HELP!!!! Baby is 5 days old and nursing has been going fine. All of a sudden tonight he won't latch. Gets his mouth around it but won't suck and gets very frustrated. I've tried several different positions and nothing is working. What do I do?!
HELP!!!! Baby is 5 days old and nursing has been going fine. All of a sudden tonight he won't latch. Gets his mouth around it but won't suck and gets very frustrated. I've tried several different positions and nothing is working. What do I do?!
This has happened to me a few times with my son and once with this baby, and honestly the only thing that's worked for me was just to pump and give them a bottle for this feed, and then try again for the next one. They always figure it out eventually but it can be infuriating when they look at your nipple like, what do you want me to do with this? Especially when they were nursing fine the day before.
Although, if you are 5 days pp, it may mean that your milk has come in and you're engorged, which can make it tricky for the baby to get on at first. If that's your situation, then I would try either pumping or reverse pressure softening (Google for how-to) to soften up a bit, then do a c-hold on your breast to get the nipple to stick out a bit more and make it easier for baby to find/ latch.
i think I offended my breasts. Outside of being engorged in the middle of the night, I feel like my supply is going down during the day. By her 7th feeding last night, she was fussy at the breast, and they felt empty. I also usually get a second round of engorgement in the early, early morning. The engorgred breast she drank out of at 2:30am feels normal. Full but not engorgred. This is good in the morning, but bad at night. Is my supply trying to regulate finally?
i think I offended my breasts. Outside of being engorged in the middle of the night, I feel like my supply is going down during the day. By her 7th feeding last night, she was fussy at the breast, and they felt empty. I also usually get a second round of engorgement in the early, early morning. The engorgred breast she drank out of at 2:30am feels normal. Full but not engorgred. This is good in the morning, but bad at night. Is my supply trying to regulate finally?
My guess is yes!! That's what's been going on with me lately too. I started taking fenugreek just in case and it definitely keeps my supply up. I'm definitely enjoying waking up with full but not painful breasts. Not sure that an expert would recommend the fenugreek but it makes me feel better and I'm getting more when I pump, although I only pump once every other day. I take that and lecithin and haven't had a clogged duct issue in over a week.
@missnc77@LadySamLady Kelly mom also states that it's thought that milk production is less in the evening which is why babies go through the "fussy/cluster feeding" stage. So I believe it is totally normal!
@missnc77 yes! It sounds like your supply is evening out. I went through it a couple weeks ago. Now my boobs feel heavier when full, but still soft. They only get truly leaky and hard engorged if he goes much longer than usual between feeds.
Hallelujah! I wanted to start pumping semi-regularly in the morning again. Will that mess this regulation business up?
It depends how sensitive you are to the pump. If you're just trying to build a stash gradually, I'd suggest pumping between 1-3oz at a time total just after a feed, or on the opposite breast that you're feeding from if you do one sided feeds. Big pumps may mess you up if you do them some days but not others-- the days you skip will likely be uncomfortable.
Ok, I feel like since this is my second baby that I've nursed I should know the answer to this but I need some input. Viv is 5 weeks old and sleeping amazingly well for the time being (not getting too excited because my son did this exact same thing but it all went to shit again at the 4 month sleep regression). She's doing an 8 hour stretch at the top of the night, then usually another 3 or 4 hour stretch, then up for the day. I'm wondering if this could potentially affect my supply to go this long without nursing on a nightly basis when we're still in the phase where supply is regulating. She's nursing about every 2 hours during the day, although she usually naps w/o nursing for 3-4 hours in the afternoon too. I would guess we're nursing approx 7x/ day? When my son started sleeping really long stretches at like 7 weeks, my boobs would wake me up and I'd have to pump to relieve the pressure, but that hasn't happened with her at all. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the sleep/ time with husband in the evenings, just not sure if it's gonna cause problems down the line for us.
@Bellodomani did you ever have an issue with supply with your first? Also - do you work? I can't remember if you will switch to pumping or not?
I had crazy oversupply with my son, so if anything the longer sleep stretches helped us regulate, but I feel like my supply with this baby is just right currently. Not sure what my work situation will be because we are moving across the country next month. I most likely will not apply to jobs until she is 6 months at the earliest.
@Bellodomani I would just be worried if she changed that sleeping pattern at all during that long stretch of time. But I guess it could just be like if it were a growth spurt and your supply would adjust? Have you pumped at all during it?
