Breastfeediing

Hello, first I want to applaud you for sticking with breastfeeding through you frustration. It truly is the best thing for your baby and the bond it creates is unbelievable. I've never experienced the symptoms of mastitis but I did have problems with latching. The cure was a nipple shield. It's a little plastic nipple that goes over your nipple. Many people don't know about it and I'm sure if many hospitals promoted it, alot more women would breastfeed. I'm sure the nipple shield will help with your partially dimpled nipple and getting your son to open his mouth. My daughter had the same problem and I would simply slide the nipple shield in her mouth to get her to open up. I'm sure had it not been for the nipple shield, I would have given up on breastfeeding by Day 3. The one I used was by Madela. And you can find them at babies R us and target. Try it and let me know how it works.
Oh, and you may want to try a warm compress and massaging your breast to increase production and drainage. Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

M.,

Congratulations on your precious blessing! Sometimes the challenges of first time motherhood can get truly overwhelming that we forget what a blessing our kids truly are..I know that your frustration comes from concern for the little angel, but when babies are that young, they may look like they are not getting any milk from you but if he is gaining weight, not irritable or sick in any way, is active and feeding, be assured that he is getting what he needs from you, no matter how it may look. As for the milk spilling out of his mouth, that's normal. Make sure though NOT to feed him flat on his back, elevate his head. He might aspirate milk into his lungs and get pneumonia.

You need to see your OB about your fever and mastitis. Ordinarily mastitis is eased by continued breastfeeding to ease the congestion in your breast, BUT the fact that you have fever needs to be looked into ASAP. Today if you can. You don't want to be passing on any infection to your baby.

Your doctor will give you advice on the inverted nipple, she should show you how to massage it to evert it a little at a time.

My son had trouble latching on and on day three, his pediatrician said I should give up and start feeding formula. I called the hospital's lactation consultant in tears and she saved my sanity. She gave me a nipple shield. This is a miracle device! Not only does it help the baby develop proper latch-on, it also trains your nipples to be the correct shape for baby to latch-on to. Medela also makes this nipple guards that you wear under your bra. It's got a little hole for your nipple to go through and a plastic dome that protects your clothes. For most of our lives, we are taught to wear things that prevent our nipples from standing out and when we try to breastfeed, that kind of comes back to bite us. I also would pump from one side while I nursed on the other. This was to build up my supply in those early months when it matters so much. For the first two and a half months, my son would only breastfeed with the nipple shield. I bought about four more and resolved myself to that being the way we'd have to do it. Then one day, he knocked the sheild off and never needed it again. He is now almost 15 months with a mouth full of teeth and still breastfeeds frequently. (No issues with the teeth & biting either, so maybe the nipple sheild helped there too.)

At 10 weeks, a baby's stomach is still very small. There's also a point where a baby's suckling is for comfort rather than milk, and then the baby's asleep. It is very common. Don't worry that he's wasting milk. If he were still hungry, he'd stay awake and eat. It looks like he's wasting more than he is. This is especially apparent if you're suffering from mastisis and he's still gaining weight. I know its not fun, but you may want to pump more. My routine was, I would pump from the left while my son fed from the right. When he was done (asleep) I would pump what remained in the right. Next feeding, I'd alternate breasts. I threw the extra milk in the deep freezer and held on to it until my worries about my supply were gone. Also, when you are in the shower, lean forward and massage your breast one at a time. Some milk will probably come out, but it's OK.

This won't last forever. I promise you. Just keep telling yourself it will be OK, and don't ever be slow to ask for help. THis whole thing is not as instinctive and natural as many would want you to believe, but it's totally worth it. :-)

I'm still breastfeeding my almost 12 mo old dd and it was tough in the very beginning. I also used the boppy pillow, and still do, and she laid down horizontally and she did fine. Her thing was "bobbing" with her mouth open trying to latch on my nipple. The lactation consultant told me it was nipple confusion, but I don't think that was it since this didn't always happen when I breastfed her. It eventually passed. I'm sorry I don't have any answers for you. Have you talked to the lactation consultant at your hospital? I used mine for months, for free. I think she was getting tired of me coming in with every little problem I had. Oh well, that's what they are there for. Good Luck!

