Pregnancy Info HOME

Oh, Evae! I'm so sorry this is still giving you trouble! Has your lc suggested using a shield to help him latch? My lo nurses with a shield because I'm too flat for him to latch. I'm drawn out enough now that he probably could if he was willing to work for it and wasn't so lazy! :o) About the fever...did your doc rule out mastitis? (sp?) I would ask your lc about a shield...sorry I couldn't be more helpful. GL!

I'm sorry you're still having problems. We had latching problems as well as I never produced nearly enough milk. After a month of breastfeeding 10 minutes each breast, then supplementing with formula (about 20 minutes), then pumping with a hospital grade pump for 15 minutes for each feeding, I had reached my wit's end. I was basically spending a full hour out of every 3 feeding (and feeling quite bovine when hooked up to that horrible pump!). My doctor and the lactation consultants encouraged me to at least try to last as long as our daughter's due date (she was induced 3 weeks early) to see if that would help my supply. We were able to correct her latch after a few weeks of work, but my flow never increased enough that exclusively breastfeeding would have ever been an option for us. It was a hard decision for me to make, but after a month I decided to stop breastfeeding. My doctor knew how hard I was trying and how frustrated and exhausted I was and he told me something that really made it easier to accept my decision. He pointed out that our generation (I'm 30, btw) were mostly bottle fed. Breastfeeding wasn't very fashionable just one generation ago. I was disappointed, but somehow it was easier when I found out that I was bottle-fed as was all my siblings (my mom only tried with her first born but had too many problems, so didn't even try with the rest of us). I also decided (and my husband agreed), that having a well-fed baby with a happy and rested (or at least happier and more rested than before. lol) mom was better than what we were doing where I couldn't sleep for more than 90 minutes at a time. It took a while to accept this decision and I still get irked that I have to explain myself to others who think I didn't try hard enough or I'm just ignorant to the benefits of breastfeeding or something, but our dd is now 4.5 months and I don't regret the decision in the least. She's a happy baby and I'm far happier now.

malica, i have been on the same schedule you just described. thing is... they think i am producing enough milk. I just can't make enough attempts to breast feed to give the baby good practice because everytime he chomps on my nipple and i have to let it heal again. he just wont open his mouth wide enough and then just cries or falls asleep. Last night I couldn't get him off my nipple I thought it was going to fall off! he had such a hard grip. i would hate to feel defeated but i too, am at my wits end. maybe i am not trying hard enough, too selfish about my nipples getting destroyed. One last question for you ladies: If I were to go on formula only, I'm sure the baby will get what he needs. But as for me how would I lose my pregnancy belly weight? Actually how does that work? All this talk about breastfeeding benefits for the mom in losing her belly weight, burning calories etc. What happens if they go the formula route? Will I be able to get my uterus back to size? Malica.. what is your experience and your moms since you both used formula?? My MIL said that the best way to give baby all the nutrients along with my health and weight going back to normal is to breastfeed... so it is in my head that I will be defeated if I can't do it.

Kiersten: As for the Shield. I asked my LC about it. She said it works great for most and some moms won't live without it, but she kept discouraging me to use it that I should try to get him on the breast or he may get used to the shield and then i have to try to transition again to the breast. But hey... if the shield works then whats the big deal right?? What are your thoughts on the shield overall? is it really efficient and gives the baby enough milk? because i think i have a lazy baby too. he gives up quite easily and just wants to cry and scream.

EVAE, you are NOT defeated or a bad momma if you need to formula feed your baby! I can't even imagine how exhausted and frustrated you must feel...it was almost a week after my ds was born before I was able to nurse and I felt so low...like why is it so hard for me to do something that women for years and years have done?! Not so sure about you q's about formula...don't have much experience with that and the mommy side effects, but I'm sure Malica can help you out. I have heard that it's much harder to lose the weight formula feeding, but I've hit a plateau and haven't lost weight in over a month. All that stretched out skin...and there it sits! Blah. As for the shield...if there was ANY way to toughen up your nipples without having to use it, I'd do it! Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful that I've been able to use it and my son nurses great with it, but it's a pain. My nipples are getting very sore because he's mostly suckling on the nipple rather than more of my breast. It's messy; he'll get excited and pull it off (which sometimes hurts), spills the milk that was in the nipple all over, and then get really ticked off for having to wait for me to put it back on. It doesn't seem to be affecting my supply at all yet, but I've heard that it can. I was never able to get him on me at ALL, so the fact that your son will is great. Barracuda sucker that he is! LOL When you say he chomps down...is he not opening his mouth and just bites your nipple when you get close to him? I'm sure you know this, but never pull your nipple out of his mouth. Stick your little finger in the corner to break the suction first. I've heard stroking his upper lip with your nipple will cause them to open...rubbing his cheek...I'm sure there are plenty more. I think I'm drawn out enough where my lo could latch if he was willing. He's had two months to get used to the shield (which is much less work to hang on to) and is refusing to even try. He doesn't always scream, just completely clamps his mouth shut and looks at me until I put the shield on. Then he chows. I'll try slipping it off partway through a feeding and he just closes his mouth and patiently (sometimes!) waits for the shield. STINKER!!! In a way, I'm in the "problem latching boat" with you. My dh just says to be happy because I'm nursing, but...you ladies know how it is. We want that closeness but it's not as easy as it looks! I've learned that for sure. I hope you get better help than what I was able to give. What did your LC say about the issue overall? If you need to, get the shield. It's a pain, yes, and I'm having a dickens of a time getting him off it, but he's nursing. He's getting plenty of milk and is gaining and sleeping well at night. I have a happy baby and I'm sure we'll get the hang of it eventually. Maybe when he's got a bigger mouth he'll be more willing...? Best of luck to you, Evae. You're doing great-never forget that! GL and just remember that when your lo gets older and starts mouthing off you can say "because I said so! Do you know how much you put me through?!" :-) LOL Keep us posted!

Wow, sorry for the book. LO up and starved...gotta scoot!

Sounds like you're more than producing enough milk -- I never got painfully engorged, so it was pretty clear I wasn't producing as much as others. As messy as it is, toss down a towel and sleep topless for a night. At about the 10-14 day mark my nipples were raw and scabbed up. Sitting in wet nursing pads all day (no matter how often I changed them) did not help the situation at all. I did have a couple of days where I would literally squeal when she latched on. As for the weight, I can't help you there. I get weighed once a year at the doctor's office and really don't think of it otherwise. (Well, except the before/after birth where I lost 22lbs in 24 hours, which is just neat to know). I have no idea where I am with losing the weight; my pre-pregnancy jeans fit, although I doubt I'm back to where I was before. I'm looking forward to the spring and summer when it's easier to get out (I'm up in Canada, and the snow banks at the bottom of our drive way are currently about 4 1/2 ft tall). Many people who are breastfeeding do have increased appetites though -- so it's not as if it's not a struggle for breastfeeding moms too. It's really not that different.

Thanks for all of the input. The baby has been able to be breastfed. The latching part is fine now. I just need to get him to stay on longer without sleeping through it all the time. Boy! its been a journey. I was thinking about stopping with breastfeeding at 10 months. But I may just do it sooner. is there a minimum amount of time to breastfeed that is ideal??