First post as a mom....BF issues

ok..what I thought would be the easiest is not.

Alyson is having problems latching and s^cking. Plus she sleeps so hard that she goes WAY beyond the 2hr breastfeeding schedule. Because we were worried about her, we supplemented with 1/2 oz formula. She takes a bottle fine. We had ONE good session with the boob nazi in the hospital and she was so aggressive! I'm calling my doula to have her come out today to help, but in the meantime, she'll take the boob, but not s^ck.

Any words of experience? I'm fine if I have to resort to pumping or even formula, but am heartbroken that she won't nurse.

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Drinking from a bottle is much easier than s*cking from a boob. With a bottle she doesn't have to work for it but with a boob she does. You do not need to BF every 2 hours. I know you want to build your supply and that is great but you can wait as long as every 3-4. She will wake when she is hungry. Babies are born with the s*cking reflex. When she is truely hungry I would offer the boob. She will get used it your nipple if you keep it up.

I also wanted to say that an incorrect latch can be the most painful experience ever. I would just put her in your arms. Right next to the breast, rub her cheek and bring her to your breast as quickly as you can. Jeremy didnt have a great time opening his mouth so I used to physically put my nipple in his mouth to help him out.

BTW - CONGRATS on being a mommy!!

ETA: was the boob nazi in the hospital the aggressive one or was it Alyson? Has your milk not come in and she is getting frustrated by not getting anything?

Message edited 1/7/2006 11:02:12 AM.

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Yoi have to underess her and turn down the lights or go to a dark room, this will force her to wake up, if ut is too bright she will be forced ot close her eyes and will snooze. I also kept a cool wahcloth near th ebed to wake them up since they were usually so comofy warm that it caused them to be evern sleepier.
Definitely get the help of a LC, it will make a worlld of difference, Alyson will soon learn, just keep trying!

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Like KPtoys said, the bottle is much easier, so if you continue to bottlefeed her, she may never make the effort to nurse. If you really want to try to BF, try to avoid giving her supplements/bottles. Right now is the most important time for your body to start understanding the supply and demand - if you give her formula, your body won't understand that it needs to produce more breastmilk for her. The latching on part is *really* difficult the first few days... just try to be as persistent as you can. Make sure her mouth is open very wide when you try to latch her on, and if she keeps plopping off, just keep trying. Eventually, when she's hungry enough, she'll do what she has to do.. in the meantime, does your hospital have a lactation consultant? If so, call and request a visit...

As for the sleeping, Alex did this as well... I think all newborns do becuase they all come out a little jaundice. FOr the first few weeks we would wake her up every 2-3 hours to feed her to make sure my milk would start coming in, and to make sure she started gaining weight.

Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

WELCOME to both you & Alyson!

With the BF'ing, if she will take the breast but not ****, try to do a compression (squeeze your boob so the milk comes out). When she gets a taste she may start s^cking.

The most important thing to keep your sanity while breastfeeding is to count the # of diapers she's going through - it's the only way to tell if she's getting enough.

It's a myth that all babies are born with a sucking reflex. Preemies are not. Joseph, like most preemies, would keep his tongue up by the roof of his mouth. For the first week, I needed to pump out my milk to feed him with a bottle so I could get his tongue down - and then I would nurse for only 5 min. each side.
While breastfeeding is the most natural thing, it does not come naturally. It does take a lot of effort.

eta. the neonatalogist told me to flick joseph's foot to keep him awake while nursing It upset me so much to do, but it was that or go back to the hospital. So his poor little foot get flicked until he started gaining weight.

Message edited 1/7/2006 11:41:40 AM.

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

This sounds really old school, but it works! With my 1st born, she would not latch on and would not stay latched on when she finally got it, an old maternity nurse (she was like 80, I swear!) came in to help me and she pinched her nose which would then cause the baby to open her mouth and she would begin sucking. I felt it was barbaric at first but it worked!

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

premies may not have developed enough but full term babies are born with the sucking reflex

**** reflex
Rooting helps the baby become ready to ****. When the roof of the baby's mouth is touched, the baby will begin to ****. This reflex does not begin until about the 32nd week of pregnancy and is not fully developed until about 36 weeks. Premature babies may have a weak or immature sucking ability because of this. Babies also have a hand-to-mouth reflex that goes with rooting and sucking and may **** on fingers or hands.

Message edited 1/7/2006 12:32:33 PM.

