Colostrum Powder - Breastfeeding help?!?

Breastfeeding help?!?

My 4 day old son is hungry all the time (he only weighs 6 lbs.) and I am not making enough milk for him..I wasn't making enough colostrum either, so I've been supplementing with formula since day 2. I just got my milk in today, but it's not free flowing & my boobs aren't even noticeably bigger. my son is getting jaundice and went from 6lb.8oz. to 6lb.1oz. and I am supplementing with formula which i HATE doing & I just started pumping today but only got 1/2 an oz. altogether.. he is eating 15 minutes on each breast plus 2 oz. of formula every 2-3 hours... Since the formula I am giving him has iron, he is constipated, hasn't had a BM in 2 days, and gassy and fussy and i am so frustrated here just waiting on a FULL MILK SUPPLY!!! I am pumping now because my nipples are already dry, cracked & hurt like nothing else... on top of that, I had to have a c-section and have no help with my son so I have been constantly up & on the go since we got home from the hospital yesterday afternoon...

Public Comments

You need a certified lactation consultant; you will need help and education to nurse successfully. "How can you find a lactation consultant?" http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bbreastfeed/0,,3x7w,00.html I mean no offence, but you are off to an awful start and you don't know how nursing works. You really, really need qualified help. La Leche League could also be a valuable support: http://llli.org/
when i started to dry up my doctor prescribed me reglan, it helped alot, i started pumping 2 or 3 more oz right away!
It will get better I promise! They make a cream(it is a vaseline texture) I forget the name of it, for you nipples that will cure that problem!keep on pumping, 4 days isn't a long time, with in a few weeks you will feel like you could supply the local dairy I promise! I got paranoid with my 1st child and stopped breastfeeding all together, but with my second I just kept trying and my 2nd child is sooo much more healthy than the first. drink plenty of water like 16 glasses a day and eat healthy & just give him a boob all the time & pump & supplement if you have to ! You will be fine!!!!!! Oh yeah.......and take some time to relax and watch a movie or do something you enjoy, or try to rest when he rests~Its okay to take a break~I promise, it is the best thing for both of you! Good luck!
Contact your local la leche league, they can help with latch. Just because you can't squeeze any out or pump doesn't mean it isn't there. Babies are much better at it. In the beginning babies eat constantly. It might not be that you are not making enough, you just need to be offering your breast every one to two hours at least, and offer each side, do not switch till baby pops off. For the sore nipples as baby gets bigger so does babes mouth, so it will get better, for now work on latch, and get some lanolin. About the Jaundice.. Normal Jaundice is no reason to get worried. Higher bili levels are associeated with more immunities, it helps protect the baby. "There is a condition commonly called breastmilk jaundice. No one knows what the cause of breastmilk jaundice is. In order to make this diagnosis, the baby should be at least a week old, though interestingly, many of the babies with breastmilk jaundice also have had exaggerated physiologic jaundice. The baby should be gaining well, with breastfeeding alone, having lots of bowel movements, passing plentiful, clear urine and be generally well (handout #4 Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?). In such a setting, the baby has what some call breastmilk jaundice, though, on occasion, infections of the urine or an under functioning of the baby's thyroid gland, as well as a few other even rarer illnesses may cause the same picture. Breastmilk jaundice peaks at 10-21 days, but may last for two or three months. Breastmilk jaundice is normal. Rarely, if ever, does breastfeeding need to be discontinued even for a short time. Only very occasionally is any treatment, such as phototherapy, necessary. There is not one bit of evidence that this jaundice causes any problem at all for the baby. Breastfeeding should not be discontinued "in order to make a diagnosis". If the baby is truly doing well on breast only, there is no reason, none, to stop breastfeeding or supplement with a lactation aid, for that matter. The notion that there is something wrong with the baby being jaundiced comes from the assumption that the formula feeding baby is the standard by which we should determine how the breastfed baby should be. This manner of thinking, almost universal amongst health professionals, truly turns logic upside down. Thus, the formula feeding baby is rarely jaundiced after the first week of life, and when he is, there is usually something wrong. Therefore, the baby with so-called breastmilk jaundice is a concern and "something must be done". However, in our experience, most exclusively breastfed babies who are perfectly healthy and gaining weight well are still jaundiced at five to six weeks of life and even later. The question, in fact, should be whether or not it is normal not to be jaundiced and is this absence of jaundice something we should worry about? Do not stop breastfeeding for “breastmilk” jaundice." http://www.kellymom.com/newman/07jaundice.html Good diet and liquid intake along with skin to skin time with baby help with supply. Weston Price has a good diet plan for nursing mama's http://www.westonaprice.org/children/dietformothers.html About skin to skin http://www.kangaroomothercare.com/index.htm EDIT - If you can afford it find a board certified lactation consultant. IBCLC I agree with obber. :/
