Help with breastfeeding problems

[meandtheguys2]

Per the jaundice, we had three cases and dealt with it by putting them in the sun (through the window) as much as possible. Nursing is so hard in the beginning...just listening to the advice here made my "nursies" hurt! It was worth it for us. We didn't have anyone except a crabby old nurse to help us at the hospital, but that was better than nothing when I hit desperation. Have you DD talk with someone if possible.

Michelle

(My DS10 nursed every 45 mins. for 4 days straight once. I really do understand!)

 

[nkjzmom]

Michelle...I just had to laugh at your "nursies" hurting. I remember gripping the side of my rocking chair and just holding my breath for a few seconds when the baby would latch on. I had a lactation cons. tell me once that if I did it correctly it wouldn't hurt at all.

Now, tell me ladies, did anyone NOT have it hurt at least a little? My mother nursed 6 children...I've got plenty of friends who've nursed 4, 5, 6, even 7 children and they all say that it hurts the first little while.

Sorry to hijack the thread.....

 

[GEM]

I can honestly say that it never hurt a bit. Even when Paul was nursing pretty much all day every day, I never had any pain at all. Even now that he's got teeth it doesn't hurt. I was always told that if they latch correctly it won't hurt, which I guess I believed since it never hurt me at all.

 

[meandtheguys2]

YOu never got chafed (sp?) or anything? WOW! I have never heard of someone not ever have breastfeeding pain issues! You were truly blessed!

 

[auntpolly]

I really don't remember it hurting, but maybe it's like childbirth -- or so they say, and you forget (yea right....I <i>completely</i> forget how much childbirth hurt! )

 

[ckmommy]

nkjzmom,

I am in the middle of the "gripping the rocking chair arm for the first few seconds" mode!! I do not remember it hurting for this long....I remember the first few days it really hurting, but after that time no pain what so ever. Cian or I must be doing something wrong....

 

[GEM]

Originally posted by meandtheguys2
YOu never got chafed (sp?) or anything? WOW! I have never heard of someone not ever have breastfeeding pain issues! You were truly blessed!

Nope. Nothing. We were lucky in that he had a great latch right from the very start, despite being so tiny!

 

[mtblujeans]

Originally posted by Annette_VA
Is baby actually eating when nursing or just sucking? Can she hear baby swallowing? If not, baby is probably just comfort nursing & not actually eating. Has she tried a pacifier?

I agree with this post. My grandson was very premature and he could barely suck when he arrived. They supplimented with her breast milk because (1) he did not go home when she did, and (2) they wanted to clear the jaundice out of his system as soon as possible. I did not know this but the longer the jaundice stays in the system (depending upon how bad it is, I guess) the greater the chance of brain damage. That is why the urgency with pushing fluids to clear it out of the baby's system. It does not sound like the jaundice is too bad or DR would put baby under the light. I would suggest using a pacifier and setting up a schedule of feeding every 2 hours. That would help baby fill himself up and give Mom and chance to sleep when baby does. Also, I would suggest using NUK bottle nipples. They make the baby work for the milk, just like breast feeding. It also lessens nipple confusion, in my opinion. Some babies just like to suck on fingers, toes, pacifier, blanket..... My son came out sucking his thumb when he was born. He just comforted himself that way. Mom will get used to what baby likes or needs as time goes by. Patience and rest.

 

[eeyore45]

LOL, my pain came from having to SIT while nursing ds#1 (I had several stitches, his head and chest were the same - surgery to open me up as ds was down the birth canal!!)

Also, back in those days (ds is 18 now) My ped. reccommended vit E capsules, take a pin to prick a spot and apply to the nipple area, no chafing... I applied after nursing...

my second pro for nursing was when he was 4 or 5 there was a report out that breastfed babies had lower incidents of hearing issues related to ear infections... not so with my ds at 3 he was tested and is hard of hearing, and as a child he had many ear infections... I smugly stated "cant blame me"! Which is in no way fair to those that do everything and there is still problems....

 

[MelessaG]

Originally posted by GEM
Nope. Nothing. We were lucky in that he had a great latch right from the very start, despite being so tiny!

You were lucky-and hat's off to you for nursing little Paul. So many mother's would have given up had they been in your shoes.

I always had a little chafing, no matter how hard I tried no to, maybe it's my fair skin. I did avoid blisters with all but my first child though.
I would also agree with most others here that the constant nursing is normal. I only had to supplement one of my four and with him I really could 'feel' that I wasn't making enough anymore. Not because he was nursing constantly, he actually wasn't, he just never seemed satiated and was fussy. (He was about 9 mos. old and wouldn't really eat baby food which I think was our problem) I followed up with a few weight checks and discovered I was right. He only had one or two bottles a day, though and switched back and forth without a problem.

