Breastfeeding Woes

 I had the same problem with Jackson and had to supplement and finally had to stop at 10 weeks.  This time around I will use the mother's milk  but also I have bought this thing that you can use to put baby to the breast but give formula while nursing.  It is a bottle that hangs around your neck and a little tube that tapes to your breast so while the baby is stimulating your breast nursing he will get the formula he needs until the milk comes or if the milk doesn't come you still get the bonding.  I know Medela makes them so see if the lactation consultants can get you hooked up with one.  I am praying that this works this time but with a breast reduction and the fact that my mother couldn't produce much milk either my chances are slim, but I will fight it tooth and nail again.  I have learned so much more in the last three years that there is more I will try this time.  Hope this helps.

Jackie

Jackie is referring to a supplemental nursing system.  SNS is another term for it.

If you want a story or perserverence and victory ... here is one.  I was determined to breastfeed and was not taking no for an answer.

My milk took forever to come in with baby number one.  She had to go back to the NICU for a few days due to jaundice.  They would not remove her from the isolette so I could feed her.  She had to be given bottles of formula as my milk took 5 or 6 days to start coming in. She was bottle addicted :).   I kept pumping.  With her I took Fenugreek and drank Mother's Milk Tea (with other babies I have also taken More Milk Special Blend and reglan) to help increase my milk supply.  I also drank, drank, drank anything liquid - lots and lots of fluids.  I kept pumping as my milk supply increased and was eventually able to give her almost all breastmilk out of a bottle.  We only supplemented formula a tiny bit.  I attempted to nurse her e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y. - often several times a day.  She was not having it, period.  Until she was 6 months old and she latched ... yes after 6 months she got it!!!!!!  We then nursed until she was about 14 months old.

All that to say, you do not have to sacrafice your nursing relationship right now.  If you really want to BF and can keep up the pumping routine, you may be able to establish a milk supply.  It will be hard, I am not going to lie.  8 days is not a long time to have established a milk supply especially with a first baby and especially if you have a history of PCOS or thyroid.

Pray, pray, pray ... I specifically pray for my milk supply when I am nursing.  God does care about all those little details :)

But ... you have to do whatever you feel is best for you and for him.  That is just my story and what worked for me.  That may not work for you.

Hang in there .. the first few weeks are really hard ... especially after a c-section.  New mommyhood is hard! New mommyhood is rewarding!

Hey lady!  I was just thinking about you the other day and wondering how you were doing!  I hope all's well with you and your family.  I finally signed up for facebook...not that I'm on there much...but I try to peek in every week or so.  My name on FB is Holly Ann...send me a 'friend req' or give me your FB (again) and I'll look for you.

Oh Traci!  I don't have any words of wisdom, but I will be sending you lots of love and prayers that things do turn around for you and Aiden with this.  Have you been in touch with any of the lactation consultants or any La Leche League women?  Maybe they have some tricks up their sleves you haven't tried yet.

Hugs!

Debbi

I don't have any advice that hasn't been given to you already, I just wanted to say that I've been there. With my first daughter, I tried for 10 days and my milk never came in, I was putting the baby to the breast as well as pumping and didn't get anything but drops too. I did fenugreek and mother's milk and it didn't help. I cried and cried about not being able to breastfeed. I didn't even know that people couldn't produce because everything I read and heard said most everyone can breastfeed their baby, blah blah blah. I really beat myself up about it, I tried not to, but I did. I am telling you this to let you know that there are people out there just like you, you're not alone and I know how it feels to really want to be able to and not physically be able. But on the bright side, I produced some milk this time around, my second pregnancy. It wasn't much but it was definately more. So each pregnancy is different, in case you decide on more children in the future. By the way, my daughter did absolutely great on formula and is WAY smart and we have an unbelievable bond, so don't let any of those things get you down.

when my daughter was born 18 yrs ago my ob gave me a nasal spray that encouraged my milk to come in....  have you called your ob? maybe he can give you something to stimulate it? good luck! just remember that IF you have to go to formula you are STILL an amazing mom....aiden cares about how he's being nurtured, and your dr cares that he is getting in enough nutrients..... you're doing a great job with BOTH!

Have you had any follow-up consults w/the lactation specialist since you left the hospital?  I'd say talk to one of them or someone from LeLeche.  See if they have any advice.

Re someone saying that it's possible your body just needs the actual suckling...since Aiden (understandably) gets mad when nothing's coming out because he's hungry...if he was fed a bottle, the when he's sleepy but maybe willing to just do some sucking (ie like he'd do w/a pacifier) would that possibly help?  It'd give your breasts the stimulation but he wouldn't be hungry and angry that he wasn't getting anything?

Good luck...I hope it works for you.  I had trouble bf'ing also, but mine was because of inverted nipples.  I tried pumping (this was before the dual pumps) and that made me nuts because I'd pump one side and the other one would run like a faucet all over the place, but the one I was pumping would do hardly anything...even when I'd switch breasts!  In finally figured for my sanity's sake - I would be crying right along w/my son because I couldn't get him to latch on properly because of my nipples - that the formula would be fine. 

I have seen the lactation consultant twice since getting out of the hospital. I do let him suck like a paci but it is s fight. I have cried everyday about it but there is nothing I can do. I have done everything the lactation consultant and people have said.

Mine took a while to really get going as well, but to not get much of anything after 15 minutes of pumping is so frustrating! Have you talked to your OB? If you try to express milk manually, does anything come out?

Good luck Traci! I know its hard just hang in there sweetie.