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Concerned friend posts on forum asking other mum’s if the advice sounds correct? It sparked concern from mother’s across the globe.

A mum was concerned for her cousin after some advice she received regarding her newborn baby. She posted on a forum asking other mums for their opinions.

“My cousin just gave birth, baby hasn’t eaten in almost 48 hours. She is being (well trying to be bf) Baby hasn’t latched onto breast at all in almost 48hours. Cousin said her doctor/nurses told her it’s fine, and baby can go up to 5 days without eating right after birth.

I’m not gonna pretend I’m an expert, but this doesn’t seem right to me. Has anyone’s doctor told them this? Tried to find anything online about it and can’t. I was told by my doctor to not let my son go more than 3-4 hours without eating after he was born, so this just seems odd to me.

Some other info : She is in a “baby friendly” hospital, baby has only had 3 wet diapers in almost 2 days.

I’m not gonna tell her to go against her doctor’s orders, but want to get some other perspective, to know if we should be concerned. (This is her first baby).”

Trust Your Gut (And Not Always The Doctor)!

Mother’s were quick to reply encouraging her to speak to the lactation consultant asap or seek another opinion. Some even suggested she offer bub a bottle while her milk comes in.

Fed is Best Foundation also shared their concerns about this kind of information saying, “This is the kind of dangerous advice that moms are told at “Baby-Friendly” hospitals. Yet they are never told the complications associated with not supplementing their hungry babies until the complications happen.”

Australian Breastfeeding Assoc says, “Newborns have tiny tummies and so need to feed frequently. For example, for the first couple of days of a newborn’s life, their tummy is about the size of a marble. By day 10 their tummy is about the size of a ping pong ball. Thereafter, their tummy is about the size of their own fist. Feeding frequently in the early weeks helps make sure you have a good milk supply.

Because breastmilk is easily digested, it is common for breastfed babies to feed 8–12 times in a 24-hour period. This usually means that your baby will breastfeed on average every 2–3 hours around the clock (day and night), with possibly one longer stretch (eg up to about 5 hours) between feeds somewhere in a 24-hour period. The length of time between feeds can vary greatly from baby to baby.”

An update on mum and bub reads, “My cousin did end up giving her daughter a bottle last night, as baby was non stop crying. She ate really well. This morning with the lactation consultant, baby did latch on for a while and was able to drink from the breast, and has been feeding from the breast all day today! Mama and baby are now home and both are doing well.”

Would you be concerned if a doctor gave your friend or loved one this advice?

Share your comments below.

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  • I’m sure this is not the right thing to do for your newborn. Hopefully she listened to her gut and had this checked out with the paediatrician.

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  • Oh my goodness, we, as Mum’s should always trust our gut instinct. That is such very sad advice.

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  • I would be extremely concerned. Very incompetent and unprofessional useless doctor.

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  • I would be apalled by this advice and would never refer to that Doctor again. What misinformation that could have tragic consequences. That Doctor should be reported.

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  • What a load of crap! Any human can only survive 3 days without water and milk is the baby’s only source of hydration in those early days.

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  • the poor child would be screaming the house down

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  • I wouldn’t be going back to that Dr. Glad everything started to work out for her in the end

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  • Wow! Treatment of new mothers is horrible! Glad everything has worked out though!

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  • i have been told that sometimes the baby might have swallowed a bit of fluid and so was technically full but the hunger does kick in a few hours. Definately get things checked out and get 2nd opinions. Each situation is different

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  • So glad all is well now – I would not have been happy with that advice and was told the complete opposite by my doctor when my baby at about 5 months refused to feed. But a newborn needs feeding every few hours. [Hope this baby friendly hospital didn’t look after birds – they can cope for a few days without food].

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  • Not sure I would be comfortable if my new baby didn’t eat for thus long. Not do much hunger wise, more hydration issues

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  • A second opinion or third if still not happy is always a good call.
    So glad all is well now though.

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  • If I received advice that didn’t seem right, I would certainly be seeking a second opinion.

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  • Doesn’t aprears to be right… but not an expert

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  • I must admit I find this astounding. When my middle daughter was born she was an amazing sleeper. She was classic…would feed and then sleep for 4 hours and wake for another feed and at night she would sleep 8 hours. The nurses in the hospital told me that I couldnt leave her to sleep all night as she was too young so i must wake her after 4 hours and feed her. I left the hospital on day two and I never woke her at night as she was gaining weight. But its so odd that I was told that and this woman is told something totally opposite

    Reply

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