Breastfeeding Support Thread

[Lindsay]

thanks xsuzx I am going to defo buy one of those bottles, they look great!

Xxx

 

[xSuzx]

Yeah I find them really good.

Lily can take from a normal bottle too with no confusion, But I find she takes it better from the breastbottle.

It's deffinatly more like breastfeeding, EG
With a normal bottle she takes 4oz within 2 minutes as it's easier and constant whether she sucks or not.

With the breastbottle it takes her the same length of time as it does on the breast as she has to do all the sucking, and as you can see on the website they have to Latch on like they do the breast.

Only down side is you have to teach the men how to use it (mine took abit of convincing to use it at first too) as they alway try to just put it in like a normal bottle, so you basically have to teach them how to breastfeed

xSuzx

 

[Lindsay]

That should be fun I have put a bid on one on ebay, if I am not successful I will buy one direct from the website. Will keep you posted how we get on! thanks again.

Xxx

 

[Lucy]

Hi Lindsay

Not sure if you'd be interested but I used my breastbottle once but Olivia didn't take to it so I was going to put it on ebay but haven't got round to it. It's sterilised and in original packaging etc but I'm selling for £10 +P+P.

Let me know if you're interested!

Lucy

 

[Lindsay]

Thanks Lucy hun but I won the one on ebay yesterday so just waiting for it to arrive now!

Xxx

 

[Lucy]

Hi Lindsay

No worries, I decided against ebay and put it ona nother mums forum and just sold it for £15 so I'm really pleased!

I hope the bottle works for you!

Lucy

 

[skatty]

Please reassure me!! Leorah is 5 days old and was born 3 weeks early and we are trying to get this breastfeeding lark together! My milk came in properly yesterday and my boobs were solid and lumpy. My midwife suggested massaging them etc and I did and they leaked 2oz of milk! Leorah had no problems latching on before my milk came in but now gets hysterical everytime and keeps coming on and off the boob. I think the flow is too fast at first so I have been pumping a bit off beforehand.

Anyway last night was perfect once latched on we fed for 20 minutes every 3 hours and then 30 mins and went 4 hours. This morning she was really hungry and went on for 40 mins but then only had 2 x10 minute sessions in 5 and a half hours. The midwife told me not to go anymore tha 3 hours in the day and 4 hours at night. I tried all the tricks for waking her but she just didn't want to know. We have now just had a 20 minute feed which if it has a pattern will mean she'll be hungry in about 3 hours. I am worried because I don't want to get supply problems or problems from engorgement.

My main questions would be will she eventually latch on without a tantrum as I cannot see how I'll ever be able to feed in public at the mo! If she does miss a feed will this cause problems? Can I express any milk now if I can't get her to wake?

Thank you, I will be so grateful of some real advice as the books are quite contradictory. By the way she was 6lb when born and here in denmark she is considered a very small baby so they are monitering her weight closely. In two days she lost almost 8% of her weight and then over the next two days gained 30g which I was happy about as my milk had only come in properly that day she was weighed.

Thanks again

 

[xSuzx]

Hi Katt

Once again congratulations.

Hopefully your milk supplie will adjust itself over the next few weeks and you should stop becoming so full, once this happens Leorah should find it easier to latch on and will go on and nurse without to much fuss.

I too had this sort of trouble with lily she also used to clamp down on my nipple to slow the flow ( it wasn't painful just uncomfy), my breast would feel full even after feeding and would leak quite abit inbetween, this all calmed after awhile.

As long as you can wake her long enough to have even a 10 minute feed ( it's amazing how much they can get in this time) her weight should do well and your supply won't suffer.

If you start to feel uncomfortably full inbetween feeds it should be ok to express just enough to releave the pressure, Midwifes ect don't always reccomend expressing before a milk supplie is properly established, but I had to do it when my milk came in as it was so uncomfy and as long as you don't express too much you should be fine.

Also for engorged breast massaging with a warm damp flannel always helped me.

opps that was abit longer then I thought lol, I hope I've covered it all and I'm sure the others will be along to help aswel soon.

If you have any more question just ask

xSuzx

 

[xSuzx]

Awwww just took a look at your pics Leorahs absolutle beautiful, such alittle darling.

You must be so proud

xSuzx

 

[skatty]

Thank you so much xsuzx

I can't believe she is here and I keep thinking about the what ifs, you know if I didn't have her early and its driving me crazy I really have to sort it out. I'm sure you know what I mean.

My boobs are not feeling so bad at the moment, I just really hope it will all turn out ok as I really eant to breast feed.

