What are the chances?

[BabyBrain]

Sitting here waiting for the community mw to come and just wondering what the chances are of kick starting my breastfeeding again. To cut a long story short the hospital staff have been shockingly lax in helping me bf. Albert was put to my right breast immediately after the section, he was propped up with a pillow and he was just left there with me high on painkillers and confusion. He has basically chewed me to pieces as he didn't latch on properly and my right nipple is just a scab now

Tried with my left and he did the same because he wouldn't open his mouth wide enough and instead of teasing him the mw "helping" me just kept shoving his face in my boob . Trouble is as soon as I hold him to bf, skin to skin and across me the little rascal falls fast asleep, and I mean that floppy sleep babies do lol. Cos he is little I would like to bf even if I still have to top up with formula, he's had all the colostrum I could muster but nothing else has come through and trying to stimulate all the time bloomin hurts lol.

He was checked about 8 times for tongue tie and is ok and is now opening wide enough for the closer to nature teat but not sure if it's worth worrying about now if nothing's coming through anyway. Any suggestions would be great xxxxxxxxx

 

[Mrs. KM]

Keep up the good work! So many of us have been through this. It is important to make your little guy stay awake to eat.... Undressing him, tickling his toes, rubbing a cold washcloth on his back may work. He really needs to eat as much as possible to have your milk come in. If you have a pump, I would try pumping a bit as well. Try not to give him formula because that will really mess up your milk supply.... Although sometimes you have no choice. Then you need to pump like crazy. Fenugreek is also a huge help at getting your milk to come in! The girls on here really helped and supported me with bf. Took 6 weeks but I am now exclusively bf! So you can do it . Do you have cream for your nipples? Lanisoah i think it is.... Expressing some milk onto your nipples and letting them air dry helps too. Good luck! Xxxx

 

[BevG]

yeah, get him to latch whenever u can if you can, pump, skin to skin, pump, fenugreek, massage your nipples n boobs, lansinoh nipple cream. it is totally possible for you to get your milk t come in just requires hard work. offer him boob every feed, even if he only latched for a bit before u have to top up, offer both boobs, take paracetamol regularly cos i know it will hurt at times.

look up thr la leche league and any bf support in your area, the league should have a number u can call for advice n tips from lactation consultants

 

[BabyBrain]

Thanks ladies. I always wanted to bf exclusively but as he went 7 hours without a feed and everyone who was "coming in 5 minutes" to help never showed up we had no choice but to grab some formula so he had something at least.

Still waiting for the midwife. Might try the breast pump with her here and see how we get on xxxxxxxxx

 

[Mrs. KM]

I ended up topping up with formula too. Just needed to pump a tonne and take fenugreek (3-4 capsules three times a day until you smell like maple syrup lol) and you will be fine. The earlier you do it the better. Good luck! Xx

 

[pinkyprincess]

I think a girl on here re-started her milk supply. It is do-able but it'll be hard! Just keep at it and ring your local bf experts. They'll help good luck!!!

 

[Maria1977]

It can defo be done hun, sometimes weeks after stopping milk can be brought back in.

Like others have said, lots and lots of skin to skin. Keep baby close to you and instinct for your boby and baby should take over.

Find out about your local BF support workers, cannot rate them enough. THey are fab and will be able to answer all questions and offer all advice.

Good luck BB xxx

 

[BabyBrain]

Thanks girls, will definitely get the fenugreek capsules and give them a go. The mw went through a lot with me yesterday and he managed to latch on, I don't know if he was more shocked or I was lol. He has very mild jaundice so I'd prefer to bf it out before it gets too bad. I have a maternity assistant coming today too to go through more bf with me so hopefully we will get there xxxxxxxx

 

[BevG]

sounds good hun. im sure a day of skin to skin would help too, snuggle him inside your clothes and dont move til you have to lol. get the tv remote and chocs and just enjoy holding your baba. make DH fetch n carry for you too it will help your body produce the oxytocin it needs to tell it to produce milk. your supply isnt established properly til 6 weekd and it can take up to 10 days for milk to even come in so at 4 dayd id say you have a great chance at being able to get your milk going

 

[l_maclean]

Glad you seem to be getting on better. A day or two of skin to skin is def a good idea. Gather up nibbles, drinks and the tv and park to two of you on the sofa. Xxx

 

[jojo_2012]

You will still be producing milk trust me, you might not be able to squeeze it out but he will definitely be able to get it from you.

 

[pinkyprincess]

Thanks girls, will definitely get the fenugreek capsules and give them a go. The mw went through a lot with me yesterday and he managed to latch on, I don't know if he was more shocked or I was lol. He has very mild jaundice so I'd prefer to bf it out before it gets too bad. I have a maternity assistant coming today too to go through more bf with me so hopefully we will get there xxxxxxxx

How'd it go with the maternity assistant?

 

[BabyBrain]

It was good thanks hun , we went through my diet and eating plan and stuff too, 3 meals a day, 3 snacks etc. I also got some multi vitamin for milk production.

Seeing as the way they show you to hold baby just so happens to be THE most comfortable position Bertie has found to sleep in lol I am going to try to feed at the breast the way we do with the bottle; him on his back looking right. For some unknown reason he feeds lots in this position which is fine as I can try and turn him slowly as we go along and train him to lay properly hopefully.

So, skin to skin tonight and we shall see xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[pinkyprincess]

Best if luck to you!!! Keep us updated!

 

[BabyBrain]

My milk came through at about 10pm.....and about 10 minutes after Bertie had filled himself up on formula lol . So we will be pushing bf in the morning feed especially as he has been suffering all night with wind even though he has anti-colic bottles bless him. His little bum is like a canon . If latching is hard again I'll express, he will get breast milk if it kills me lol

 

[BevG]

thats good news hun, keep getting him to latch as often as you can to build up the supply, his saliva is the trigger so expressing should be easier after hes been on there even a little while

 

[BabyBrain]

Had loads of skin to skin this morning and milk was flowing well but all we achieved was sticking his ear to the side of his head lol. Turns out he has colic bless him but will try again now we have infacol

 

[leannesxb]

Now AJ has his feeding problems I totally regret not attempting to breast feed him and have a massive amount of guilt about it. Well done for asking for help. I have left it too long mow to start as he is 3 weeks old and my milk has dried up. (

 

[BevG]

you shouldnt feel bad leanne, you did your best and it wasnt an ideal birth. as long as aj grows and thrives however slow or fast he does it is all that matters.

 

[BabyBrain]

Ok so got over my embarrassment and expressed 2 and a half ounces first go......now have one boob bigger than the other and a baby covered in sick (I have cleaned him up by the way lol). I don't know if it's the breast milk, which was totally fresh, or the colic that's caused it but it's the first time ever he has been sick so it can't be a coincidence.

I'm determined not to give up even though it seems we are being conspired against lol