Help with breastfeeding problems

[snookhams]

I applaud anyone who can breast feed a baby with no supplements, but you must tell your daughter to do what she thinks is best for her and her baby, after all that is what is important. I listened to all the wrong advise with my youngest son, I had fed my eldest for 9 months until my milk just dried up and was the leader of the National Childbirth Trust ( which here in the UK is a bit like la leache - i hope i spelt that right - and is especially active in promoting breast feeding), I advised many mothers on how to breastfeed correctly and felt that this was the only way to go, until Matthew arrived.... He just never latched on properly, he almost seemed to chew at the nipple and was always hungry, I seemed to be feeding him 24/7, the midwife and health visitor kept telling me everything was OK, he was just a hungry baby, he always had wind and never seemed satisfied. My instinct was to try him with a bottle, as not every baby or Mother is suited to breastfeeding, how I wish I had, by 5 weeks old all he had done was loose weight, and was admitted to hospital where they discovered a tongue tie - where the baby is unable to move the tongue (due to the flap of skin or gum under the tongue which allows movement either being to tight or not there at all) Matthew just could not suck no matter how hard he tried because he could not use his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He had to be dripfed and then trained to take milk from a cup or a fast flow teat that just dribbled it into his mouth. He eventually had corrective surgery at 16 months old and is now a healthy happy 8 year old. I felt like such a failure and I had let my son down in some way, I look back and feel I should have asserted myself more, from then on I always advised any mothers that came to me for advise, feed the which ever way is best for you and your baby, enjoy this time, don't feel that you are letting anyone down by not adherring to what they want, you are the mother, listen to your mothers instinct.

 

[mtblujeans]

I am glad you shared your story. That is a perfect example that every child is different! Every situation is different.

 

[Tinkerbelle'sMOM]

As a NICU nurse, I can tell you that we do use formula in the hospital if the baby isn't getting enough fluids, esp if they are yellow. Once mom's supply kicks in we go strictly BF if mom is there, otherwise we used pumped milk or formula.

There are some women that just don't have as many milk ducts as others and their babies are hungry all the time. And we have seen severely dehydrated kids come back in from parents that didn't want to supplement, so yes, it does happen. People need to use common sense.

Nursing is a full time job in the beginning! Some kids will nurse every hour until mom's supply is up. And the comment about the hindmilk is so true...if they aren't getting the fat rich milk, they are starving in a little bit. We have moms pump for 5-10 minutes and then nurse if that is the case, even at home, and then use the foremilk for supplements or a snack for dad to give them.

Tell her to relax and if she has to have daddy give baby a bottle, it isn't the end of the world! If she isn't well rested, hydrated and calm, her milk supply will dwindle.

If you have a lot of pain after nursing is established then it may be a latch on thing or a yeast infection...I had that and it was HORRIBLE!!!!

Enjoy your little grandbaby!

 

[meandtheguys2]

T-MOM, NICU nurses are awesome. Thank you for the work you all do. DNiece was 24 wks, 1 lb, 4oz. She left the hospital 3 1/2 months later due to folks like you!

 

[BrerMom]

I was glad to read that the baby is having wet and dirty diapers. That usually indicates she's getting what she needs.

My 10-pounders ate a lot, too. It's very important that they get the hindmilk. A good comparison is broth to clam chowder. I remember my DD going from one side to the other and then back and I just couldn't understand her impatience. Somebody explained that she wasn't hungry (didn't need the hindmilk), just thirsty. When she'd start to reach the hindmilk, she'd switch sides.

So when my boys were hungry, I used this logic in reverse and it worked. I did not feed them on both sides at every feeding. Example, first feeding was only on the right side, second feeding only on the left and so on. This strategy also helped immensely with the soreness and chafing since there was more time to heal between feedings. I also doubled the amount of water that I thought was sufficient. If she's worried about how much the baby's getting, she could always pump and then give it with a bottle. I had to do that a little with DS#2 because he just couldn't suck hard enough to get what he needed. He was the largest baby in the special care nursery, too!!!!

I loved breastfeeding and am so grateful that I could produce milk (I still feel sorry for my mom. After her scary experience with trying to nurse me, she didn't even try with my siblings. ). They sure eat a lot right before a growth spurt and newborns grow quickly! Tell her to hang in there and try to learn how to catnap.

 

[decker96]

I agree with the other posters who have said that supplementing is not neccesarily a bad thing. I've got 3 kids, all were average weight when born and I started out BFing all of them. 1st DD I had no problems, no soreness, she nursed about every 2 hours at first and then went up to 3-4 hours by 2 weeks.
Along came baby #2, DS. What a difference!!! He was constantly hungry, wanted to eat every 45 minutes. Finally at 2 months I couldn't handle it anymore. He was always crying because he was hungry, I could get nothing done, DD then 3 was always crying because I couldn't play with her as I was always nursing, I was exhausted. Our whole family was miserable! I quit and put him on formula. It was like flipping a switch, he was so much happier and was going at least 2 hours in between feedings, then up to three about a month later. If anyone, the lactation consultant, my pediatrician, a friend, anyone had encouraged me to supplement I probably would have BF him much longer, but it seemed like an all or nothing thing, either you BF or formula fed, not both.
Baby #3, DD was more like older DD. She ate more often, every 1 1/2 hours at first then up to 2 1/2 to 3, but was content in between feedings.
Now, I agree that at a week, her supply probably isn't totally up yet, especially since it seems she has been switching back and forth to formula. But, I wouldn't exclude supplemental bottles totally if it will help mom. Nurse first, then if baby's gets hungry shortly after, have dad or grandma give her a bottle, so mom can get some rest. If mom's so tired she may get so frustrated she'll just give up BF all together.
Also, has she tried other things to soothe baby first, rocking, walking, swaddling, pacifier, etc.? Try stretching the time by just a few minutes in between each feeding by trying other things first. It will help in the long run!!
Good luck and Congratulations!!!!