Need help badly, didn't think I'd be able to breastfeed and now it's happening.

Re: Need help badly, didn't think I'd be able to breastfeed and now it's happening.

• vvvvvfee member

  May 2014

  you can look up videos on youtube on how to get a good latch (here's one- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHs2Ql5Kylo). you can try putting ice cubes on your nipples in order to make them more erect. also, hold your breast with one hand like a sandwich, to squeeze it flat and make it easier to offer your nipple to your LO.
  
  here's a video on how to hand express breast milk  (https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/HandExpression.html). it's easier to express into a wide, shallow bowl or pan so it doesn't spray everywhere. you can pour the milk into a bottle to offer it to your LO. you can keep it in the fridge for several days (after that, freeze it, you can use a ziploc bag for now). you're not supposed to microwave-- just warm it by gently swishing the bottle around in a bowl with warm water.
  
  i think you should put in a call now to get an appointment with a lactation consultant who can give you more assistance with this. or call your OB/midwife/care provider for recommendations.
  
  

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• TheAnalyticalMommy member

  May 2014

  That's awesome! I'm definitely not an expert (in fact, i ask questions on here often!) but it sounds like you're going to need a pump and you're going to want to either pump or hand express milk to empty your breasts a bit before your LO will be able to latch - especially since it'll be new for him. 

  
  

  Definitely need a LC ... good luck!!

  Rachel (a.k.a. The Analytical Mommy.com and @analyticalmommy on IG)
  I'm just trying to make sense of things :-) 
  

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• bingbongsmama member

  May 2014

  Go see an LC. I saw a fabulous one in the hospital who showed me how to get LO to latch onto my flat nipples. There are tricks and certain positions that work and I've been able to bf.

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• canarygirl member

  May 2014

  I've also had a reduction and am unsure of my ability to breastfeed. I'm hoping I can - I'm producing colostrum so I'm hoping that's a good sign - but we will find out in just a few weeks when this baby arrives!

  
  

  I know you've got your hands full, but I'd love to hear an update on how things are going?

  
  

  Good luck to you and congrats!

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• KittyKittyCat17 member

  May 2014

  Thank you for your replies.

  
  

  I went to Target and got a Medela hand pump.

  
  

  I tried again to get baby to latch but he can't because I can't get my nipples erect.

  
  

  The problem I'm facing now is that my breasts are severely engorged. They have grown immensely, are extremely tender and sore, I've got hard lumps and they are getting red.

  
  

  I pumped by hand but not only was it difficult to get to work, but after an hour of trying I was only able to get out 2 oz. between both breasts.

  
  

  I'm going to try again in about 30 minutes but it was very uncomfortable and all I felt like I was accomplishing was squeezing the heck out of my areolas and getting a decent squirt every once in a while but mostly just drips.

  
  

  I've been researching and I'm scared of a breast infection. I'm going to call the hospital in the morning and try to get in.

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• bingbongsmama member

  May 2014 edited May 2014

  Take lecithin 1200mg 3x a day and Motrin. Pump and massage and drain your breasts to prevent mastitis. You might also try a nipple shield to get LO to latch while its too hard and lumpy

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• MrandMrsFireFighter member

  May 2014

  A nipple shield helped establish our breastfeeding relationship. I had very flat nipples and we needed it so my LO could latch the first 3 weeks, and then we easily weaned off of it (and my nipples are no longer flat!). Babies r us sells them, medela makes them, and a LC should be able to show you how to successfully use it!

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• lovemybellag member

  May 2014

  MrandMrsFireFighter said:

  A nipple shield helped establish our breastfeeding relationship. I had very flat nipples and we needed it so my LO could latch the first 3 weeks, and then we easily weaned off of it (and my nipples are no longer flat!). Babies r us sells them, medela makes them, and a LC should be able to show you how to successfully use it!

  I second this. The Medela breast shields work wonders!
  

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• TheAnalyticalMommy member

  May 2014

  A hot shower might help get you some relief and make it easier to pump. Good luck!!

  Rachel (a.k.a. The Analytical Mommy.com and @analyticalmommy on IG)
  I'm just trying to make sense of things :-) 
  

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• opheliainwaders member

  May 2014

  If you need to find an IBCLC, you can use this link, and put in your zip code to find one in your area. Many make house calls, and their visits are generally covered by insurance.
  
  https://www.ilca.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3432
  

  

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• KittyKittyCat17 member

  May 2014

  Thank you everyone for the comments.

  
  

  I saw a lactation counselor at the hospital and we tried breastfeeding with a nipple shield. It was difficult but we managed to get it to work, but it was painful.

  
  

  I couldn't produce the same results at home even with the help of my husband who was present at the appointment with me. The reduction surgery has caused my nipples to be painful most of the time, and with the shield even with the baby's mouth fully open before latching, the pain was too great and I couldn't take it along with the baby's frustration over the time it took to pull my nipples up enough and he would give up screaming right as the droplets would form, which after hours of multiple trials of failed attempts and painful successes was beyond crushing.

  
  

  For my sanity I've decided to just try pumping once at night to at least give him a bottle a day. I'm having some troubles adjusting and my time management is on the fritz so for me this is the best route, I've been in tears over the whole ordeal many times now.

  
  

  I can't go back in time and change that I had a reduction, I just have to deal with it now and accept that it just isn't working.

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• andie0190 member

  May 2014

  I am away from my LO for 13 hrs over night for work three nights a week and do my best pumping in the middle of the night and first thing in the morning. Massage and warm compresses during pumping can help release the milk. And if you can tolerate the pump you could exclusively pump but you would have to do it every time you feed your little one to produce enough. Should be every two to three hours. The more you do it the more you produce and just doing skin insulin with exclusively pumping helps with production. There are also other things you can do to increase your supply such as lactation cookies and fenugreek pills. Both of them have helped me but use them with caution in your early weeks because your suppy hasn't regulated and you could easily get into an oversupply issue.
  Also even without a reduction I had a lot of pain at first establishing a good latch and getting used to the feeling of let down. The more I breast fed and pumped my LO the less the pain I had. No matter what you choose to do even the smallest amount of breast milk will do great things for your LO.
  Storage of pumped milk is 1 week in fridge (not on door), 6 months in regular freezer and 1 year in a deep freeze.
  Never microwave the milk it breaks down the protiens and good nutrients as well as makes hot spots. I run hot tap water over bottle till warmed and swirl to combine fats that can stick to sides or float to top (looks like curdled milk but trust me it is not) because the water and fats seperate when refrigerated. Don't shake.
  Kellymom.com is a great web site to check out when you get a few minutes free, it's easy to search.

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• andie0190 member

  May 2014

  Also I found that I got so much more expressed when I use my electric pump versus my hand pump. Check with your insurance to see if an electric pump is covered. Medela and ameda are both great.

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