Losing hope. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP!

[@llli*soybeanmama13]

Today my little guy turned a week old. Out of those 7 days he has probably had more formula than breast milk which is heart breaking to me. I wanted to be exclusively breast feeding but the day he was born (he was an emergency csection) he was taken for phototherapy & needed extra fluids so they gave him formula. I wasn't able to produce enough milk to satisfy my baby so he continued getting formula & the milk I could pump since he wouldnt latch on. The day I was suppose to leave the hospital I started running a fever & was kept 3 extra days. I was hooked to an IV & had an incredibly hard time pumping or even attempting to get him to feed directly from my breast. The whole time I spent at the hospital my baby probably latched on successfully 4 times. The lactation consultants were beyond helpful, as were the nurses but my baby just wouldn't work with us. He would scream & cry & ultimately end up with formula. My nipples also do not fully extend which already makes it hard for him to latch on, but now he's constantly gotten bottle after bottle of formula which is easy to suck & he doesn't want to work for my milk.

I AM DESPERATE FOR HELP. I sincerely want to breastfeed so bad. It upsets me that I have to rely on formula, I don't want to use it. What can I do?!

[@llli*sprocket]

I think there will be some mamas here with more detailed information than I can provide, but I think you have two priorities right now: (1) preserve your body's ability to make milk by removing milk from your breasts every 2-3 hours around the clock. If your baby isn't latching on, the best way to do this is with a hospital-grade pump. It is OK if you don't get much right now--you are only 1 week out from giving birth--there won't be much. Just keep removing milk from the breast and over time, you will make more and more milk; and (2) work with an IBCLC to get your baby to the breast.

The sooner you can do both of these things, the better. You can do this. It will take a lot of work but it won't be like this forever. Enlist the help of whomever you can--your partner, family, etc. can take care of everything else. Your only job right now should be to feed your baby. Good luck! You CAN DO IT!

[@llli*lllmeg]

Spocket is right, You and baby have had an unusually difficult start, but you sound determined and that is truly what it takes. It is very early days so there is no reason to think you cannot turn this around and soon be happily nursing your baby. Is is possible to get help from an IBCLC now?

I wasn't able to produce enough milk to satisfy my baby so he continued getting formula & the milk I could pump since he wouldn’t latch on.

in the early days-up until day 3 or 4, typically, but longer for some moms-a mother normally makes a mere few ounces of milk a day. Each feeding is normally very tiny. It is not really supposed to be enough to 'satisfy' baby, because ideally baby should be nursing very often, which in turn, brings moms milk production up very rapidly. This is by natures brilliant design. So you don't really need to worry about 'satisfying baby,' necessarily. It kind of depends what you mean by that. A baby can be getting plenty of milk and still act “unsatisfied.” You can more accurately tell baby is getting the right amount of milk by their poops and weight gain (usually baby loses a bit at first.)

OK so now- you are pumping how many times a day? How much do you produce via pumping over a 24 hour day? and how often is baby being fed, how much each time? How is your health, baby's health, baby's weight?

Equipment makes a difference. The right kind of pump, fitted properly. There are choices besides bottles for supplementing, or you can make bottles less problematic by paced bottle feeding.

Are you experiencing edema (swelling in hands or feet) from all that iv fluid? If so, your breasts are probably swollen as well. This can make your nipples look 'flat'. This can make latch more difficult. The edema will go away, but meanwhile, try things like the breast sandwich or reverse pressure softening to help baby latch.

Have you tried a nipple shield? These come with risks, but can be very helpful when baby simply cannot latch.

Laid back nursing posture may help as well.

If I link some articles, will you have time to read them, or have someone read to you?

[@llli*mamamia]

One week of a rough start is so early in the process! This is not how it will be always

Definitely this is a situation when some in-person help and comfort might be of some use. Have you considered calling a LLL leader in your area? Their help is free!

It's not too late! Lots of moms have a rough start and they have lots of ideas that may or may not work for you. Good for you looking for help!

LLL Groups in the state of New Jersey: http://www.llli.org/web/newjersey.html

[@llli*mtmama]

i agree that its really early and a lll group and a IBCLC would be great for you. definitely get the LC for hands on help, you guys can do this.

just because youve had a rough start doesnt mean it cant turn in a new direction. stay with it and get help. i also recommend getting the book the womanly art of breastfeeding.

[@llli*soybeanmama13]

I have gotten up to pumping 8 times a day & am trying hard to increase this. Double pumping I produce anywhere from 30-60 ml total. For some reason the number slowly goes down throughout the day. The baby eats anywhere from 2-4 hours a day. The baby is in good health. I'm just absolutely exhausted adjusting to life with a new born but otherwise also healthy. My baby is 7 pounds.

I've tried the shield & still do so several times a day.

Please link articles. I would appreciate that!

[@llli*lllmeg]

Double pumping I produce anywhere from 30-60 ml total.

total per pumping session or total per day?

what was baby's birth weight and lowest weight (if you know)?

when you say you have tried the sheild, what do you mean? Can you get it on well but baby still cannot latch, or what? They can be tricky tools.

OK here are some articles and videos.

OK here are my favorite latch and positioning ideas. See if any of this is something you have not tried. Also, sometimes it takes trying the same things several times before it 'clicks'


Tips on latch and positioning http://www.llli.org/faq/positioning.html

Laid back position http://www.llli.org/docs/00000000000...astfeeding.pdf

laid back video http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/video/bn3clip.html

Here are two simple pictorials, one on latch, one on tongue tie http://cwgenna.com/quickhelp.html

latch and 'Breast sandwich' article http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/lv/lvfebmar04p3.html

What is normal in the early weeks with a breastfed baby http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing/


Help-my baby won’t nurse! http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/back-to-breast/

Nipple shields- http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/wean-shield/