Please help with breastfeeding!

Virgo2188 · Apr 18, 2011 3:54PM

The midwife has just been and my little girl has lost over a pound since she was born! She seems to think the nipple shields are the problem and babbas not able to empty the breast fully because of them? I can't understand why no one else seems to have this problem if this is the case?! I tried expressing Saturday and i could only express about 3oz over about 3/4 sessions so she can't be leaving too much in the breast can she?

Midwife has advised waking her for feeds straight onto the nipple every 2 hours but i'm struggling to get her to latch on without the shields. She won't open her mouth wide, just starts sucking straight away! We're both starting to get frustrated with it now.

I really want to be able to breastfeed but i'm so worried about her weight loss and now the fact i can't get her to feed every 2 hours because she won't latch on! I can't stop crying! I'm trying so hard and i feel like such a terrible mommy for her not gaining weight! The advice from my mom and OH is go straight to formula but i'm torn between trying everything to get breastfeeding to work and her increasing weight loss!

What can i do?

xx

Socksxx · Apr 12, 2011 2:55PM

Hey first of all wanted to send you a really big hug. We had this exact problem so I know how you feel. My daughter was born at 7.14 and by day 3 she was just 6.12. We ended up readmitted as my daughter was dehydrated and did nothing but scream it was absolutely heart breaking I also felt like a terrible mum and that I had let her down so badly. I had to wake her every 3 hours to feed her, my problem was keeping her awake and I had to give her 45 ml of top up either ebm, or formula. It was exhausting. The good news is it does get better she will get the hang of it. My little one is now 21 weeks and still breastfed. The top ups finished at about 6 weeks. I never used the nipple shields. Are you putting your nipple against her nose so she raises her head, she should then open her mouth and I just used to push my nipple in with my finger really quick. She will get the hang of it. It is not unusual for you not to be able to express too much at her age. Ask your HV if you have a breast feeding counceller in your area mine was fantastic, I wouldn't have got though it without her. Please feel free to pm me if you want to chat. You are not alone. Almost everyone I have spoken to since having my little girl has had some sort of feeding issue and ended up re-admitted xx you are not a bad mum xx

KouklaMoo · Apr 12, 2011 5:01PM

Hi, i just wanted to echo the great advice from socksxx, especially about a BF councillor. My problem was sore, cracked nipples that started to bleed, I tried the nipple shields but didn't get on with them but when the counciller came round she showed me how my LO should be positioned on the nipple properly, which reduced the bleeding and the toe-curling pain.

Like socks said, you won't express much milk to start with, I used a manual breast pump and managed 1oz in an hour the first time i tried. After a few attempts I was expressing with an electric one and some days getting between 5-6 oz. I was so proud!!!

You're not a bad mummy, you're trying to give your daughter the best start in life, that's something to be proud of.

Eyper · Apr 13, 2011 4:34AM

First of all please don't worry. Breastfeeding takes a while to establish, both you and your baby have to learn how to do it.

My dd was born at 5lb12oz and lost more than 10%, going down to 5lb3oz, which for one so tiny really was not good. But thankfully I had a supportive midwife and HV, and no one ever told me to do anything different.

I never used nipple sheilds, so can't comment on what your mw said about them. But I know we did have problems with getting the latch right for at least the first 6 weeks.

To try to encourage my dd to open her mouth wide I would tickle her nose with my nipple, and as soon as she opened really wide I'd put it in. If she slipped off, or let go, I would start over again to get her to open her mouth wide again. Sometimes it could take up to 20 minutes faffing before we got a good latch.

Contacting a bf counsellor is a great idea, most NHS trusts should have an appointed individual. Did you go to a feeding ante-natal class? If you did, the chances are that the person who led that class will be the individual. Or La Leche League or the NCT can help as well. If you were given the Bump to Breastfeeding DVD whilst pregnant then watch that as it is very useful. I don't know if it's on You Tube or the NHS website but you might be able to find that, or other instructional videos online.

