BFing blues- need advice (UPDATE- GOOD UPDATE BUT NOW I AM FRANTIC in a good way!!! Need advice pronto!)

UPDATE: OMG- she nursed like a CHAMP just now- but spent over 20 minutes on each breast and still did not seem finished!So now I don't know what to do- do I cut her off after a certain amount of time per breast or just let her go until she is done? How do I know she is getting enough? How do I know if I should still be supplementing?

Also since I am trying to keep up and ultimately store a supply, do I pump immediately after a feeding or not? And for how long



So today is one week since delivery - I can't believe our beautiful little girl is one week old today-

I am a little down because BFing has been a real struggle. Latching was great day 1, but a struggle from then on. She was feeding off of just one breast and not latching on the other. Apparently between having flat nipples and a slow supply, she was fussing/rejecting the breast. She was doing great feeding off of one breast until her weight check. She had lost 10% and I needed to supplement with formula.

Because she took to a bottle immediately and became less interested in my breast with every feeding, and my milk was not really coming in well, I started pumping to try and get my supply going.

Due to a pretty crummy recovery, I have been having a hard time eating and drinking the way I should be which I know has some, but not all to do with the issue.

I have been a slave to the pump, pumping in between every feeding just to get like one- one and a half ounces combined. She gets that from a bottle and then gets formula to supplement.

Today I am having a really bad day about it- it is really getting to me. I try each time to offer the breast, but no interest at all. I have not pumped in 3 feedings now because I have become so upset with all of the work and no results.

I really wanted to try and resolve this on my own without getting a consultant to come in or contacting la leche league since they are quite extreme IMO.

Since my problem is two fold, I feel like this is a lost cause. I don't know what to do to increase or even attempt to increase my supply. I am trying to eat and drink as much as possible, I am trying to eat protein. I was thinking of getting the medela trainer, but what good will that really do to train her to breast feed if I can't produce all that much milk anyway.

If anyone can offer me any advice as to what I can do to resolve the latch issue, the milk supply issue, I would greatly appreciate it.

I am just not sure if 1 week is just too late

Message edited 8/6/2009 10:02:01 PM.

Re: BFing blues- need advice

its not too late! hang in there! if you are determined to do this, there is hope!!

for supply issues, i know it's HARD but keep putting the baby on the breast...you can take fenugreek, mother's milk, more milk plus, but ultimately, the more the baby nurses, the more your supply will increase.

drink LOTS OF WATER. seriously. like a lot. i was just in ny visiting and it was HOT last week. i was drinking water alll the time. i was engorged every couple hours whereas before, i would build up my supply steadily. water/liquids help ALOT.

hang in there!

Re: BFing blues- need advice

1 week is definitely not too late. I would contact La Leche or an LC. They can help you with the latch issues & give advice to boost your supply.

I know pumping & feeding is rough because then you don't get a break - and you need one to take care of yourself.

If you have a friend that bf'd, they may be able to help you too. It's hard to explain this stuff online but you may need to compress & give her a taste so she clues in on where the food supply is.

Please don't be down about this. Breastfeeding - while the most natural thing - DOES NOT come naturally.

Re: BFing blues- need advice

all i can tell you is i feel your pain... ds latched great in the delivery room and would fall asleep EVERY other time... do to the fact that i am mrsa pos i was treated like i had the plague in the hospital (mnd you i am a health care worker and got it from working in a hospital and half of them prob have it to but that is besides the point)... so when i got home i gave in and started pumping... a friend of mine came over and tried to help with no success... eventualy i gave in to pumping only.. i then developed mastitis.... but i prevailed and am now just tsopping at 10 months.... my friend turned to me when she was helping me and said to me the one piece of wisdom that helped me get through

"breast feeding is the hardest thing a woman can do... it is exhausting, time consuming, and occasionally painful..." and she was right... HOWEVER at 10 months ds has had one cold, and is not even slightly overweight so i look at it and say it was a success even if it was only at the pump.....


try and cheer up it will get beter and if you decide that it does not work for you, well you should applaud yourself for trying

Re: BFing blues- need advice

See, I feel like I am drinking alot, but maybe am not sure what alot really is. Also, I keep putting the baby to the breast but she will not latch- just scream bloody murder.

I do compress, but she is still not interested. I have tried putting drops of formula she licks and then screams.

I am going to keep trying, but I am just overwhelmed with uncretainty as to what the next step is.

I will try to post on LLL and see.

The big problem is she just won't nurse. She flat out refuses . . . Which is why i thought maybe the medala trainer that sens the firmula down a thin tube attached to the breast might help?

