Back to square one.

uncharch7 · January 2012

DS had a great day Friday, we went to the LC Thursday night and finally, after an hour of feeding, he took in 106mLs (3.5oz). This is up from when we'd go 20 minutes and he'd take in 15 or less, so we limited his time BFing because he was burning so many calories and wasn't gaining weight.

Yesterday we were back to square one. Hour of feeding-screaming afterwards because he was still hungry. 2oz bottle and he's fine. I can't keep up with these 1.5hr sessions by the time we get the diaper changed, stop for burping, grab the bottle... I don't know what to do. I go back to work in 2.5 weeks and while I'm thrilled to know his latch and suck issues are gone (still has a low vacuum behind the suck), this isn't sustainable.

I don't know what to do. Even right now, he's feeding... but he's getting lazy. No amount of stimulation is helping-compressions, tickling, removing and relatching... he'll get a few good sucks/swallows in and then go back to the short, comfort sucks.

Advice? Our old "schedule" was BF 2x/day, 20 minutes total, pump at all other feedings. After the BF session, he'd get a bottle. He was eating about 21oz a day of supplement, I was pumping 15 and then the rest came from formula. With going back to work and having to leave the house by 6:15, I'd have to be up at 4 to get him fed for an hour, get my workout in, get ready and out the door, and there's no guarantee he'd be ready to eat at 4. I will need to feed him most likely before I leave though so he can sleep a bit more after; DH works a semi-2nd shift and doesn't get in bed til about 1am, so we're hoping to get DS on a schedule eventually of staying up later and waking up later. We'll see if that works though, it's still a ways off. He's too young now for that (5.5wks).

11kacey · January 2012

Have you tried a nipple shield? We used one for a month while M got the hang of latching and suckling. I pumped after each feed and offered her milk via a syringe. She had to suck on my finger and then I would give her a bit of milk, suck, get milk, later. rinse and repeat. After a couple of weeks like that we didn't have to do syringe feedings anymore. She just didn't like to latch to my nipple. she liked the plastic. After a month we weaned from the shield and she has been an amazing nurser ever since.

Good Luck!

[Deleted User] · January 2012

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EveryNameIWantIsTaken · January 2012

I wish I had advice. I was in the same situation. I eventually gave up and now ep aside from the comfort nursing she wants to do a couple of times a day. She has a strong suck, but doesn't do it right at the breast. No frenulum issues which is what everyone on here jumps to recommend. She does have a bit of recessed chin which the pedi thinks may be affecting things. His advice was to just keep trying a couple of times a day. Good luck and I hope you can have a better outcome than we did.

uncharch7 · January 2012

11kacey:
Have you tried a nipple shield? We used one for a month while M got the hang of latching and suckling. I pumped after each feed and offered her milk via a syringe. She had to suck on my finger and then I would give her a bit of milk, suck, get milk, later. rinse and repeat. After a couple of weeks like that we didn't have to do syringe feedings anymore. She just didn't like to latch to my nipple. she liked the plastic. After a month we weaned from the shield and she has been an amazing nurser ever since.
Good Luck!

We used a nipple shield for awhile, now he hates it. He fusses until I take it off and he'll latch fine without it. He just gets lazy

mtb-yep, we can strip him down to his diaper, tickle his feet, move his arms, blow on his face, nothing helps. he's on his own schedule.

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