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Help - I've had to supplement and am now trying to intro. breast

souledoutgirlsouledoutgirl
in Breastfeeding

My baby was born tongue-tied and couldn't latch onto the breast, so we had to supplement. I've actually been pumping and have been giving her solely breast milk for about a week now, rather than formula. Now her tongue's been clipped, so I'm trying to breastfeed, but I'm having a real hard time with it.

Did anyone else have to re-introduce the breast after having their LO use bottles? I'm trying, but it is so hard! She'll usually do one feeding a day (15-20 min. per side) but then every other time I try she turns red-faced and screams and cries and pushes herself away from me. At that point (usually after about 25 minutes of trying to get her to latch on), I give her a bottle.  I have an appointment with my LC Monday, but the sooner I can try some stuff the better in my opinion. It's so hard to see her cry; I walk away crying, and even though I know it's not true, it's hard not to start telling myself I'll never get this.

Does anyone have any advice they could offer on how they got their baby to successfully breastfeed after using a bottle?

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Re: Help - I've had to supplement and am now trying to intro. breast

  • ncbellencbelle member

    I've not been in your position but - have you tried pumping until you get your letdown so the milk is there as soon as she starts sucking?  Or try expressing a bit so you have milk on your nipple already so she gets the hint that there's food to be had?

    I'd also try when she's not super hungry or tired so she's in a more relaxed mood.  You might also try nursing her in a warm bath - the skin to skin contact and warm water are relaxing.   Really, any skin to skin contact is good.  You could even try having her nap on your chest and see if her rooting instinct kicks in when she's waking up.

    If she's having a hard time latching, make sure you are leading with her chin and then hooking her top lip on.  I made the mistake in the beginning of trying to aim his mouth on straight and that doesn't work very well.

    You may also try contacting the La Leche League chapter in your area - you can find one on llli.org.  There's a forum there as well so you may get some other tips that way.  Hopefully the LC will have some good advice too.

    Good luck mama - and hang in there!  You'll get there.



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  • Pam081206Pam081206 member

    I'm sorry that II don't have any suggestions, but my son was also born tongue tied and I've been struggling with BF.  Luckily I have been able to nurse using nipple shields, but it takes a very long time and he is working so hard that after an hour he just tuckers out and I have to give him the rest of his feeding via a bottle using milk I've pumped.

     I'm considering having him clipped (although so far 3 pediatricians said it wasn't necessary, but 2 LCs said that it is), but I want to make sure it will solve our problem first as well as learn a bit more about the procedure.  Would you mind sharing your experience with your LO's procedure?

    Thanks!

    . 

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  • AutumnBride929AutumnBride929
    I've been having to use a nipple shield.  Not ideal but it's something for me to use to get DS to latch a little longer while I'm trying to work through my supply issue.
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  • souledoutgirlsouledoutgirl

    The procedure was probably more traumatic for me than it was for her. I gave her a little Tylenol before we went in, she cried when they gave her the shot of local anesthetic then screamed throughout the whole thing - mostly because they had to hold her head in place and hold her mouth open. Afterward, she stopped crying right away, and we fed her in the office. My husband held her while they did it, and the dr. said her tongue looks great with full range of motion now. The LC and pediatrician both suggested it; both said it can save children problems later in life (speech, eating). She was a little sore for about 6 hours afterwards; I had to give her one more dose of Tylenol, but now she seems fine. I can tell she's just trying to get used to it...she sticks it out and stuff.

    I've tried the nipple shields, too; however, she still latches on only to the tip or tip of my nipple, which makes them too painful. Thankfully I too have pumped milk to give her.

    Good luck on your decision. Most people say that it really does the trick and baby should be able to nurse well within a few days to a week.

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