Very stressed about breastfeeding issues with 4 week old

[@llli*jnc]

Please help! I am stressing myself out and very upset and crying every day because I am not able to breastfeed my baby. Here is the history: I started using a nipple shield on day 2 or 3 because of cracked nipples and pain. After going home from the hospital, the 2nd night home my baby nursed constantly all night, and didn't seem to be getting any milk from me. He lost 11 percent of his body weight. We went to the lactation consultant at the hospital on about day 5, and started supplementing with formula via a syringe and tube, and did this for about a week. I would feed him on the breast with the nipple shield first, then supplement, then pump for 15 minutes. The biggest issue I have had the whole time is not producing nearly enough milk. When I pump I only get an ounce, max. Sometimes only 20 or 25 ml. I have tried pumping 7 to 10 times a day to produce more, with no luck. I only make about 6 to 8 ounces a day. We switched to supplementing with a bottle after about a week, because I was having a hard time with the tube, and I think this made my baby a lazy sucker at the breast, which is why I keep pumping because I'm afraid of completely losing my supply if I only rely on the baby to suck. Sometimes he does a good job, but since I only produce a very little amount, he never gets very much, so I keep supplementing with formula because I am afraid of dehydration and starving him. I am concerned that I am just unable to produce more milk, maybe for a medical reason, as all this pumping has not had any effect. I also wonder if I should not have used a nipple guard, because it seems difficult for him to get any milk (but that might have been because I wasn't producing much). I really want to breastfeed my baby! What do you think?

[@llli*sugarfoot289]

I'm not confident with giving advise on this issue, I do know that they have a supplemental nursing system, this is a tube system that lays right next to your nipple so that you can give them the supplemental formula needed but at the same time you are nursing, the baby sucking at the breast is better than a pump from all that I've heard to increase your milk supply.

I'm sure more knowledgeable moms will also give their opinions and advise...

I just want to assure you that you don't have to breastfeed to be a good mom or have a close relationship with your baby, I am not saying to just give up, but try not to stress about it, being upset is not helping. There are more things you can try if that's what you want, I've heard many stories about moms having rough starts and they go on to have long and healthy nursing relationships, but just remember being upset and stressed isn't helping you and your baby with breastfeeding right now

OH, also pumping output does not tell you how much milk you actually have, babies are better than pumps

You are doing great, you are making sure your baby gets the nutrition he needs! At the same time you are still working on making breastfeeding an option for you two. Be proud of that, many moms don't try and if they do I've seen lots of moms give up by this time. Good luck and I hope you get the answers that will help you find a way to make this work.

[@llli*avesnovuelan]

Are you taking anything to increase your supply? Eating enough and drinking enough water? Getting some rest? If you have someone who can come wait on you for a day you could try doing the 24 hour cure. http://www.pomegranate-midwives.com/...our%20Cure.pdf

[@llli*maddieb]

I am sorry you were having this difficulty. First off you should know that one month is still very early days and it is very possible you will be able to increase your milk production should Low production be the issue.
I am curious about what is happening right now
you are pumping how many times a day in order to produce six or 8 ounces for the pump? And what type of pump are you using? Is it new? Is it comfortable to pump?
How much is baby eating via bottle each bottle and how many times the day?
Also how many times a day does baby nurse? Are you still using the nipple shield or not? Is nursing comfortable for you?
Have you been back to see the lactation consultant to work on your continuing issues? Is this possible? Would you prefer to see a different lactation consultant? Is that possible? Do you have any local breast-feeding support like la leche league?
And how is baby's output by output I mean how often and how large and what do babies poops look like and what has babies weight gain been lately?

[@llli*alykbb]

I'm having a lot of the same problems. LO is also 4 weeks old, today. I would like some help too. I hope you get your answers. I wish I could product 6-8 oz a day. I only get maybe 3 oz, enough for a single feed. I mix about an ounce BM with 2oz of baby water and a scoop of formula for my formula feedings.

[@llli*jnc]

Thank you for your assurance! We were using a supplemental nursing system the first week, with the nipple guard, and it was just such a pain that we switched to the bottle. I am no longer using a nipple guard though, so maybe I should go back to the SNS.

[@llli*jnc]

I'm having a lot of the same problems. LO is also 4 weeks old, today. I would like some help too. I hope you get your answers. I wish I could product 6-8 oz a day. I only get maybe 3 oz, enough for a single feed. I mix about an ounce BM with 2oz of baby water and a scoop of formula for my formula feedings.

Oh man, well I know exactly how you feel! You are not alone in this, that is for sure. Have you been to a lactation specialist?

[@llli*jnc]

I am sorry you were having this difficulty. First off you should know that one month is still very early days and it is very possible you will be able to increase your milk production should Low production be the issue.
I am curious about what is happening right now
you are pumping how many times a day in order to produce six or 8 ounces for the pump? And what type of pump are you using? Is it new? Is it comfortable to pump?
How much is baby eating via bottle each bottle and how many times the day?
Also how many times a day does baby nurse? Are you still using the nipple shield or not? Is nursing comfortable for you?
Have you been back to see the lactation consultant to work on your continuing issues? Is this possible? Would you prefer to see a different lactation consultant? Is that possible? Do you have any local breast-feeding support like la leche league?
And how is baby's output by output I mean how often and how large and what do babies poops look like and what has babies weight gain been lately?

Well, it's good to hear that one month is still early--with all this work I've been doing it feels like so long! I am pumping about 7 times a day. Yesterday I pumped 7 times and only made 4 oz. The previous day I pumped 7 times and made almost 7 oz. in 24 hours. I am using a Medela Freestyle pump that I bought from a friend. She used it for one child. It is comfortable to pump. The baby is eating about 2 to 3 oz. of straight formula or a combination of formula and breast milk at each feeding by bottle, less or more depending on how much he gets from the boob before I give him a bottle. He is eating 8 times a day. He has been going long stretches at night between feedings, about 4 hours. He is nursing about 5 times in 24 hours, sometimes more. I try to nurse every time he needs to eat, but sometimes I will have just pumped and know he won't get anything so just give him a bottle of what I pumped without nursing. It is comfortable to nurse, no pain, and I haven't used the nipple guard in probably 2 weeks or more. I have been to lactation only twice, in the first/second weeks, and haven't been back. I was going to call someone at LLL in town today--haven't had a free moment yet today. I do really want to see someone. The baby has been pooping less in the past 3 days, once in 24 hours for 2 days, and once in 36 hours this last time--he just had a poopy diaper an hour ago. They are pretty large loads when he does go, yellow, soft. I have not had his weight checked since his 2 week ped. appt., at which time it was good, he had been down to 5lb. 9oz. from his birth weight of 6lb. 5 oz., and 2 weeks later at his appt. was 6lb. 7oz.

[@llli*maddieb]

When u say baby is eating 8 times a day, is that bottle and breast combined?
Here is the thing. Your pump output sounds pretty normal or only slightly low. You are not going to pump everything baby needs because baby is nursing as well. Presumably baby is getting milk when nursing.
I strongly suggest that you encourage baby to nurse as much as you possibly can. Avoiding nursing because you are afraid there will not be enough when you pump is possibly counterproductive. If baby nurses reasonably well, there is no need to ,pump or supplement at that time. I mean, you are creating an extra step. Also while I would not suggest too any weight checks, since you are supple ting it is very important to keep a close eye on gain. How else will you no how to stop supplementing?please excuse typos rushed and on phone

[@llli*maddieb]

Also don't worry about offering the breast if u just pumped.
. Basically you want milk being removed from the breast as frequently as possible by baby as much as possible. A typical baby nurses at least 10 to 15 times a day at this age.