Breast feeding question

LJF1218 · April 2011

Barrett is just 2 days old and we have been doing fairly well with breastfeeding, but we still have some latching problems and sometimes I'm concerned that he is not getting enough to keep him happy. The worst part is when he's getting frustrated and unhappy and then it makes it even more difficult to latch. Watching him struggle when he is hungry is breaking my heart.

While I don't want to stop BF I would feel better if I could supplement our feedings with small amounts of formula. Since my milk isn't in yet I know we still have to work on latching to ensure production happens, but does anyone have any tips/ideas/done this to help me figure out the best way that I can BF and FF as needed?

citychicks · April 2011

I wouldn`t FF if you want your milk to come in. Try feeding more often so he doesn`t get to the stage where he is frustrated from hunger. Once your milk comes in it becomes much easier.

krys2729 · April 2011

honestly, if you start supplementing with formula this early, it will really hurt your chances to breastfeed. wait until your milk comes in...it shouldn't be more than 72 hours. the colostrum is very low volume, but super dense nutrient wise. talk to a lactation consultant if you are worried his latch is not great. but don't supplement. he should be getting all he needs from you.

LynsiBHM · April 2011

i felt the same way! Just be patient. As long as your milk comes in over the next couple of days, you will see a big improvement. Remember your baby's stomach is teeny... they don't need much at this point. It's frustrating in the first few days, but keep nursing often and try to be patient. You'll both figure it out together. I'm 3 weeks in and it's better by the day!

AutumnBride929 · April 2011

Just keep at it. Set up a consultation with an LC if you need to. Make sure he is opening his mouth wide like a yawn, squish your booby as if it's like a sandwich, align your nipple to his nose (that way when he opens wide it will be going toward the roof of his mouth when he latches). Do you feel pain when you feed? Is he fussy all day or just a certain time of day? Just remember, the more you nurse, the faster your milk will come in. I know how frustrating it can be when they're fussy at the breast. It's like the one thing you can usually count on to make them happy and when that doesn't make them happy, what do you DO?? lol DD always has a fussy period at night and it's annoying. Smile We're currently in the midst of it.

I remember I had a moment when she was two days old, too. It was in the middle of the night and she was so fussy and wouldn't latch or only stay latched for a few seconds and get pissed again. I was like, "OMG is she not getting enough? Should I go make a bottle of formula? Noooo.... that's going to totally screw me!" I know it might not have totally screwed me but I didn't succeed at BFing DS so I really wanted it to work this time and didn't want to do anything that could potentially mess up my supply. I ended up trying the other breast and she was then happy. Good luck.

honkytonk_kid · April 2011

citychicks:
I wouldn`t FF if you want your milk to come in. Try feeding more often so he doesn`t get to the stage where he is frustrated from hunger. Once your milk comes in it becomes much easier.

Yes

It's all about supply and demand- supplementing this early messes with that. Remember how tiny their stomach is- your colostrum is enough for them but it's digested quickly- keep him on the boob as much as he wants. If he's having enough wet/dirty diapers, he's getting enough to eat.

Check out kellymom.com

Hang in there!

dorothy&gail · April 2011

There is a method where you can use a syringe filled with formula attached to a tube that drapes down your breast. The baby latches to you and the tube is then put in her mouth also so that she is sucking on you and stimulating you but also the baby is getting formula to help satisfy her.

I did this and it helped wonders! A LC will be able to show you how to do it.

Outside of this, what the PP's said about hanging in there is true. This first week is just rough, but please try to hang in there. It will get better. Good Luck!

mocknine · April 2011

My hospital has a breastfeeding resource center with lactation consultants. I would check to see if your hospital has one too and call them! You are too early in the game to start supplementing if you really want to breastfeed. Just hang in there, and be patient. Good Luck!

saraid2426 · April 2011

I would pump and feed them that way...

cdmills4 · April 2011

my little one is 17 days old. at 2 days old i started suplementing because he lost 7% of his weight i still tried nursing him but he had problems latching on causing my nipples to scab. i gave myself a couple days to heal, in which i pumped every 2 hours and bottle fed him what i pumped. at 7 days old i visited with a lactation consultant and she helped me with latching him on. some things that worked that i wasn't doing 1) using a pillow or boppy to help support him 2) baby should lay straight accross, his belly with yours. 3) control his head with your hand and control the nipple with the other hand ex. if you are latching him on the left side control his neck and head with your right arm and the nipple with your left. www.ameda.com "your baby knows how to latch on" is a video that might help. since my visit i have been nursing and have been very sucessful. i rarely have to supplement, maybe 2oz a day of formula sometimes none at all. i am also taking fenugreek. but latching the baby one is what will bring in your milk supply not pumping.

good luck and don't give up.

MG7 · April 2011

BFing takes a lot of patience and it can be very frustrating. It took DS2 and I a while to get things down pat, maybe 2 weeks. I would squeeze some milk out just before trying to get him to latch so it would give him something to sort of aim for if that makes sense. There are some good videos that you could find that would be helpful, sorry I don't have a link but maybe if you ask over on the breastfeeding board someone might have a link.

Remember that right now his stomach is very very small, think the size of a marble. You would be surprised at what will fill him up. I'd hold off on FF until the milk has come in if I could.

LJF1218 · April 2011

Thanks for your tips everyone! We're working on it and will continue to see how it goes. I just want a happy and healthy baby and we'll see how we do.

Thanks again!

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