Stop supplementing with the formula or you will not establish an ample milk supply. Every ounce of formula your baby drinks is one less ounce of breastmilk he drinks, which is one less ounce your body will produce. A baby will almost always take a few ounces from a bottle, even when they are not hungry, so that should not be an indicator of hunger. Is the jaundice at a high level? Is the dr. having you supplement for that reason? As I am sure you know, he needs to be pooping to bring down his bilirubin levels...so the constipation is especially not good. The amount you are able to pump is not indicative of how much milk you are producing, babies are better than a pump at stimulating a letdown and getting milk. I would suggest that you get in touch with a lactation consultant...either through the hospital or LLL. The dry and cracked nipples are a sign that baby isn't latching properly. She'll also be able to advise you better in terms of if your baby is getting enough.
Find a local IBCLC to help you, they are wonderful and more knowledgable about breastfeeding than any OBGYN, PCP, Pediatrician, Nurse, etc. You can find one at La Leche League's website www.llli.org. Also, the more you supplement with formula, the LESS milk you will make. It works on demand, the more your baby is at your breast suckling, the more milk you will make. Stop pumping and counting how many ounces you get, that's not a good way to judge how much milk you are producing. NURSE, NURSE, NURSE OFTEN, that's the best way to ensure your baby is getting what he needs and that you will have a good supply of milk. Here's some good info: "Is Your Milk Supply Really Low" http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html "What is normal when it comes to pumping output and changes in pumping output?" http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html "What should I know about infant formula?" http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/infant-formula.html
Breast milk goes on supply and demand. The more you nurse, the more milk you'll produce. Just nurse nurse nurse as much as you can! Drink lots of fluids! ("mother's milk tea" is also supposed to help milk supply). Talk to a lactation consultant to see what else you can do. Also, the more you can nurse him, the faster the jaundice should go away. Pumping always made me sore too! Rub some of your breast milk on your nipples (breast milk is actually very healing), that usually helped me. I really didn't like the salves that you can use, they just made me feel sticky. I'm sorry you're having such a miserable start! It'll soon pass! Just hang in there!
You need a lactaiton consultant. Also, stop supplimenting. Baby's suckling is what drives milk supply. If you are suppliment, you are actually hindering your milk supply
They are always hungry all the time as newborns! and it is normal for them to lose abit of weight during the first few days before your milk is established properly...concerntrate on just nursing him and getting some rest yourself.lanlin oil is good for your nipples.if you keep ongiving him formula your body wont make enough milk for him and he might start to like the bottle better.its up to you but if you do want to breastfeed it does take a bit of getting used to.make sure you are eating well yourself and drinking plenty of water and sleep when he sleeps!
Wow, sounds like you need help. It doesn't matter how much you can pump with a machine. It's a machine - it just pulls your breast - whereas the baby will suck, pull and massage. The best way to increase your milk supple is by having the infant eat more. If this is your only child what you need to do is go into your bedroom and stay in there for 24 hours. Come out only to eat. You need rest and time to spend with the baby. Call La leche League in your area and the will gladly assist you - you can look there number up in the phone book, on-line, or by calling your local hospital.
You poor thing! I feel your pain. You will get through this! My daughter was born 11 weeks ago and it took about 4 days for my milk to come in. I also had a c-section and was in the hospital for 5 days - guess they let you out earlier. Avary was 7lbs 2oz at birth and 6lbs 4oz when we left the hospital - even though she was nursing every ten to twenty inutes for up to a half hour at a time! Everyone said this was completely normal. Most breastfeeding babies lose about 10% of their birth weight in the first week. Avary gained it all back quickly. Ju7st keep at it. My nipples got really bad too. My right one was cracked and bleeding and my OB told me to just keep on feeding through it. She was right. Eventually it healed and now Avary and I have a pretty good handle on it. It also took me a while to be able to pump more than a few drops. I would skip the formula for now and just keep putting him on the boob. I know you must me exhausted but you will get through it and it will all be so worth it!!! Good luck to you and congratulations on your new little miracle! PS. Feel free to IM or email me if you'd like to chat one on one about the challenges.
