Breast Feeding

W

wendymin72

Cathlete
Hello everyone.

Well, I intended to breast feed my Joey but it isn't exactly working out that way. We are both having our own set of troubles figuring this one out. He doesn't latch on right and is very impatient and also too lazy to get much milk from me. I have a hard time positioning him correctly and am not very good at assisting him in the latching. I have started using the manual pump I have though so he is still getting milk from me. So far he has been getting 2-4 oz per day of breast milk included in his feedings. Better than nothing I figure.

My left breast is producing milk fine and I am able to get it out with the pump with out much difficulty. The right breast, on the other hand, forget it! I don't know what the problem is but I can pump for 20 minutes and literally only get a couple of drops. Anyone know what could be causing this or how to remedy it?

I was thinking of investing in an electric pump so that I could pump enough to get Joey soley on breast milk but if my right one won't produce, it's not worth it....

TIA for any insight.

Wendy

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

Baby Joey born May 14, 2005 11:19 pm 7 pounds 12 oz 21 inches long.

8 month pic just added! EEK! lol http://www.PictureTrail.com/wendymin
 
Wendy,
If you are using hand pump, throw it out. It never works. It never really worked on my friends either. My MIL bought me an electronic one for my second pregnancy as a gift. It worked WONDERS! I got A LOT more milk out that way and my milk supply was pretty well. With my first, I used hand pump and didn't really get much. It took my first a while to learn how to latch on. Did the hospital give you a "fake" clear plastic nipple for you to put it on your own so the baby can latch on better? I had that with my first and it worked great. It took me almost 4 days for him to learn how to latch on. Sometimes if your breast gets too much milk, it makes it more difficult for the baby to latch on. Also, if the baby is not hungry, don't force feed him even if it's past a couple of hours. Their stomach is so small that 2 ounces will keep them full for a long time. He will let you know when he's hungry. Once he goes through a growth spurt which is soon, he'll be one hungry bugger!

You should check out the Medela breast pumps. I use that brand. Also, you could rent one from the hospital or La Leche League. Hope it works out! Breastfeeding can be a bitch and wonderful at times. LOL :p

Lisa
 
Wendy -

So sorry you're having a rough patch - hopefully it's only temporary.
I used both an electric and a hand pump and have to say that my experience with the manual (I used Avent Isis)was pretty positive. I didn't use it right away, though, so maybe it wouldn't have been as good at the beginning. I love my electric one (Medela Pump in Style) and hope that you can at least give that a try before you change your mind about bf'ing.

I'm not a professional lactation consultant, so what follows is only my advice from two prior bf'ing periods. If you can get a lactation consultant, I really recommend it. I know my hospital offerred that service free, but La Leche might be able to set you up with someone if the hospital's not an option. They know so many tricks and tips that you might not think of on your own. I know mine was like a bf'ing fairy godmother - no matter what I threw at her, she had an idea or two, and most often one of them was the answer to my problem.

First tip (and really, this one does make a big difference):make sure you're eating enough and drinking LOTS of water. I know it's hard in the first weeks (heck, months, years!! ;) ) to take care of yourself, but this is one case where you really do need to take care of yourself so you can take care of your family. When I tried to cut back on my diet too soon, I could see an effect on my milk supply within 24 hours. Same with fluids - drink, drink, drink! This may not be an option, but getting enough sleep is important, too.

You could try pumping one side while your son nurses on the other. This may help you to get more milk than pumping at some other time. (Something about the hormones released during nursing, I think.) I used to pumped more often on my 'weaker' side (it changed throughout the nursing phase) with the idea to working on the side that seems low - barring any true physical problems, your milk supply works on supply and demand principles. As mentioned above, sometime if your breast is too full, it's hard to get a good latch right away, and if you have an impatient eater, they won't be in the mood to try a few times to get it right. You could try pumping a little before a feeding - although, I think that's pretty hard to time before they're on a good regular schedule... I pumped fairly often (supply and demand, again!) to build up a supply for bottles for when I went back to work, and they may have helped increase my production.

Something to keep in your bag of tricks, if you have a true low milk supply issue, you should ask you doctor about fenugreek and Mother's Milk tea, both available at GNC stores. They are both herbal supplements that boost milk production. I was about to throw in the towel with #2 at about month 5 because I couldn't keep up with her growth spurts while pumping at work and someone suggested these to me me. I don't know if everyone gets the same result, but whoa baby! I was back in business (and then some!!) within 48 hours.

