Re: So frustrated! What do I do!?
Newborns can be notoriously fussy at the breast. All of the bottles are probably compounding the problem. PP is correct that 3-4 ounces is a huge amount for a bottle at that age. My son only took 3 ounce bottles of expressed milk for a feeding when I was away at work and he was not nursing. I would try smaller supplements (maybe 1-2 ounces at a time) using a slow flow nipple and paced bottle feeding methods. Bottle feeding in a breastfeeding supportive way will help some.
My son would scream at the breast all too often when he was very small. Here are some things that I did during that time to help my baby calm down enough to nurse:
- Latch/nurse while walking with my baby in a sling or carrier or my arms.
- Latch/nurse while bouncing my baby on my knee.
- Latch/nurse while rocking and singing.
- Nurse with music playing (sometimes pretty loud).
- Nurse outside while on a walk with my son in the sling/carrier or sitting on the deck.
- Nurse in the bath.
Try keeping your baby at the breast as much as possible; wearing him in a sling or carrier is a good idea - he can nurse pretty much constantly and the motion of you walking around is soothing which may help keep him happy while nursing. Also try nursing him when he is very sleepy or even already asleep. Your baby should be nursing a minimum of 10-12 times a day at this age. If he will nurse even more often than that, even better! The more often he nurses, the more he will increase your supply.
Make sure to pump for at least 10-20 minutes every time you give a supplement to make sure your body knows that it is missing a feeding. You might not get much milk at first, but the stimulation will help build your supply so that you can eventually produce more for the pump and either cut out the bottles and nurse or at least supplement with your own milk instead of formula.
Here is some information on weaning from formula supplements.
Your insurance might cover a visit to an LC. Look into it. Even if you need to pay for a visit (usually about $100 for a visit, and that might be negotiable if you explain your situation), it will be far cheaper than a year of formula.
It sounds like you can successfully breastfeed if you hang in there. Nurse as much as possible. Take the domperidone and pump after giving every supplement. Milk removal is the best way to boost supply. You can do this!
Last edited by @llli*phi; July 21st, 2012 at 09:22 PM.
K. Sophia - Mama to my little lactivore, the amazing Mr. X (11/10).