Breast feeding ideas?

[Philly Mom]

So DD2 is 10 days old. Nursing is going better than with DD1 but it is not great. Sometimes she gets a great latch sometimes an ok latch. I get her off if it is bad. She has been fighting me to get on though and sometimes pulls off quite quickly. She is eating every two hours most of tIme with a couple longer spells. She is not gaining weight though, at least over the past couple of days, and not losing weight. My nipples are slightly damaged from pumping when she was in the nicu and using the wrong size flanges so that is one other wrinkle. Finally, I just don't like nursing. I know it is good for DD so I am committed to it but I need some ideas for how to make this better. I used a LC with DD1 and did great when the LC was around but had problems once she left. Any ideas would be helpful.


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[SnuggleBuggles]

Is there a lot coming out right at the beginning? Could you try and express a smidge before latching so the flow isn't as intense?

I really liked nursing but not in the first few weeks that much. I think the best thing to do is keep at it and remind yourself that it gets a lot easier. Til then, enjoy the time to just sit and know you don't have to do anything else. Read to your dd1 (or to yourself) while nursing.

[Philly Mom]

Is there a lot coming out right at the beginning? Could you try and express a smidge before latching so the flow isn't as intense?

I really liked nursing but not in the first few weeks that much. I think the best thing to do is keep at it and remind yourself that it gets a lot easier. Til then, enjoy the time to just sit and know you don't have to do anything else. Read to your dd1 (or to yourself) while nursing.

I don't think there is but I have been expressing a bit just in case. I am hoping it gets easier but I just don't believe it right now. I do enjoy it a bit when she latches on perfectly. I wish I knew what I did differently on those occasions.


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[SnuggleBuggles]

Different holds? With ds1, I could only do left side cradle and right side football hold; needed the Boppy for both.

[Philly Mom]

Different holds? With ds1, I could only do left side cradle and right side football hold; needed the Boppy for both.

Interesting. I called a LC so I can get some help with different holds. Hopefully that helps. Just trying to stay calm and not let my frustration and exhaustion sabotage me.


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[SnuggleBuggles]

Side lying is a great one to try and master so you can get a little rest. :)

[MamaInMarch]

Honestly, 25 months into this gig with child #2, I *still* don't "like" nursing. I have a really tough time tolerating the physical sensations even when latch is perfect and so on. I can never imagine feeding my babies another way so I have learned what helps me tolerate it.

First of all, count on it being tough for a few weeks. You and DC are learning. It DOES get easier and it will get to the point that you will find it a ridiculously lazy way to feed compared to mixing, warming, washing, sterilizing. (I say that under the assumption that you are in a normal learning curve, not dealing with an underlying issue with you or babe).

Second, get help. An IBCLC (or 2 if you don't click with the first one), online videos from Dr Jack Newman, and please please please consider La Leche League. LLL can be the difference between easy and not so easy.

Third, find what helps you distract. After I would get DC latched, I played a game or read a book. I had to be absorbed in something to tolerate the sensation.

[123LuckyMom]

I had lots of trouble with both my children when they were really little, more so with my first. With him I could only nurse with less usual holds. He had to lie at my side, not in front of me. Is that the football hold? I can't remember. I also had to use a nipple shield. My nipples were like pulp, but the nipple shield gave me protection and, I think, helped with over active letdown. He was also tongue tied, so we had that corrected. He really had to grow a bit before we got the hang of it, though, and the shields got us to that point. I used them for months, which I think is unusual. Oh, and I also had to take herbs to boost supply. I took Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, and Alfalfa tinctures.

With DD, we didn't need the shields, but we still struggled with good holds and over active letdown. No matter how much I would express first, very often she would choke and spit up (all over both of us) the entire contents of her stomach. Lovely! I also had to take boosting herbs with her. This time around I used more milk plus tincture, and it worked VERY well!

Hang in there and keep calling the LC. Once you get the hang of it, it WILL get easier. You may never enjoy it, but you will nourish your baby.

[marymoo86]

Side lying is a great one to try and master so you can get a little rest. :)

This. Also make sure it is a deep latch. You can google video of it. Took about 3weeks to get my nips in nursing shape and over the initial soreness

[Philly Mom]

Thanks everyone. So I had a LC come today and the issues go beyond latch. I can actually get a good latch a lot of the time. Turns out DD is having trouble actually eating from me because she can't breathe and eat at the same time. It is a mechanics issue. It is why even though I am nursing her all the time she is not actually taking in any fluids really. Ugh. It is a problem with the bottle to but she will take it, it just takes a lot of effort for her. Seeing specialists next week now but concerned about her ability to get enough in the short term.


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[123LuckyMom]

I'll be sending lots of P&PT your way!!! At least you know what the problem is. That's half the battle. I'd take herbs and pump like nobody's business. At least then you'll have a good supply to work with. She'll have the same problem whether she's eating breast milk or formula, so I'd try to do all I could to get her lots of breast milk, even if it's in a bottle. Good luck!