@belldomani I was back at work at 6 weeks with my first and when we hit 4 months I noticed I needed to pump more. I was able to increase my supply by using a hospital pump and power pumping. It sounds like you will still be exclusively nursing for the next 6 ish months, and you're body clearly has a history of a good supply so I think if/when your LO needs more, you'll produce it.
While typing this I realized the worry that we won't produce enough is so all consuming isn't it?
Guys, I need a little encouragement. I haven't pumped in about a week, because Ezra's been basically glued to me (yay week six?) but he finally fell asleep for longer than 30 minutes so I decided to knock out a bottle. Usually I get about half an ounce from the slacker boob and three and a half to four from the good boob. Today I only got three from the good boob and a few drops from slacker boob. It could be because for the past two-three days I haven't eaten or had too much to drink. I've had a bunch of things to do throughout the day and since we haven't gone grocery shopping I've basically lived on one meal a day. I'm sure that's it, but it just freaked me out to see nothing coming from a breast Ezra had fed on perfectly happily not hours before. Guess I'll go back to night pumping to pump up the supply on that side.
EBF mamas: how often does your LO burp? And how long do you try to burp? DS only burps about half the time after he eats, although I'll be honest and say that I usually stop patting him on the back after a couple of minutes.
Married: May 2012 DS1: May 2016 DS2: Jan 2019 Baby #3 EDD: 6/18/24
@bshurdy DS only burps sometimes. I try to keep his head above his stomach when feeding him, which helps with gas. Unless it's a dreamfeed I give him a couple of pats on the back and if he doesn't burp right away I don't press the issue. He doesn't look to be in pain or need to burp so I'm not concerned
@JoMunson I backed off pumping last week after getting sick. I pumped my left boob after she ate from it this morning and literally got one drop out. Before I was getting 1-2 ounces after she fed. It freaked me out as well, but I'm guessing it's because I backed off of pumping.
On one hand it freaks me out, on the other hand I think if I dry up, that's finally my excuse to quit. Sad, I know.
@JoMunson lack of food and water can really tank supply day to day, but a few other things to keep in mind: 1. that babies are much better at getting milk from a breast than a pump. Just this morning I pumped my slacker until I thought it was empty, then DS2 woke up early and ate from both sides-- the one I thought was empty still got him almost 10 min of milk with enough that he dribbled some. 2. Watching the oz while pumping can also raise stress levels and lock up your letdown. 3. Your supply may have regulated back down to exactly what he's eating if you haven't pumped in a week. If you pick up a pump again, your body will probably get the memo to make more. I know it can be worrisome to feel like you're making *just* enough, but it's also how it's designed.
@bshurdy DS2 only burps a few times per day. Like @jenl1681, I keep his head above his chest while he eats, so he usually burps on his own when he needs to. I hold him upright/stretched out for a minute or two after he finishes and give him some pats-- most of the time, I get nothing. I only persist if he's clearly fussy with gas which is more common during a WH because he takes in air when crying.
When does leaking usually stop? I know it's different for everyone but I'm trying to get a glimmer of hope because this is such a nunsance
I talked to a girl about breastfeeding issues and she told me she never got clogged ducts or leaked. Ever. Kinda wanted to punch her out of jealousy....
When does leaking usually stop? I know it's different for everyone but I'm trying to get a glimmer of hope because this is such a nunsance
I talked to a girl about breastfeeding issues and she told me she never got clogged ducts or leaked. Ever. Kinda wanted to punch her out of jealousy....
Lately while nursing my LO has had a little breastmilk come out of her nose. Doesn't bother her but it bothers me! Anyone else got this goin on?
It happens/happened to both of my boys occasionally. No biggie, it's probably a combination of fast letdown and fast eating/not quite getting the hang of stopping the milk flow entirely before breathing. I was really worried about DS1 getting milk boogers when he was tiny, but my pediatrician assured me it's pretty common and not a big deal.
When does leaking usually stop? I know it's different for everyone but I'm trying to get a glimmer of hope because this is such a nunsance
I talked to a girl about breastfeeding issues and she told me she never got clogged ducts or leaked. Ever. Kinda wanted to punch her out of jealousy....
Who is this unicorn?
Her baby is turning 1 at the end of this month and she's still BFing. So, slow claps for her, seriously! Unicorns do exist!
When does leaking usually stop? I know it's different for everyone but I'm trying to get a glimmer of hope because this is such a nunsance
I talked to a girl about breastfeeding issues and she told me she never got clogged ducts or leaked. Ever. Kinda wanted to punch her out of jealousy....
Who is this unicorn?
