Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for posting your query to XXXXXXX

Firstly let me congratulate you for your newborn and secondly it's a pleasure to see you so motivated to breast feed your baby.

Would like to know about your delivery was it normal or LSCS?
What was your babies birth weight?

Adequacy of breast feeds can be judged by :
1) Baby gaining around a kilo weight every mth for first 3mths.
2) Passing urine more than 6-8 times in 24 hrs.
3) Baby sleeping well for around 2hrs post feeds.

So if your baby does the above you can be assured your baby is getting enough feeds.

To increase your milk supply you should eat double the calories you used to eat prior to getting pregnant. Drink lots of fluids in the form of milk and juices prior to feeding your baby. There are many galactogoues which are prepared in every Indian family like dry fruit ladoos, methi ladoos, etc., which you may try. In addition your obstetrician could advise you medication to increase milk. But most important be stress free and sleep well for successful breast feeding.

As far as possible do not give top feeds at all. Monitor the babies weight if it does not gain appropriately then maybe her doctor would recommend it. Remember mothers by natures law produce enough milk for their babies like any other mammal in this planet.

Hope to have answered your query. Let me know if you need clarifications.

Bye
Take Care.

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Hi,

Thanks for writing back.

The weight gain of your baby has been good enough according to my calculation over the last 3mths.

However since you had a premature it must have been difficult to have breast fed your baby.I guess your baby must have stayed in the NICU.

Post delivery were you able to feed your baby ?
Was your baby able to latch on ?
Did you give top feeds or bottle feed?
Is he on top feeds now?
How is his feeding pattern now?
Are you breast feeding him now. If yes how many times?
Are you mixed feeding I.e bottle and breast feeds?

If you are giving him top feeds like Nan or Lactogen .Then I would suggest you continue with breast feeding in addition to it so that whatever little he gets atleast he will be getting some immunity to fight infections .

Kindly get back to me with the answers for above questions. This helps me to be specific in my opinion.

Regards,

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Hi XXXXXXX ,

The problem is your baby has issues related to getting attached to your breast,nipple be it small or big does lead to breast feeding failure.Now that you introduced bottle baby has totally got confused.So he is going through nipple confusion because it's easy to get milk out from bottle but takes energy and expertise by baby to let out milk from the breast.

It is a difficult task you are going through.Try to insert the nipple ,areola and skin around the areole into the mouth of baby so that it reaches the palate of the babies mouth for him to initiate sucking after you have expressed the milk because then the breast tissue is soft and not laden with milk. Let it be in any position like you holding the baby in sitting position or lying down .Carry out this when your baby is in good mood in a silent room .Google and read and watch the vedios on breast feeding technique maybe it will help.

Give it a try or get in touch with his pediatrician who can help you out.Don't feel guilty of the situation you are going through. But never give up because the milk you give is very precious for your baby.

I would suggest you feeding him by wati-spoon instead of bottle so that he looses touch of bottles and is ready to feed on your breast.

It's ok if you are mixed feeding right now but give breast milk more than Nan .Give it at interval of 2-3 hrs.
If every thing fails don't loose hope wean your baby at 6mths or a little earlier if he doesn't gain weight .But all this while please continue breast feed in which ever way you can.

Hope to have answered your query. Let me know if you need clarifications.

All the best
Bye
Take care.

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