Help/Advice for a Newbie

[cali]

Hi ladies,

I'm 6 days post partum and having such a rough time with breastfeeding. My milk came in day 3 but we are currently also supplementing with formula because she was losing too much weight and had a bit of jaundice, so I think that has also added a lot of anxiety. But anyways, here is the main issue I'm having that I'm hoping maybe you ladies can help me with. Every time I feed her she falls asleep within 5 minutes and none of the tricks I've learned to keep her awake work (tickling her chin or ear, rubbing her, diaper changes, burping, changing sides) all of those things only keep her awake for a couple minutes and then she's right back to sleep (or sometimes just won't wake up at all). Outside of this she's alert and happy, she only does this when nursing. This has turned nursing into an all day affair. She nurses for 5 minutes or less, falls asleep, won't wake up, I put her down, she cries, we start the whole thing again.
When we give her formula she does not do this. We use a wide, slow flow nipple and drinks the whole 2 oz down within 10 minutes (probably would do it faster if we didn't slow her down). That's the only time she will then sleep or just calmly hang out for a while between feedings.

I'm at a loss and I can't keep this up. My neck and back are killing me from constantly readjusting her during nursing, my boobs are sore from the constant nursing. Is this normal? I'm seriously considering switching to exclusively pumping because she seems so much better and happier after the bottles. Is it just that my milk is still not fully in or coming too slow? Inpu pump at the times we give her formula and I can usually get about an ounce and half from both sides if I pump 15 minutes per side, so I'm not sure if that's a decent amount? Will it get better?
I know I'm in the midst of crazy PP hormones but I've been crying for two days over this and I'm feeling desperate. Any advice or words of wisdom appreciated!!

[gimmesugar]

So many hugs dear! The first couple of weeks are so tough! You're doing great! Most of the normal tricks worked for us, but have you tried breast compressions to "reward" her with more milk when she sucks? The LC in the hospital gave me that tip, especially since colostrum is so thick.

ETA: I know your milk already came in, but I still do compressions when DS is sleepy, and he's almost 4 months old.

[cali]

gimmesugar, thank you. Yes, I have tried that and it works but like everything else, only for a few minutes.

[gimmesugar]

Aug 26, 2017 16:16:43 GMT -6 cali said:

gimmesugar, thank you. Yes, I have tried that and it works but like everything else, only for a few minutes.

Other than your neck being sore (totally normal... I was in more pain PP than pregnant), how does nursing feel? Is she latching on well? Since she's eating from a bottle efficiently, I wonder if she's not transferring as much milk when she nurses and then just gets tired and passes out.

[piratecat]

cali I'm sorry that you are having a rough time. Breastfeeding has not been easy for us either but it does get better! My kiddo was a lazy nurser too although maybe not to the extent you describe for your LO. Rubbing the back of his hand usually worked for us (like pretty much constantly) along with compressions. Have you tried undressing her and nursing in just her diaper? It also took me quite a while for my supply to catch up to what he needed so the LC put us on a feeding regimen of 10 minutes on each side, supplementing with formula, then pumping for 10 minutes, which is a lot of work but having a routine made it easier for me to deal with it most of the time. And it did get better over time. The hormones, the lack of sleep, and the sore nipples sure don't make it easy.

How is her weight gain? If she is gaining weight as she should that is the most important thing. You are doing great, hang in there!

[cali]

Thanks everyone! I met with a LC today. She seemed to think that my supply was not strong enough yet so baby is just kind of using my nipple as a pacifier since she's not getting enough milk and that's why she's always falling asleep. She put me on a pumping schedule to try to boost my supply, so we'll see if that works.

[piratecat]

Good luck cali!

[king26]

I could have written this myself and came here to do so. I'm struggling at 5 days PP with feeding. I felt like the first 3 days were great now he won't even latch unless he's tired. We supplement with formula because of jaundice ( they had me do this at hospital) and now at home too. I hate it. I try to get him to latch foe like 5 minutes and DH is all let's get the milk and grabs formula. It makes me mad but he says he needs to eat. I know it but I want to breastfeed and this is really stressing me out. Any thoughts?

[gimmesugar]

king26 I'm so sorry for your struggles! When he won't latch, what happens? Does he cry and stiffen up or just can't seem to get on there? Which hold(s) do you use?

[lily]

Aug 30, 2017 0:12:33 GMT -6 king26 said:

I could have written this myself and came here to do so. I'm struggling at 5 days PP with feeding. I felt like the first 3 days were great now he won't even latch unless he's tired. We supplement with formula because of jaundice ( they had me do this at hospital) and now at home too. I hate it. I try to get him to latch foe like 5 minutes and DH is all let's get the milk and grabs formula. It makes me mad but he says he needs to eat. I know it but I want to breastfeed and this is really stressing me out. Any thoughts?

