Nursing trouble...

Kimberly - posted on 07/30/2009

no just pump after you do the bottle feeding for as long as you think the baby would have fed and any milk you get just mix it with the formula the next time in the bottle so he will have less formula from the bottle next time. I am a supplement feeder and this is what I do because he would not latch when he was first born so my milk has always been a little short for his demand so when I give a formula bottle I always pump to make sure a feeding is not missed for milk production then I use the pumped milk mixed with the formula next time. It will keep your supply up for the baby

Christina - posted on 07/30/2009

you should make sure that the latch is good really open mouth and taking your nipple in his mouth you can have thrush and he can not have it yet or just not showing the spots if you feel like your nipples are on fire you MIGHT have thrush I used genshion violet a natural way to rid your self of thrush you have to wash everything that touches your breast sheets, towels, bra, shirts, wash rags DON'T reuse cause you will give your self the thrush back ps the genshion violet will stain but works great!
b. You are most likely in a growth spurt but you can use fenugreek a natural herb you can get at gnc or an herb store and it will help with supply naturally.
c. Not wrong but it is harder for some people to switch back and forth and you can do this and you can get support from other breast feeding groups that might help you good luck !!!

Debbie - posted on 07/30/2009

a. sounds like it probably is thrush. My DD and I struggled with it for a while and she never showed any signs of it but we still passed it back and forth here is a great link with info that really helped me. http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_...



b. your supply is all about supply and demand, the more you baby nurses the more you body will produce. How much you can pump is not a good indication of how much your baby gets. A baby can get way more than a pump ever will. Try letting him nurse on one side for as long as he wants to even if you only nurse on one side per feeding, this way he is getting all of the really filling hind milk, not just the foremilk. My DD who will be one tomorrow nurses only from one side at each feeding and I just let her nurse until she is satisfied, sometimes that is in 2 minutes sometimes it is 30 min depends on the time of day and how hungry she is.



c. the only "wrong" part of supplementing is that during the feeding where you are supplementing with a bottle you are not stimulating your breast to produce more milk and your body will begin to think you don't need that extra milk. Make sure if you are going to supplement that you pump during that feeding to keep up your supply.



Hope this helps.



Debbie

Minnie - posted on 07/30/2009

How old is your baby Chastity? Soreness is normal in the first few days. Definitely make sure he's latching on correctly- most of the skin below the nipple than above- and see an IBCLC or a la leche league leader if you cannot sort this out. . I myself had some burning soreness after nursing- but that went away in a few days.





You DON'T have too little milk. 3oz pumping is great- but don't use what you can pump as an indication of your supply at all. Put baby to your breast whenever he wants it you will not have a problem with production.





Supplementing with even ONE bottle can change the ph of your baby's gut and damage the mucosal lining of his intestines. That makes him more susceptible to the entry of pathogens. Formula is not sterile, and it adds different bacerial flora to your baby's gut than he would get from being exclusively breastfed. And that ONE bottle will turn into two bottles if you use it as a 'fall back on.' Baby does not need to be topped off. It's not designed to be digested by a human infant- it's hard on his already immature digestive system. And yes, when you give him that bottle, your breast will not be stimulated by your baby to keep up production.





Your breasts aren't buckets that when baby drains them they are empty. No, when baby nurses nurses nurses, your body is stimulated to produce more milk, and faster. It is impossible for them to be empty. During a growth spurt, when your baby is effectively attached to your boob 24/7, he will take many many feeds in order to meet his caloric intake- but his needs WILL be met. And in a week's time when your breasts are now making more milk from that frequent stimulation, he won't have to nurse so much because he will be able to get more milk in one sitting.





Just put your baby to your breast whenever he wants it, even if he JUST nursed half an hour ago. It's a perfect system, one that has seen humanity throughout the ages, and doesn't need to be complicated by pumps or supplementation. You need to trust your body to meet your baby's needs.



Definitely see the doctor if the burning doesn't go away after making sure the latch is correct- you AND your baby need to be treated or you will pass it back and forth.

Tennille - posted on 07/30/2009

i too went through that 2 month old doubt....just keep it up it is a growth spurt. I would worry and worry too and want to supplement with formula and did a few times. now I realize it was just me doubting me! yes your nipples do hurt when they nurse this much, keep on the lanolin nipple cream! It will get better I promise. My son is now 5 months old and I am begining to wonder how I am ever get him weened before he goes to kindergarden! lol Keep up the great work momma!!