At my wits end, only 2 weeks in...

sunandsand · December 2011

I desperately wanted to BF my son but ended up EPing for 9 months due to supply issues. I tried every drug/trick/supplement under the sun and ended up having insufficient glandular tissue and had to supplement from day 1.

When I got pg with DD, I started doing a lot of research. I took Goats Rue in my pregnancy to increase my tissue. I met with multiple LCs. I started herbals from day 1.

The day DD was born, I immediately put her to the breast. Within 2 feeds, both nipples were covered in blisters and bleeding. I saw 2 LCs in the hospital who both tried to correct her latch. In the end I was told to EP and let them heal. I did that for a week and then saw my office LC who helped me put her back on the breast, but as soon as we got home, I started blistering again. Again I EP'd for a week to heal. My one saving grace was that I noticed through pumping that my supply is double what it was with DS, which I attribute to the GR and multiple hand expression sessions per day.

Today I went back to my very patient LC to once again put her back to the breast. We worked on latching and I gained some confidence. We get home and again, having issues. It takes a good 6-8 tries before I get an even halfway decent latch, she screams half the time, and by the time I get her on she is tired of trying. I spend a good 45 minutes at least trying to keep her interested, using a cold cloth to keep her awake, switching sides, etc. I dont feel she is getting even near what she was getting in her pumped bottles, she just isn't swallowing that often. After I stop she sleeps for HOURS because of all the effort.

I know my supply will diminish if she continues this way. Shes still peeing, but she hasn't pooped all day. Someone please tell me that she will learn to latch quicker soon. Someone tell me that eventually she will get hungry enough to stop sleeping so much. Tell me I am not going to keep hating this and start enjoying my baby more than I am.

I cannot continue having it take this long...I have a 2 year old who purposefully acts out while we spend an hour trying to feed, even though I am giving him as much attention as possible whenever she is not at the breast. Its just not possible to keep doing it this way much longer. At least with EPing, I had 10 min pump session, 3 min hand expression, 10 min bottle feed, and done. However, when you EP, you cannot leave the house for longer than a few hours, so the 2 year old is cooped up in the house watching hours of TV every day.

OK I'm rambling at this point...

bgf1 · December 2011

A lot of what you are describing sounds like very normal behaviour for a 2 week old baby. My son didn't really speed up at nursing until he was 2-3 months old. Prior to that 45 minute nursing sessions were our norm, but many babies speed up sooner. Your LC may have already suggested it but have you tried breast compressions to speed up the session and to keep your LO a bit more alert during nursing.

I think that you will find that latching on will get easier soon. I also had to unlatch LO many times per session in the first few weeks in order to be sure of a good latch. I know it is frustrating, but it is very worth it to not have sore nipples.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things to keep LO awake during nursing. The only other thing that may help is undressing your LO partially before you nurse. I am not sure why it is a bad thing that your LO sleeps for hours after a nursing session.....especially if you have a 2 year old to keep track of. Just wake LO up when you are due to nurse again.

Bfing was a rough journey for us for the first month and then it just got easier. In fact once you get into the routine of things I can't imagine pumping or formula could be any easier. You can nurse anywhere no bottles to heat, or clean, or mix up in the night. As far as your older LO goes my sister has 3 LO's under 5 and she has nursed them all. Some of the tricks I have seen her use include sitting on the floor with her nursling on a nursing pillow while she plays with/reads to the older kids, having the older kids help by wiping the babe with the wet cloth, and finally once you get the latch down then maybe consider nursing with LO in a carrier or sling. The first month really is the hardest it will get better. Good Luck.

McSquishy · December 2011

Wow-I could have written this post almost word for word. I'm in the exact same boat down to having failed bfing my other two kids and doing everything "right" to make this work and it's just not. I'm on Dom., goats rue, and fenugreek. I pump every 2-3 hours and I get at best an ounce total. My son isn't a great latches and when he does he can't draw out the milk. I'm tired, stuck at home, and frustrated. Everytime I think about quitting I'll have a good pumping session or something that makes me think things will turn around... and then they go back to square I e.

No advice, but I empathize completely.

Want a personalized experience?

At my wits end, only 2 weeks in...

Re: At my wits end, only 2 weeks in...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards