- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Breastfeeding
Help...feeling hopeless about breastfeeding
My first LO was born Sunday morning at 38+2. ?I am very committed to breastfeeding but meeting a lot of challenges. ?I'm hoping for some advice. ?
First, he was having some trouble coordinating his suckling. ?He didn't seem to be able to coordinate the tongue motion, and after spending a lot of time with the lactation consultants in the hospital they gave me a medela contact nipple shield and he is doing better. ?However, he has been VERY sleepy and difficult to wake up for feeding. ?The LC recommended that while using the shields, I should pump after every other feeding to ensure that we are getting enough stimulation to get my milk to come in. ??At our first pedi appt (Tuesday, 2 days old), he had lost weight 7lb6oz down to 6lb13oz.?
?Well, now he is 3 days old starting to wake up to feed, but doesn't seem to be getting enough. ?I very reluctantly gave him 1 ounce of formula after breastfeeding earlier because he was so hungry. ??My breasts feel very hard, but at max I am pumping 1/2 ounce (from both breasts). ?
?I'm just hoping some of you ladies can give me some advice, encouragement, whatever. ?I really want this to work!!! ?
Also, how long after the breasts feel hard does the milk come in. ?I keep thinking that pretty soon the milk should be abundant, but I'm not sure.?
Thanks so much!?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Help...feeling hopeless about breastfeeding
Your milk will come in soon. Keep putting baby to breast. If you can get him to latch without the shield, you'll probably do a better job of stimulating milk production. You can make it work. It's early days still and you will probably face more challenges ahead.
If you can see a LC again, I would go. Go as often as you can. They are a great resource.
It it also totally normal for babies to lose weight at first. It is expected for them to regain their birth weight by 10-14 days.
As for getting a sleepy baby to nurse, strip him down to his diaper whenever you nurse him. This will also help stimulate milk production and is great for bonding. You can also squeeze milk into his mouth to encourage him to suck.
Keep up the good work! It is very very hard in those first 2 weeks, but after 6 weeks it gets much much easier. You are doing a marvelous thing for your baby!
My BFP Chart
Your milk is probably going to be coming in anyday- esp if you are engorged. Don't give up on yourself...and DON'T go by the pump- you will hear that a million tmes and it's true!!
Why don't you think eh is getting enough? Just keep putting him on you as much as possible. It hurts a bit since you are not used to it but long run it's best for you and LO. Try to ditch the shield too and see if he can get his latch right w/o.
Hang in there mamma!! It get's easier in some ways- but the rewards are endless.
I just wanted to offer some encouragement. When DD was first born we had SUCH a hard time getting bf'ing going. She was so sleepy all the time, I had flat nipples, my already sizable breasts became ENORMOUS when engorged, etc. It took every once of will power and patience I had but here we are three months later and we happily EBF.
Keep with it. I think it's pretty safe to say that nothing is harder than it is right now! You can do it
Keep latching him on! That's the best thing to do right now.
Does your hospital (or any hospital in your area) have a BF support group? If so go! Super helpful and you get a LC consultant for free (in the group setting), or all the ones where I live do this.
Your milk will be coming in anytime, so just keep latching him on and squeeze some milk into his mouth, and do breast compression/massage while he's eating to help it get down to him faster/easier. We joked that C wanted 5 star service for the first few weeks because we practically had to squeeze the milk into her mouth - but it gets better if you can keep going!
Your story sound identical to what I am experiencing. I have recently ditched the nipple shield. (which has caused some nipple soreness again) But he is able to latch on now alot easier than before, which I believe is much better for him to get a good suction to get as much milk as possible.
At his one week appointment the doctor had me supplement with formula to up his weight when he hadn't gained any weight in a week. Then once he had gained weight they wanted me to stop formula. But my milk supply hadn't gone up at all and now I'm trying to wean him off formula and trying to increase my milk supply. Which has been difficult because he's seems to be impatient with nursing since milk doesn't come out as fast as the formula from the bottle.
So if you can work your way to ditching the sheild and just keep your baby nursing as much as possible, I believe that everything will work out real soon for you. I wish that I wouldn't have started the formula supplement and just kept to nursing instead. GL
Are you pumping to keep your supply up for using the shield? thats good. If you're pumping for any other reason, stop pumping. I used the shield since LO ripped my nips up and you should use it to protect your supply.
Put the baby to breast as often as possible. What makes you think that they're not getting enough and needing you to supplement? enough wet/dirty diapers?
My LO lost a lot of weight and he was so sleepy that he didn't want to wake up and eat. We'd strip him to his diaper, tickle him, put a damp wash cloth on him, talk to him. Stop feeding him, burp him, and then relatch. (I;'m sorry - I forget if you have a son or daughter) We had to supplement too, but we used the pumped milk, which is a better option then formula.
If you ever give formula, make sure that you're pumping to protect your supply as well. BF is total supply/demand.
Thanks so much ladies for the advice and encouragement. ?We are doing much better today. ?I have pretty much ditched the nipple shield. ?It is painful when he initially latches, but when I get through those first few seconds it isn't painful after that. ?He seems to be figuring it out. ?He is also a lot less sleepy and is actually wanting to eat every 2-3 hours during the day. ?At night, I am still waking him to eat. ?
He was having enough wet/dirty diapers, but had a significant weight drop at his first pedi appt. ?Today he had a weight recheck and gained 2 oz in 2 days! ?Also, his wet and dirty diapers have definitely picked up.
?
I am not 100% sure if my milk has "come in". ? My breasts feel firm and he seems to be getting more, but I don't feel that let down that people describe. ?I've ditched the pump temporarily for now, since I've gotten rid of the nipple shields. ?I'm going to focus on just nursing him for now and revisit pumping in a little while.?
Thanks so much for your help! ?I really am committed to this, but I now see why so many moms give it up. ?It is really hard initially, but I'm hoping it will now get better by the day. ??