Boobs: Please, please help me.

megs52881 · July 2012

Holy cow. I didn't read too many of these questions before the baby because I didn't know if I was going to breastfeed. After seeing this guy, it is killing me now he won't latch. I want it to work so, so badly. He LOVES to eat, but hated my boobs. He screams bloody mary just looking at one. Way to kill a girl's confidence right? The Lactation nurse visited me twice in the hospital and of course made it look so easy. He would latch on and suck, she would leave and this bugger would just start screaming. I am only 3 days out, so I am trying not to get frustrated, but I am. Isn't this an animal instinct? Shouldn't he LOVE my boobs and not want to kill them?

Now, for the real fun. My milk has come in and holy Pamela Anderson. I am so sad it isn't the early 90's because I could have made a killing on baywatch. We bought a Madela pump since I needed relief and he despises my lovely lady bumps. So here goes:

Anyone else have latching issues? Any advice?

I have pumped 3 times in the past 8 hours and have gotten some relief, but milk is still coming in slowly. Is this all I should be doing? How often should I pump? Should it be more frequently as if the baby was BF? Like every 2 hours?

How long will it take until I don't want to cut off my boobs and throw them in the garbage?

Anyone else encounter some problems at first and everything fell into place?

Thanks in advance! I am so happy to be back and get advice from people who are going through what I am at the same time. There is only so many times you can listen to my mom tell me what she did 31 years ago.

brennarobbie · July 2012

Are you still BFing or pumping and giving that to baby? It sounds like you're pumping enough...every 2 hours would be 3 times in 8 hours...so the every 2-3 hour thing is on track. I would build up a supply and then pump right after he eats so that you keep up your milk supply and don't get too stressed out (for me, every 2 hours is stressful). Don't know if that's what you're looking for, but good luck, girl! And it's true what they say...give it about 2 weeks and it will get better.

By the way, if he latched on with the LC but didn't for you, I would call them and see if you can get someone else to try to show you (sometimes you're just not compatible with the person you get - I went through 2 ladies before I found one that "clicked" with me) )

maykious · July 2012

Definitely call the LC for some help with the latching. As for the pumping, that's probably plenty, as long as you're not also nursing. If you're pumping that much between feedings, even if they're only for a few minutes, stop that right now! You don't want to stimulate your breasts into making more milk than you need. Then you'll stay as engorged as you are right now.

Otherwise, the engorgement will go away. That was one of those things that I thought would last forever but, in retrospect, was gone pretty quickly. It'll be super uncomfortable for a few days, a week at most, but try not to pump just for relief. It'll calm down, I promise.

megs52881 · July 2012

maykious:
Definitely call the LC for some help with the latching. As for the pumping, that's probably plenty, as long as you're not also nursing. If you're pumping that much between feedings, even if they're only for a few minutes, stop that right now! You don't want to stimulate your breasts into making more milk than you need. Then you'll stay as engorged as you are right now.
Otherwise, the engorgement will go away. That was one of those things that I thought would last forever but, in retrospect, was gone pretty quickly. It'll be super uncomfortable for a few days, a week at most, but try not to pump just for relief. It'll calm down, I promise.

See the problem is I am pumping for relief yes, but it is because he will not latch and take any from the breast. So, it is at the point(and I know that sounds silly because he is three days old) that I either pump or let my milk dry up. He won't even take one gulp.

I am going to definitely call the LC tomorrow, thanks ladies.

maykious · July 2012

megs52881:
maykious:
Definitely call the LC for some help with the latching. As for the pumping, that's probably plenty, as long as you're not also nursing. If you're pumping that much between feedings, even if they're only for a few minutes, stop that right now! You don't want to stimulate your breasts into making more milk than you need. Then you'll stay as engorged as you are right now.
Otherwise, the engorgement will go away. That was one of those things that I thought would last forever but, in retrospect, was gone pretty quickly. It'll be super uncomfortable for a few days, a week at most, but try not to pump just for relief. It'll calm down, I promise.
See the problem is I am pumping for relief yes, but it is because he will not latch and take any from the breast. So, it is at the point(and I know that sounds silly because he is three days old) that I either pump or let my milk dry up. He won't even take one gulp.
I am going to definitely call the LC tomorrow, thanks ladies.

Then definitely keep pumping. My point is that you don't want to feed AND pump that often, but if LO isn't eating at all, then keep pumping for sure. Every 2-3 hours is fine. Your LC can offer more expertise on that, too.

cwm11985 · July 2012

First, congratulations!! Second, have you looked at lucieslist? She has a good picture tutorial about latching. Also, put a bag of frozen vegetables on your boobs for 15 minutes or so when they hurt- that worked miracles for me. It will get better in just a few days!

SpartyKim · July 2012

I'm right there with you sister! Charlotte can't stay latched because her need for instant gratification isn't satisfied within 3 seconds and when she is latched, she's pinching the sh!t out of my nipples and it kills. So I've been pumping since the day I was discharged from the hospital.

What I've done to pump: 15 min of pumping on each side until milk came in, about every 3-4 hrs (I just couldn't stay on schedule for 2-3 hrs) and then gradually increased pumping time & suction as my milk came in so now I'm up to 25-30 min of pumping.

My boobs felt like rocks and were very firm until I started increasing the pump time, and I felt such relief I wondered why I waited so long. I had been so full that I was starting to leak but now that I'm pumping for 25-30 min, I don't get anywhere near the "rock" stage.

So I'm on day 8 of baby's birth and am producing anywhere between 4.5-6.5 ounces of milk every time I pump, depending on how closely I've been sticking to the schedule. It's hard pumping though because you're taking time to pump and then feeding her the bottle later, so unless you have someone to help you take baby duty for feeding, then it can be damn near impossible to get some sleep.

Good luck & hope this helps.

Bexi · July 2012

Evie wouldn't latch either since she was in the NICU for a week and got used to bottles. So in the hospital and even after we came home I would just pump and bottle feed her. We never kept trying to get her to latch after that first week home because she made it obvious that it wasn't going to happen. So just don't stress out. If he wants to bottle feed, just keep up with your pumping and you'll do just fine

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