So my daughter never breastfed in the hospital. She was having trouble latching the first afternoon/evening after birth and then they began her on formula bottles the next day due to some jaundice and health concern. I met with the hospital's LC three times while I was there and all she kept doing was changing her position and squeezing my boob and we never got anywhere.
Fast forward to 2 weeks later, I hire a LC recommended by my pediatrician since LO has still been taking breastmilk only by bottle since coming home. The women spends 10 minutes talking with me, checks out my LO and sees how she's trying to latch and determines that we need to try a nipple shield. She latches right on and feeds on both breasts with the shield. The LC was shocked that the hospital's LC didn't even try that. It cost me $100 and 2 weeks of exclusively pumping for something that the hospital's LC should have been able to "diagnose" on Day 1 or 2. Seriously frustrating!! But at least I'm thankful that I was able to keep up my supply and will hopefully have no issues transitioning from the nipple shield to the direct breast in a few sessions, but even if I have to keep on with the shields forever- it's worth it to be able to have this experience with my daughter!
BFP #1- 4/2011; DD Brynn born 12/2011
BFP #2- 7/13; EDD- 4/2/14; Lost DS at 20 weeks (11/16/13) due to cord accident
BFP #3- 3/14; EDD- 11/28/14; Lost DD at 15 weeks (6/7/14)- cause unknown
To my angels- I held you every second of your lives and I'll love you every second of mine.
Re: So irritated with the hospital's lactation consultant!
I'm glad you finally got some good help! I was terribly frustrated by our hospital's LCs too. After multiple unsuccessful efforts to feed before we left, one of the LCs handed me a nipple shield just before d/c, but I didn't have a chance to really understand how to use it properly.
I ended up renting the hospital pump & pumping for weeks too before finding a different LC who finally made everything click.