Breastfeeding
imagine7696030614
member
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Mom to 3 with one on the way. EDD 10/04/14
Exclusively breastfeeding after supplementing?
imagine7696030614
member
Hello,
I'm usually on Oct.14 but have been having issues with breastfeeding/baby not gaining enough, so I was hoping to get more advice here. My baby is 3 weeks old and at her 2 week appointment found that she wasn't gaining enough weight back (born at 8.10, discharged at 7.15, and at 2 weeks 8.1) so Dr. Told me to supplement with pumped breast milk/formula after nursing. I feel like her issue of falling asleep at the breast has gotten even worse after introducing the bottle (though her weight gain has been great!) I've seen a lactation consultant and I'm trying the methods to keep/get baby awake but I feel like she's not getting enough from me because it's sooo much work getting her to actively eat for the 30 minutes. She'll usually take 3-4 oz of a bottle after nursing...Anyway, is there any hope that down the road we can get back to exclusively breastfeeding, or have we pretty much ensured that she'll be dependent on the supplemented milk for the long haul? Just looking to see if anyone has any stories of hope...thanks so much!
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Mom to 3 with one on the way. EDD 10/04/14
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Re: Exclusively breastfeeding after supplementing?
**DD1 - 7/9/98**
**DS - 11/9/00**
**DD2 - 4/30/13**
Key things:
- Ask the LC for advice on weaning from the supplement/ guidance on a weight that will be ok to start.
- ask for specific steps you should take for how to do that.
In the meantime:
- rent a hospital grade pump (insurance should cover this with a prescription from your pedi), and pump every time you supplement. This part suuuucks, sorry!
- Never supplement without pumping or you will not be able to build up supply b/c your body won't know it needs to make more milk.
- Pump in 6 min cycles of the "letdown" setting (2min) and the "normal" setting (4 min) to stimulate repeated letdowns.
- if you can, for the next couple of days, clear your calendar. Stay in bed/on couch/wherever and hang out skin-to-skin, and nurse whenever you can get her to latch. Encourage constant nursing, clusterfeeding, etc.
Good luck, mama, and keep at it!
Dx: balanced translocation and LPD
TTC since Oct 2011
BPF 02/19/12, EDD 10/31/12, natural m/c 02/28/12 (4w6d)
IVF (BCPs starting 10/30/12, ER 11/18/12, 5dt of 1 beautiful, healthy embryo 11/23/12)
BFP 12/02/12, u/s @ 6w,5d showed 2 HBs! Identical twins!!
Bed rest from 21w-35w due to short cervix, hospital bed rest from 23w-32w due to PTL
Our rainbows were born 07/19/13 (36w, 5d)
**DD1 - 7/9/98**
**DS - 11/9/00**
**DD2 - 4/30/13**
TTC #1 since 2007. Dx: Unexplained infertility. 4 IUIs in 2008 = BFN. IVF #1 07/09. DD #1 born April 2010 (40w5d).
TTC #2 since 2011. Dx: Endometriosis and hypothyroidism. 2 FETs in 2012, BFP 6/12 but m/c @ 7 weeks. IVF #2 06/13. DD #2 born March 2014 (40w1d).
If you can get in to see the LC today or tomorrow, do it. Call her and tell her it's an emergency and that if she's not free, you need a rec to see a different person. It's OK to be pushy, you shouldn't have to wait until Friday to get help.
Also, ask her to show you how to massage baby's jaw and neck to improve her ability to open her mouth to get a good latch.
I know this is so brutal, and I'm not sure of the best way to do it by yourself - hang in there, mama. Hugs.
ETA: for me, particularly at the beginning, I needed to drink at least a glass of water per hour, and eat at least 2500 calories per day, with a significant proportion of fat, to produce enough milk. If you aren't feeding yourself along with baby, do the best you can to get some one-handed snacks. Granola bars, string cheese, apples, etc.