Moms who breast feed?

Question

I want to breast feed my daughter, but she's having a really hard time latching on. She will sometimes and then other times she'll just play with it or won't even latch at all. Can I pump my milk and save it and feed it to her that way, or do I have to do both kinds of stimulation (baby and pump)?? Any suggestions would be helpful!!

She is a week old (tomorrow) and I have been supplementing with formula when she won't latch. I've been pumping about 4 times a day because with my fiance home, when I'm resting we use formula.

i have a medela advance pump

Answer 1

I pump because I have to because I went back to work.

You dont say how old she is or how long you've been trying...

The first few weeks were misery.
He didn't know how to latch on and I didn't know how to offer it. We couldn't find a comfortable position.
I had the sorest nipples ever.
I can't even tell you how many times I almost gave up...

I gotta tell you that it took us a good month before we got our selves on the same page...and even now (four months) sometimes he'll just play (it just means he's not hungry)..but that's ok...cause nursing is also about comfort and
bonding...it's not just about eating.

Read everything you can about breastfeeding and try different positions (the side lying position is the one that works best for us).
La Leche League has an excellent book called "The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding" that is really informative.

Right now, he eats a bottle all day (because I'm at work) and when we get home and all night he nurses because I prefer it.

If I were you I would pump for the sake of storing milk (way more convenient for outtings to have a bottle handy than to find a place to "whip em out"..lol) but when you're home I'd nurse as often as possible...it's something that you won't always get to do and there's nothing like it.

I'm glad it's a decision I chose to follow through with. It has been the most gratifying experience of my life so far. I feel so close to my son and I'm really proud that he's thriving because of me.

Its an excellent experience and I recommend anyone who's willing to be diligent and patient because aside from the health benefits for your child, emotionally, it's so worth it.

Answer 2

How old is she? When she does latch on and nurse is she an efficient nurser? Is is growing and content? Maybe she is not hungry when she just plays with it.

She could also be distracted by the need to pee if she isn't latching on at a particular time. This is really, really common. Try opening her diaper up, holding her in a "squat" with her back against your chest and say "pss pss pss" in her ear. She should pee into the diaper pretty quickly. After that she should latch on.

My kids were also able to communicate to me a preference for a side. Maybe try the other side when she refuses the first.

I would attend a La Leche League meeting for help with the latch. Most doctors don't know enough about breastfeeding to help.

You can pump and give that to your baby. Get a good pump though. You might also use a supplemental nursing system with the expressed milk.

Carrying your daughter skin to skin in a baby carrier and nursing lying down both also might help. Good luck!

Answer 3

Hi there. If you give her a bottle, her latch will be weak and she'll have a hard time breastfeeding. That is the best advice that I can give you. Take your time with breastfeeding, and keep the bottles away for a few more weeks. Otherwise, you will end up bottle feeding her. Also, if you are a little engorged at the beginning of a feeding, pump a little so your milk lets down, then your baby will have a easier time latching on and getting milk.
If she is still having trouble, I would contact LLL or a lactation consultant.

Answer 4

How old is she?

When i had my son, the first few days(well it was about a week actually) he would not feed or latch on, he really wasn't interested!
I remember sitting in the hosiptal with him crying whilst i sat there and expressed my milk. I then gave it to him in a cup!

Now 8 months on and he is breastfeeding really well and will not take a bottle!

The last week i have had a infected nipple and havent been able to feed him off that side, so i have been expressing and then storing my breast milk in the freezer ( can be in freezer for 3 months).

To keep your milk coming you do really need to keep breastfeeding until she gets used to it, no one said it was easy to breastfeed!
If i was you continue to latch her on and express occassionally and give it to her in a cup and then latch her back on!she needs to get used to the breast feeding!
You could just express and then give it to her but i think your milk might dry up as it did when i had my first child!

Unless shes older,she might of weaned herself off breastfeeding which will mean giving her formula milk in a bottle or cup!

Good luckx

Answer 5

My baby girl will be 1 month old on the 8th of this month and I have been pumping the whole time. At first it was hard for me but now it's MUCH better. I try to pump at the first sign of her getting hungry but when I have to pump before that I put the milk in the fridge and warm it for her. Oh and let me tell you I bought the Pump In Style Backpak pump and it is SOOOO worth every penny I paid for it. I am usually finished before 15 minutes and my supply is not going down at all its an awesome pump. Well good luck.. Oh BTW I pump 10-15 minutes every 3 hours and its has worked for us.

Smiles, :)
Myra

Answer 6

It is not unusual for a baby to have problems latching on. You may want to pump and supplement with a bottle to insure your baby is getting enough calories. You should talk to your pediatrician about the nursing problem they should be able to help you. Also contact the hospital where you delivered. Most hospitals have nurses on staff that can help you with problems. They may also offer support groups or other mother's groups. Another option is contacting the Laleche League (www.lalecheleague.org). They have many resources to help you.

Answer 7

I had to pump my milk and feed my daughter from the bottle. I also had to use a nipple sheild to get her to latch on properly. You can contact the La Leche League, they can be very helpful. If you can feed her w/out a sheild or pumping it will be better, b/c you may not be able to go back to bare breast after doing this.

Answer 8

You have to keep her attention with your nipple. Put your finger around it and jiggle it when it is in her mouth. Talk to her and say you're eating you are drinking etc. Newborns take a few days to get the hang of it but they have a natural tendency to suck. You will know when she is sucking and getting milk vs. when she is just sucking and making the movements with her mouth/lips. When she is actually getting milk you can feel the nipple being pulled into her mouth. It is a pulling/sucking feeling on your nipple. If you are in doubt about nursing call the hospital and ask for the maternity ward. Tell them who you are and when you gave birth etc and they will help you. The one thing I always learned after giving birth was that the nurses did care when you went home and if everything was alright. When in doubt, Call your Pediatrician or the Hospital. It doesn't cost anything to ask. And call until you get through and get an answer.

Answer 9

My second had problems in the beginning latching on. I didnt supplement or anything ( I didnt even think of it) I just kept sticking her on the breast till she got it. I'd sometimes have to stop a feeding as it was painful as she wasnt attached properly, but I'd just start again and try and position her prperly. I think as my breasts were so large from all the milk and her mouth was so tiny. But I ended up squessing my nipple ( so it would fit in her mouth easier) and putting it in her mouth properly so she was able to feed. She got it eventually.
So if I were you I would just continue trying to feed her till she can do it.

Answer 10

Please IMMEDIATLY go to the drugstore and buy some syringes. Gather up all the bottles and give them to someone else to keep for you so you won't use them. Feed using the syringe. Pump every 3 hours for 15 minutes to keep your supply up. Keep offering the breast.

Then contact a lactation consultant or La Leche League ( www.llli.org ) and have them help you learn to breastfeed. There is nothing wrong with needed help.

You *can* exclusively pump but it is almost impossible to make enough milk that way, and it is a LOT more work. Please it is too soon to give up. Please find someone to help you. Call WIC or your public health nurse. Find someone.