Breastfeeding - Queen Creek,AZ

E.! Hang in there!! I had such a hard time in the very beginning. If you have a pump then pump for 20 minutes on each side (if you have a double pump then pump both sides at the same time for 20 mins). This will help keep you from being engorged and will help make your breasts softer so baby can latch on. Babies have a hard time latching when you're engorged because your breast is so hard they can't suck it into their mouth. If you don't have a pump then you can buy a breastshield from Target or babies'r'us...they're made by Medela. Anyway, you put that over your nipple and areola and it helps give baby something to latch on to. You can also try massaging your breast while the baby nurses to help your milk come down...and you can even kind of "milk" yourself to help get some milk out.

If you do pump, give the milk to your baby from a bottle...but make it kinda hard for baby to drink from the bottle...pull the nipple out every so often, etc. Don't be alarmed by the small amount of milk you might get...newborns don't eat very much at one time.

I attend a weekly breastfeeding group and I'd be happy to invite you as a guest...if you're interested send me a message.

Good luck!
I wanted to add after reading posts about the lactation consultants that our mom's group has a lactation consultant there (that's who conducts it)...it's free of charge! Also, if you delivered at Banner you can call them and let them know you delivered there and are having issues and ask to schedule an appt with one of their lactation consultants....I delivered at Banner Gateway and the lactation consultants are wonderful...let me know if you want more info about the breastfeeding mom's group...

hey E.. Make sure your pumping to get the milk out and keep it coming in!! that is an issue i had with my son! Also try going into the quietest room in the house with no distractions...turn the light low. That helped with my son, it really made a huge difference! Hang in there...I can be tough at time, trust me i know!!
Best of luck to you!
S.

God did not bless me with large nipples. When I had my first son, my milk came in even before I gave birth, so naturally I thought it would be easy to breastfeed. However, he could not latch on to my nipple. I went to the breastfeeding store and purchased a plastic cup that went over my breast. It went right in my bra and had a little hole for my nipple to go into. I would wear the cups when my son was not breastfeeding and it literally pulled my nipple out. I had to wear lots of breast pads, as the milk came out as well. When the cup would get full, I would empty it into a bottle for my son to eat later with dad.

These cups helped tremendously with making my nipple more obvious to my son. I do not know what it was called, but it was made by Medela. I bought them from Baby, Mother and More on Gilbert and Baseline.

Another suggestion is to try holding your baby a different way. It really helped me to lay on my side in bed, with the lights off and to relax. My son seemed to be more relaxed with this approach. I would play soft music and keep all other distractions out of the room.

I wish you the best of luck-don't give up. Call a lactation consultant right away, so that you can make sure that your son is getting the proper nutrition. If he has a pacifier take that away, if only for a few days. Nipple confusion is real and until he learns which one feeds him, he needs to be off of the pacifier. I believe in pacifiers, just not at the beginning when they are trying to latch on.

Don't panic!
The previous post had wonderful advice but might I add that if nothing seems to work get to a lactation consultant ASAP!
I had to visit one with each baby. They each nursed differently and had their own unique difficulties. It is money sooooo well spent! One session will save you such heartache (just look in the phone book).
I got infections very easily from engorged and clogged breasts so do not let this situation continue very long...

most hospital have a lactaid specialist on staff. You might want to call the hospital and get the number. They can show you different tecniques on how to get them to latch on. I know they had one at presbyterian. My daughter never got the hang of breastfeeding I had to pump and then feed her with a bottle. Good luck and hang in there he'll get it.

M.