 

[mickeyboat]

Nursing didn't hurt much until DD#1 was about 3 months old. The pain became horrific, and she was fussy all the time, all she wanted to do was eat, and she never seemed satisfied. I remember DH saying on our first visit to Grandpa's house on Christmas Eve, "I am gettingthat kid a bottle! I was incredibly frustrated and I was ready to quit nursing.

Guess what I found out on New Year's Day! I was pregnant with DD#2. No wonder!

Denae

 

[mtblujeans]

Ohhhhhhhh! Your body has its' own little alarm system going on there!!

 

[Chris2597]

Thank you for all of the replies. I feel so sorry for my dd....she is so tired...barely slept for a day or so while in labor and then while the baby was in the NICU....She was so frustrated yesterday and gave in and supplemented several feedings.....She is back on the nurse on demand schedule today.....has placed a basinet beside her bed, put the glider in her room and has decided to try having the baby right next to the bed at night.
The NICU highly recommended the extra feedings with the formula to rid the body of the jaundice faster....
She does have a lactation specialist.....she visited the home two days ago and was very helpful. She said that BF is best, but said that dd and her dh must use good judgement as there have been four babies that have died recently due to the mother/fathers refusing any form of supplementation. Apparently the parents were so pro bf that they refused to aknowledge that for whatever reason the milk production was not sufficient. She said that the babies were not getting enough nurishment/fluid. You know when you hear stories like that it is scary...
My grand daughter is having several dirty diapers , both wet and soiled a day so I assured my dd that she was getting breast milk.

 

[jennyl772003]

I just wanted to add that sometimes breast feeding just isn't going to work. Don't be ashamed. Her health is important too!

I had to stop breast feeding DS when it was determined that he had breast milk jaundice that would not clear up.

I had a friend who had the same prob as your daughter. She was just so miserable trying to bf, supplementing, etc. She finally came to the realization that it just wasn't working, so she went to the bottle. She has since had another, and he bf's no problem!

BF is very dependant on both the baby and the mom. If it isn't working, there is no shame in quiting.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

BF is very dependant on both the baby and the mom. If it isn't working, there is no shame in quiting

Thank you!!!

 

[meandtheguys2]

My sis had the only baby at her NICU that left entirely BF at that time. It is hard, and I ache for your daughter! I really had very little clue when I had DS10 except what I had read re. BF. Only one person said "give it 3 months!" instead of "you'll be fine in a couple of weeks!"

If you live near, give her a hug and a break anytime you can! Tell her DH to let her cry all she wants!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I'm sure she is doing just fine. Those first couple of weeks are just exhausting -- it doesn't matter if the baby is breastfed or Formula Fed. I remember sitting in a chair thinking "I will get through this I will get through this I will get through this."

It is a darn shame too because there is nothing cuter than a newborn, but Mom is usually to exhausted to fully appreciate it.

 

[GEM]

Sounds like she's doing great!

If she wants any more info, here is a GREAT website. Their info. is very reliable and easy to understand.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html

 

[mtblujeans]

My oldest son was full term but had cholic. I had NO experience with that. We were walking the floors with him day and night. My breast milk made him cry harder. I was at my wits' end. I finally gave in and gave him formula. It took less than 3 weeks weeks and his stomach calmed down a little better so I could go back to breast feeding. He lived on those gas drops! From then on, I had to watch to see how he took those feedings. If my breast milk was making him cry and his little body curl up in pain, we gave him formula and DH could feed him. When he was feeling better, I could breast feed. He is a healthy 16-year old and over 6' tall.....formula did not hurt him for a few months!

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Chris2597
there have been four babies that have died recently due to the mother/fathers refusing any form of supplementation.

First of all there is nothing wrong with supplementing if that's what you decide to do. And secondly I believe completely that they told you this. But am I the only one who finds this hard to swallow?

I just hate it when doctors and nurses exagerate to get you on their program.These were 4 babies in your hospital? In your town? In the world? If I'm wrong, I apologize! I just can't believe it!

Honestly I'm not trying to say your DD did the wrong thing -- just that I think they used scare tactics to get her to do it. They (the doctors, the nurses, and the hospital) told me I'd have to completely give up the idea of nursing because DD was jaundiced (20 years ago, and they were being very old fashioned). I remember them trying to scare me into thinking I was an irresponsible mother by breastfeeding.

One more thing -- we women need to stick together no matter what decision we make. If you decide to bottlefeed, I completely support your right to do that.