When you were at the hospital they may have given you contact information for a lactation consultant. If you can't find it call the hospital and ask for a phone number for one of their lactation consultants. It should be a free service and these women are THE BEST!

Try this website too.http://www.llli.org/

No breastfeeding experience or baby is the same. Once you and the baby have it down, you'll be doing in your sleep. Literally.

Good luck, and stay strong. It is tough, but well worth it in the end.

http://www.llli.org/Webindex.html

M., the above link will take you to the LaLeche League website, at which you can look up a local leader and get free, incredibly accurate breastfeeding advice. I used the LLL helpers so much in my early years of breastfeeding my five babies, and went on to successfully nurse all five for anywhere from 14 months to 2.5 years. The advice and training they receive is head-and-shoulders above any advice I ever got from a lactation consultant or pediatrician. Most pediatricians know less about breastfeeding troubles and questions than anyone trained by LLL...

If your baby is gaining weight and peeing and pooping sufficient amounts as far as the guidelines go, he is likely just not swallowing that last mouthful of milk. I had a couple of babies that did that. It doesn't mean he is wasting all of the milk! The more often you nurse him, the more milk you will have, due to the wonderful design of your body to provide for his very needs. Call your local LLL leader, and talk to one of them. They are so lovely, and so helpful and reassuring. You won't regret it. There is no question too small!

Warmly,
JennyC.

I admire your desire to breastfeed and give your baby the very best milk. Your story and others makes me realize how blessed I was. I had perfect nipples and my babies sucked and received all the milk they wanted. I never got a breast infection either. I pray God gives you solutions to your problems. Af

HAve you seen a lactation consultant? That person would be able to help you figure this out. I had many problems, though not yours in particular, and my LC helped me out tremendously. I wish I could give you more help. Good luck.
A.

Get your baby checked out for a tongue tie. If the webbing below the tongue is too tight (common enough) babies often have problems transferring milk to their mouths or latching properly. It is a quick little snip to fix, if that is the problem.

The down side is that lots of doctors and midwives don't know to be on the lookout for it.

Also, you may want to contact an IBCLC board certified lactation consultant.

Good Morning. First, it does sound like you have mastitis, as fever is present. At this point, please call your OB as I do think you need antibiotics to clear this infection up. Coupled with the antibiotic, a warm compress, lots of nursing your babe and light massage may also help clear this up quicker. Another tool? Lots of rest which is hard to get with a baby, but anytime you can rest and have others help, please do.

Keep trying different positions. Most babies will have a bit of milk left in their mouths when they are done eating. They have small bellies, too. A great latch is very important for effective nursing. If laying down does not work at this point, try a football hold and/or sitting position whereby you can see better that baby has a great latch. If you have prob. with your nipples, perhaps you may want to pump for a few minutes, just to pull the nipple more errect. Have you spoken to a lactation consultant? There is what is called a "warm line" probably at the hospital you gave birth at. Call if you wish, I am sure they will be more than helpful.

You are doing a great service to your baby and to your ownself. Keep it up! It will all work out. Keep asking for help!!

I had the same trouble, getting my son to latch on properly. I went to the lactation consultant & got a LOT of help - thank God, because I didn't want to quit!
The easiest way to get a baby latched is to hold their head w/ the opposite hand of whichever side you are putting him on. To explain: if you are putting him on your left side, while you are sitting up, lay him horizontally across you with his head resting on your left arm. Then hold his head with your RIGHT hand, and your breast w/ your left -- it is much easier to get him latched on this way because you can position his head exactly where you need it to be to ensure he gets a proper latch.
If that doesn't work, schedule an appt w/ the lactation consultant at your hospital - every hosp has one.
Also, there are a lot of websites out there & some even have videos to show you how to get a proper latch. I think the latch will clear up your other issues, especially the pain when he doesn't latch on right!
Good luck!

I would call your OB about the mastitis and I would call a lactation consultant about your son's sucking and latch. I've found the Holy Cross Lactation Center (near the hospital: http://www.holycrosshealth.org/svc_maternity_lactation.htm) to be very helpful. In the beginning, I needed to use a nipple shield to help my daughter's latch because I had flat nipples (we now no longer need the shields). That might be an option for your son if he has trouble/you have a problem nipple. Kudos to you for perservering. The pain should go away soon.

