Ok moms i am 18 weeks pregnant with my second child and i am probably being paranoid but i figured i would ask to see if anyone had any suggestions. Ok so in the first two months of my first pregnancy and this one my breasts were so swollen i couldn't fit into my bras, they felt raw on the nipples and so sore just getting dressed and rubbing a shirt against them hurt. Now they aren't swollen at all, they are not getting any bigger, they don't hurt anymore which is great but it concerns me because this is what happened when i was pregnant with my daughter. I had my daughter 2 weeks early via c-section because she was a 10 pound baby! And immediately at the hospital i started trying to breastfeed. Everything was ok except it seemed like she wasn't getting enough to fill her up. I would pump and try and try over and over through out the day to feed her and i wasn't getting even a 4oz bottle full total from both breasts when i would pump first thing in the morning at my fullest. I talked to the dr about it and she said keep trying so i did but i had to give her a bottle of formula after almost every time i tried to feed her because she would cry the whole time like she wasn't getting anything. I kept with it for 3 months until i just couldn't do it anymore. I was frustrated and in pain. My nipples and my breasts peeled and cracked and bled and i tried all the creams i could find, and i tried hot showers and warm clothes, But i still wasn't getting anything when i would pump, and it hurt to bad to keep trying. So i am worried about whether or not i am going to be able to produce enough milk this time to breast feed this baby. I really want to because i loved the bonding time between my daughter and i but i am afraid this will happen again. Do any of you moms have any suggestions on things to include in my diet to help production, or supplements, vitamins anything i'm desperate for any advice. I'm going to talk to my obgyn at my next apt but it really has been worrying me since my breast seem to be doing nothing at the moment. Any help you can give me would be great, thanks in advance moms.
Find a great lactation consultant BEFORE the baby is born.
Interview all the candidates and pick one that you click with.
Then, when the baby is born and if you have problems, call the LC up and bug her to death with any and every issue you might have because that's what she gets paid for doing.
Knowing very little about your previous situation, it sounds like the early c-section and pumping really derailed your breastfeeding efforts. IMHO, unless there's a medical reason (like your baby is in the NICU and you are no longer in the hospital) that you cannot nurse your baby (versus pumping) then you should never pick up a pump for at least the first 2-3 weeks after your baby is born. I don't think you need to worry about how your breasts look/feel during pregnancy - they will kick right into gear when your baby is born, I promise. Definitely ask to speak with a lactation consultant as soon as your baby is born. Get help getting a good latch. Remember that newborns are actually not very hungry at all. At first all you will produce is cholostrum, and really just a few drops. Your milk will likely come in sooner this time around (for me, it started as early as 36 hours postpartum with #2) but even if it takes 3-5 days, that's ok. Nurse your baby off both sides every 2 hours. The first day go for 5-10 minutes per side. The second day you can move to 10-15 minutes per side. The key is to establish a good routine and supply, and nursing frequently off both sides is by far the best way to do this. Remember that milk production is a supply and demand system; if you start to supplement with formula your supply will never catch up. There is nothing wrong with nursing your baby off one breast, then the other, and then back to the first side again (repeat until baby is full). Pumping works for some people but not for others; some women have difficulty letting down for a pump. I can tell you, from just returning from a 3-day business trip away from my 8-month old baby, that I don't think I would be able to make it if I had to pump all the time.
Finally, make sure you get off to a good start nursing right after the baby is born. If you have a VBAC (which I highly recommend, having had one myself) your baby will be right with you and you'll be feeling great. Even if you decide on another c-section, you should write a c-birth plan, go through it with your doctor, etc. There is no reason that you can't hold your baby immediately after you are stiched up. I was able to breastfeed my first baby in the recovery room.
There isn't any reason to think that you won't be able to breastfeed. Pumping 4 oz is actually quite good! Sometimes if the baby starts to get supplements, then they eat less at the breast because they are full, and the breasts make less milk. Also, if you are planning a one, having a c-section can impact your milk supply and how soon your milk comes in.
To be honest, most OB/Gyns are not that great at breastfeeding advice- they don't learn a lot in school and really aren't around their patients enough after baby is born to provide a lot of support. Also, be careful in the hospital- avoiding supplements can be important to establishing a good milk supply. I would recommend seeing a lactation consultant. Jeanne Cygnus in Mundelein is great (www.cygnuslactation.com). I also recommend finding your local La Leche League (www.laleche.org) and getting to know the group before baby comes- they are a great source of information and help.
