Struggling with breastfeeding

[wattle]

Hi. My baby Max is nearly six weeks, and I have really struggled with feeding. It was fine in hospital but as soon as my milk came in the feeding went downhill. At four weeks (after desperation) I went to a breastfeeding clinic at a major hospital. That didn't help at all, the nurses just said he was putting on weight and to keep persisting. I joined the Australian Breastfeeding Association, and they watched a feed. That didn't help, they just said to keep persisting too.

I was getting more and more anxious, so I called in a lactation consultant (as there was no way I wanted to give up). That was the BEST thing I ever did. She was able to look at where I fed, how I fed, and at Max's mouth. She realised I had an oversupply and huge letdown that was scaring Max, and told me how to overcome this problem.

I don't know why nobody else could help, but if you're struggling and thinking of giving up breastfeeding, ring a lactation consultant asap - it saved my nipples, my baby and my sanity.

Has anyone else had trouble like this? :confused:

[Lucybelle]

I'm so glad you found the answer in the end. You certainly weren't going to give up. You'll be a wonderful mum.

Apart from the whole breast is best deal, I think the whole convenience thing is a huge plus too!! Mitchell only has 2-3 bottles a day and the rest boobs and the whole bottle thing drives me batty, I hate dishes enough!!

I can't understand it when people say mums who bottlefeed are being lazy, so much more work at the end of the day!

[mama2four]

Hi Lucybell

You said that your son is having 2-3 bottles a day and the rest boob? Is the bottle feed formular or expressed milk? I only ask because I need to introduce a bottle feed a few times a week so I can go to uni ( hubby will be giving the bottles) Should I express or just use formula on these two days?

[veronica]

Good on you Wattle :D It's great to hear from someone who persevered! I know another mum who had so much trouble to start with but she also persevered and it took about 8 - 10 weeks but it came good with the help of a lactation consultant and she is so glad she kept at it.

I went and saw one when Alyse was about 1 week old, as even though her attachment etc was really good she seemed to be feeding for only very short periods of time and then wanting to feed very often with only catnaps in between. The lady was excellent - she noticed straight away that I had heaps of milk and that my flow was very fast. She thought that Alyse was getting a full signal too soon and that she was getting only the sugary foremilk so she helped me by getting me to take Alyse on and off until the milk flow settled down and also suggested I feed off only one side at each feed. Well from that day on she fed and slept much better. In fact I still only feed off one side per feed (except her bedtime feed) and its worked well. I was very surprised though when a CHN commented to me that at Alyse's age she should be feeding off both per feed. I found this very strange considering she gains weight well (in fact shes a bit of a whopper at 97th perecentile for height and weight ;) ) It is like just because its not 'normal' its not right.

Moral of the story - do what you think is right, lactation consultants can be worth their weight in gold, and keep trying to find answers if you think something is not quite right even if they are all saying its fine - you will always know yourself and your bub best!

[xkwzit]

Hi Mama2four
I also had to introduce bottle to both my girls when I went back to work part time. I also had a GREAT lactation consultant, so I asked her what to do. The best thing to ensure that your supply doesn't drop would be to express when your away from baby at the normal times you would feed. It isn't necessary to get full feeds at this time, its just to remind your breasts that they should be doing something. You can then use this for the feeds while your away, or supplement with formula. This should prevent your supply dropping due to less feeding.

I also found it surprising how often CHN contradicted my paed and lactation consultant. In the end you just have to decide who to listen to and stop paying attention to anyone else.

Cheers

[vickster]

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone was having trouble with breastfeeding their baby - mine is 5mo & it is a struggle to get her to pay attention & feed for longer that 2-3min on one side. Then she won't take the other side. :( I've tried to feed her in a quiet darkened room, but she still manages to sticky beak. I know that it's appropriate behaviour for her age, but it's driving me batty! I'm also having trouble getting her to take a bottle of EBM. I am a bridesmaid at a wedding soon & I'll need to leave her with family for the day.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!

[Mumoffour]

I also had to go back to work and expressed milk in my lunchhour for bub.it helped reduce the engorgement. we went out and bought the avent bottles that are meant to be just like a breast and my son refused them. we ended up using tommy tipee ones from the supermarket :o workplaces cannot discriminate against you if you need to express milk for your bubba. I had a thermal lunchbag with a frozen cold pack in it. I put the sterilised breast pump in it and then used it to keep the milk cold when i had finished. Hope this helps

[Lucybelle]

Sorry Mama2four, I stay away when my connection gets too slow.!

Mitchell was for some reason, reluctant to take EBM via bottle, and I was really worried he would never take to the bottle at all. For some reason he took to formula. It is completely up to your what you use, but I was pg again by the time he was 5 months old, and I wanted a little rest before the next one!
We gave him about 1 bottle a day, and increased from there. Now I just feed him boob if he wakes early am, and last thing before bed.

It feels like the best of both worlds, as I am back at work (from home) and still get to feed him myself.

I hope this works out for you. Get a good pump if you can, and be patient using it. It took me ages to get it right, and it was all for nothing in the end as he only drank it under sufferance!

[shellbell]

hi ladies,
just thought i'd share my story. i had great difficulty feeding my first child (as SO many women seem to have). it got so bad that i gave up after 2 weeks and expessed all of her feeds for the next 4 weeks. finally, at 6 weeks of age, we were sent to a daystay clinic in Bris to try and fix the problem. at that first feed, i simply couldn't believe that breastfeeding was pain-free. When my second one came along, i thought "i know how to do this now. we'll have no probs" WRONG!! i had the same attachment issues as the first time around. So off we went to the same daystay clinic at Paddington and again, the problem was fixed that day.

i can't speak highly enough of Judy, the nurse at the clinic. She gives individual attention to you, your baby and your problems and its a queensland health clinic, so theres no fees. to any other brissy mums out there with bf issues, by all means get a lactation consultant, but just be aware that there are great free services out there too. and persist if you are determined to breastfeed, because its such a rewarding experience

[ELA23]

hi all,

imy bub had attachment issuses as well and i ended up getting mastitis on day 3 (with the baby blues) but i persisted and still have attachment isses every now and then but am working through it. would love more info on this clinic shellbell. i found an excellent lactation specilist at everton park but while im still not working, the clinic sounds great.

bub still has chomping instints which ruin my nipples, and when u say it can be pain free, wow i would love to feel that :)

[shellbell]

hi ela23,

sorry to hear about the probs, but sadly it just seems to be part of life for some of us. i too had mastitis (3 times with my first, so far none with my 2nd - touch wood :D

the clinic that we went to is just the regular qld health child health clinic at paddington, but you have to get a referal from your normal child health nurse the next time you go. judy at paddo then calls to find out what the issues are, and to make a time. there's only ever 2 mums (or dads i guess) at the clinic for that day, so its really personal. i used the early feeding clinic at alderley 3 times with bub #2 and they still couldn't fix the prob, so i actually asked for the paddo referal, as i'd been there before.

i considered a lactation consultant, but knew that paddo was so good. i guess the one on one attention from a lc is great, but the one on two at paddo is pretty good too :)

good luck and keep us posted if you do use it. i'd be interested in someone else's opinion of the place

[WeThree]

good on you wattle for persisting and being determined to give your baby the best start in life :)