Feeding issues

Ethan is 2 weeks old now and I am breastfeeding him, on demand. Mostly he has been  feeding every 4 hours or so for at least 1/2 hour at time. However, the midwife weighed him twice this week and his wieght had gone DOWN so yesterday she sent us to see a paediatrician. The paediatrician said he seems healthy etc but for some reason isn;t getting enough food. She told me to breastfeed him every 3 hours whether he wants it or not, including during the night and to top him up woith 200 mls of expressed breast milk per day. he is to be checked by the midwifeo n Tuesday and if he isn't back to his birth weight by then we will have to  go back to the paediatrician and Ethan will probably be kpet in hospital for tests!! So anyway I started the 3 hourly feeds yesterday but he just doesn't want that much feeding! I talked to the midwfie this morning and she said not to worry if he won't take it every 3 hours then feed him when he wants it and make sure he gets the top up feed. But for the past few hours he has been feeding ever hour (almost on the hour!) but only for a few minutes at a time.  I think his poor little body clock has been stuffed up by this 3 hour feed thing and now he doesn't know when he's hungry.

Juts wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences. I am feeling quite anxious now about the whole thing.

I can't say too much here, because when I felt dd wasn't getting enough milk I just stopped breastfeeding and switched to formula.

BUT, I seem to recall that the first milk is the fattiest milk?  So you might try only giving him 5 mins or so on the first side and then switch him.
Am I right, or is it the other way 'round?  I have a breastfeeding book, I will check it and get back to you as soon as I can.

Sorry you're having trouble.  Rest assured your baby will not starve to death while this is worked out. 

no it's the other way round, it's the milk at the end that has all the fat - I keep putting him on the same breast for several feeds now hoping he's getting it eventually!

I tried breastfeeding Jack when he came home from hosp because he just wasnt taking to the bottle. I never even tried breastfeeding before. Well his weight also went down. And just like Saf said I felt he wasnt getting enough so I switched to formula. Im sure everything will be just fine. Babies lose a bit of weight in the beginning anyway.
Cant believe Ethan is two weeks already!
Best of luck
Pebbles

Hmmmm.  Thinking. 

Four hours does sound like a long time between feeds for a newborn.  I think mine were closer to being an hour apart at least for the first few weeks.  They probably lasted ten or fifteen minutes.  I wouldn't get too stressed.  Try to stick with it, it's early days yet.  With Molly I did give her a bottle feed at tea-time, but that had more to do with having older kids and a hectic, stressful life at the time.  I wish I had advise to give-drinks lots of water, eat healthy, and try to relax.  It'll get easier.  Hugs. 

thanks everyone i am trying not to worry too much i know we can always switch to formula or combine the two, it is just everything you read is so PRO breast feeding, you feel like the wicked witch of the west if you don't do it

You're not the wicked witch of the west.  Whatever works for you is the best-and even three weeks would be great if that was all you can manage.  Try to keep going with it if you can, but you're not a failure if you can't. 

You can also try contacting the la Leche league or the NCT to ask to speak to a trained breastfeeding counselor in your area. 

Hello!!!

First, a BIG CONGRATS and your baby boy!  The last time we spoke, before our move, you were ready and waiting!

On the topic of breastfeeding, you are right that everything is so pro-breast milk.  I have two boys and BOTH of them were always hungry.  I started off breastfeeding and they were feeding constantly; I don't seem to remember going more than two hours with either, and usually it was less than that.  Little babies have small tummies and can only take so much volume, so it seems little and often...

My best advice to you is to follow your instincts about feeding.  I perservered for four months with my oldest and it was hard work.  He was hungry all of the time and I wasn't making enough milk to keep up.  With my second, I stuck with it for six weeks and the same thing happened so I switched to bottle.  When I made this decision, I just told my health visitor what I was doing and she was supportive, knowing the difficulties I had the first time.

Some people find breast feeding easy, for others it's not so easy.  Just do what is right for you and your baby.  Either way, you're son will be healthy!

Good luck and give that little guy a hug from me! 

I too agree do what you can and if you feel he is still not getting enough go for formula it is not a big deal and ppl just need to understand that hey you tried and it did not work.

I went thru the same thing with Juliona I breast feed for 2 weeks and she was screaming and acting like she was not getting enough to eat went thru everything to try and work it out went to a specialist on breastfeeding and even ended up calling 911 one night and after that night we said the hell with it and tried the formula and she has been happy since. I have since come to realise that I was indeed starving her my milk never came in but the first week is where all the antibodies and important vitamines are so she got that anyways.

Good luck dont give up but dont beat yourself up about it either, do what YOU feel is best for him.

Thanks everyone, glad it isn't just me. I got some formula today and he's had about  90 mls tonight so at least I know he isn't starving!  I plan to carry on breastfeeding and topping up with formula til he gets weighed again on Tuesday at least.  I'll let you know how it goes ... he's sleeping peacefully now (yaaay!)

I breastfed my daughter for four weeks and she lost 4 oz.  I started giving her a 2 oz top up of formula and she started gaining weight.  She had a hard time attaching correctly and didn't get enough hindmilk even though she would feed for 30 or 40 min.
There is nothing wrong with top ups and no matter what the midwifes and breast feeding counselors tell you some babies just don't get it.  Both of mine didn't and I was adamantly breast only when I was pregnant.

my milk never came in but the first week is where all the antibodies and important vitamines are so she got that anyways.

Sorry, that isn't true. 

The mother's body doesn't suddenly stop producing antibodies in response to pathogens in her environment one week after birth.  Further, the newborn/infant's body doesn't cease needing those antibodies either.  A child's immune system isn't matured in one week.  Or even in one month or year.

Any pathogen which the mother ingests, inhales or otherwise is exposed to in her environment, her body produces antibodies against and those are transferred through her milk.  Often, the newborn and mother share the same environment so that works very well to give the newborn/infant exactly those antibodies he/she needs against the pathogens in his/her environment.

Not saying anyone has to breastfeed.  Just talking biochemistry here so no one gets the idea that in one week, 'all the antibodies and important vitamines' are complete for the infant's immune needs.

I highly recommend ringing up LLL leader in your area for help with any breastfeeding questions.  Or search their website for help.  I received a ton of help in my early months of breastfeeding.  I'm approaching four years (not a typo) straight of breastfeeding for my two kids, and I am glad for it.

I think what she was referring to was the colostrum which the baby receives the first week or so. It is better to breastfeed all the way through if it's possible and works for you..which it doesn't for everyone..but even if you're only able to do it the first couple weeks it's beneficial for the baby.

This is from the LLL website:
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/colostrum.html

When I had my first son, I was very into feeding on demand..and he was 10 lbs plus so it was a fulltime job for me! When my second son came along, he developed pneumonia (spelling?) and had to go into the neonatal unit after birth. He'd had a few hours of breast milk with me but the neonatal unit just stuck him right on formula.. by the time I got him back, he was refusing the breast and only wanting formula...I persevered though and eventually he came back to breast and I would give him a formula last thing at night as a full-tummy prep for the night ahead. He was perfectly fine with both and thrived beautifully.  Don't feel bad about giving your child formula - if it's what he needs to put on some weight...but do try to keep breastfeeding if you can and hopefully he'll love both