Evie stopped latching on

[Opprobrium]

:cry:

Evie was feeding brilliantly all week, we were both doing really well at it & she was producing some really good loaded nappies. But the last 24 hours she's just refusing to latch on. She's starving but no matter what she just will not suck. I've checked my positioning & I've tried different holds but nothing is working. I'm having to express & bottle feed her which is the last thing I want to do because I don't want her to get used to bottle teats before she's properly used to me, but if she's not latching on I've not got much choice, I have to feed her somehow.

I thought it might be that she doesn't like the Lansinoh, but I've tried feeding straight after a shower & it's no different so can't be that. Then I thought maybe she doesn't like the change from colustrum to milk, but she drinks it from the bottle so it can't be that. I thought maybe she doesn't like my boobs or nips (my boobs are fake & therefore harder & rounder) but she fed fine all week till yesterday. Now I'm having to express I'm worried it'll be even harder to get her to latch on if she gets used to the teats, but I have to feed her! It's turning into a vicious cycle. :cry:

I'm not getting much support at home either. MrOp is staying very quiet & Mum keeps just telling me to express & bottle feed & isn't listening to any of my concerns, but she's not into the whole bf thing anyway. I'm starting to get in a bit of a tiz about it!

Any ideas as to why she's suddenly gone off it or what to do about it? I know I shouldn't be expressing into a bottle but I have to feed her something. :cry:

[ms sweetcheeks]

Ahhh poor love, call a midwife asap.
They'll come and help you.
She's obviously finding it difficult latching on after your milk has come in, or whatever the reason is- but please don't give up now- you've done so well, and I know you don't want to..
A midwife will come and see you anyway, but if you call her, she can come before she's supposed to- to help you wth breastfeeding.
I know it's so hard, I was in hospital for 4-5 days and for soo long the nurses helped me, I just had to ask.
Have you got a pillow under her?
Express quite a lot of milk (don't worry there's plenty) as sometimeswhen the milk comes in the areola becomes so hard she can't suck properly.
I used to express loads, just into a cloth or whatever, whilst baby is laying there with you, and then try again.
So sorry you're finding it tough- and don't worry about baby not wanting the breast, in most cases, babies will prefer the nipple, so a bit of bottle shouldn't harm (well I hope not).
My friend fed both her babies breast & bottle from day one and they were ok with both.
Ahhh poor love, please see the MW asap...:HUG: :HUG:

[ms sweetcheeks]

Ps, I know it's a nightmare, but you can feed her with a spoon so she doesn't get used to the teat (they suggested this in hospital when Theo didn't want to suck on day one)..
Or get a plastic syringe and fill it with milk and *spray* it slowly into her mouth, that's another suggestion I got at hospital.
(In the end they fed Theo thru a tube in nose as he was jaundiced)..

[noo noo]

Has your milk just come in? If so babies can fing it difficult to latch on as your boobs are so full they just slip off because your nipple is flat rather than nipple shaped. Try expressing a wee bit first so the breast looses its fullness. Aslo when you bring her to feed express a couple of drips onto her lips so she gets the taste.

Also try

NCT Breastfeeding Line: 0870 444 8708 8am to 10pm every day (answering machine outwith hours) they should be able to send round a local volunteer to see you

ETA :hug:

[bluecow]

Have you tried lying down feeding her? If it is really a problem for you both can I please suggest you try and find a support group close by where you can get some advice. The La Leche League is great for support.

Did you bottle feed aswell before she refused the breast?

ETA noo noo posted great advice before I managed to!

[silverpod]

I can't remember quite how old little Evie is. I started giving expressed milk to my LO at about 2 weeks and she didn't have problems with the teat- I am not sure that nipple confusion is as widespread as it's made out to be so don't worry too much. Also , babies vary with what they want to eat- has this happened with every feed or just a few?

The NCT breastfeeding line may be able to give you some help, you don't have to be a member to use it, the number is 0870 444 8708. I think they close at 10pm but there will be someone there tomorrow.

And you are doing very well- it sounds like you have thought through a few ideas and tried to change things but Evie is just having one of those days- it sounds like you are doing all the right things. I know my dd didn't always latch straight away in the early days and we used to just have a skin to skin cuddle for a few minutes and then keep on trying.

Just a thought- is she hungry when you try? Perhaps she is having a sleepy phase.

