Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

First I need to thank you ladies for this thread. With DS #1 I gave up on BF too easily so this time I really wanted to give it my best try. I have been ready to give up numerous times already (DS Is almost 5 weeks old) but after reading this thread decide to give it another week...Just last week I was ready to throw in the towel because DS always seems to want to eat...he never seems content...Well I am so happy to say we went to the ped on Friday and DS gained over 1lb in the last 2 weeks, and although I dont EBF, in those 2 weeks about 95% of his nutrition was from BF! I finally feel secure in the BF.
I dont know if I will continue it for another week, month or beyond, only time will tell, but I wouldnt have made it this far without reading your stories and such making me feel like my frustrations or questions were normal.

So now on to my next question:
Does anyone have a DC who almost never unlatches? Seriously DS will feed for 20 minutes or even 40 if I let him and unless he passes out or gets a gas bubble he stays latched....
I have started offering both sides for each feeding so now after max 20 minutes I unlatch him myself to burp and switch, but is this normal?

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Kelly, my ped just told me this week that what u are going thru is normal. My 8 wk old son would nurse for 2 hours if i let him & prob have a few times. She said it takes 8 min to get what they need per side so 20 min on each side is sufficient. I offer both even though i know i have more supply in one over the other. Your son is basically using u as a pacifier when hes content with his feeding. Offer him a real one so u can get a break. I was feeling ready to give up out of frustration but am still at it and will continue for as long as i am able or 6 mons (whichever comes first). This is so not easy and i commend all women for sticking out!

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

this is a great thread!!

i havent read through the whole thing, but does anyone have advice on breastfeeding a preemie in the NICU?
was born at 3lbs 8oz at 33w1d. she was a week old yesterday. when i went to the hospital yesterday they asked if i wanted to BF. i was sooooo excited cause i assumed it wouldnt happen since she was so little. and to my surprise she latched IMMEDIATELY!!! shes actually pretty good at it!! the nurses are all super impressed with her ability to do it considering her gestational age and size. but she latches and sucks like a champ!!

the issue is that ive been pumping and right now my supply doesnt meet her demand to begin with. she gets formula when my milk runs out in the hospital - which i can live with. my supply sucks because i had a very rough CS, lost lots of blood and was on magnesium and narcotic meds for a few days after the birth. i didnt start a good routine of pumping until about 4-5 days post partum, so my supply is a few days delayed to what she already needs.
so every time i go to the hospital i BF. this is usually twice a day. because the NICU is very regimented whatever I BF they consider a bonus to the baby, but we give her breastmilk bottles when available and otherwise formula bottles of measured quantities also so we know how much she is getting. she is a great eater so im not worried about that. im just finding it hard to balance her breastfeeding and me being able to pump and increase my supply all at the same time...

anyone have experience with this?? please FM!! right now it takes me about 2 pumping sessions to match her needs for one NICU feeding...

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Quick question...does anyone have on side that produces more than the other? I can't tell if thats the case when I BF DS but when I pump I get significantly more from my left than my right.

Is there anything I can do to encourage more production in my right side?

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

question about pumping

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Can anyone recommend a good (reasonably priced) lactation consultant that will come to my home? I'm in the Wantagh/Seaford area.

Thanks!!

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Posted by TheDivineMrsM

Posted by Kelly9904

Quick question...does anyone have on side that produces more than the other? I can't tell if thats the case when I BF DS but when I pump I get significantly more from my left than my right.

Is there anything I can do to encourage more production in my right side?

My left side produces less than my right. (I'm right-handed, so I wonder if it's connected. ) Anyway, my LC told me to start the baby on the breast that produces less, let her finish that side, then offer the right.

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

What a great thread.

Does anyone have any experience increasing your supply? I have enough to feed the baby but then very little (maybe an ounce if I'm lucky) extra. I notice also that I only produce 2 ounces or so every two hours I don't feed her (from testing it out at night while she sleeps). It's stressing me out so much. I eat 6-7 meals a day and drink 80-100 oz of water a day. I really have no clue what I'm doing wrong and I'm so close to giving up.

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Posted by KevinNKristin8-15-08

What a great thread.