I'd find an IBCLC asap.
uslca.org/resources/find-an-ibclc

Look into alternatives to bottle feeding. An at breast supplementer (SNS or supplemental nursing system) may be a very useful tool in getting LO interested at the breast again.

kellymom.com/ages/newborn/newborn-concerns/alternative-feeding/

Hopefully you speak with an IBCLC today, but if not, your local La Leche League Leader or (if you're in the USA) Breastfeeding USA counselor is a free source of support, education, resources.

www.llli.org/webus.html
breastfeedingusa.org/content/breastfeeding-counselor-locations

Do as much skin to skin time as possible. This will raise your prolactin levels as well as allow easy access for baby to be comfortable at the breast. Deep breaths. These early days are hard. You are a great mom.

kellymom.com/ages/newborn/nb-challenges/back-to-breast/

[Dramaphile]

Be firm with your husband, baby won't starve because it takes 5 minutes or longer to latch! Breastfeeding a newborn definitely requires some patience.

One thing I found when my newborn had trouble latching was a trick the birth center nurse taught me - put your pinky (nail side down) in baby's mouth and tickle the roof of his mouth to get him to latch onto your finger. Once he calms and starts sucking, transfer him to your nipple. It may take multiple tries, but it helped when mine got frustrated and would fuss while trying to latch.

[lily]

How're things going cali & king26?

[cali]

Still struggling. My supply is just too low! The LC I saw recommended I pump every 3 hours for a couple days to increase my supply, which I have been doing but it doesn't seem to be working. I'm lucky to get 2 oz total from pumping 30 minutes. I've continued to supplement with formula because I'm just not making enough, which is why I think she always falls asleep when nursing. I'm still nursing her several times a day but I always have to give her a bottle of either pumped milk or formula after because she's not satisfied from nursing. Kind of at a loss and so frustrated.

[gimmesugar]

Aug 31, 2017 21:02:43 GMT -6 cali said:

Still struggling. My supply is just too low! The LC I saw recommended I pump every 3 hours for a couple days to increase my supply, which I have been doing but it doesn't seem to be working. I'm lucky to get 2 oz total from pumping 30 minutes. I've continued to supplement with formula because I'm just not making enough, which is why I think she always falls asleep when nursing. I'm still nursing her several times a day but I always have to give her a bottle of either pumped milk or formula after because she's not satisfied from nursing. Kind of at a loss and so frustrated.

Are you taking (or did the LC recommend) any supplements (i.e. Fenugreek, Mother's Milk tea, etc)? Also, are you drinking enough water and eating enough calories? It's very easy to forget about nourishing yourself in the beginning. There were days where I seriously could not figure out how to eat. When you are breastfeeding full time, pumping only a small amount of milk is normal, especially since baby's stomach is so small. Did the LC check to make sure you're flange size is correct?

Here is some info from Kellymom, which has some good tips: kellymom.com/hot-topics/pumping_decrease/

I also have better pumping output when I use massage and heat packs: Lansinoh TheraPearl 3-in-1 Hot or Cold Breast Therapy, 2 Count www.amazon.com/dp/B0070767DU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jxnQzb79Q6GV5

[piratecat]

cali I'm sorry that you are still struggling. It is not easy and my supply took some time to improve. I pumped 5 or 6 times a day (10 minutes each time) in the beginning and got less than 2 oz. total. But remember that the primary purpose of pumping is to empty your breasts more frequently and to increase demand which then increases your supply. The amount you pump is less important, although I know that it is frustrating and discouraging. For me, it took me several weeks to be able to start tapering down from pumping and supplementing after every nursing session and then a little while longer to be able to breastfeed exclusively, but we also had tongue and lip ties working against us. It can be a bit of a process for some of us but it does get easier so hang in there!

Also, I don't know that pumping for 30 minutes is all that productive. I was told 10-15 minutes each session is sufficient.

[yourpaceormine]

Sept 1, 2017 7:56:45 GMT -6 piratecat said:

cali I'm sorry that you are still struggling. It is not easy and my supply took some time to improve. I pumped 5 or 6 times a day (10 minutes each time) in the beginning and got less than 2 oz. total. But remember that the primary purpose of pumping is to empty your breasts more frequently and to increase demand which then increases your supply. The amount you pump is less important, although I know that it is frustrating and discouraging. For me, it took me several weeks to be able to start tapering down from pumping and supplementing after every nursing session and then a little while longer to be able to breastfeed exclusively, but we also had tongue and lip ties working against us. It can be a bit of a process for some of us but it does get easier so hang in there!

Also, I don't know that pumping for 30 minutes is all that productive. I was told 10-15 minutes each session is sufficient.

I was told no more than 20 minutes per session. But 10-15 was sufficient.