Anyone dealt with a baby who couldn't/didn't nurse enough?

[clarinetb]

Wondering if anyone else went through something like this and ever worked out what was "wrong" at the beginning... not that I really need to know now, but it is still bugging me

We wound up with a bunch of other scary stuff going on and baby was hospitalized for 18 day starting at 5 days old after a apnea/seizure. One issue that came up is that she wasn't eating enough, she could nurse, but just plain stopped and was taking in about half of what she needed, just seemed to be keeping herself at the same weight (about 15% below birth weight) even with IV fluids.

She was very fussy, would be hard to get her to stay on, she'd latch and then pulling of squealing, then latch on again, she could do this for 20-25 minutes before staying on to nurse. The odd thing is that she did latch very well and could suck and was getting milk. In the hospital I bugged them to find us a lactation consultant, who was confused as to why, found no reason for the pulling off and was quiet happy with how she latched and nursed and figured things were okay. When they started weighing her because she wasn't putting on weight was when we found she wasn't taking in much. I'd then nurse her for 20 minutes and top her up with what I had pumped.

It took til almost 11 weeks old to be able to not top up at all during the day (we started reducing how many feeds a day she was topped up at slowly) and even then she needed to nurse very frequently for quiet awhile after that to be able to eat enough.... And that was working with a fantastic lacatation consultant locally...

And she's doing great now! Almost 8 months, almost 22 lbs, happy, healthy, strong and meeting all milestones. Never had any tone issues or anything else that would explain it...

Sorry, that got long... but it is just bugging me that we never got any answers - to these feeding issues or all her other issues that came up - and just makes me wonder, and you never know when another mom might have had a similar experience!!

[mamma_z]

Perhaps your letdown was really strong? My supply started to regulate around 10 weeks, and my letdown reflux lightened (except for the first morning feed). DS, now 8 months, usually pulls off for a letdown and waits a second before resuming. I remember he used to sputter a bit as a newbie, and he may have fussed for a few days really early on.

[clarinetb]

She wouldn't stay on long enough for a letdown... that is what puzzled the LC as she would latch and immediately let go after a couple sucks... she was doing this from the get go with no milk either...

[Lizmarie]

My little one is doing this now, though it has gotten somewhat better in recent days (he's 11 days old). They told me in the hospital it was because he was lazy and things weren't flowing fast enough and that it would resolve itself when my milk came in. It hasn't and now he's not taking in enough and I'm finding my supply dropping, so I'm not really sure what the deal is.

[clarinetb]

Originally Posted by Lizmarie My little one is doing this now, though it has gotten somewhat better in recent days (he's 11 days old). They told me in the hospital it was because he was lazy and things weren't flowing fast enough and that it would resolve itself when my milk came in. It hasn't and now he's not taking in enough and I'm finding my supply dropping, so I'm not really sure what the deal is.

Lizmarie - have you seen a good lactation consultant? Even if you have to pay for someone private it is worth it! Has he lost a lot of weight? My little one seemed to nurse quiet well once she decided to finally stay on and nurse, but went down 15% by day 5 and stayed there another full week at the hospital before they figured we'd better start seeing what she was eating and topping up.

If he isn't putting on weight, are you pumping to keep your supply up? Then if you do have to top up if he isn't gaining you'll have your milk available too...


I feel for you for sure! It is so hard

[Lizmarie]

He's not losing weight right now, although he hasn't quite made it back to his birth weight. We are supplementing with what I pump and with formula at this point. I didn't realize what was going on at first because this is my first, so by the time I did get a hold of a lactation consultant to talk to, my supply had already dropped below what it was originally. We have an appointment at the pediatric office today for his two week checkup (albeit a bit early), so we'll see what they say.

At this point, pumping every two hours I'm only able to get just under an ounce from both sides combined. I started fenugreek last night, so I'm praying that's going to help. I really don't want him on formula for health reasons but also it's darn expensive!

[clarinetb]

What made them suggest formula rather than nursing more frequently? Most places only worry if they aren't back to birth way by 14 days, so they've just on it earlier than most for you...

[clarinetb]

And that doesn't sound bad at all for pumping with a 10 day old. As an idea, an 8 lb baby would need 75 ml (2 1/2 ounce) 8 times a day. If you're doing 12 feeds (every two hours) that goes down to 50 mL (1 2/3 ounce) per feed. So if he is eating before you pump every two hours you're getting more than half of what he needs back!

[Lizmarie]

No, this is what I was getting while pumping only as they recommended that I take a break from latching him because the trauma to my nipples had gotten so bad that I was openly bleeding.

[spencerrn]

Clarinetb was your babe a "near term" baby ie 35-37 weeker? I have seen this behavior often in near term babies. They are just not mature enough to eat correctly. They tend to have more issues with feeding, blood sugar control and temperature control. That maybe your answer.