really should - my first was within a whisker of going into special care unit and a bottle would have been all she needed She was all listless and lost tonnes of weight, I just wasn't feeding her enough. The minute she went on the bottle she was fine. My second baby had to go into hospital early on because of a mystery high temperature and they were all on about meningitis too but they never did find a cause, she just got better. Was like a little pin cushion though poor thing with catheters in her hands which they took several attempts to get in and they did a lumber puncture too All came back fine and she came home in a week with some antibiotics just in case. Breast feeding didn't work for her either and she was on the bottle reasonably early too, but this time we knew to do it before we had the first time. They're both super healthy little girls now Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share Posted May 28, 2009 Thanks for the support and advice, which I will pass on I haven't heard an update yet today I had similar problems with my 2 girls who were both 5lb 11oz at birth. My eldest was born a couple of weeks early and was quite jaundice which Henry is a bit too. They supplemented her feed from a few hours old and as a result we were unable to get breastfeeding established despite me spending most of my stay in hospital attached to a milking machine. She is now a tall healthy girl My youngest was full term and the same weight. I breast fed her with a lot of help from the midwife who advised me as soon as my milk started to come in to keep her on one breast for as long as possible so that she got to the calorie rich milk that comes towards the end of a feed, then to use the other breast at the next feed. She gained weight slowly and was always a petite baby, she is now the second tallest in her class and slightly cuddly too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I hope that things settle down quickly and little (gorgeous) baby is better soon (((hugs))) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 ChickenCam im sorry to hear the news that he is now in hospital - such a worrying time for you all. Have a chat with Emma (the Herd) - I think she had the same with Isabelle not long ago. It does happen with hungry babies who are breast fed, until the milk comes in. Thanks Lesley! In brief, Isabelle was born at home with no complications weighing in at 8lb 3oz. I was determined to breastfeed come what may and as long as i had milk thats what i was going to do. I dont know if you get checked up on more frequently after having a home birth but one of my midwfe team called in every other day. Jenny (midwife) was a star and supported me all the way with breastfeeding but Isabelle was slow to gain weight and according to another midwife you would have thought the world was going to end as she wasnt reaching her birth weight fast enough! Isabelle took 28 days to return to her birth weight but was always happy, healthy and never went hungry. Im still exclusively breastfeeding now and will continue to do so until Isabelle is at least a year old - i think i'll want my body back then! My thoughts and best wishes are with you all - try not to worry, i know its hard and if your sister wants to exclusivley breastfeed then she needs to stick firmly to her guns. Good luck with it all and keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share Posted May 28, 2009 Thanks for that Emma She is expressing for tube feeding and breast feeding also. He has not yet got the hang of sucking and they are keeping him in until Monday until he is feeding well. He was a couple of weeks early and quite small 6lb 6oz, one of mine was early and couldn't suck very well when she was born too. He has now come out of special care and is in a high dependency cot and doing pretty well. I think he had been struggling to feed and had become quite dehydrated etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 29, 2009 Author Share Posted May 29, 2009 He is now out of the high dependency cot and in a normal ward and feeding ok but still only expressed milk from a bottle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 That's great news . What a relief for you all . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 oh thats great to hear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 That's much better news. Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faye&Ant Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Just read through this post - sooo cute - congratulations to the parents and happy for the better news - best wishes xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleleicesterfox Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Aww congratulations - I'm sorry he had some problems but it is good to hear that he's now on the mend! Sending positive vibes! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Brilliant news! If she wants to continue to breastfeed she can do successfully even though her little boy is only taking the bottle just now - Isabelle was like this to start with - would latch on and then wouldnt suck! Spent hours expressing! I wouldnt mind but Isabelles job roll at a few days old was very small - suck & pooh was all i was asking for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 30, 2009 Author Share Posted May 30, 2009 That's good to know because, she was desperate to breastfeed. Although BIL got a chance to feed him today and loved it especially because he drank more than he ever has so far He is supposed to be home either tomorrow or Monday. I can't wait to see him again but we live 150 miles away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Thats good news about the feeding so i wouldnt overly worry. At 2 weeks old Isabelle was only taking about 20ml per feed and now she wont stop feeding - i think she prefers breastfeeding than 'real' food! Keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 We just had a text from Henry to thank us for his 'Henry' bear that we sent to him from Harrods online He used his mummy's phone how clever is that He is coming home later today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Wonderful news What a relief...and such a clever little man at such a young age Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 He is back home now and I have just had a long chat with both SIL and she is upset that the hospital have told her to give up on trying to breastfeed him because she is not producing enough. At the moment he is being fed via a bottle as much as she can express then some formula to bring him upto the the amount that he needs. Can anyone recommend any groups that she could contact for support. They live on the Wirral Cheshire border. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 What a relief for you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Chickencam, try this link (sorry can't do the posh linky thing!!) http://www.laleche.org.uk/ I hope they can help her so that everyone is happy. I'm not sure that expressing alone is enough to stimulate enough milk for the little one....the ladies above will know though! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 I have sent her details of them and a local nct group thanks for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 My eldest had difficult feeding & didn't put weight on fast enough so I was advised to give bottles. I didn't want to give up breastfeeding so gave him one or two bottles a day and fed him myself too. After a couple of months I was able to give up the bottles altogether and fed him till he was 14 months. So tell your SIL not to give up if she really wants to feed him. You can do combined feeding successfully . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Good news that he is home and doing well again, but sorry she is still having problems with milk supply I agree, she needs to let the babe suck as long as possible, expressing alone does not provide enough stimulation. She should also try to increase her milk production - LOTS of rest (literally lying on the couch all day!) and a high carb diet, and be prepared to allow him to suckle as much as possible. I used to find that if I did this the poor things would be drowned in milk by the evening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