It is possible you had clogged ducts. When/if you do get sore and swollen later, place warm clothes to help. I have also heard taking hot shower helps along with massaging. It may be too early to tell if you will have problems. Also having a c-section can delay the milk coming in since the hormones are a little delayed. I had my first 6 weeks early via c-section and it was at least 2 weeks or so before I had a real supply. I have also heard that using a cream beforehand can help reduce if not eliminate nipple soreness. I used Lamisil brand lanolin. I still use it on my hands at night. I could not believe how sore I was this time with nursing. Sometimes I didn't want to because it hurt. Keep up water intake, eat real oatmeal 2 times and day and get plenty of sleep--as we all try but fail to do :) After the baby comes, talk to the lactation consultant at the hospital if they have one. They will usually come to your room if you ask to help you and you might be able to call later with questions. Congratulations on your new addition and good luck.
Every pregnancy and every child is very different. I had the same fear with my second child. My first child was so challenging to breast feed. She did not latch on for about 5 days. I was told that it might have something to also do with having anesthesia for a small surgery that I had to have right after delivering. It never seemed like I had an abundance of breast milk from the beginning. Finally, at 9 1/2 months (reduced to a single feeding for months!) , I closed shop.
With the second child - none of these issues existed!!!! I had an ample supply and my baby latched on immediately at the hospital. The whole experience was so different - so much nicer and easier too. There are ways that you can work to increase your breast milk. However, at this point, since you don't know if it is going to be a concern, just eat healthy, take your prenatal vitamins and wait and see. I would gear up to breast feed. Unfortunately you can only go by past experience to prepare for the future but.... for me it was an amazing difference. Hope it's the same for you!!! Good luck.
Go to www.llli.org and find your local group. Go to a meeting now, while pregnant. Both the leaders and other members can provide you invaluable support. www.kellymom.com is also another fantastic resource for nursing and pregnant moms. There are so many misconceptions out there about nursing, many of them perpetuated by doctors and nurses, who frankly are not really educated about nursing in medical/nursing school. There is no reason that you can't breastfeed after having a c-section (I had one with my son and he is still breastfeeding, 17 months later (and I work full-time outside the home)). The amount you pump typically is no indication of how much milk you are producing or how much your child receives while actually nursing at your breast. I'd also recommend talking to a lactation consultant, but one of the great things about La Leche League is that they offer support and advice for free, and provide a wonderful supportive communities for pregnant and nursing moms.
R.:
MR said it best/ find a lactation consultant now/ discuss your concerns, develop the relationship so that you have it set if you need help after the baby is here.
you can find local lc's at www.birthlink.com
www.ilca.org
P., RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions
www.breastfeedingandparentingsolutions.com
I can't answer your question, but the baby makes a big difference. I was able to breastfeed my second child, who was a very eager nurser, without much trouble although supply was always an issue with both kids. My younger son I had a lot more trouble with. I fed both babies almost constantly when they were newborns to help with supply. Just plan to do nothing but hang out in bed early on. Don't replace nighttime feedings - if you supplement, replace a daytime feeding because there are hormonal benefits for supply if they nurse overnight.
And 4 oz. a feeding is not bad at all for a newborn! The supply increases as the babies get older, and they get a lot more when they nurse than you do when you pump.
I don't know of any supplements you could use now. Fenugreek while nursing, lots of water. I hope everything goes well!
I have two great tips for you! First of all, when you're about 6-7 months along start using a scruffy (one of those netted balls) with soap and very lighty go over your nipples every day in the shower. It will rough them up, but in a very slow gentle way. You can build up to harder pressure as you get used to it. I did this when I was pregnant with my first and never had any painful breast feeding, no cracking or bleeding at all. No pain. Never had to use any creams either.
Next, once you start breast feeding take flax oil every day! Ideally take 3 tablespoons of the liquid flax oil, not capsules but out of a bottle. This will boost your production by a lot. It enabled me to breast feed both of my kids for 2 years. I never had supply issues. I told a neighbor to do the same and she had to stop, she had too much milk! Granted she had a new born. It really helps around that 5-6 month mark when supply tends to drop. It also burns fat and boosts your babies brain development!
You can do it!
B.
