Seeking advice on BF

Eliz77 · January 2015

Hi, FTM here and 1st time posting. I have discussed this before on other boards, but figured I could ask here as well. I have a 6 week old and not having the best success with BF. I have consulted with two LCs, although one I suspect is really more a nutritionist (works for Pediatricians office). The 2nd LC I met at the hospital and we have been in touch since. We seem to have a lot of ups and downs, and I don't feel my supply is adequate or improving at all.

LO asks to nurse every 1.5-2 hours but only stays on the breast about 10 minutes or so. Sometimes he falls asleep but most often he is fussing for more until I give him a bottle. At 1st, he was taking formula to supplement nursing since he lost some weight and was not gaining it back and was super sleepy. I was feeding 1.5-2oz after nursing, usually every other time, pretty much every 3 hours he'd have a bottle. I was also pumping after feeding a bottle and getting about 0.5-0.75 of an ounce, which I added to his next bottle. I have never pumped more and I am renting a hospital grade pump. I also have the Medela Pump In Style, but the LC at the hospital said to rent the Ameda instead. I felt like we were making do, and the LC was telling me it can take up to a month for supply to kick in fully.

Once LO turned a month old, things changed. I no longer have much "tension" for lack of better word, my breasts are still larger but very soft and I can barely express milk. LO became much fussier about nursing and was asking to be fed more and more frequently. Because his weight went up and he's much more alert, the Dr and the LC on staff encouraged to keep at what I was doing and to pump every 2-3 hours as well. I have noticed if I pump a little before nursing, he seems more content. But after two weeks of this, I don't think we've had more than a handful just nursing meals. And pumping is not yielding much to give.

I think what is concerning me the most is I go back to work at the end of the month. LO is going to basically be FF all day and only nurse at night. Without him to stimulate, will I dry up since pumping doesn't seem to do much? I am so upset that I can't EBF. I've made these last two weeks be devoted to BF, we spend A LOT of time on the couch, skin to skin, side laying for nursing, whatever he wants, and any time he seems fussy, I put him right to the breast. I'm drinking a lot more water, taking Mother's Milk vitamins and the tea. I even drink two stout beers a day.

I know BF is not for everyone, and sometimes doesn't work. Right now, I'm not stressing over it, but when I go back to work, I'm sure I will be. I wish I knew whether to throw in the towel, or whether there is any chance of a turn around. I have never once felt engorged and I barely feel a let down. At 6 weeks my milk should be in, right??

Sorry for the novel! Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Eliz77 · January 2015

theresat858 said:

Have you had your thyroid levels tested and been checked for retained placenta?

Has baby been checked for tongue ties and lip ties (ideally by a specialist and not a pediatrician, since pedis often miss posterior ties).

I haven't had thyroid checked in a year, and I have had it checked a few times in the past-is this something that could change with pregnancy?

LO was checked for tongue/lip ties by the LC. She said he has a good latch-would this go hand in hand with not having a tie?

Eliz77 · January 2015

bantyrooster said:

First your doing a wonderful job. Sometimes we need someone to say that. Have you done a weighed feeding? Do you know how much lo is taking from you? Pumping is not an indicator of how much baby actually takes. I may have missed it but have you ever pumped without feeding lo first? When you pump try to relax, not look at the output in the bottles, look at pictures of lo, message your breasts. It sounds like lo has somewhat of a bottle preference. Bottles give milk right away and it comes out easier. At the breast baby has to wait for a letdown and has to work harder to get the milk out. This leads to baby to get frustrated at the breast because they want milk now. You sound like your doing it all right. Hopefully @amyg * has more advice.

I had one weighted feed done and it was sad LO got about 3/4th of an ounce over a 45 minute nurse when he was 3 weeks old.

I do pump without feeding 1st, always offer him the breast 1st. Here's what just happened-LO was snugged up with me and started rooting/wiggling into nursing position. He latched on and was nursing/swallowing for not even a minute, then pulls back, crying, tries again, repeats a few times before giving up. I massaged my breast and was actually able to produce milk, more like a squirt, not steady stream. I pumped like 10 mins (nothing in bottle) and then put LO back on and he nursed on/off for another 10 mins before falling asleep. He'll nap, then wake up hungry and we'll try again until I give up and give him a bottle. I don't think he really has a preference bottle or nursing, but I do think he can be lazy so when he is over tired, he prefers the easiness of bottle. I try to use the slowest flow nipples and he will react the same way as nursing with pulling back, shaking head and crying when tired.

I know I can't go by what I pump as an indicator of what LO gets. I'm just frustrated because I was hoping to be the mom who EBF, pumps for their LO and has a freezer stash for when I go back to work. I keep reading on here about moms with an over supply who get 4-5oz at the pump and it makes me feel like I've failed already. I'm not really opposed FF if needed, I just want to know what I should do, like if I'm not adequate and should just do FF, fine. I just really wanted to EBF and now I'm just hoping I can do both since EBF is not working.

Thank you all who have responded!

surpriseaddition · January 2015

If I'm reading this right, your LO is 6 weeks, right? There is a huge growth spurt that happens at that time, and I know all 3 of my kids were glued to my boobs starving then. You're doing the right thing nursing constantly. Are you still using the slowest flow nipples? What you wrote makes me think you may not be. I was still using the slowest flow nipples when my LO was 12 months, so you don't ever have to use anything more than that. Also, you aren't going to really pump very much at all when you are BF the first 6 weeks. I was never able to start working on a stash until after the 6 week mark. When you are pumping at work, LO will not have drained you at all, and only then will you start to pump in any type of volume. Try to have LO just in a diaper and use a wet washcloth if necessary to wake him so he nurses longer and stronger. GL!

Eliz77 · January 2015

@suroriseaddition Yes, I am using the slowest flow nipples for Dr Brown bottles. I do think he is going through the 6 week growth spurt and thats partly reason for frustration. Will keep at it and see what happens. Thanks!

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