Help! becoming BF'ing discouraged...

Re: Help! becoming BF'ing discouraged...

• dr.girlfriend

  September 2009

  Don't be discouraged...both your baby and your boobs are still figuring things out right now!  It may be that your milk has come in full force and she's getting it a little too fast at first or something.  It'll calm down, or you can try pumping for just a minute or two before you nurse to pull out your nipple, stimulate your let down, and relieve some of that pressure that might be causing it to squirt.  I had a lot of luck with what I called "the nipple sandwich," kind of squeezing my nipple between my fingers so that he could get it in his mouth easier and get a good latch.  It's a little nerve-racking to breastfeed because you can't get a good visual on what they're consuming, but it's SO much easier in the end I would say stick with it if you can! 

  You can pump extra right now, but you don't want to get on the slippery slope of exclusively pumping right now if you can help it, where she won't take the boob and only takes the bottle, and your supply goes down because pumping isn't as efficient as breastfeeding.  As someone who pumps during the week and breastfeeds nights and weekends, let me tell you pumping is a giant pain in the ass and you want to breastfeed at the boob if you can!

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• sunnyday16

  September 2009

  Hang in there sweetie! Cora was the same way, latched on great in the hosptial and then at home was fussy at the boob.I went back to the LC and they watched me feed C and showed me how to get her to latch on better. I thought she wasn't getting any food but they weighed her before and after I fed her and she was. I would give the Lactation Consultant a call.

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• shannonk03

  September 2009

  Ditto with the hanging in there!  I broke down and cried and wanted to give DS a bottle so bad the first week, I thought he was starving and we were both very frustrated!  Several times I almost gave up.  Def. consult a LC-we could do this for free through our hospital for the first two weeks after the baby was born.  It really does get better, things are great now and I am so glad we stuck with it!
  

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• n&bcarlson

  September 2009

  Try to hang in there!  We had the worst time getting established- major latch issues, thrush.  If your LO has been gaining well, sleeping well, etc., avoid the bottle if at all possible right now.  It's a learning process, and sometimes can be slow going, but she'll catch on soon and a little bit of hunger is a great motivator.  It really isn't anything to do with you, it's just how things go.  If the problems persist a few days, talk to a lactation consultant.  This was the best thing we ever did.  The good news is, once they are well established (after 8-12 weeks), it will be smooth going.  DD is over 13 months now and still nurses twice a day.  If you had told me that a year ago when I was juggling Boppies, nipple shields, and breast pumps, I'd have said you were crazy.
  

  

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• mr+ms member

  September 2009

  The first few weeks are challenging, even in the best of cases... you and the baby are all getting in sync. Babies have a lot of growth spurts, especially in the first few months. They'll want to nurse more and sometimes it takes a day or two for your supply to adjust according to their increased demand. That might be one explanation for the fussiness as your LO is about a week old.

  Here's one faq on the topic:

  https://kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurt.html 

  Kellymom.com is a good all-around BF resource and an LC could be a good source of help and reassurance like pp's mentioned. Good luck and hang in there!  

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• katie2shoes

  September 2009

  Its so hard in the beginning, you've made it this far so hang in there! I agree that pumping is a huge pita, so I would avoid it for now.  You and the baby are still learning the whole BF thing and it will take a little while before its down pat.  I agree with dr.girlfriend about the nipple sandwich - I still do this to get Nora to latch on b/c my boobs are gigantic - I mean they are larger than her head!

  Your supply is still regulating, so it could be that since your milk has come in it comes our strongly or really fast and LO is having a difficult time with it.  Don't worry, your milk will regulate after a few days.

  You're doing a great job! :-)

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• Runaway Bride!

  September 2009

  I agree with all the previous posters. Definitely contact a LC. I had a horrible time at the beginning, DD wasn't gaining weight. DH found me a wonderful LC who came to our house and worked with me. All it took was one visit (a few hours long) and a couple of phone consultations and I never had another serious problem. She was a godsend!

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• dmsmth member

  September 2009

  Don't get discouraged.  There is a learning curve for the both of you.  And honestly it took us at least three weeks to relly get the hang of it and I can't count how many times I contemplated switching to formula those first few weeks.

   And as hard as it is, you really don't need to measure what she is getting.  it was hard for me to let that go as well because you always hear babies should be taking in x amount per feeding etc.    But as long as she is growing and not acting hungry she is getting what she needs.

  Hang in there!

  m/c April '08
  DD#1 born June '09
  DD#2 born April '11
  TTC #3 as of July '14
  
  
  

  
  

  My Ovulation Chart

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