Ftm breastfeeding

Hi just looking for some advice as a first time mum. Sorry for the long post… My little girl was born on Wednesday 09/08/2023. She didn’t pink up or cry straight away so skin to skin was interrupted although it was a minor interruption (not sure if it how relevant that may be here) I had a post partum haemorrhage that meant i was struggling for the first 24 hours although baby did latch within the first 10-15 minutes of birth and was given harvested colostrum aswell. She latched once more after this in the hospital and not again, not helped by very little support regarding bf from the midwives, every time I asked i was told someone from the feeding team would come and see me - they didn’t. I was discharged on Thursday evening with a referral for the bf team and was advised someone would contact me yesterday -they didn’t. I had done several hours of skin to skin Thursday morning to help. Baby was given ready made formula and drank 1oz every 3-4 hours. She was sick twice the first night and wouldn’t take anything, harvested colostrum, breast or formula. I had to force her to eat after 6/7 hours although this was really paced as i wasn’t sure if she had over eaten. She has had dirty nappies, about 4/5 each day and two wet nappies per day aswell. I wanted to try again with bf so tried to latch her yesterday at 14:00 to which she latched straight away, the midwife then came out and said that the latch was ‘textbook’ and to just carry on following babies cues and signals. This worked well until night time again and although she’s showing some hunger cues in the night she won’t open to latch. I tried every hour from 13:30 when she finished her last feed. She had a dirty and wet nappy at 4ish. Then gave her 0.3ml of harvested colostrum at 5:15 so she had something as she still didn’t want to latch. Am i overthinking? Am i doing something wrong? Does anyone have any advice?

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@Kirsty thank you so much thats really reassuring. She’s latching fine and theres a definite increase in supply. Its just the night feeds im most concerned about because she went 6 hours without and that wasn’t through not trying, i am exhausted. Ill look into the natural bf position and see how i get on. Thank you again xxxx

@LittleAsian thank you that really helps.. i think it more just that she’s not feeding through the night xxx

My midwives in hospital told me that a baby works on instincts, so when they are awake put them on. Also your midwives at day 2 and 5 - quiz them, and there is usually an infant feeding specialist health visitor who you could reach out to. Good luck lovely x

@Heather yeah thats the thing shes not waking in the night shes slightly stirring but even then she clamps her mouth i even express a few drops on the end of my nipple to try encourage and shes not interested. I have another midwife appointment today my trust offers day 2 and 3 bc i said i wanted to bf from the beginning so going to speak to her again today xxx

They should offer some support lovely. Xxx ❤️

@Kirsty i keep trying to tell myself that, not all humans are the same and everyones different. I’m sure i’ll get there xxx

@Charlotte thank you so much! The midwife has just left now and she said bg has only lost 4.1% of her birth weight which is so reassuring knowing that whatever i’m doing is working. She was always a quiet baby during pregnancy too she must just like her sleep! But honestly this has been really helpful thank you so much xxxx

@Leolie that’s amazing!! 4% Is incredible! Happy to help (any time feel free to pm) I’m a year in now of ebf and it’s the greatest gift once you get in the swing of things! Xx

You sound like you are doing amazing. Honestly, babies eat so little to start with. My little boy was in neonatal for first 5 days whilst I was still in hospital before they discharged me, he was fed colostrum through a tube in the night and I went up in the day to breastfeed when I could. He wasn’t interested a lot of the time. It meant we didn’t establish breastfeeding until day 5 and now we are 7 months in ☺️ you will find your rhythm and little lady will tell you what he needs. You’ve got this!

@Ali thank you!! It’s more just that it feels she isn’t getting enough shes been really tired all day and not interested in feeding at all. But by the looks of it it was down to trapped wind. Shes just fed for 10 minutes on each side and was looking for the latch xx

@Kate thank you so much for the reassurance xxx

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