Thanks again

 

[beanie]

Hi Skatty and congratulations hun. I can only second what Suz says. I didn't have this, in fact my prob was the opposite end but hot flannels and a hot bath are great for engorgement. Remember both you and Leorah are still learning what breastfeeding is, and these are early days but the fact that your nipples aren't causing you pain is a great sign and shows that when she latches on she is doing well. It does sound like you have a really fast flow and if there are difficulties with latching on I would express a little just to help Leonorah. It will settle down, and you will soon be breastfeeding anywhere and everywhere

Here is a link from kellymom.com about forceful let down, it has some great tips on it and I hope this helps

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html

 

[Lucy]

Hi Skatty

Congraulations on the safe arrival of your little baby girl.

I struggled with breastfeeding for the first few weeks and they felt like the longest of my life but it soon came together and we're still bfing now.

My boobs remained hard and lumpy for a couple of weeks, I seemed to have an over supply of milk and leaked constantly. This really got me down, I was constantly waking up with a wet top. I found the Tommy Tippiee disposable breastpads really good and helped me a lot. I know it didn't help my problem but i expressed in the early days as it helped my discomfort and meant I got a really good frozen supply of milk in the freezer!

Feeding will settle down, for me it wasn't until Olivia was about 8-10 wks old which may seem like months away at the moment but it could be quicker for you and it will come round quickly.

You're doing a briliant job, Leorah sounds like she's picking it up really quickly and the feeds wont always last for so long and she will start going longer between feeds.

In these early days just try and relax as much as possible and cuddle up with your wee special gift and soon enough things will all fall into place and you'll be glad you perservered.

Lucy x

 

[skatty]

Thank you everyone

Leorah gained 50g in 2 days so the midwife is happy! We had such a good day yesterday, hardly any tantrums from our little diva at all and my boobs aren't filling up so much (still hard and lumpy before feeds though)

Beanie thanks for the link to Kellymom, that is great. I hadn't heard of that compression technique before and it has worked brilliantly when she is getting a bit tired and helps us go a bit longer and empty my boobs! I do feel a bit like I'm doing an impression of a paramedic on Casualty though

 

[Daggers]

Wondering if anyone could also advise on the following, I've been BFing Otis ever since he was born 4 weeks ago and probably since the last two weeks (maybe longer) he throws a wobbly when latching on (most of the time), throwing his head back and forth and kicking about, he will suckle for a bit and then throw another wobbly!! I started expressing milk just after he was two weeks old and find that he is more relaxed when drinking from the bottle, therefore obviously his tantrums are boob related. Any ideas anyone?
He has gained quite a bit of weight and had no problems latching on when he was born or the week that followed.....?

 

[skatty]

Hi Daggers, that's exactly what Leorah does when I don't catch her first signs of hunger, she gets so furious that she can't stay latched on, its really frustrating! She also does it when my boobs are really full so I have been expressing a bit off.

I started to express so Martin can give a night bottle, do you think I should stop this? Do you think this is why IOtis has stopped taking the boob?

By the way I just got your PM, sorry I didn't see it before but I hardly use that email address. Thanks anyway

 

[Daggers]

No problem about the PM glad melanie was able to post your good news!!!
If OH is feeding Leorah her night bottle I would stick to it - but I ain't no expert! However it does give you a chance to catch up on some much need sleep I'm sure. I think y'all could be right but him not wanting to take a full boob, he does take the boob as he only gets about 4 bottles a day at the mo (brakefast, luch, dinner and late feed) in between he does snack as well of the boob. I feel like a human milking machine, fortunately I only take about 10mins to express 5 fl. ounces. Will keep blodding on and hope things go a bit smooth as he gets bigger can't believe he's already 4 weeks old!!!!!
How's life with Leorah? You guys starting to settle a bit?

 

[skatty]

Its much better thanks, we both seem to be getting the hang of this breastfeeding now. I love it that I am the only person in the world that can calm her when she's upset, it means she knows I'm her Mum! She loves to sleep on her dad's chest too, we are besotted with her

I can't believe Otis is 4 weeks old already! Is he growing a lot?

 

[beanie]

Wondering if anyone could also advise on the following, I've been BFing Otis ever since he was born 4 weeks ago and probably since the last two weeks (maybe longer) he throws a wobbly when latching on (most of the time), throwing his head back and forth and kicking about, he will suckle for a bit and then throw another wobbly!! I started expressing milk just after he was two weeks old and find that he is more relaxed when drinking from the bottle, therefore obviously his tantrums are boob related. Any ideas anyone?
He has gained quite a bit of weight and had no problems latching on when he was born or the week that followed.....?

With Otis breastfeeding fine for while and just starting to do this I am wondering whether it may be nipple confusion. Has this just started since he started having a bottle. A bottle is completely different from the boob and a lot easier for baby. With a bottle the milk just goes into baby's mouth, they swallow and then more milk is there, whereas with the boob they have to use their jaws and tongue to extract the milk so it is harder work, this link expalins more. Otis may be getting frustrated with the boob as the milk flow isn't as fast. I would, if possible, stop using the bottle until he is 6 weeks old as this reduces the chances of nipple confusion and helps get your milk supply stable. Also to get him drinking milk I would perhaps express a little before hand so the milk is already flowing when he comes to the breast and he doesn't have to do so much work. Offer him the breast as much as you can. I know this might be a nightmare but it will only be for a small while, and soon he will be able to use bottles and boobs withouit any probs

Here are some other hints I have found

When putting a reluctant baby to the breast, try to relax as much as possible. Baby often senses his mother's tension and responds with tension of his own.
Remember, most babies with nipple confusion can usually be coaxed back into nursing in a day or two.
When my son became nipple confused after only a couple of days using bottles at his caregiver's, I "tricked" him into taking the breast. First of all, I held him in the cradle hold as if I were going to nurse, but I put a pacifier in his mouth. After he had sucked on the pacifier a few times, I pulled it from his mouth and placed my nipple close to his face. He rooted around and latched on. I had to do this a few times before he sucked enough to get my milk to let down. Once it started flowing, he nursed enthusiastically. I had to use this method several evenings in a row until he figured out that he could get Mommy milk from *either* a bottle or my breast. I don't know exactly how it worked, but my logic was that he would realize that all artificial nipples didn't bring him milk and that there was milk in Mommy's breasts.
Many babies will get frustrated at the breast because the milk doesn't start to flow immediately. Try expressing some milk onto your nipples and onto baby's lips as you hold him in the nursing position.
Try pumping or expressing some milk from your breast first so that baby gets milk immediately when he latches on. Massage or warm compresses on your breasts prior to nursing may also help your milk let down and flow more promptly.
Make sure the nipples on your baby's bottles are the slow-flow variety so that he won't get accustomed to having his bottled breastmilk (or formula) coming out in such big gulps.
Try offering the breast when baby isn't particularly hungry. He might have more patience and continue sucking until the milk lets down.
Limit your baby's exposure to artificial nipples for nourishment or comfort. This includes pacifiers! PLEASE NOTE: You may hear disparaging remarks about comfort nursing. Some uninformed person may wrongly tell you that your baby is using your breasts as a "human pacifier". In reality, plastic pacifiers are being used by the baby (and parents) to substitute for the human nipple. Don't fall for that kind of wrong-headed thinking! Nurse your baby any time s/he wants to nurse, even if you and everyone around you thinks s/he can't *possibly* be hungry. There are hungers that do not originate in the digestive system, after all.
Try nursing the baby when he is sleepy. Sometimes a sleepy baby "forgets" that he prefers those artificial nipples and ends up latching on and sucking happily. This is one of the most effective methods to get a reluctant nurser to latch on, from what I've heard from other moms.
Sleep with your baby with your breasts uncovered. Keep your baby's face close to your chest. Your baby can smell you and your milk, and this may inspire him to latch on.
During the day, too, to the extent possible, hold your baby on your lap with his face near your bare breasts. Get as much skin-to-skin contact as the temperature in your house will allow.
Get in a warm bath with baby for lots of good skin-to-skin contact. Baby might relax more fully and latch on without even remembering that he has previously rejected that idea!
If your baby still refuses the breast, pump your milk and feed to baby. You must pump to keep your supply up if baby will not nurse. If you have to do this, use a cup, spoon, or syringe. Put the milk just at your baby's lips and let her or him do the rest of the work. If you use a bottle instead, you will only exacerbate the nipple confusion.
Call a lactation consultant or your local La Leche League leader if the problem persists more than a few days.

also there are some great links here http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/concer ... #confusion

and this is a great page with some fab advice http://www.mother-2-mother.com/nippleconfusiontruth.htm

 

[beanie]

Its much better thanks, we both seem to be getting the hang of this breastfeeding now. I love it that I am the only person in the world that can calm her when she's upset, it means she knows I'm her Mum! She loves to sleep on her dad's chest too, we are besotted with her

I can't believe Otis is 4 weeks old already! Is he growing a lot?

Its a great feeling isn't it. I don't know where I would be without "magic boob" (as we call it), it stops the tears like magic

 

[Jadie]

I call it specail mummy cuddles!

Jade