https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:33:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755565 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 15:00:10 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1755565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You sound like you're doing a great job!</p> <p>There's also what they call "breastmilk jaundice", which is different from the typical newborn jaundice... both my kids had that so they looked yellowish for the first 3 months of their lives, and then it went away. I just kept feeding and made sure they had plenty of poopy and wet diapers. Hang in there, you're doing great!!</p> <p><a href="http://americanpregnancy.org/firstyearoflife/breastfeedingandjaundice.htm" rel="nofollow">http://americanpregnancy.org/firstyearoflife/breastfeedingandjaundice.htm</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755532 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 14:35:01 +0000 thismustbetheplace 1755532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: in the very beginning we were doing that and syringe feeding him colostrum to teach him to suck.... Haven't thought about doing it since my milk came in. Great idea, I'll give it a shot! :happy: </p> <p>Eta: as I was typing this response he woke up, daddy pacified him with a finger while I got situated, and then he latched *immediately* :shocked: could be a total coincidence but I'll take it!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755468 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:49:50 +0000 Kemma 1755468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just a thought but have you tried letting your LO to suck on your pinky finger (nail to tongue) before latching? Sometimes the sucking is enough to remind them that sucking / nursing is good! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755307 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:50:12 +0000 Greentea 1755307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO was a little jaundiced too. So yea, frequent feedings. We fed every two hours at most. In other words, we fed at 10 and no matter how long it takes you have to feed again at 12. LO actually would eat every 1.5 hours and it took at least an hour. Sometimes she ate every hour and it took an hour... sometimes it took even longer. Very constant! It gets easier! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755297 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:45:45 +0000 Grace 1755297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It won't be like that forever. I can't remember exactly - but if should be soon, the next couple of weeks. Once LO gets a little bigger, he'll latch much better. It sounds like you are doing a great job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755200 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 10:20:38 +0000 Mae 1755200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through this too. It sucks! Are you sure he is getting enough milk to push the jaundice through? I thought my LO was because she had a lot of diapers and a ton of dirty diapers. I didn't realize that HEAVY wets are important until I found out that she wasn't getting enough milk. We ended up supplementing with formula (1 oz after every feeding) to get rid of the jaundice and so that we could stretch feedings to every 2.5-3 hours because we had the exact same issue. Every feeding of BF/pumping/supplementing with pumped milk was taking 1.5 hours. And then we're supposed to start again in 30 min? No. </p> <p>Take my advice with a grain of salt though bc I have had constant feeding issues right up until today (8.5 weeks) and still haven't fully worked out a good feeding plan for LO. I can tell you we did get rid of the jaundice quick, but in terms of a sustainable BF routine I dunno (but we had additional issues of lip tie, tongue tie, epic boob wounds, and low supply..) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755182 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 10:09:17 +0000 Adira 1755182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@thismustbetheplace: Sounds normal, but I know exactly how frustrating it can be! This was Xander as a newborn too. I tried really hard to stick to the every 2 hour schedule during the day, but at night, I stretched it to every 3 hours because I just couldn't keep up and needed the sleep.</p> <p>Just know that it WILL get better. Just keep doing what you're doing and hopefully he'll be back at his birth weight at your 2 week visit and then you can maybe go to feeding every 3 hours instead of every 2. Sending you lots of luck and love!! &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755153 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 09:34:58 +0000 jedeve 1755153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@thismustbetheplace: it sounds like you are doing good! We were one oz shy of his brith weight at his last check in, but it was at 12 days. We have another Tuesday and while I know he has gained weight (he is growing out of clothes!) it is kinda nerve wracking. </p> <p>The pumping is especially exhausting. I stopped after his last weight check because he just wouldn't take the supplemented stuff anyway. And his latch seemed to improve and he was nursing for more than five minutes a time anyway. </p> <p>Fwiw, things teemed to get a lot better for us around 2 weeks. Except for now that we don't have to set alarms to wake him up at night because he is getting up on his own. A lot more often! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755136 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 09:15:36 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1755136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Even for my big girl this sounds like some info out routine. But it was only the first two- three weeks. It's gets much better soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755135 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 09:13:11 +0000 Jellyfish 1755135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@thismustbetheplace: it will get better, just hang in there! I had a preemie with jaundice and tongue tie so I know how stressful it is. My son had trouble latching and was alway sleepy so each feeding took forever. The first few weeks I felt like all I was doing was nursing, burping, pumping, repeat. I think if he's gaining weight and having dirty diapers you don't have to be so strict with the 2 hrs. I remember stretching out to 3 hrs just so I could catch my breath. Just remember you are doing great and it gets better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755128 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 09:05:21 +0000 thismustbetheplace 1755128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: weight gain is on the slower side, but not terrible. They want him at least back up to birth weight (6lbs 14oz) by his 2 week check on Monday and we're pretty much there. </p> <p>Diapers are prolific (haha), so we know he's at least eventually getting milk in. Just takes him forever to figure out how to get it. I swear he must be part-goldfish with how quickly he forgets how to do it... :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755118 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 08:56:46 +0000 jedeve 1755118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't really have any advice, but this sounds exactly like my kid. He was a preemie and also jaundiced and just sleeps constantly. </p> <p>It is exhausting. It sounds like you are doing everything right. I say don't be afraid to go 2.5-3 hours sometimes. And drink lots of water, rest. Do something for yourself between feedings. </p> <p>I started watching Netflix (scrubs) during feedings. It helped distract me otherwise I would be so stressed about latch and suck and everything. </p> <p>How are his weight gain and diapers? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/struggling-to-find-the-right-balance-bf-jaundiced-nb#post-1755102 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 08:45:41 +0000 thismustbetheplace 1755102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First time mom alert... just wanted to get that out there. Sorry for the novel.</p> <p>LO, 13 days old today, is driving me nuts trying to figure out his feeding needs. He is starting to come down from a little issue with Jaundice (highest was 19.6, they treat at 21) which causes lethargy. Lethargy = not feeding as well = slower come-down from Jaundice. Vicious cycle! Most of his day is spent sleeping, crying, or eating (at this point so little 'active time' is pretty normal for a NB, right?).<br /> Our issues arise when I try to wake him for feeds every 2-3 hours as instructed. Here's what usually happens:</p> <p>7:30am- my alarm goes off that he's due for a feed. He rarely wakes up on his own so I have to make sure I don't let it go too long. Slowly unswaddle and let him wake up slowly skin to skin<br /> 7:35am- grunting &gt;fussing/crying usually starts, put him to breast. Cue 10-15 minutes of rooting, latching with no suck, latching and pulling off immediately, him screaming in frustration, pushing off me with his legs and arms, us changing positions multiple times, wiping off milk covered bellies and face, etc.<br /> 7:50-8:15- finally finds his sweet spot, latches and feeds (having to be constantly woken up) for about 15 mins.<br /> 8:15-8:20- burp, soothe<br /> 8:20-8:35- other breast, usually latches much quicker on this side.<br /> 8:40-8:55- Daddy burps, I pump a completion bottle (as instructed by lactation consultant to encourage my supply), he drinks an additional .5oz or so, change, soothe, swaddle, back to sleep.</p> <p>That's around 1.5 hours every feeding... and I'm supposed to be doing that every 2 hours?! At this point it's been closer to every 3 because we both need a rest in between. Every 3 hours is only 8 feeds a day which is the minimum recommended so now I'm worried he's not getting enough? (ETA: my example times don't make sense.. exhausted mommy math)</p> <p>Does anyone have experience with a latch-hesitant baby? Or even a Jaundiced one? Please tell me this gets better... </p>