I realize right now it's still early but as it stands so far baby refuses to latch. After seeing 2 LC both have said that he's just having a hard time. He had a really swollen head (and it's still pretty bad) and they were telling me thats could be the cause. He just chews instead of latching, and that's even if he lets met get the nipple in his mouth. Half the time he just pushes it away or moves his head or just gets mad alltogether. And everyday it's getting worse because as everyone knows its much easier to get milk from the bottle.
We started pumping because I really want him to have breastmilk, but sadly even with that I am still having to supplement formula. I pump every 3 hours, and have only missed a few sessions due to sleep when we first got home.
I can pump anywhere from 10ml to up to 70MLs now. It's really hit or miss, and is very frustrating.
I find that using a hot compress before I pump really helps, but it's still completely random on how much I am getting with each session. I message while I am pumping now too, and that also seems to help alot.
We try to latch him on depending on his temperament, but honestly at this point I am so worried that if we choose to just pump if I can keep up the milk. Everyday he eats more and I don't get that much more milk everyday so far.
TIA if anyone has any advice to offer. I am just getting very frustrated, I want the best for alex.
Re: Is anyone else only pumping?
I had latch/chewing probs in the hospital too, and have EP'd since I got home. LO is now 4 weeks and its going great. I use a Medela PISA, and pumped religiously every 3 hours round the clock for the first 3 weeks on as high a setting as I could (just recently I've started skipping the 3am now that LO is sleeping longer at night and I can finally get a little rest too). I drink as much as I can throughout the day and try to remember to eat, and my supply quickly went up within a few days to 2-3 oz per breast per session, occasionally a little more. LO is only eating about half that, so I've built a great freezer stash and have 3-4 days worth of milk in the fridge at any time.
BFP#2: 8/14/11 M/C 8/30/11 6w1d
BFP #3: 10/26/11
Beta #1 @11dpo: 22 Beta #2 @13dpo: 90 Beta #3 @17dpo: 480
Missed m/c 12w3d 12/28/11, d&c 12/30/11
dx Homozygous C677T MTHFR
I did it my first 3 weeks and it gets so much better. I could barely keep up at first too--it would completely stress me out if DD wanted to eat early. Are you doing compressions as well as massage? Compressions really help me get more out of each pumping session. I post this video https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html every chance I get because I found it so helpful. If in a week or so you're still barely keeping up, try some fenugreek or power pumping sessions. Just remember, if you have to supplement with formula every now and then you're still doing the best thing for DS!
Good luck!