Not sure if this will help, but with my daughter I bend the Boppy pillow out so that her butt was on my lap and her head/chest and feet were on the pillow. Sometimes she'd put her feet under the Boppy, and sometimes she'd twist so that they went around my belly. I don't know that it ever affected her eating, but it's comfy for her.

M., you should be able to see that he is swallowing while he is nursing, if you watch closely. If your milk is still flowing that fast when he is breaking away, it is probably not time to take him off that breast. Give him a minute to catch his breath, burp him, then put him back on. Try doing one breast at a feeding.

Do not let him nurse with a bad latch, take him off and try again. It is frustrating, but if you let him continue you are compounding your problem. If I were you, I would go to bed with him for a whole day or two and do nothing but lay together and nurse, without pumping. It does the trick sometimes, and you need the rest right now anyway.

I think you might be helped by an experianced lactation consultant, or a LLL leader. You also might need to see your doctor if you have mastitis. Sometimes, you will need anitbiotics.

M., you are doing a great job, don't give up. This will pass if you correct the issues that you have, and you can really enjoy nursing your baby.

Breastfeeding is very challenging especially when its your first baby. I dont think that what you are experiencing is anything to worry about and the milk that is coming from his mouth is probably insignificant. I found that feeding in the sidelying or football hold postion was most beneficial in helping with latching problems and soreness. I hope that it works out for you, but just remember to what is best for you and your baby.

I suggest you call your local hospital and speak to a lactation consultant. Most of the time, your insurance will pay to have one come to your house. Also, many hospitals offer a breast-feeding support group where you go and receive assistance for free regardless of where you delivered. Upper Chesapeake in Bel Air has an excellent one that I went to. Not only do they have very qualified women there to help, but you will also get to meet other mothers who are going through many of the same things that you are going through.

Good luck and don't give up!

the only advice i can give is to check out this website that has an actual lactation consultant to answer any Q's you might have. it's called bellyhood.com

I wouldn't worry about your baby "wasting" your milk because the more he sucks from you, the more you will make. Both of my babies often spoodled mouthfuls of milk out when they were done eating. Contrary to worrying that were not getting enough, I took it as a sign that they were overflowing. As long as your baby is making wet and sometimes dirty diapers, he should be getting enough to eat.

First, congratulations on your little baby boy!!

Second, great job deciding to breastfeed. Hang in there, the first couple of months are the toughest, then suddenly it's just as easy as pie.

Third, let me introduce you to a wonderful breastfeeing resource: www.kellymom.com. Click on "message boards" and there's a forum for all of your questions, with much more experienced people than myself to answer your questions!

Lastly, try to keep in mind that at your son's young age, he has little control over what he's doing. His motor skills are kind of working against him, because he's just so little. But he's learning, and the two of you will get it together soon. Post a message on kellymom. You'll get great support and help, and it will help with the mastitis.

http://forum.kellymom.net/index.php

M.,
Hang in there! Since it's your first baby, it can sometimes take a little longer for your milk supply and the baby's needs to find a balance. Don't worry! It can be a very frustrating, painful experience at the beginning, but keep in mind that this is the best thing you can do for your baby.
As for him seeming to not swallow the milk, I'm sure he is. If he seems satisfied between feedings, then he's getting what he needs. He may be falling asleep towards the end of a feeding and not swallowing just at the end. Also, what you are seeing is probably saliva mixed with milk, so it's not as much milk as it seems. You may be producing more than he needs in that breast, but it will even out in time. As far as positioning, try as many as you can. Have you tried the "football hold"? It works well with newborns and younger infants. Getting him to latch on correctly takes time too, so I would suggest going to a La Leche league meeting and having someone help you in person. Or calling the hospital where he was born and asking for a lactation consultant to speak with you by phone. Proper latching on is crucial to reducing your pain and discomfort, and to making sure he's getting what he needs.
Again, hang in there!! You've gone this far and I'm SURE you'll both get the hang of it and find that balance in the next couple weeks!! GOOD LUCK to you!