Get some Lansinoh - Lanolin Breast Cream for your nipples - mine hurt too. Cracked, etc. Make sure the latch is good - just stuff as much nipple in his mouth as you can. The latch may be fine - some of us just need time for our nipples to toughen up to the new use. Don't worry if you're not engorged - some women don't get engorged. I didn't. On the other hand, it sounds like you aren't nursing him enough. I nursed mine for 30 to 40 minutes every two hours except once at night when he went 4 hours without nursing. I know - it hurts, but you have to let him nurse longer. As for "free flowing" I never had problems with full/free flowing/spraying until my son was three months old and he had upped my milk that much! Even then, it was rare - like if he skipped two feedings and I heard him cry I would leak while going to get him. As your nipples start to heal, slowly decrease the formula amount until it's gone. The main point I want to make with you is that not all women burst out with tons of milk, but we still have ENOUGH milk. We only hear about those women because those are the ones that complain of engorgement. Those of us who aren't engorged don't generally complain about that. My boobs were not bigger or engorged - and I'm small (34B/C). I nursed my son without supplement for the first six months then on until he turned 22 months and I got pregnant again. My son was always above the 50th percentile in weight and height. Good luck, and don't loose hope. I understand you need to supplement because of the jaundice, but try to minimize that so he nurses more - he's the one who's going to get your milk flow up. - I want to add here that the Jaundice would be better fixed by letting the baby go out in the sun - it's summer, take advantage of the sun's vitamin D! My son went from 7lb 5 oz to 6lb 5 oz before my milk came in. My doctor was unconcerned - but he was an older doctor who had a lot of experience with breastfeeding and how it worked.
Keep it up. It does get better. For your breasts use lanolin. You can get it from Wal-Mart or Target. It helps greatly with the drying and cracking. Talk to your pediatrician. Most of them have a lactation nurse in their office who can sit with you while you feed your baby and give you advice. Mine was an angel from God. One tip another mom gave me was to feed my baby on one side and then when I put her down, pump the other. It sort of tricks your body into thinking you have twins and will up your milk. At least it did for me. Now, I feel like a dairy cow. I have enough milk stored in my freezer that my baby could have another two months of milk even if I am unable to produce any more. The second tip I can offer is drink lots of water. At least 64 ounces a day. You will notice that the more water you consume, the more milk you will have. If I don't drink enough one day, my milk level is lower. It has only been a few days, you will make it and your son will be better for the gift you have given him in making him stronger. (BTW, my baby lost almost a pound in the first week she was born. By the time she was two months old, she had doubled her birth weight.)
I will give you as much advice as I know.......... first.....hold your baby skin to skin....put him inside your night gown with only his diaper on...this will help settle him and you.....plus helps supply.....nurse him constantly......try not to give him a bottle because thatmuch takes away from your supply......you may feel like you are nursing him every 10 minutes but it will get easier as time goes on.... Your milk works supply on demand...and you CAN build your milk supply....I stopped nursing my daughter for nearly 20 days and my milk was about gone...and I replenished it enough that she could relearn how to nurse and I had an adequate supply for her to grow...I could never pump more than an ounce or two BUT she was fed and taken care of...and thats all that mattered.... So..after you are done nursing....you should pump on each side...even if for 5 minutes on each....Buy some lanolin by lansinoh for your nipples...it helps with cracked and sore nipples! But the longer you wait and the more you supplement the harder it will be to build a good supply so get started now....... And are you positive he is latching on correctly? If you qualify for WIC call your WIC office and ask to speak to a lactation consultant, if you don't qualify....call and ask them for the number to the local lactation consultant...She will come over and help you latch the baby on...and watch the baby nurse and she will help you to build your milk supply to that which you need it!!!! It can be very frustrating...and it can be very tiring.....but once it is established...there is nothing more beautiful!!!! And remember every time you feel like giving up....You are doing what is BEST for your baby!!!! BEST WISHES!!