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Shana, congrats again. I had a lot of problems with kaylee latching. I ended up having to pump and giving her a bottle of breast milk. SHe never latched, her mouth was underdeveloped. I always wanted to BF but Kaylee wanted no part of it. It was very frustrating but I am still pumping and giving it to her in a bottle. Any questions feel free to FM me. I hope it works out. Try to give her the breat as much as possible. She might take when she is ready. Best of luck.

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

ok-to answer karens question, no my milk has not come in yet and that may be frsutrating Alyson. Shes sucked a few times when I put her on, but not enough for her to get anything I think.


i'll stop giving her formula then (even if it's only 1/2 oz??)

she hates being changed so I'll try to put her to the boob after every change. the formula has iron it so she's been pretty gassy and hasn't pooped yet today.

my doula said this lazy stage may last a few days....i just don't want her to starve.

ETA: e got $100 gc to bru, can i get an electric pump for that??

Message edited 1/7/2006 6:27:21 PM.

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

A good electric pump is prob about 200+ dollars...but I could be wrong...

I had an electric pump (for occasional use..not for everyday use)... The first day I got home from the hospital I used it...then took a hot shower... When I came out... my boobs were HUGE and dripping milk everywhere..

I dont know if the pump and shower helped bring it in..or if its a coincidence but its worth a shot!

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

A good electric pump will be more than $100. Try the Aven Isis I really liked mine. I used that while were in Ireland and bought the Medela when we returned home. BF is hard work and it is hard to know if she is getting enough but it does get easier.

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Message edited 1/7/2006 7:35:28 PM.

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Remember, too, in the first few days they don't need all that much... just colustrum, which comes out in tiny amounts. It's normal for her to behave like she's starving and **** a lot, because that's what will trigger to your body to start producing the milk and it large quantities.... the more she *****, the sooner your milk will come in. Try not to worry that she seems hungry... once your milk comes in, it will be ok

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

In the beginning you rent a hospital grade pump...you don't buy those. After about 8 weeks you would switch to a Medela Pump In Style. They are around $200-$300..but that is MUCH cheaper than buying formula. DO NOT buy the cheaper pumps to get your milk in...they will not work properly at this time.

Rent the hospital grade pump. If you need to find out where, go to the Medela website and locate a rental center. Most LCs have them.

BF is just not natural in our society Getting help is very important and often can help you fix the problem quickly.

We are here to support you!!!

Message edited 1/7/2006 10:43:14 PM.

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Shana I am having the same difficulty as you. Basically, when I had time to find the information regarding "things to do/not to do" I had already done all the wrong things I was unable to establish a pattern with Logan in addition to latching on difficulties and "flat" nipples (my grandfather passed away the day after we returned home). So needless to say I was supplementing with formula and pumping to supply breastmilk. I now exclusively pump and have been able to keep up with his demands. I have to say within two days of coming home he was drinking 3-4 oz of milk at a time! He's only 2 weeks old tomorrow and is steadily eating 4 ounces a feeding about 7 times a day! (he feeds about every 3 1/2 hours) So truly, every baby is different. I have beat myself up about not being able to BF, I am going to the ped tomorrow to ask rec'd of LC's. Hang in there!!!!

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Posted by emc

Shana I am having the same difficulty as you. Basically, when I had time to find the information regarding "things to do/not to do" I had already done all the wrong things I was unable to establish a pattern with Logan in addition to latching on difficulties and "flat" nipples (my grandfather passed away the day after we returned home). So needless to say I was supplementing with formula and pumping to supply breastmilk. I now exclusively pump and have been able to keep up with his demands. I have to say within two days of coming home he was drinking 3-4 oz of milk at a time! He's only 2 weeks old tomorrow and is steadily eating 4 ounces a feeding about 7 times a day! (he feeds about every 3 1/2 hours) So truly, every baby is different. I have beat myself up about not being able to BF, I am going to the ped tomorrow to ask rec'd of LC's. Hang in there!!!!

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Thank you all for your help. I did get a manual breast pump today and pumped about 3-4 oz which Alyson took about an hr later. Hopefully she'll latch tomorrow or tonight now that she has gotten a taste for the breastmilk.

If she continues preference for the bottle, then I shall pump for her since I really want her to have breast milk.

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

Re: First post as a mom....BF issues

The manual pump can really HURT your milk supply. I have to be honest that is not the best idea right now. A pump is cheaper than a month or so of formula. In order to pump full-time you need to do it for 20 minutes every 2-3 hours with (1) 5 hour stretch at night. With a manual pump you are talking about 40 minutes of pumping with your hand that is over 300 minutes of your hands squeezing the pump..plus your can't keep up with the proper "***** per minute".

But see, you HAVE the milk. Latching is always easier. A visit with the LC is worth the wait in Gold.