Just sort of needing to vent but if you have any input or advice feel free to reply!
FTM here and I'm super frustrated and don't know what to do or think.. So my daughters 2 weeks and two days and still jaundice. We had gone to the hospital at 5 days old and she was admitted due to high levels of bilirubin we stayed for 2 days and when they came down from 20 to 14 we were able to leave. Fast forward last Thursday we went to our follow up and they checked her levels and they were at 15. Now today we went for a two week appointment and we tested again a they've gone up to 16 so the doctor told me to stop breastfeeding her (pump) and give her formula for the next two days to bring her levels down..
Here's the thing though, I think it's breastfeeding jaundice not breast milk jaundice because she doesn't latch well and probably isn't getting enough milk to flush the billirubin out.. If I'm right and that's what it is then I'm afraid giving her formula in a bottle is going to make breastfeeding worse and she'll be even less likely to latch when we stop giving her formula and try to breastfeed again. Then her levels will start to rise again or even if they don't then I'll be stuck having to bottle feed and won't be able to breastfeed at all. I'm just so irritated and feel like breastfeeding totally failed and is on a downward slope now and it really depresses me. This whole thing just sucks, ultimately I just want her healthy but uhgg
Re: Frustrated!
We did eventually need to introduce the bottle because of weight gaining issues and found that Minbie bottles with an extra slow nipple has been very close to breastfeeding and has reduced any nipple confusion.
I would recommend seeing an LC before going to formula. Talk through your issues with someone who ONLY deals with breastfeeding. Our first pediatrician told me to stop nursing at 3 months old when I tried to talk to her about some concerns. Then told me that it was too late to see an LC and to just switch to formula. I left her office and went to a walk in clinic for a referral to a new pediatrician and it was the best decision. The new ped was so supportive of us breastfeeding and did everything he could to help with our issues and got me in touch with a wonderful LC. Sometimes I feel like they are too quick to recommend formula.
I would get in to see a lactation consultant today, don't wait (one place told me the next appointment would be a week out, I called the next and got in the same day). I agree that you want to talk with someone who knows and is in favor for breastfeeding.