SP

[polkadotgirl]

Also try

NCT Breastfeeding Line: 0870 444 8708 8am to 10pm every day (answering machine outwith hours) they should be able to send round a local volunteer to see you


This would be my advice too. You don't have to be a member of the NCT to get help from a breast feeding counsellor. The counsellor in my area was brilliant and seemed to be available at a moment's notice.

Sounds like you've been doing a brilliant job. I'm sure that with a bit of help you'll get it sorted. :hugs:

xxx

[redhed]

There may be something in here (http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html) that could help. Kellymom is usually pretty exhaustive.

Note that per Kellymom (and per every bf counsellor I have spoken to) you are doing exactly, exactly the right thing by expressing. A baby of this age who does not get fed gets weaker and sleepier and you get into a vicious circle. It is more important to get something down them and keep up your supply than bother too much about how it is done.

Also, if you phone your maternity unit, they should give you numbers of your breastfeeding clinic, local LLL counsellor, NCT counsellor etc. Sometimes just having someone else see the problem fixes it, iyswim.

[Pancake01]

Yes, everyone else has said the right thing. Call someone ASAP and they will come and sort you out. I managed 3 weeks without calling anyone, and when I did, they sorted me out immediately. Good luck.

[noo noo]

Another thought - try skin to skin contact, also feeding in the dark or lying down.

[Princess Fiona]

You've had great advice from others here, i'd agree with speaking to your MW in the 1st instance, she may be able to help or at least put you in contact with someone else who can.

I'm sure its nothing major and that Evie will start feeding again properly soon. :higgies:

[Damsella]

The others have given great advice, I just wanted to say keep trying Oppro, these things often pass and it's really worth the effort :flowers:

[ms sweetcheeks]

How did you get on sweetie?
I've been thinking about you since yesterday..
Hope she managed to latch on in the end or that you spoke to somebody re. help :hugs:

[perceval]

Ruth had problems feeding too when my milk came in fully. Luckily, I had round the clock support in getting her to latch on properly at the hospital, and that helped me through. She now feeds like a dream.

Call your midwife, or if the midwife is clueless, a LLL coordinator or the NCT helpline.

You will be fine.

[noo noo]

Just wondering how things are going today? I came on specially to check up on you! Hope you have managed to get some help.

[tekkencat]

hope you got on ok - as you know (but i'll say it anyhoo)you can get all the support here that may be lacking at home

good luck

[Opprobrium]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I did the worst thing & started searching online for exact measurements & timings etc to find out what she was supposed to be getting & how many dirty or wet nappies she's supposed to produce & sent myself into a total panic because she's not getting the text book amount. So at silly o'clock I sent MrOp to Tescos to get some formula & she glugged the lot! Poor thing must have been starving. :cry:

I rang the midwives on the post natal ward while he was at the supermarket & they said that it's not unusual for them to go off feeding when the milk comes in as it's totally different & takes some getting used to & that they wouldn't worry yet but to persevere & if I was still worried to call back today or bring her in & they'd check her over & check my technique.

Anyway, after giving her the bottle of formula she slept right through the night without a peep! That was heavenly as I've not really slept since she was born but every time I woke up her tummy was really gurgling & she was pulling her legs up like she had a tummy ache. Her nappy this morning was totally grim & I didn't like that she burped up (all over me! :laff:) & seemed to have so much wind & gas but she certainly was a happier little soul & the sleeping was just what we all needed!

This morning I tried to bf her again & it was just like before - latched straight on & fed quite happily & has been fine all day. Giving her the bottle & formula doesn't seem to have done any harm at all, in fact it seems to have fixed it, touch wood, & now the breastfeeding seems to be fine again. Earlier I expressed again just to check I'm producing enough & this time it seems to have kicked in properly & I got a decent amount so hopefully it'll be OK now.

My MW is coming tomorrow anyway so I'll have a chat to her then about it all but for now we seem to be back on track. I'm glad I tried the formula, we were all far happier for it, but I want to stick to breast if i can & only use formula if I really have to occasionally. So we now have a little stash in the cupboard for 'just in case' but for now, we seem to e OK again. :smile:

[klosie]

:clap:

[bluecow]

:clap: for Evie! I am so glad she took the formula and slept through and even more glad for you that she has latched on again!! Really happy that things are ok for you both!

She is gorgeuos by the way :grin:

[Pancake01]

That's good news. And you got a good night's sleep - bonus!

[ms sweetcheeks]

yaaay- ahh well done- so happy for you, that it worked out.
just excellent:thumb:

[Devil Girl]

:cheer2: I am glad that things are going funkily for you :cheer2: :flowers: