Breastfeeding problem

Lindsey - posted on 05/13/2009

Hi im a La Leche support counsellor. Have you tried going back to basics with him. Skin to skin in a warm bath the warm water will also help your milk supply. If he really then wont go back on the nipple you acn continue to pump but you gotta be doing religously every 3 hours to keep the supply up. If your baby was on the nipple remember you would gets days where he would be feeding what seems like all the time. this is all to increase supply xx

Leslie - posted on 05/12/2009

I love the medela nipple shields because they do come in different sizes and the size does matter. Now my daughter really only uses them when she is really tired, like bedtime. Good Luck and hang in there.

Tara - posted on 05/12/2009

I'd keep trying to breastfeed...just be patient. When he gets hungry he'll learn to latch on. Bottle feeding is easier for him because the milk just dumps out and nursing takes some work. Keep at it.. he'll get it. Do you have access to lactation specialists?

Emily - posted on 05/12/2009

My twins were in the NICU for a little over a week when they were born, they were being fed breastmilk from bottles when they were there. After they came home they wouldn't nurse bc they had to work so much harder to get the milk from bf. I don't think they were nipple confused but preferred the bottle. I tried pumping before the feeding to get the let down going, I also tried bottle of breastmilk to take the edge off. Good ideas...they didn't work for me though. I had a lactation consultant come to my house to work with us which helped tremendously, but in the end they finally started to nurse when I refused to offer them anything other than the breast. Within a day or so they were nursing and have been ever since (they are 11 mo). They actually refused taking bottles when they were three months old and haven't had one since (victory!). It is really hard when the baby refuses the breast for the bottle...it hurt my feelings. Good luck!

Andrea - posted on 05/12/2009

Maybe you need a different size nipple shield?

Andrea - posted on 05/12/2009

Anne, I'm sorry but did you say your pediatrician told you to start juice? That is against the AAP guidelines (and the WHO). For the first 6 months months babies ONLY need breastmilk. If they are formula feed then solids can be intoduced as early as 4 months but no sooner. Juice is NOT recommended until after the first year and it is clearly stated that it should NOT be put into a bottle because it causes tooth decay, even if it is watered down. There are MANY negative outcomes for children who start juice too early in life.

There is plenty of time for your child to have juice. It has minimal nutritional value. Your breastmilk has ALL he needs. Yes, you are right that giving him a bottle of juice will have negative affects on your milk supply and his willingness to take the breast. Isn't your goal to get him to breastfeed?

I'm not trying to sound mean and normally I wouldn't contradict a Dr, but the AAP and the WHO guidelines for infant nutrition are current and should be followed by all drs.

I hope that everything works out for you.

Anne - posted on 05/12/2009

Anyone know a bettter way to get the nipple shield to stick? Tried water and lanolin breast cream like the directions said. So far he won't latch on, he sucked on the tip of the shield for a while, once and then no more. I guess I will try to find some additional help. Thanks for all the advice.

Chelsea - posted on 05/11/2009

Pump a little bit of milk and put it in a bottle, feed him and in the middle of his feeding switch him to your nipple, you are going to have to slowly ween him

Anne - posted on 05/11/2009

Thank you all for all the advice so far. I went to get the nipple shield and was told to come back tomorrow. I also went to the Dr today and he said to start giving him half apple juice and half water, of half apple/grape and half water. I was soooo excited that he was moving up to juice, but will that will probably imped the breast feeding wont it?? I do want hime to have the juice. He was 13 lbs and 13 oz today at his 2 month check up and the Dr said he was a chunk!!! ha ha

Kasandra - posted on 05/11/2009

The suggestion by Tara is perfect. Your milk flow is also not as steady as a bottle and he may be having trouble with your letdown. Another option would be to look into a nippleshield to help keep your flow constant. Try not to stress about your milk production. I have been breastfeeding for 6 months and mine has gone up and down from barely enough to overflowing. It will change over time. Have you tried calling the hospital to see if you could talk to a lactation consultant? My hospital provided a lactation consultant hotline free of charge.

Gilberte - posted on 05/11/2009

When my son was born almost twenty five years ago my husband and I were alone with no parents to show us what to do and the baby was screaming at the top of his lungs because he was hungry and we did not know what we were doing. I was not eating well or drinking enough WATER. So make sure you drink enough water and eat unsalted raw nuts. Milk does not make milk but water and other liquids do. That is what I was told.

Jill - posted on 05/11/2009

I would try a breast shield.. But you need to still pump between feedings to make sure you are keeping up your milk supply. Also still try once and a while to feed without the shield this way he will get use to the breast and your are skin to skin contact. The skin to skin contact will help with keeping your milk supply up also... I had a preemie the first time around and the shield helped alot but I still had to pump to keep my milk supply up. Sometimes I would start with the breast and then switch to a bottle. But there could be some nipple confusion with this. Best luck and also think about having a lactation consult advise the problem. They are not cheap but well worth it if you want to keep breast feeding.

Andrea - posted on 05/11/2009

BTW, good luck and try to take deep relaxing breathes. He knows when you are stressed and frustrated.

Andrea - posted on 05/11/2009

The previous women gave good suggestions so I want to address your milk supply. Eat oatmeal everyday and drink Mother's Milk Tea. These will help increase your supply. Keep pumping even if you are getting only a little bit. The stimulation will help. Part of his frustration is your supply is dying out so it needs to be addressed. If it gets really bad try Fenugreek....it is a herbal supplemnt. Also, stay away from sage. It tends to dry up your milk.

I agree with Becky. Call your hospital and talk to a Lactation Consultant. She will be able to help you out and phone consultations are free.

Lexie - posted on 05/11/2009

Try a nipple shield. It makes your breast like a bottle. That is the only way my baby will breastfeed, and it also prevented me from catching her thrush. It is much more comfortable for me personally.

Melissa - posted on 05/10/2009

I sprayed my daughter in the mouth at the begining of the feed to get her to want it and slowly bring her closer it took a few times but because time is important possbly contact you local health nurse or doctor to get some added support

Becky - posted on 05/10/2009

Call a lactation consultant or his doctor. They can usually help. Have you tried different positions? Some babies are just fussy about the way they eat. My first child could eat anywhere in any position but my second needs quiet and no distractions. Try to feed him before he gets too hungry, once they are really hungry they just want to eat instead of messing with something different. Sometimes you can try it at night when they are groggy and they will take it. Also, skin-on-skin contact can help - it can really calm them down.

Good Luck!

Tara - posted on 05/10/2009

My only suggestion would be to try starting him on a bottle, with just a bit, enough to take the edge off his hunger, then try breastfeeding again, maybe he's getting used to the bottle, he doesn't have to work as hard to get milk from a bottle as he does to get milk from your breast, he might be getting frustrated, if he's not really hungry, maybe it will be easier to get him to try. You can go here for more help. Try to self express a little milk while he's feeding on the bottle as well, so that the milk is already there when he tries your breast. Good Luck!



http://www.lllc.ca/