Quick help-friend with 24ho not latched on yet *update 1 yr on*

[Roseii]

My gorgeous friend had her first babe yesterday morning Her labour was long but she managed on just has and air and had her naturally, in the water.
Baby hasn't latched on yet and the hospital have already given her 2 bottles They sent a LC to see my friend-just after she'd been stitched She said she got some good tips on positioning but was so shattered it wasn't overly helpful.
I suggested a cold flannel on her nipples to help perk them up! But didn't have anything else useful to say She is expressing colostrum for baby.

Are there any other tips I can give her? I'm really worried they're going to send her on her way armed to bottle feed and I know she wants to at least give BF a go.

Thanks

[cuckoochick]

Hugs Charli for your friend (((((((((((((( ))))))))))))))))).
I had terrible difficulties getting C latched on in hospital. I just couldn't get her positioned right. Needed the midwife to helpi and had an awful experience in the hospital. I ended up leaving bottle feeding just to get out of the hospital plus C was beginning to be jaundiced but when I got back home I got a fab midwife in the community. Every area should have a breastfeeding specialist midwife in the community. I'm wondering if there's anyway that your friend could get someone in their family to contact the MW team to get some support lined up. The midwife who helped me was an angel- she popped in sometimes 3/4 times per day to help.

C probably had formula for about 24hrs and then I was pumping EBM for her and trying to get her latched on as much as possible. We made the switch back to full BFing at 5 days once I knew her weight was ok and then I had the confidence. So all is not lost. Your friend is going to need lots of practical support. My MIL was also amazing as she'd BF all 3 of her kids whereas no-one in my family could help me. Could you offer to help? Is she using pillows/cushions? they were essential here.

More hugs for you too

[Roseii]

Thank you hun
She is v v close to her mum who is a paediatric nurse, I don't know whether she Bf or not, but she is incredibly supportive as is her DH.
I've text her saying about the pillows for support and the BF specialist midwife, thank you for that. I guess that's all I can do for now, I don't want to be forceful or make her feel like she "has" to bf, I just want to support her as much as I can. I really hope she'll come to me if she's struggling.
Thanks Nic

[Roseii]

Oh amazing just had a text saying with a lot of persuasion she's latched on
Keep it up little girl!!!!! X

[cuckoochick]

That's a great start! Hopefully things will fall into place. I remember how distressing it was for me.

I'm sure you will get the balance right of being supportive without making her feel pressured. My MIL didn't always get that balance right but overall I'm so grateful to her for being so passionate about BFing.

Sending tons of vibes that LO keeps latching on and feeding well

[Roseii]

Thank you I know she wants to be able to combine feed as she's going back to work FT after 9 months, so I really hope she can.
I still have visions of 3 generations of Greek women standing round my SIL literally shoving my SIL's boob in the baby's mouth in an attempt to "help" her Bf did not go well for my poor SIL needless to say!

[becj86]

Charli, I'd honestly just suggest lots of skin to skin with baby and hand expressing colostrum into a syringe (LC/MW may need to help as it takes a fair few hands I think, can't remember - was drugged out of my mind) and pumping once her milk comes in if she's still in hospital and baby still won't latch. L had 15ml formula the first time he ever fed and then lasted about 18hr on 7ml colostrum.

Congratulations and hugs to your friend

Yay for latching Loads of BF-go-well vibes for her ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Fiver]

Yay for the latching on and yes to skin to skin.  The more opportunity baby has to latch, the more likely they are to of their own free will rather than feeling 'forced'.

The BF organisation support lines are good too.  Certainly the ABM on, if you call from a landline that doesn't have its number withheld, they should put you through to a BFC who is local and often they will be willing to come out and see you to give further support and advice.  My friend who is a BFC came out to the hospital to see me and had an official NHS pass, so she got onto the ward outside of normal visiting times and no one batted an eyelid when she came onto the NICU ward with me either.  They just tend to have more time to spare to sit with you while you feed than a MW often does.

[Erin M]

Jack Newman's website (http://www.thebirthden.com) has a lot of latching on videos if she needs help with that.  I have distinct memories of sitting in the hospital with dd2 when she was tiny watching the videos over and over in an attempt to get the latch right.  Good luck to her!

[cuckoochick]

Do you know how she's been getting on hun? Hoping things are going from strength to strength

[Roseii]

Thanks so much for all the tips. When I spoke to her Sat morning she told me baby had been in special care for 4 hours (she is fine tho) and away from my friend So I wonder if that might have affected her latching on. I haven't heard anything from her since she text saying she'd latched yesterday morning, I'm really hoping she's getting on well. Thanks for thinking of her

[cuckoochick]

Will continue to send vibes then. Sounds like she's been through the mill a bit. Xxx

[Fiver]

Aww, bless her.  It's tough being apart from them.  Hopefully her hospital are supportive of her wanting to BF and called her when LO needed her

[Roseii]

^ well she said baby got 2 bottles whilst in there, so don't know if that was pumped or formula

[Shiv52]

Oh she had her baby!  Hurray!

All the vibes she needs to get her BFing relationship on track.  You are a GREAT friend my lovely xx