Other than that, all I can say is hang in there! It really isn't as easy as some people make it seem - it can become almost a part time job!! :) But it is worth it - for all the reasons I'm sure you already know.

I know this is long - hope something in it helps!
 
Hi Wendy--

Breastfeeding did not come as naturally as I thought it would with my first child, so don't feel like you're the only one.

I second the advice about calling the La Leche League or calling the hospital to see if you can get in to see a lactation specialist. They can be quite helpful.

I found the side lying position to be the easiest for both of us as we were trying to figure out the breast feeding thing.

Keep us posted and hang in there
Maggie
 
I found the Boppy pillow worked great for helping with positioning. It's C shaped and fits around your waist and the baby lays on it. It worked well with the football hold (which was my fav.)and other positions as well. I had 2 - 1 for upstairs and 1 for downstairs. Hang in there!!:):) :)
 
Wendy,

Are you supplementing with formula? If so...stop!!! The more you nurse, the more milk you produce. It is kind of like supply and demand. The more little Joey nurses, the more milk you will produce. The first 2-4 weeks of bfeeding are the roughest. After that, you will feel like a pro. I am nursing baby number 3 and she is 5 months old. She had a bit of trouble learning how to latch on and she was very sleeping. I would have to hold her upright in the football hold to get her to eat. One trick on latching on correctly is putting baby's belly to your belly. That way, he will be facing you. Allow him to nurse as long as he wants and as often as he wants. That is a key in your body producing the milk your baby needs. A lot of people believe in scheduling feedings. With my first baby, my mother told me to watch the baby instead of the clock. That is the best advice I have ever had!! Also, giving a bottle this early can cause nipple confusion, which leads to improper latching.

This is just a small bump in the road and your baby and you will overcome this...I promise!! I have been reading some of your posts and am quite impressed with how you have been working out throughout the pregnancy. I was unable to workout with this pregnancy due to mild complications. But, I started when baby #3 was 10 days old. If you can workout to Cathe being 9 months pregnant...you can bfeed :)

Good luck with the bfeeding and don't give up. You seem like such a strong-willed person and I think you will are a perfect candidate for bfeeding!! Let me know if you need any help.

Sara B
 
Thanks for all of the advice everyone.

I have been supplementing with formula at the hospital nurses' say so. Joey really gets nothing from me because he's been too impatient to give it proper effort from day one. Even with the nurse at the hospital helping him to latch on, he would suckle for a few minutes at best and then stop.

I am really thinking I will just pump for him-using manual right now and thinking of investing in an electric pump. Breast milk is breast milk even when bottle fed so I am happy with that. I just can't get my right breast to produce more than a few drops at a time! GRRR! lol

I promised myself I would not get all worked up if Bfeeding doesn't work for me and I am going to keep that promise. I'm just happy I am able to produce something for him with the pumping.

Maybe when/if we have baby #2 I will try Bfeeding again and be more successful! :)


Wendy

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

Baby Joey born May 14, 2005 11:19 pm 7 pounds 12 oz 21 inches long.

8 month pic just added! EEK! lol http://www.PictureTrail.com/wendymin
 
My best advice is get to a lactation consulatant as soon as possible! They are miracle workers! They have seen just about every problem and can help fix about any problem.

I think pumping the first month is tough because your milk-supply is not built up and the pump just doesn't stimulate the breast as good as the babe does. The less actual suckling there is, the less milk is going to be produced.

Are you having a let-down on the side you're having trouble with? Joey may be getting aggravated because he's not actually suckling long enough for the let-down to occur. The more he's getting used to the bottle nipple, the more he's going to turn away from the breast because it's more work to get the milk.

Try not to give up! Breastfeeding is worth all the hassles the first month. The first month is 100% harder than bottle feeding but after that I think it flip-flops.

Try to find an expert in your area who can help you. Love, Heather
 
I just wanted to chime in again to say I completely understand supplementing with formula/bottles. It's more important that Joey is getting something to eat these first weeks than where it's coming from and how it gets into him :) I had an impatient eater, too, and there is no way you're going to teach them patience at this age! As she put on a little weight and got a little bigger, she wasn't as frantic (still impatient, though, after 3 years...)

