Help me please! (long)

parttimeloverfulltimefriend · February 2014

I and DS have a somewhat complicated situation. He has been EBF since birth (11/23/13), I also always have been pumping and he got at least one pumped bottle daily. I had to nurse with a nipple shield because I was too engorged for him to latch on correctly and finally got rid of it around Christmas. Now he is starting to have a really hard time nursing. First nursing in the morning works wonderful and the rest of the day I can sometimes make it to nurse with nippleshield but usually end up pumping and giving it. I always offer breast first before I choose alternatives. This has been going on for about ten days and I tried everything, change position, boob etc. Has anyone good advice for me? TIA.

Asivec · February 2014

What exactly is your LO doing that makes it difficult to feed? Are you using paced bottle feeding? How old is LO and how many times a day are you offering the breast? Your post had a lot of info, but it's hard to give recommendations without a better picture of what's happening now.

Here's a link to paced bottle feeding:
https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/

parttimeloverfulltimefriend · February 2014

He will either latch on for only a couple of seconds and then scream or just scream and not latch on at all. I am feeding him on demand about every three hours. He is 10 weeks old. He just started STTN too, she he sleeps about 10 hours. And yes, I do use paced bottle feeding.

jdb04d · February 2014

Could be just a phase. My LO has done this before; and at first I thought it was gas. But looking back I think he just went through a little grumpy phase and then he got over it and he nurses well again. But if it's gas, probiotics worked for my LO.

Asivec · February 2014

I would offer every 2 hours? Maybe even 1.5 hours? It could be a growth spurt. Your LO may be upset that it's not an immediate response from the breast. I know I had some tough sessions after a giving a bottle and we just had to make it through.

Are you able to walk or rock while nursing? That could help.

Good job however you are getting breast milk for your LO.

Beth.1212 · February 2014

theresat858 said:

If you want to be able to EBF, put the bottles away...it sounds like you are giving him the option too easily and not making him work for the milk from the breast. Also, feeding every 3 hours during the day and going 10 at night may be harming your supply at this point..I would at least pump after baby goes to bed, but I would also aim to feed more often during the day. It could be baby is too hungry from it being too long since the last feed. Maybe it would help to stimulate a letdown yourself before trying to latch baby?

Just to play devil's advocate, my LO would sleep for 11-12 hours at that age (if I remember correctly) (and yes, I know I'm super lucky!) and I never pumped and never had supply issues. I don't remember the daytime nursing frequency as clearly, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was every 3 hours or so. OP, if your LO has enough diapers, personally I wouldn't be too concerned about your supply.

parttimeloverfulltimefriend · February 2014

theresat858 said:
If you want to be able to EBF, put the bottles away...it sounds like you are giving him the option too easily and not making him work for the milk from the breast. Also, feeding every 3 hours during the day and going 10 at night may be harming your supply at this point..I would at least pump after baby goes to bed, but I would also aim to feed more often during the day. It could be baby is too hungry from it being too long since the last feed. Maybe it would help to stimulate a letdown yourself before trying to latch baby?

That's not the problem, I have plenty of milk and DS is growing awesome, he was born at 9lbs 7oz and was 15lbs 2.5oz at 10 weeks.
We just got up, first nursing went well and we did not use a nipple shield. I am determined to fix this, will offer him the breast more often today.

Thanks for all the input.

jennypenny* · February 2014

I would try feeding more frequently than every 3 hrs. My lo is fed on demand as well, and at about 10 weeks my lo started eating more frequently. If I waited until he gave signs of being hungry it was too late and he was starving and would get so worked up that he wouldn't latch and we both got a little frustrated.

Also once he was frustrated, the only way to calm him was to feed him in his diaper only so that his chest was touching my skin. I just put a blanket over us. So I would try skin too skin feeding to see if that helps. Try stroking his cheek to get him to latch.

DP92013 · February 2014

My baby also has times when she gets fussy while BF. Skin to skin is good at that age, or I sometimes turn on the white noise and that calms her right down and she's able to focus on eating.

eves1989 · February 2014

Thanks for these tips... I've heard the same with my friend but yours is very detailed.

KaramelSutra · February 2014

I would think he nurses better in the morning because your supply is abundant and free flowing in the am. As the day goes on, you have a natural dip in supply but the milk is fattier making it harder to extract. He sounds like he wants instant gratification. Try hand expressing or pumping for a little while till milk flows and then latch him on? Good luck.

I'd also back off the bottles. Make the boy work! He can do it!

ella.mabel · February 2014

I always find that whenever i have needed DS to calm down and focus on nursing, that the side lying position works best. I would just chill out in bed or on the couch for a few hours with my shirt open so he could snack whenever he wants. I think it decreased the stress for both of us.

parttimeloverfulltimefriend · February 2014

I think I figured him out. He is just constantly hungry and probably going through a growth spurt. He nursed at 8am, fell back asleep at 9.30am and by the time he woke up (11am) he was super hungry and screamy. He nursed a little bit with lots of fighting, so I ended up giving him a bottle and then now (12.30pm) nursed him without problems.
You guys were right, I just have to offer him the breast more often and not wait until he seems visibly hungry.

Asivec · February 2014

I'm glad you got your LO figured out for now. Just remember, nothing stays the same... Eating, pooping, or sleeping! So try to offer, but don't force to eat and be flexable!

Your doing good!

jennypenny* · February 2014

I am glad it was better.

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