Good Afternoon ladies!
My LO is 10 days old today and we are having latching problems. We have been to see a lactation specialist twice and are going for a third time tomorrow. We have tried about every position imaginable - or at least it feels that way to me. I am exhausted trying and then after feeding her a bottle - either formula to supplement or what I have pumped - I then have to pump to try to keep up a little supply in the fridge - my milk supply is not great - I get about 3oz every time I pump (thats a 20min pump with an electric medela pisa) -
Looking for any advice you ladies may have or just a little support to keep trying. I told myself we would do this - that i was dedicated - but the more frustrated she gets with trying, I start to feel bad and just give her the bottle.
Thank you ladies!
Re: Latching Problems.. Support/Advice Please!
I'm sorry you are going through this! We too had a really hard time in the beginning. DS had a really shallow latch and mangled my nips. I had to feed with a nipple shield, then pump, then DH would finger feed him with a syringe. It freaking sucked and I got no sleep for the first 2+ weeks. Once my nipples were healed, we worked on latch and his frenulum stretched and it got much better and by the end of the 3rd week, we were off the nipple shield and by 3.5 weeks I was able to stop pumping after each feeding.
Now, at 8 weeks, he's gaining plenty and feeding totally on the breast and I only pump to build a stash for work. I never thought that I would make it in the beginning but I did and so will you!!! Keep at it.
Also, pumping 3 oz at 10 days is really good. Your supply sounds fine to me. Also, beware of formula supplementing...it can take a toll on your supply. I'm not anti-formula but if you really want to EBF then you have to really carefully guard your supply in the early days.
Good luck and stick with it. Things really go get easier at around 6 weeks!
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