already stressed (long sorry)

sweet*18

I'm probably thinking about this way too much but I'm already stressed about breastfeeding.

Backstory:
With DD I tried breastfeeding but ended up with a bad hematoma from my episiotomy and was on morphine and painkillers for a week so I was told I had to formula feed and pump until I was done. I did this and when she was a week old I tried to breastfeed, she wouldn't latch and I went to a LC and she wasn't helpful so I ended up giving up.

With DS I tried breastfeeding again. I did it for 2 1/2 weeks but he wasn't gaining enough weight and had bad acid reflux so I was told I had to supplement with formula. I ended up being so stressed and crying a lot with him not gaining and being confused after going to the bottle that I gave up. I'm still mad at myself for that.

Now I'm due in 27 days and I really want to EBF for 6 months. I'm already stressed about it and want to make sure I do everything I can to make it work. I have a medela pump and plan on using it when I go back to work.

What are some good tips for increasing supply and sticking with it? I feel foolish having to ask but the LC that I saw with the previous 2 make me not want to ask them when I have this baby. TIA

SnoopyLuv

So first things first, you need to educate yourself. There seems to be absolutely no reason you were told to FF with both kids. Morphine and painkilers are typically compatible with nursing, and instead of FF they can give LO's zantac, prilosec, etc to help with reflux.

I suggest you read kellymom.com, join some facebook breastfeeding groups (Best For Babes is one), find your local La Leche League meeting and read a lot of posts on here. That will prepare you for some common pitfalls and common sources of misinformation, which it seems you fell victim to.

Being confidence in your bodies ability to make milk for your child goes a long way, and education is super important. Stressing about making milk is only going to inhibit your ability to let down and make milk. Put the baby on to the breast, get a second and third opinion on latch and most of all, nurse.

mysticl

Don't worry about increasing your supply right now.  Breastfeeding on demand should establish the appropriate amount of milk for your baby.  If you don't have low supply, doing things to increase your supply could cause you to have too much milk which can also make breastfeeding difficult.  

Also, if you are told that you cannot breastfeed because of a medication contact the people at infantrisk.  They are the experts on medication and breastfeeding and can tell you what is safe to take and what protocols to follow.  For example when I had dental work done they told me to wait 3 hours from the last injection to breastfeed.  There was no need for me to pump and dump.

https://www.infantrisk.com

jesuisfatiguee

FWIW, the LC's I saw at the hospital were not super helpful. In fact, one of them seemed to make things worse. 

Like PP's mentioned, educate yourself and don't worry about increasing supply at the beginning. That's what comfort nursing is for  Welcome the idea of having a baby attached to your boob (for what feels like) 24/7 for the first month at least, and drink plenty of water. You can do it! 

musicalmama5

I agree that you probably didn't need to supplement with formula in the situations you described. And it kind of makes me angry that that's the advice you were given. I know tons of moms whose babies have/had reflux and never supplemented. And the weight gain thing... sheesh, don't get me started!

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is AWESOME. Seriously. I've read that book twice now. And probably will again at some point.

Also, La Leche League is awesome. If there's a group in your area, I'd highly recommend it!

Good luck, mama! I know you can do it.