can anyone help?

[georgie20]

hi there, i had my baby 2 weeks ago. she was 9 days early and a tiny baby weighing 5.5 1/2. I am trying to breastfeed her but she just doesnt seem to be getting it. I have put this down to the fact she is small. At the minute i'm expressing and trying her to the breast before each feed. Yesterday and today tho,my milk supply when pumping off seems pretty low, does anyone have any suggestions on how i can up it? also when is the best time to express when trying her on the breast too? im expecting a call from the health visitor on friday and will ask for her help then if things havnt changed. i was just wondering if anyone here has experienced this or has any advice. xx

 

[Maud]

Well done for persevering. How often are you pumping? Pumping isn't as efficient as baby, so the more you can get her on the breast the better. How long do you try her on the breast before bottle feeding? It often took my LO 20-30 minutes to get latched on in the early weeks, sometimes longer. She did get the hang of it eventually!

 

[georgie20]

im pumpingevery 2-3 hours at the minute to try and up it. i try her for 10-15 minutes and then she starts to get really upset so i do her a bottle. I dont like leaving her to cry too long and feel like imforcing her sometimes even tho ive been through all the positions with my health visitor x

 

[Maud]

It's hard isn't it. Mine would scream and fight the whole time and I worried I was making things worse. But she feeds like a pro now and clearly can't remember the horrid early weeks, so hopefully that will give you some reassurance that it's ok to persevere. Ask about breastfeeding clinics, cafes and counsellors in your area for extra help and support - the NCT run lots of clinics and you don't have to be a member to use them and some hospitals run them too.

 

[Jostu]

Have you tried nipple shields? It might help her to latch. Find out if you have breast feeding support volunteers in your area and see if you can see one. They should be able to come to you. Alternatively your local hospital should have a clinic. Speak to your health visitor and find out what help is available and take it! They also often offer the loan of an electric pump which might help you pump more. You're doing well so far though! Xx

 

[kara2868]

Have you tried holding her in the rugby ball position? My little one was the same sort of weight and couldn't feed properly in the 'usual' position, changing it really helped her. Can't really help with pumping as I never really got much myself maybe 3 oz maximum x

 

[georgie20]

thank you ladies, i have tried everything, changing positions nipple shields, i had 2 different women come to the house since and also attended a breastfeeding group. everyone was so supportive. my little just didnt want to do it. I refused to give up and carried on trying her and trying her, all i did was try and feed until i was sore. she screamed for a whole day and night because she was hungry. in the end it was suggested i put her on formula. so i did and she seems so much more satisfied ans settled. she was constipated last night but she is going alright now. i really didnt want to put her on formula but i think it was the best choice. thank you for all the support xxx

 

[Jostu]

Glad you are both a bit happier. There's comes a point when you have to make these decisions and they're not easy. Well done for making the transition that will be better for both of you in the long run xx

 

[RosiePose]

I had a similar problem getting my LO to latch initially... I had about 6 or 7 specialists tell me I was doing it right but he wasn't getting it. Then my mum showed me what to do and he was suddenly a great feeder!

Try lying your baby across you and folding her legs round you and have her head in the crook of your arm. Also, try pinching the nipple and putting it right into her mouth (as far back at the top of her mouth as pos).

Don't worry about low supply... It takes a good 6 weeks for the flow to regulate and can be all over the place until then.

Hope that helps... good luck!!!