And yes, your MW is right when she's saying put baby to your breast regularly, that will help increase your supply and get both of you some regular practise. Try not to top up with formula at this early stage as it can interfere with supply.

Babyexpert · Apr 13, 2011 4:49AM

Hi Sharn2188, sorry to hear you're struggling a little with b/f, it does take a while to establish, but hopefully the advice from other members is helping give you vital support. Just to say don't forget our telephone advice service, which offers expert help over the phone. It does cost ??1.50 per minute but you can get one-to-one help immediately if you feel you'd like it. Breastfeeding is the subject we get most calls about, so you're definitely not alone.

http://www.babyexpert.com/new-mum/breastfeeding/help-is-just-a-phone-call-away

Good luck, Web Ed

mrsd2006 · Apr 13, 2011 6:48AM

You could also try the nct, la lache and other lines that don't cost ??1.50 a minute! X

Socksxx · Apr 13, 2011 12:32PM

Other Free options are your local sure start or childrebs centre usually has a breastfeeding group and they will usually have a breastfeeding councellor present. I don't know if you saw "Is Breast Best" last night but if you didn't its worth looking up on the IPlayer (BBC 3) if nothing else it will re-assure you about just how common this problem is xx

MrsMafiaPrincess · Apr 13, 2011 1:34PM

Wow babyexpert is moderating the forum to make money from struggling mummies-how lovely!

I'd echo what the other ladies have said. My local surestart have weekly group called bosom buddies that provides lots of free support xxx

xJellytotsx · Apr 13, 2011 2:11PM

goodness babyexpert has sunk to new lows! Just to reiterate that there are other helplines that have very good reputations and don't post questions on their facebook sites such as 'is breast best?' (which they didn't have the dignity to reply about when I pointed this out to them as being illegal) La Leche League have a particularly good reputation and your local nhs should have some support available in the form of specialist advisers that can help you with the weight loss issue.

I would try to keep going with the shields when she won't latch and try to catch her before she is hungry as it will be easier to latch her then.You didn't say how heavy she was when she was born as some babies will catch down especially if they were overdue or large. Good luck x

Miss_Xan · Apr 14, 2011 10:14AM

I watched that BBC3 doc and found it a bit negative. I am not breatfeeding yet but after the programme I'm now pretty nervous about the whole breatfeeding thing. The only people she interviewed who were positive about breatfeeding seemed really eccentric everyone else seemed quite negative and it looked so painful for most of them

I will definitely be using as many free resources and workshops as poss.

My mum mentioned something about a spray she used to use that was her godsend for sore bleeding nipples (although this was 30 years ago!) Maybe there is still something the same in the shops now?

My mums other tip for me was (we watched the program together) make sure your baby is fully supported on a pillow as close to your chest as poss so she is not pulling on your breast and can really get the whole of your nipple right in her mouth.

Don't give up before you try to find a workshop first, but if you do have to because of pain it doesn't make you any less of a mother- you have tried your best. Good luck xx

Eyper · Apr 14, 2011 10:19AM

Miss Xan please don't worry, the majority of us who breastfeed are nice normal people!

Not sure about the spray your mum mentioned but Lansinoh cream is great and many women find it a godsend for sore or cracked nipples.

Socksxx · Apr 15, 2011 2:56PM

I second the Lansinoh cream although since I have sorted the latch I havent used it since she was about 3 weeks. I am not eccentric either!

lBeth87 · Apr 18, 2011 3:54PM

I breastfed and I'm pretty normal too

Lansinoh was amazing and after my nipples toughened up, about 3weeks in, I used it through the winter for chapped lips haha

Works a treat!

My best advise was from my sister and it was to express a little off before each feed and rub it into my nipple. Think it moisturises or something. It always assured me that the milk was there and that she would get it as soon as she started sucking. Breastfeeding was amazing once we both got the hang of it.

We didn't really have any latch problems luckily, Sharn2188 I hope you got some help hun and that you are feeding much more comfortably now. Your mum and OH should be more supportive really. Hope things are working out for you x

Please help with breastfeeding!

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