I'd put in a plug to keep trying - even if your right breast isn't producing, all the efforts you putin may turn that around in time. Your body is pretty new to this, too, and it's only been a week or so. I'm glad you're reminding yourself not to stress out about this -keep that up too :)

Hang in there and keep us posted -

KC
 
Wendy,

I accidentally hit the pregnancy/postpartum link by mistake, but I'm glad I did because I may have some advice to offer! I breastfed both my children for 14 months each. My oldest, Rachel, was a breeze; however, my son Luke is a whole different story. Luke spent 15 days in two NICU's from birth because of lung difficulty. During that time, I pumped using the hospital's Medella pump. The nurses in the NICU told me that once I used the "Cadillac" of pumps, I'd never want to go back to any other brand. They were SOOO right! I pumped every day while he was in intensive care, and they froze my milk and fed it to him through a tube. The doctors didn't really want to release him to go home until they were assured that he was breastfeeding properly. Well, it never happened. They finally allowed him to come home, but he was still getting fed (my milk) through a bottle (at least he had come off of tube feedings).

By the time the poor little guy got home, I was producing enough milk to feed my entire Sunday school class!:+ No joke. Go out and RENT you a Medella pump. It's the best investment you can make for your baby. After I got Luke home, I had to turn the hospital's pump back in. I tried several other brands, but nothing compared to the Medella. I found a place that rented them, and I stuck with it for 13 more months. The medella pump will increase your milk supply like nothing else will. Little lazy Joey will soon begin breastfeeding naturally because the milk will be there!

Hope this helps and I'm glad I accidentally clicked on the pregnancy forum!

Sarah
 
You def. NEED a lactation consultant!!! It is so worth it!!! Right now you are in the hard period of it but it becomes sooo much easier and healthier for you baby. Please page me if you need any advice!!! i am still nursing #3 at 14 months and I have had every nursing problem possible. I am going to volunteer lactation consultant services as soon as my little ones grow up.Please hang in there :)
 
Thanks everyone!:)

I am going to look into my options and see what I want to do as I have more than one route I can take at this point but I'm not quite sure which way to go yet.

My sister also made a good suggestion which she used with her last 2 babies...I forget what the gadget is called but it is made to assist in breast feeding-it looks like you wear what basically amounts to a bottle around your neck with (I think)pumped breast milk in it which flows out of the bottle into a tube which you hold or tape right next to the nipple that you are trying to feed from. The baby is supposed to take the end of the tube in his mouth along with the nipple and the bottle is supposed to release some milk as he suckles to encourage him to keep it up because he THINKS he is getting the milk from the breast. This buys time just incase he is having trouble getting the milk to come down.

I have been considering an electric pump and a lactation consultant as well...

I have some thinking to do now...thanks again for all of your input, ladies!:)

Wendy

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

Baby Joey born May 14, 2005 11:19 pm 7 pounds 12 oz 21 inches long.

8 month pic just added! EEK! lol http://www.PictureTrail.com/wendymin
 
I am leaning towards the electric breast pump. My best friend's sister has one and will sell it to me for half of her purchase price. I just have to find out what kind it is and see if it has decent reviews before I make the deal....

Wendy

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

Baby Joey born May 14, 2005 11:19 pm 7 pounds 12 oz 21 inches long.

8 month pic just added! EEK! lol http://www.PictureTrail.com/wendymin
 
I think the electric pump will help a lot! I had to exclusively pump for my son and there are many ladies that do this. You are not alone. I did this for an entire year! It got to be such a routine that it wasn't a big probelm.. once you milk is well established (about 6-8 weeks) you can usually reduce the number of times you pump and still keep your supply up. I was able to get a full 24oz each day for the entire year and in the beginning that was more than he ate so I froze it and then was able to use that when he was needing more than the 24oz I was getting.. Good luck to you!
 
Thanks for sharing your positive experience w/pumping. Makes me feel alot better about my decison.:)

Wendy

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

Baby Joey born May 14, 2005 11:19 pm 7 pounds 12 oz 21 inches long.

05/28/05 Check out new album "Me pre and post pregnancy" just added! http://www.PictureTrail.com/wendymin
 
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