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Starting BFing at 2 months -- Long Story!

fyreandbloodfyreandblood member
in Breastfeeding
Hey everyone. I apologize in advance for the rambling here -- my story is a long one.

So I gave birth 2 months ago and I had planned to EP because of body issues and past trauma. When my baby was born however, I started warming to the idea of nursing. I tried in the hospital (I was too nervous about being touched/letting a LC look at me topless, etc to ask for help, which is something I regret) and my daughter's tiny mouth/slight upper lip tie (something I didn't discover until LAST WEEK) and my large breast just didn't meld (I did pump every 2 hours in the hospital and gave her everything I produced, and did tons of skin to skin). Trying at home ended in tears for both of us. I'm a full time grad student and my mom is my daughter's other guardian, so I pumped bottles and supplemented with formula for the first six weeks of my daughter's life. WELL. I ended up getting clogged ducts, which led to mastitis, despite stopping use of my PISA and getting a Symphony on loan (my breasts did not respond well to either pump; I found hand expression to be more of a relief than pumping, and I was correctly sized for flanges, etc). My supply DIED. I had a leaky faucet letdown originally, but I ended up only getting drops. I tried everything from flax meal to chugging water, to cluster pumping, but I think the antibiotics and my thyroid issue (Hashimotos) caused a serious blow. I have to admit that I only pumped once at night in the early days, because my daughter slept through the night mostly, with one feeding at 4am. I regret this as well.

I was so depressed about my supply dying that I stopped pumping all together and returned my Symphony. I went to EFF, which is working great for my daughter, who loves her schedule and her bottles. However, I want to at least supplement her with nursing, so I've started using my PISA again, taking fenugreek, and offering the breast before and after every feeding and in between. I'm going to try to get a supplemental nursing system as well.

My issues besides supply: I am 4'11 with large breasts, a non-existent torso, and huge areolas. Because I'm not as engorged anymore (thanks to fenugreek, I'm getting a steady drip, but only about 1/3 of an ounce), they're super soft/droopy and my nipples don't harden, making it difficult for my daughter to latch. So, sometimes she latches, and sometimes she struggles, fights, and screams with a red face (with the slight lip tie -- I try lifting her lip to help her, but sometimes she tolerates that and sometimes she doesn't). I've tried a nursing pillow, but they don't help because I have to lift my entire breast anyway and it's a bit of a struggle, because my daughter doesn't fit on my lap under my breast or at breast height -- she hits mid-breast and I have to lift it to bring her to the nipple (which I have to do in the perfect position or she won't latch). It's a bit stressful. Any tips or advice or suggestions would be really appreciated. 
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Re: Starting BFing at 2 months -- Long Story!

  • CNYBride05CNYBride05 member
    Sounds like it's been pretty stressful! Can you have an LC come to your house (often covered by insurance but if not, it's generally $100-$200 for a visit). Have you tried a nipple shield? I hate them, but they can be helpful. I'm not sure what else to suggest, but there's a lot of wisdom on this board!
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  • fyreandbloodfyreandblood member
    Thank you!! I've tried a nipple shield and the smallest size leaves this HUGE amount of space that she hates! As for LCs coming to my house, I'm on Medicaid, so no coverage after two weeks :( I wish I could afford one! I want to keep trying, but it's getting kind of crazy. The LCs at my hospital just tell me to keep trying and not to come in. I could use some positioning help guys!
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  • lmlee15lmlee15 member
    What abou changing positions? I really like side lying w my LO. (I pulled something in my neck from sleeping wrong not long after having her and i found that position more comfortable). Do you have a la leche league that meets near where you live? Also i have large breasts as well and the LC mentioned a different kind of pillow that works better for more busty women called "breast friend" or my breast friend... Something like that. Hope that helps. Good luck!

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  • DesignermommaDesignermomma member
    Sorry I'm not much help but check your local area for Breast Feeding Support Groups. The LC at the hospital told me they meet at the hospital once a month and have weighted feedings. (Maybe check other hospitals in the area) and local La Leche Leagues for some free support.
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