Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

Okay, so I know it is only Day 3, it just feels longer since I went into the hospital on Thursday at 4:30 AM and didn't give birth until Saturday at 12:08, but I need some breast feeding help and encouragement.

Sabrina seems to like to play with my nipples but she doesn't seem to want to latch for long. She had some jaundice and so the pediatricians at the hospital wanted me to put her to the breast first but also give her 20-30 ccs of formula as a supplement.

Now that I am home and don't have a nurse handy to help me with the latch, I am turning to you ladies.

How do you get a good latch? And how do you wake a lazy, sleepy baby so that she eats?

I just tried to nurse her at 1:30 and it was unsuccessful. I got her undressed and tried a cool cloth on her head (like one book suggested) and still nothing.

I know it is only Day 3 but my hormones are making me doubt my ability to do with and I really need some help.

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

I think you need to see a Lactation Consultant and keep at it. I think if you do, it will become a real joy for the both of you!

I know a good LC in massapequa if you are close to there...

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

Remember, the first three weeks are the hardest - brutal even, but if you can get through these first weeks, you'll be smooth sailing from there.

To get your baby to latch properly - try to tickle her mouth until she opens VERY wide, and then put her in position. I remember clearly having problems at the hospital, and the nurse finally just came up to me and literally pushed Alex onto my boob The point being, sometimes gentle doesn't work, and sometimes you have to be a little more forceful, if that makes sense - not to the point where it hurts or she gets upset. BUt, once she opens wide, put her up against your boob...

To wake her, one thing that worked for us was to tickle Alex's back - apparently newborns HATE it. It always woke her up

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

Oh, I also think you can tickle the babys nose with your nipple. Thats a good one!

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

I was totally there. Jaudice baby, he would fall asleep while nursing. When ever he was awake, my boob was constantly out ready to attack him. I also rented a pump from the hospital and bottlefeed him.

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

YOu can do it!!

The 1st two weeks are the hardest, but just take it day by day

DD was the same way a very sleepy baby.

Try to feed her in a different positon. My fav position and the only one that worked for about 2 months was where you lay the baby on her side across your body, hold her with your thumb and ring finger/pinky around her neck, controlling her head with your forefinger and middle finger. I forget the name of this hold...

With the other hand hold your breast and with your fingers make your nipple perk and tickle her bottom lip or chin with it. When she opens her mouth bring her to your breast making sure you keep your nipple upright so she comes up to it. Picture yourself drinking, you need to raise your chin to eat, so does she. if you see her throat moving, she is swallowing and you have a good latch, if you aren't comfy, start over and try again.

IN the beginning it took me a several tries for DD to latch on right so i was comfy.

Also try www.kellymom.com
That site helped me alot! It also has instructions and pictures of different holds.

I also used a LC for the first couple weeks.
You can do it!!!

Message edited 2/13/2007 1:59:54 PM.

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

Get a Lactation Consultant or contact a local La Leche leader for guidance.

Does she open her mouth for you and you just can't get it in right, or is she not even opening her mouth?

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

Posted by Bxgell2

Remember, the first three weeks are the hardest - brutal even, but if you can get through these first weeks, you'll be smooth sailing from there.

To get your baby to latch properly - try to tickle her mouth until she opens VERY wide, and then put her in position. I remember clearly having problems at the hospital, and the nurse finally just came up to me and literally pushed Alex onto my boob The point being, sometimes gentle doesn't work, and sometimes you have to be a little more forceful, if that makes sense - not to the point where it hurts or she gets upset. BUt, once she opens wide, put her up against your boob...

To wake her, one thing that worked for us was to tickle Alex's back - apparently newborns HATE it. It always woke her up

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

The Lacation Consultant is a HUGE help. Also, I guitly used a nipple sheild (for way longer then I should have) that helpd tremendously. The first few weeks are the hardest, but then it DOES become second nature. My husband couldn't understand why it would take me an hour to feed the poor thing.....but it does - in the beginning. Also, remember, their stomachs are so small, they do not eat a lot. Keeping them awake is a chore - my baby was 3.5 weeks early, so he was even sleepier then a full term baby.

keep at it, and good luck.

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I remember thinking I can never do it. I'll never get through it. And here I am, 10 months later and DD is exclusively breastfed (and solids).

Definitely try to tease DD with your nipple by brushing it against her lips. She will open up and then squeeze is it in there. It may take a while, but you will both get the hang of it.

If she is making diapers regularly, don't worry about her sleeping. DD used to fall asleep on my boob all the time after a few sucks, BUt the nurses said that as long as she makes diapers, she is OK.

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

It's most def. a tough few weeks but it gets so much easier. Just keep at it don't give up!!! The football hold worked best for me in the beginning. I would rub my nipple from her chin to her nose, when I noticed the slighest crack in her mouth I would shove my nipple in there (as a pp said gentle doesn't always work) I could only manage to keep her up for a very short period of time in the begining to eat. DD was the fastest eater only a few minutes on one boob before she dozed off on me. But she made plenty of wet diapers and kept gaining weight so she was getting what she needed in that short period of time.

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

I agree with all the advice you have gotten. Just know that the first couple of weeks are SO HARD, but it gets so much better if you stick with it. I would call a lactation consultant. Also, if you rub your nipple on the side of your baby's cheek its reflex that she will open her mouth to nurse. As soon as her mouth is open, you have to literally shove your boob in. Good luck!!

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

You can do it!
As many of the pp said, it really does take practice. It seems like it should be so easy but it isn't. I don't have any advice that is better than what is previously posted, just words of encouragement.

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

Keep at it - I know its so frustrating in the beginning - but you can do it!

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

No new advice- just hang in there! We had all the issues- shallow latch leading to cracked and bleeding nipples, supply issues, etc but here we are six weeks later and still at it.

You can do it!

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

Keep up the good work and don't give up! I would ask the ped when you can ditch the supplement since she's probably pretty satisfied from that...once she gets hungry she'll wake up...

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

No advice since DS wouldn't latch at all, but keep at it and Good Luck! It's a wonderful thing you are doing for your baby!

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement

I was a little discouraged thinking she wasn't eating enough because she wouldn't latch on well and would fall right asleep and nothing would keep her awake. She wasn't a good sucker either. It's a learning experience for the baby as well as for you. I could only get her to latch on using the football hold in the beginning. Then one day it all clicked! Keep with it, I am so glad I did and at 4 mos we are both pro's!!!

Re: Breast feeding moms: I need some help and encouragement