Where would I go to buy these supplements?

Message edited 8/6/2009 3:59:48 PM.

Re: BFing blues- need advice

Try oatmeal... a natural supply enhancer

Re: BFing blues- need advice

I am in the same boat. My DS was born 8 days ago. BF great in the hospital, but then when my milk actually came in, he wasn't sucking the way he needed to be, he is tongue tied as well. So, at my last pediatrician appointment, they told me I needed to start to supplement. So, I have been giving him 2 oz. formula and then whatever I am able to pump. (Usually 1.5-1.75 oz. in total) I mean, at least he is getting the breast milk. But, it is frustrating. He goes for a weight check tomorrow, so hopefully he gained at least a little this time....

Try to stick with it... FM me if you need anything.

Re: BFing blues- need advice

As far as the latch issue is concerned, have you thought about trying a nipple shield? It's a silicone cover that goes over the nipple and makes it easier for the baby to latch.

I had the exact same issue when DD was born--flat nipples meant that she has having trouble feeling the nipple on her palate, and she would just root and root and get very frustrated But this was also after day 1, where she latched with no problems on either side, just drew blood on both sides The nipple shields definitely saved me, because it was so painful I was willing to throw in the towel if it didn't get better.

Have you seen a lactation consultant yet? Mine was AWESOME and if it hadn't been for her, I definitely would have given up. I am not on LI, but I'm sure your OB or someone on here can recommend someone for you

Re: BFing blues- need advice

JMO, but I really think you should consider calling a lactation consultant. I worked with 4 LCs while I was in the hospital and they really helped with the latching. I took a BFing class, but I still had no idea what I was doing or whether DS was latching correctly.

Definitely drink a ton of water and get plenty of calories. Try oatmeal, Mother's Milk Tea and/or More Milk Plus. You should be able to find the tea at the grocery store. Is there a Whole Foods near you?

The best way to increase your supply is to nurse. Will DD nurse at all? I'd probably hold off on the trainer for now. I used an S tube while DS was in the NICU. It was a tuny tube attached to the breast that fed DS while I was BFing. That way, he wouldn't get a bottle, but he'd get enough food and he'd continue to stimulate milk production by BFing.

Also, don't judge the amount you're producing by what you're pumping. The baby is much more efficient at getting milk than a pump. Right now, DD's stomach is small so I wouldn't worry if you're not getting much. If you can't BF, make sure you're pumping as often as DD eats. Good luck! BFing is extremely difficult, but it should get easier.

Re: BFing blues- need advice

i know it's not something you want but it was a lifesaver for me was to hire a LC. turned out my Ds was tongue tied and had to get it snipped. not only did she examine both me and him, she emotionally gave me support during that rough time.

good luck

Re: BFing blues- need advice

Re: BFing blues- need advice

I had the LC come to me several times in the hospital. She said she had her latch down and was just being a lazy nurser. She preferred only one side, since my right is flatter. I really think the true problem came with supplementation through a bottle, since the nipple is so much more substantial than my own.

I did try a nipple shield but she didn't like that either.

I figured if I tried the Medela supplemental system with the tube that attaches to the breast with formula, that could help.

I just feel like I am doing everything the LC in the hospital showed me the 5 times she saw me.

I feel like I either need to fix the nipple situation or find a way for the reward behind the nipple to be so great that she wants it

Re: BFing blues- need advice

Have you tried using nipple shields? I also have kinda flat nipples.

I had issues with Sasha finding her latch-- and they gave me these in the hospital. It worked out really great-- and I nursed her with them until she was like 2 to 3 months old. I used them for a long time because I was afraid of what would happen when I didn't use them.

Anyway-- even her latch was ok, they are still good to use as a transition from the bottle to the breast-- because the nipple is similar to the bottle. I know people who have successfully gotten the baby back on the boob using them.

Give it a try-- and this may also help with boosting your supply. Also, a week after delivery is still VERY early in terms of establishing a supply. As long as her Ped is ok with her weight gain-- keep at it, and I promise it will get easier!

Re: BFing blues- need advice

I bought the nipple shield and she did not care much for it. I am not sure it fits correctly though- maybe I will try the other sizes I bought- it seemed like there was a gap between my nipple and the tip of the shield . . .

Re: BFing blues- need advice

honey this is where your mom insticts are going to come through.

if you feel the tube will work, go for it. sounds like a good idea.

anything to get away from the freaking pump.

good luck!

wanted to add...I tried to drink bottle of water before nursing and after.

at night I only did before.

I added lemon since I got so tired of drinking.

