Supplement??

[qtmom]

Please help...very confused and out of answers.

I am trying to breastfeed the baby and my milk has not yet come in - I only have colostrum and it seems to be very small amounts, but I'm not sure how much he is getting while he is sucking. He sucks good, but seems to get frustrated. Should I supplement until my milk comes in? Or should my colostrum be enough? Anyone else have this probelm? Any suggestions?

Also, the baby seems to jolt every once in a while, when he is sleeping. Does anyone else experience this? Why??

[paige]

Supplimenting at this point would be a very, very, very bad idea. It would be best in my anal thoughts if you tried to refrain from supplimenting (unless you just do it for convienance some day after your milk supply is well established)
How is your baby's latch? Do you think your baby is frusterated from being hungry?

Colostrum is actually not to suposed to be too abundant . What colostrum does is give all the essential things needed in a condensed amount. By introducing the baby first to just a little bit of fluid, it helps the babys digestive system to get used to the idea of food. Also, you may want to remember how small your baby's tummy is... Although it seems to grow pretty quickly !

You'll want to be aware that the first week, 3-4 week, 6 week, 3 month, and 6 month points are growth spurts. Your child is going to eat more often during these times and it will pass soon enough.

As for your baby jolting,some jitteryness is normal and to be expected.

Feel free to call your PED, Mid-wife, nurse from the ICU, a LLL leader, etc.
It all gets easier after you've been doing it for a little while. Its hard to believe how quickly the time passes...

[AmazinAZ]

The jolting is a startle reflex, all babies do it, it is normal.

If he is not losing weight or your are instructed by your Dr or Peditrician to do so, supplimenting at this point will hurt your breast milk supply more than help. If he is fussing, put him to the breast. Make sure he is not getting all his sucking need met though a pacifier, that is not always a good thing when trying to produce milk. You could look into getting a milk tea or taking fenugreek, that really worked for me. But I would want til he is at least 6 weeks old. Remember the first siz weeks are the hardest, after that it is really easy, so don't give up.
If he is eating and wetting and pooping, he is fine. Colostrom is called liquid gold for a reason, there is very little, but it is very highly dense in calories and vitamins. Keep trying and offer him the breast as often as possible, more stimulation=more milk!!!

Amanda