I heard it can take up to a week to have the "real deal" milk supply come in...for now, feeding him the colustrum combined with formula is just fine. You are providing your baby with valuable antibodies for the rest of his life which will give him a good immune system with those first few days of colustrum, so be proud of yourself for that. the formula with iron will do that 2 every baby...all my friends relatives that have had babies have complained of that too...it's just it takes awhile for their bodies to get used to, esp. bc of the iron. it took my friend's baby 2 months of constipation, gas, and straining to finally get used to the formula. my niece is currently experiencing this. also, maybe you could call and make an appointment with a lactation consultant at the place where you delivered or received your prenatal care? I know my hospital I'm delivering at offers this service. secondly, congratulations on your baby boy being born!! You have finally made it past pregnancy lucky you. Un4tunately I am still pregnant 39 weeks 4 days now with no real signs labor is close, so I fear an induction as well. I hope to very soon be switching to the newborn categories as well lol.
You should talk to the hospital and see if they offer some kind of a breastfeeding clinic. Keep putting him on your breast often and let him breastfeed as much as he wants. If he's still hungry after I would supplement to make sure he's getting some kind of nourishment. Make sure your son is having enough wet diapers. Call the hospital asap and get in to see a lactation consultant.
I'm so sorry you're going through the same thing I did with my boys! I think I did more harm than good, supplementing with formula. After asking my question earlier, I believe these women are right in saying that supplementing hinders your milk supply. I also think that giving my sons pacifiers before they had gotten the hang of breastfeeding was the wrong thing to do, too. Keep your chin up and I hope these women's advice helps you! I'm sure going use it when my baby is born. I'm only 26 weeks right now, but I would like to know how things are working for you, so keep me posted! Best of luck :)
You should put some of your breast milk on your nipples it will help.. also massage them gently here and there.. Have you tried other formula for kameron? You don't want him being consitipated because he'll be more cranky and that means you will be cranky too... Try a different formula and i think its great your so determined to breast feed.. so take your time and try and feed babe as much as possible.. i think you will notice more milk will come if you feed him instead of expressing alot... i over expressed and my milk supply went down.. so when i started feeding bubbs more of me i noticed the milk started dripping out... I think the more stressed you are the less milk you will supply so just try and relax... maybe only do house work just before bed for a short while.. and don't worry about anything else... i haven't cooked for almost 1 week now... but my husband and daughter are still being fed so just do what ever is needed to relax and try and enjoy it.. when my daughter needs to do a pooh or she's gassy she cries alot.. so what i do is Hold her up right and tap her back and rub near her tail bone.. this stops her from crying and it helps... try massaging him a little... anything to stop a whinny child? I agree with the pacifier thing.. i remember you saying that when your lil one is hungry he over-reacts and acts like he hasnt been fed for a year.... well dont give him the pacifier... it will only confuse him when he's hungry and he'll act like a maniac when you give him the breast and he'll hurt your nipples more.. I feel like i'm just sitting on the lounge all day feeding my daughter.. Just sit down and when he looks hungry latch him onto your breast.. if it hurts alot.. take him off and re-position him... Feed him when ever he likes... before you know it he'll get into a proper routine and feed longer and then wait longer for feeds... give it atleast 1 month. My daughter also had jaundice... i actually force fed her my breast cause she slept alot... i suppose thats why this week she wants more feeds... Try feeding him a lot... but try feeding him off you even if you think theres no milk.. while he is feeding massage around your breast this will help him get more of your milk...
Oh no....please don't listen to those dumba** doctors and give your baby formula. Once you skip feedings and use formula, you will not make the right amount of milk for him. Did you know that the average baby only needs 1 ounce? Everything that is happening is completely normal and the way mother nature intended. Get your baby off that formu-ugghh and be patient. Your breasts will not make that much milk at first, but your colostrum IS coming in, as this is all he will need for now. Once your baby starts eating more and more, you will start to make the amount of milk that he needs. My boobs actually didn't get noticeably bigger until the second month.
You'll never get a full milk supply if you supplement with formula. Keep your son at the breast longer than 15 minutes on each side, keep him there until he comes off on his own. Like 20 mins the first side, stop, burp, and the other side until he is totally done. It works on supply and demand, and if he's not demanding, you're not gonna supply.