Re: BFing blues- need advice

I know you don't want to call a LC because you saw the one in the hospital but when you are home it is totally different. If you need recs, we can help you. Most LC's are kind and nice and will help you and not be crazy. I know LLL has a rep, but my LC was not like them and even she said they were militant and not right for everyone.

Hang in there. In a few years, it might be YOU begging for a way to wean

Re: BFing blues- need advice (UPDATE- GOOD UPDATE BUT NOW I AM FRANTIC in a good way!!! Need advice pronto!)

bump with update

Re: BFing blues- need advice (UPDATE- GOOD UPDATE BUT NOW I AM FRANTIC in a good way!!! Need advice pronto!)

go gadget go! let her nurse until she feels like it! yay!

Re: BFing blues- need advice (UPDATE- GOOD UPDATE BUT NOW I AM FRANTIC in a good way!!! Need advice pronto!)

The only advice I can give you is to let her stay on as long as she wants. When I began BF I would cut DS off after 20 min on each side. He always seemed hungry still. So I let him nurse as long as he wanted. Sometimes he would stay on 40 min on one side. Even if she stays on for a long time on one side, always offer the other side. I always did this and DS always took it.
DS would latch on and when he was done he would come off himself. If they look sleepy and content, then they had enough.
I was never good about pumping, so I have no advice.

Re: BFing blues- need advice (UPDATE- GOOD UPDATE BUT NOW I AM FRANTIC in a good way!!! Need advice pronto!)

Re: BFing blues- need advice (UPDATE- GOOD UPDATE BUT NOW I AM FRANTIC in a good way!!! Need advice pronto!)

If she doesn't seem to be full, just nurse for 10 minutes on each side, give her a bottle of formula, then pump. Do this for a day or two so you boost your supply and fill her belly.

My LC had me do this because she said DD was burning calories nursing but she wasn't getting that much in return.

Re: BFing blues- need advice (UPDATE- GOOD UPDATE BUT NOW I AM FRANTIC in a good way!!! Need advice pronto!)

I think its a good idea to nurse on demand, let her nurse on one side as long as she likes and then offer the other side.

Re: BFing blues- need advice (UPDATE- GOOD UPDATE BUT NOW I AM FRANTIC in a good way!!! Need advice pronto!)

Let her nurse for as long as she wants. DS used to nurse for at least 45 minutes. The only time I'd take him off was if he was sucking more for comfort and not eating. I'd give him a pacifier so I could get a little bit of break. If she's upset when you take her off, you can try a pacifier or if you really want, you could try giving her some formula. You can also judge whether she's getting enough by the # of wet and dirty diapers.

I didn't start pumping to build a supply until 6 or 8 weeks. Before that, I occasionally pumped just to have a bottle on hand in case DS was frustrated with BFing. I pumped for 15 minutes after the first morning nursing session b/c that was wen my supply was the greatest. I stopped giving bottles for a while though b/c it seemed t interfere with DS's latch.

Re: BFing blues- need advice (UPDATE- GOOD UPDATE BUT NOW I AM FRANTIC in a good way!!! Need advice pronto!)

Do I cut her off after a certain amount of time per breast or just let her go until she is done?

-Let her go as long as she wants...her suck stimulates your body to make more milk- the more she is at your breast- the more milk you body will know to make!!!


How do I know she is getting enough?

-For me, this is the HARDEST part about BFing- Im a #'s gal and want to SEE she/he is getting enough...thats not how it works when you nurse though...SOOOO COUNT DIAPERS- 1 diaper/day old she is... (2 days old = 2 wet and 2 dirty) do this until there are too many dirty diapers to count!

How do I know if I should still be supplementing?


-She'll tell you...and if you are uncomfortable offer her some formula (or pumped milk) AFTER she nurses... Just be sure to ALWAYS put her to the breast first...


Also since I am trying to keep up and ultimately store a supply, do I pump immediately after a feeding or not? And for how long...


-I would pump after at LEAST 6 feeding/ day for 15min, it will really help you get your supply up...

Also fenugreek, oatmeal and water have become STAPLES to my diet and I feel they really help!

Re: BFing blues- need advice (UPDATE- GOOD UPDATE BUT NOW I AM FRANTIC in a good way!!! Need advice pronto!)

So happy it's working out for you now!!!! I know you posted your update last night, but DEFINITELY let her nurse as long as she wants.....as other pps said, the more she sucks, the more milk your body will make. I would not supplement unless after sucking all she wants she still wants more, I doubt she will. And as long as she is having enough wet diapers and she gains weight at her next appt, you won't need to supplement at all unless you want to.