Does anyone have any experience increasing your supply? I have enough to feed the baby but then very little (maybe an ounce if I'm lucky) extra. I notice also that I only produce 2 ounces or so every two hours I don't feed her (from testing it out at night while she sleeps). It's stressing me out so much. I eat 6-7 meals a day and drink 80-100 oz of water a day. I really have no clue what I'm doing wrong and I'm so close to giving up.

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Anyone have experience with bfing a baby that may have a food sensitivity? I just started noticing my DD is having mucousy stools with specks of blood...Im calling the ped, but want to know if anyone has been through this.

I recently started eating Chobani yogurt, so Im wondering if its the increase in dairy that is the problem...

DD is NOT crying/more fussy than usual...

TIA

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Many young babies have problems with cows milk protein. Try eliminating dairy from your diet, I have heard it can take up to three weeks to really be able to tell one way or another. Remember its not lactose that baby is reacting to - its casein. Look on labels for casein or whey and avoid those foods too - they are common fillers in soy products. Good Luck!

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Posted by KevinNKristin8-15-08

What a great thread.

Does anyone have any experience increasing your supply? I have enough to feed the baby but then very little (maybe an ounce if I'm lucky) extra. I notice also that I only produce 2 ounces or so every two hours I don't feed her (from testing it out at night while she sleeps). It's stressing me out so much. I eat 6-7 meals a day and drink 80-100 oz of water a day. I really have no clue what I'm doing wrong and I'm so close to giving up.

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

can anyone help/make suggestions??

I had my baby a week ago and at the hostpital I was breast feeding or at least trying my best. My DS was born 9lbs but when he left the hospital he was already down to 8.8lbs. Then the first night we had him at home was literally one of the hardest nights of my life. He was crying all night and wouldn't latch on. He probably was straving. The next day we went to first first peds appointment and he was down to 8.4 which was really the max the dr. wanted him to lose. Anyway, the doctor said we needed to keep breast feeding but also formula feed. I was really sad about this but do not want my baby to starve.

Well as soon as he started eating formula he started sleeping much better. I decided that I still want him to have as much breast milk as possible so I bought a pump and started pumping. I barely make half an ounce and in order to even get 1 ounce I have to pump three times.

Anyway, I went back to the pediatrician today and he put on weight. I went over everything with the doctor and he said not to pump but to actually get him on the boob and then give him formula every othe feeding. Well I tried that when I got home and he just would not latch on.

I am so sad and disappointed. I don't mind supplementing but I want him to get breast milk too. I don't want to dry out.

Any suggestions would really be helpful!!

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

From what I have read your body knows if the baby is getting supplemented and won't produce as much. As hard as it is to say and try I would cease the formula to build up a supply. The other thing is that a pump NEVER gets as much as a baby can. Try and get him to latch as much as possible. In the beginning it feels like you are attached 24/7, because you are! That is all that matters the first few weeks. It is a ton of work but so worth it. Best of luck!

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Please don't feel like you're starving your baby. All babies lose weight after they're born. They can lose up to 10% of their weight (in your case, that's .9 pounds, or 14 ounces) and it's still considered normal, as long as they gain the weight back by 2 weeks of age.

I agree with the PPs about not supplementing with formula. Your baby is better at getting milk out of you than a pump is. So if you can pump one ounce, your baby is probably getting more than that per feeding. And at one week old, I don't think a baby can even take much more than an ounce at a time, their stomachs are so tiny.

The best way to build up your supply is to put the baby to your breast as often as possible. That's every 2-3 hours during the day and every 3-4 hours overnight. It's a pain, it's difficult, and it takes up almost all of your time, but that's how your body knows to build up a milk supply. If you're giving your baby formula, your body doesn't know to make that much milk. I think a lot of pediatricians are quick to "prescribe" formula for a breastfed baby because they're not LCs and not good breastfeeding coaches. It's easier to just give them something out of a bottle. If you want it easier (and having a newborn is hard! So don't feel guilty if you do) than go for it. But if breastfeeding is a priority for you, you're going to have some hard work ahead of you.

It's SO hard at first. I've been there. But by week 3 or so it started going so smoothly that I had to think it was even easier to than giving bottles.

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Thanks everyone for all the replies. I am going to a support group on Wednesday that is provided by my hospital and I am seeing a lactation coach after the holidays are over.

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**

Re: **Breastfeeding Support Thread**