Hi,
I would really love some expert input about this...
We just arrived home from the hospital yesterday evening and last night, as it seems typical, was a bit tough. My son has a constant need to suck on something. I feed him what the doctor recommends, and sometimes a bit more, but he seems to want to suck and suck or he will cry. He is learning to latch at this point. I can't sit there and constantly have him suck on my finger or practice latching with him. I have to pump, or eat or something somtimes! :)
I have given him a pacifier which I am not psyched about but sometimes, it will buy me a half hour or 20 minutes.
Can anyone share their experiences regarding this? Should I just be feeding him more and more? I have a bit of reluctance toward that because I plan on doing strictly breastmilk and am using formula as a supplement until it comes in. I do not want to load him up on formula, I think.
I appreciate all your input! :)
Hi,
I have been doing daycare for a longtime and raised 2 girls. I agree I don't like the pacifier either but just use it alittle and he won't get hooked on it. Don't feed him just because he wants to suck try to keep him on a feeding schudele.. it will get better. Hope this helps.
DON'T USE FORMULA TO SUPPLEMENT UNTIL YOUR MILK COMES IN!!!!! Just let your son nurse as needed. Yes, it SUCKS, yes, you get exhausted (I was so tired i hallucinated) but the more he nurses, the more milk you will have. Any supplementation you use (paci, formula, etc) will inhibit your milk production (although my son used a paci and I'm still nursing/pumping successfully).
DON'T GIVE UP!!!!! Unfortunately, you will be doing LOTS and LOTS of stitting around at this point, but it is SOOOOO worth it. At 10 days, he will have a growth spurt, and it will never seem like he's getting enough, but it's NORMAL and worth it in the end.
Please PM me if you have any questions....everything he's doing is normal.
Hi
The same thing happened to me as well. It took me a few days for my milk to really come in. I did not supplement or pump, I just kept putting him on to nurse. My son would nurse almost every hour or so when he first got home. It will all calm down soon enough. Your milk will come in and when you keep putting him on to nurse, your body will start to realize the need to produce milk. Hang in there. Also connect with a lactation nurse for help or encouragement. My lactation nurse helped me so much. Good luck, it will get easier and once he starts really nurse, everything will fall into place.
Hi! For about the first month after bringing my son home he would nurse every 1-2 (if I was lucky 3 hours). I remember some nights looking at the clock each time he woke and it would be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and thinking this is crazy! I nursed for 10 weeks and now he is on formula since I went back to work. Your baby will start to fall into some kind of pattern and the feedings will start to stretch out a little longer. Your baby was just born and is hungry. I also didn't like the idea of a pacifier but we use one all of the time now. My son is three and a half months old and I plan on taking it away within the next 2-3 months when he outgrows the colicky/fussiness. Good luck and congratulations.
Sucking is Very normal for infants they sucked their fingers and thumbs while inside you so naturally they want to do it when they come into the world. use the pacifier, it will nuture him and calm his sucking need and relax. what he is doing is normal and natural.
I am just now reading your question and I have a nine month old who when I brought her home just latched on for what seemed like all day.I exclusively breastfed up until recently when i introduced solids but still I am breastfeeding three sometimes five a day I too do not like a binkie so I just let her nurse when she wanted to when she was that young. When babys are only in the first days and weeks of life you really can't overfeed them with breastmilk. If you haave the patience and you really only want breast milk in your babys diet I would let him latch on and enjoy the time together it will be gone befor weknow it. My little girl now is amazing trusting and just a joy. She has never had a binkie but she does still nurse to fall asleep at night. I love it!
DO NOT USE FORMULA!!!!! If you don't let him nurse now, your milk WILL NOT come in!! That's how it works! And even though you feel like he's not getting anything right now when he nurses, he really is. I know it really is hard in the beginning but it's really worth it! And he can't learn to latch on properly unless he's doing it on your nipples - a bottle works differently and he is learning to latch on the wrong way with a bottle. And believe me, latching on the wrong way HURTS!! Good luck!!
I dont recomend supplementing formula but you do what si right for you. I have a daughter that is the same as your son and I am not thrilled about it but she needs the binky. some kids have more of a nedd to suck and unless I want her attached all day I have no choice but to use the pacifier. I have learned to love it lol. I dont know what i would do without it. As far as the breastfeeding. just feed frequently and root beer always helps with my milk supply. Good luck!!!
Hi M.,
Congratulations! I have a 10.5 year old daughter, and although "they" do not recommend it, I gave my daughter a pacifier after her first week home. She never had a problem latching on (once we figured out that she like to be held in the football position), and I nursed until she was 9.5 months old. I only stopped because she would bite really hard and not let go.
I had to supplement with formula at day care, only after getting a really bad case of thrush-it was too painful to pump and nurse.
Good luck,
M.
Here is a great resource for all breastfeeding moms, and they also have local meetings that are support groups for moms i think... very informational website. meanwhile, hang in there, it will get better!
My son was the same way when he was born. He was 9 lbs and 7oz and I was not prodicing enough milk for him so I had to supplement formula as well. He to was constantly looking for anything to suck on. My dr suggested doing bike exercises with him and it helped alot. My dr said that they suck because they have gas especially when they are new babies. Lay him on his bake and push his legs in and out and then alternate after he eats. It seemed to work for my son. I hope that it works for you too.
N.