Her baby is turning 1 at the end of this month and she's still BFing. So, slow claps for her, seriously! Unicorns do exist!
My mom constantly reminds me that she never leaked. Cool, thanks.
@LadySamLady Milk comes out of DD's nose sometimes when my letdown is too fast and she gets choked up. It's scary every time it happens!
When does leaking usually stop? I know it's different for everyone but I'm trying to get a glimmer of hope because this is such a nunsance
I talked to a girl about breastfeeding issues and she told me she never got clogged ducts or leaked. Ever. Kinda wanted to punch her out of jealousy....
Who is this unicorn?
Her baby is turning 1 at the end of this month and she's still BFing. So, slow claps for her, seriously! Unicorns do exist!
My mom constantly reminds me that she never leaked. Cool, thanks.
@LadySamLady Milk comes out of DD's nose sometimes when my letdown is too fast and she gets choked up. It's scary every time it happens!
Mine does the same with clogged ducts and very minimal leaking, I feel ya
When does leaking usually stop? I know it's different for everyone but I'm trying to get a glimmer of hope because this is such a nunsance
I talked to a girl about breastfeeding issues and she told me she never got clogged ducts or leaked. Ever. Kinda wanted to punch her out of jealousy....
Who is this unicorn?
Her baby is turning 1 at the end of this month and she's still BFing. So, slow claps for her, seriously! Unicorns do exist!
My mom constantly reminds me that she never leaked. Cool, thanks.
@LadySamLady Milk comes out of DD's nose sometimes when my letdown is too fast and she gets choked up. It's scary every time it happens!
That sounds so obnoxious. On the other hand, my mom constantly talks about how she leaked a ton, so I feel like there's no hope for me!
So my right side is the MVP, it's so obvious the way LO feeds on that side and always sleeps longer stretches after. Is there anything I can do to boost my left side? I'm thinking of manual pumping a bit on that side just a bit even though I'm only 2 weeks pp. Bad idea? Other ideas?
Those who feed their baby at least one bottle a day. Do you use the milk that you pumped that day or do you go into your stashed milk and use the older milk first and freeze the fresher pumped milk?
Those who feed their baby at least one bottle a day. Do you use the milk that you pumped that day or do you go into your stashed milk and use the older milk first and freeze the fresher pumped milk?
Kelly mom always says used oldest milk first. It's always made me iffy because I've read that your milk changes with your baby so when I give her milk from 7-14 days PP it is like "does her body need this type anymore?", but I've never had any issues and she's always been satisfied!
Those who feed their baby at least one bottle a day. Do you use the milk that you pumped that day or do you go into your stashed milk and use the older milk first and freeze the fresher pumped milk?
Kelly mom always says used oldest milk first. It's always made me iffy because I've read that your milk changes with your baby so when I give her milk from 7-14 days PP it is like "does her body need this type anymore?", but I've never had any issues and she's always been satisfied!
That's what I kinda figured. It just clicked in my head tonight I've been doin it wrong. Thanks for the clarification!!
Someone talk me down. I'm having so much anxiety about giving DD a bottle. She's 5.5 weeks and her pediatrician reassured me that we've waited long enough and the chance of us having problems breastfeeding is slim, so why am I freaking out? Every night I tell DH that he can give her a bottle and then I get nervous and nurse her instead. I think it's partially because DD1 would never breastfeed, but DD2 has been doing so well. Gah, maybe tomorrow!
My LO hasn't had any problems with a bottle vs boob. Have faith!
I'm curious what everyone's preferred hold is? I've been doing football at home and cross while out. Football is my preferred, but cross is getting easier as she gets bigger and stronger. Football is getting harder for us as she gets longer. How can I make cross more enjoyable (i.e. Can use one hand to browse on my phone or iPad).
Someone talk me down. I'm having so much anxiety about giving DD a bottle. She's 5.5 weeks and her pediatrician reassured me that we've waited long enough and the chance of us having problems breastfeeding is slim, so why am I freaking out? Every night I tell DH that he can give her a bottle and then I get nervous and nurse her instead. I think it's partially because DD1 would never breastfeed, but DD2 has been doing so well. Gah, maybe tomorrow!
I was anxious too! I worried he would love the bottle and decide to not take the boob anymore. I literally hid behind a corner the first time and then made DH describe every detail. What got me was my husband saying how much he liked feeding the baby. That was at about a week and just two days ago I finished giving him a bottle so DH could finish dinner and it was weird for me but not for the baby. my (pro?) tip is to leave and do something while the baby is getting the bottle then at next feeding you feed your baby from your breast. That way you aren't around to worry and you know right away that everything is fine. Remember breastfeeding is more than just hunger and thirst and your baby loves cuddling with you and feeling safe.
