Pumping because infant won't breastfeed

[@llli*paigekitten]

I had to pump because my DD wouldn't latch. I had to pump for three months before we were able to get her to nurse at all. So yeah, I was pumping about 24-30 oz a day for her. If my supply dropped at all it was because I wasn't pumping often enough, so I just had to start pumping a lot more frequently.

I second the skin-to-skin contact, that really helped us. In the end though, we had to take the bottles completely away. She just wouldn't nurse if she knew there was a bottle to be had.

[@llli*kathrynk]

I second the skin on skin contact, and bathing together. Dream feeds are great too, because they are not starving and frustrated. Keep us posted on how you are doing!

[mumofone]

Thanks for your posts. I tried the bath and he definitely seemed interested in suckling however he wasn't really feeding just suckling. Yep, I always use compression when I latch him, in the case of the good breast the let-down is so forceful that milk squirts out like a garden hose so I doubt it's an issue of him not getting milk fast enough. I've already seen 3 lactation consultants and the last one basically said to just feed him off the side he likes which I tried to do but he would be fussy after a feed so I'd have to pump the other side to satisfy him. I would like to be able to breastfeed at home and only pump when I am going out but I'm not sure how realistic it is in my case because if he won't stay on the breast I have to get food into him somehow...<sigh> Of course I will keep trying him at the breast but I don't want to create a negative association with feeding being this huge battle between us which is what it seems to turn into. Mostly, I just want to ensure I can keep up my supply so that I can feed him breastmilk and from what I read pumping alone won't allow me to keep up my supply...so I guess that was the reason for my post to a) find out if that's true and b) get ideas (like keeping up with skin-to-skin) to keep up my supply. Thanks for your suggestions. I'm going to keep trying the cobathing too because I think even if he suckles for a few minutes in the bath it should help with my supply, right?? Also, is there a time limit for how long you can take domperidone? I've been taking it for almost 8 weeks now. I don't like the idea of having to take medication for a whole year but I will if it's the only way to make sure he gets his breastmilk...

[@llli*paigekitten]

Any skin to skin contact will help supply, especially just comfort sucking.

Have you checked out the stuff about overactive letdown?