Hi. I just had my baby 4 days ago on the 19th. I really wanted to exclusively breastfeed and as a NICU nurse, I felt pretty confident that I'd be able to. However, it has been nothing but frustration.
I thought he started out ok; he'd latch and suck but would get frustrated. I saw lactation at the hospital and she made some suggestions so I thought we'd be good. He ended up losing 8% of his weight by day 2, but they were fine with that. He started getting more and more frustrated with every feed, even though I was feeding him pretty much on demand... usually every 2 hours. We assumed he was cluster feeding.
By the time he saw the pediatrician, he had lost 13% of his weight and it turns out I was just literally starving him. The pediatrician suggested supplementing with formula until my milk came in. I was really against it but also didn't want him to lose more weight. My husband fed him maybe 3 bottles over the course of 24 hours and I started pumping. I first pumped .7mL, then 4, then 12. But he would still take 35-60mL from the formula each time.
I woke up this morning and my breasts are wildly engorged. They are so incredibly painful and I guess that's why he was getting so frustrated. The milk is there but it isn't making its way out. I'm trying hot compresses, massage, pumping every 2 hours... I'm barely getting anything out and they're rock hard and painful.
We saw the pediatrician again this morning. Of course he gained a ton of weight. Thanks to the formula. Now he'll only take a bottle and refused to breastfeed with his last feed. I'm pumping right now and it's no better than the last pump. He's finally sound asleep because only formula will calm him down. I'm pretty convinced that I should just quit trying at the moment. Any suggestions or is it reslly just not going to happen? Thanks.