Third time's a charm...maybe? Breastfeeding advice request

Mamaengen · February 2015

so this is baby three for me. So far, I'm 0-2 for successful breastfeeding. Baby #1 couldn't latch even bottles. Baby #2 suffered at the hands of my supply and chronic fatigue (thanks to my low thyroid and having nearly died of malaria). So...for baby #3, I'm really praying to be able to breastfeed. It's my last baby, and I'd love to be able to share that bond with at least one of my kids, not to mention the financial help it'd be. So, my question is this: if you were a successful nurser, what did you do to help ensure your success? I could use some advice. Maybe I haven't heard or read what you did. Are there things to start now (I'm just about 31 weeks), or just postpartum? Anxiously awaiting advice.

Sharon&Paul · February 2015

I go through this with each of my pregnancies. I always start out optimistic and end up supplementing. My first was a great nurser, but when I went back to work I had a hard time pumping enough. We continued until 17 months, but she got some breastmilk and some formula. Our second was tongue and lip tied. We had the surgery done when she was 4 months old. She even had a hard time latching to a bottle. At that point she became a lazy nurser and failure to thrive. We did anything and everything to get her to gain weight. She lasted about 6 months breastfeeding. My third was premature and in the NICU because she stopped breathing. She was unable to nurse in the beginning because she would stop breathing. I pumped, but never got enough. They started supplementing in the NICU. When she got home she became a better nurser, but from 6-9 months I had thrush that I could not resolve. Finally I throw in the towel and just pumped until a year.

topaz7777 · February 2015

You should try the breastfeeding board here on the bump. You'll get a lot more advice there.

Babykells3 · February 2015

I'm in the same boat as you! Baby #3 here, DS1 was born at 31 weeks and was born without a suck reflex and was tube fed and then bottle fed and then never wanted to latch so I pumped and bottle fed with him. DS2 was born at 36 weeks and had low blood sugar so was supplemented and then never wanted to latch as well. So I'm really hoping and praying that this baby will be full term and strong and want to breastfeed. I've already started going to Le Leche League meetings once a month to get into a good support group. I am also taking a breastfeeding class at 36 weeks and have a private lactation consultant that will be coming to the hospital right after birth to spend some one on one time with just baby and I. Good luck to you! I hope everything works out!

tigerlily25 · February 2015

Have you thought of maybe taking a breastfeeding class? I know they offer them at most hospitals. I was considering it, being a FTM and having no prior knowledge.

keifekm · February 2015

I was blessed with a natural latcher so I don't really have any good advice. Best of luck to you though. It is a wonderful way to bond with baby and I wish everyone was able to experience it (who wants to). If you struggle this time around I would definitely engage a lactation consultant. I hear they can really help moms and babies be successful.

kjuryfl · February 2015

Good for you for trying a third time! I was able to exclusively breastfeed my daughter for 13m (with the occasional formula bottle while she was babysat and I didn't pump ahead of time). My daughter had a terrible latch at first but I was bound and determined to make it work. The hospital that I delivered at had a lactation consultant that I could use as much as I wanted during my recovery and by appt afterwards. I called her in at least 3x before going home. After I got home I was still dealing with a latch issue and joined a breastfeeding support group. It was once a week and basically a room filled with about 20 nursing moms and 2 lactation consultants who were there to help you. I went to 8 of those meetings before I was finally confident with our nursing relationship. From there it was smooth sailing with the occasional supply drops. During those drops I would take fenugreek and up my water intake by a ton. I never had to supplement. Come 13m we were both ready to wean and it was an easy process. Good luck!

maplebar · February 2015

topaz7777 said:

You should try the breastfeeding board here on the bump. You'll get a lot more advice there.

Except there are like 3 people there now and no AmyG.... She's already gotten more replies here in a day than most over there get in a week.

I visited a lacation consultant early on and I nursed on demand through many sleepless nights and days where I couldn't remember if I had gotten up out of the chair yet. I went into it with confidence, kellymom bookmarked, and the number of the LC in my phone. I also liked the book "breastfeeding made simple" because it explained how your boobs work. It wasn't something I knew anything about before.

topaz7777 · February 2015

maplebar said:

topaz7777 said:

You should try the breastfeeding board here on the bump. You'll get a lot more advice there.

Except there are like 3 people there now and no AmyG.... She's already gotten more replies here in a day than most over there get in a week.

I visited a lacation consultant early on and I nursed on demand through many sleepless nights and days where I couldn't remember if I had gotten up out of the chair yet. I went into it with confidence, kellymom bookmarked, and the number of the LC in my phone. I also liked the book "breastfeeding made simple" because it explained how your boobs work. It wasn't something I knew anything about before.

Ugh. It was so helpful when I had my first. That really sucks. Well, I had huge problems with latching and had to see 3 LC's which helped. As far as production, I used fenugreek for a while (not sure if I spelled that right) and mother's milk tea, but I didn't have too much trouble with production. I think the key is that if you skip a feeding because baby sleeps through it, pump.

CivilMommy · February 2015

book: breastfeeding made simple

website: kellymom

in person: find an LC that you mesh with. It took me 4 tries to find someone who could figure out the issues with #1...we ended up EPing but even then this LC was a fantastic help. She was the first one to really pay attention to my DD's nursing mouth movements and figure out that she wasn't pulling milk - only taking what dribbled on its own. It was painful for me and not getting her the nourishment she needed. That LC was the one who suggested EPing - and it worked out great for us.

my #2 was a totally different nurser and once we fixed his shallow latch - things were great.

I hope it works out for you!

sschwege · February 2015

Just lurking over here. As pp said you might consider taking a class. Try to BF ideally as soon as baby is born and if not then in the first hour or so, delay all nonessential things, weighing, first bath, etc. Try holding baby skin to skin, it's great for bonding but also helps to increase your milk production and increases baby's interest in nursing. If possible avoid all artificial nipples until BFing is well established, pacifier, bottle, etc. The best advice I ever got was from an LC and she said, "Watch the baby not the clock" which is to say, if your baby seems hungry feed them, even if it's only been a short time from the last feed. Even if things appear to be going well ask to see an LC at the hospital, it's good to have someone check the latch and hold. When you get home ask for help right away at the first sign of a problem, either call your OB or MW or get in touch with an LC. Drink plenty of water, make sure you are getting enough calories, oatmeal is supposed to help with supply and try to rest when you can (easier said than done I know!). Good luck mama!

70point3 · February 2015

We have a doula who's going to be helping with it. Have a friend who's had this work for all three of hers, so it's our plan A.

Other than making sure you have someone to help, the advice we've gotten from our Hypnobirthing classes is the immediate skin to skin contact. Baby should lay vertical on your chest, not pushing it's face right to their boob like some nurses rush into. And giving it about 30-90 minutes, baby will find it's own way there.

Also, depending on personal preference, have read studies hat show that the medications during labor can slow or hurt too. So if you're open or able to minimizing those, it could potentially help with initial latching too.

Good for you for trying a third time!

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Third time's a charm...maybe? Breastfeeding advice request

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DD 7/2010, DS 3/2012, #3 due 4/24/2015

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