@JessicaB0627 bite the bullet and do it! I was going to wait until 6 weeks and ended up introducing at 4 weeks with zero issues. We EBF and she has been given a handful of bottles when I've had DH or the in laws take care of her while I've ran out of the house. I know some say they've struggled when waiting to introduce it later and wish they would've done so sooner. You've got this!
@missnc77 I'm doing cross body. I did football until she got too big. It's easier to maneuver her, too. I use the boppy and put pillows under the side that her head is to prop her up more level to my boob. I still have to use two hands to manage her head and the other pushing her body up against mine, but we're slowly getting to where I can one hand it.
My LO hasn't had any problems with a bottle vs boob. Have faith!
I'm curious what everyone's preferred hold is? I've been doing football at home and cross while out. Football is my preferred, but cross is getting easier as she gets bigger and stronger. Football is getting harder for us as she gets longer. How can I make cross more enjoyable (i.e. Can use one hand to browse on my phone or iPad).
I do cross cradle hold- basically if she's nursing on left boob i use left hand to hold boob and right hand on her back while getting latched, and when she's on I slip her head in the crook of my left elbow so she's resting on my left forearm. This actually leaves both hands free if necessary, although I like to right hand on her back to keep her in place. If I'm like on a park bench and my arms get too tired to stabilize her I cross my left ankle over my right knee and use my thigh to help support her weight.
Re: A Strong Start to Breastfeeding/BFing Q&A
Although, if you are 5 days pp, it may mean that your milk has come in and you're engorged, which can make it tricky for the baby to get on at first. If that's your situation, then I would try either pumping or reverse pressure softening (Google for how-to) to soften up a bit, then do a c-hold on your breast to get the nipple to stick out a bit more and make it easier for baby to find/ latch.
While typing this I realized the worry that we won't produce enough is so all consuming isn't it?
I haven't pumped in about a week, because Ezra's been basically glued to me (yay week six?) but he finally fell asleep for longer than 30 minutes so I decided to knock out a bottle. Usually I get about half an ounce from the slacker boob and three and a half to four from the good boob. Today I only got three from the good boob and a few drops from slacker boob.
It could be because for the past two-three days I haven't eaten or had too much to drink. I've had a bunch of things to do throughout the day and since we haven't gone grocery shopping I've basically lived on one meal a day.
I'm sure that's it, but it just freaked me out to see nothing coming from a breast Ezra had fed on perfectly happily not hours before. Guess I'll go back to night pumping to pump up the supply on that side.
DS1: May 2016
DS2: Jan 2019
Baby #3 EDD: 6/18/24
On one hand it freaks me out, on the other hand I think if I dry up, that's finally my excuse to quit. Sad, I know.
@bshurdy DS2 only burps a few times per day. Like @jenl1681, I keep his head above his chest while he eats, so he usually burps on his own when he needs to. I hold him upright/stretched out for a minute or two after he finishes and give him some pats-- most of the time, I get nothing. I only persist if he's clearly fussy with gas which is more common during a WH because he takes in air when crying.
I talked to a girl about breastfeeding issues and she told me she never got clogged ducts or leaked. Ever. Kinda wanted to punch her out of jealousy....
Unicorns do exist!
@LadySamLady Milk comes out of DD's nose sometimes when my letdown is too fast and she gets choked up. It's scary every time it happens!
DS1: May 2016
DS2: Jan 2019
Baby #3 EDD: 6/18/24
Jk, I just have changed nursing pads too many times today and going a bit crazy.
I'm curious what everyone's preferred hold is? I've been doing football at home and cross while out. Football is my preferred, but cross is getting easier as she gets bigger and stronger. Football is getting harder for us as she gets longer. How can I make cross more enjoyable (i.e. Can use one hand to browse on my phone or iPad).
my (pro?) tip is to leave and do something while the baby is getting the bottle then at next feeding you feed your baby from your breast. That way you aren't around to worry and you know right away that everything is fine. Remember breastfeeding is more than just hunger and thirst and your baby loves cuddling with you and feeling safe.
@missnc77 I'm doing cross body. I did football until she got too big. It's easier to maneuver her, too. I use the boppy and put pillows under the side that her head is to prop her up more level to my boob. I still have to use two hands to manage her head and the other pushing her body up against mine, but we're slowly getting to where I can one hand it.