Breastfeeding - Highland Park,MI

If you're the kind of person who needs to see instruction, instead of read it, and would just like a quick tutorial to start off, you can go to Youtube and watch a "how to" video by a lactation educator.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE0sfykEfnI

I just went to Youtube and typed in "how to breastfeed"
Good luck! Oh, and by the way, try not to get too frustrated if it doesn't come easily - it takes the baby time to learn too. My third baby took about 6 weeks to really get it down!

Congratulations Natassia,

Yes you definitely can still breastfeed. Just put your baby to the breast. Put a pillow on your lap to bring the baby up to the height of your breast. Turn the baby on his/her side, so he/she is facing the breast. Use the same hand as the side your baby is on -Such as if going on left breast, use your left hand- to cup the breast. Put the thumb on one side of the breast, and the fingers on the other, now turn your wrist a little so your fingers and thumb are all facing up toward the ceiling (I hope this makes sense). Gently compress your fingers and thumb together, so baby can get more breast tissue in the mouth. Tickle the baby's lower lip with your nipple. Let baby latch and feed as long as he/she will. Always offer both breasts. This website will show you clips of what I mean:
http://www.drjacknewman.com/video-clips.asp Next, go to llli.org to look for a local La Leche League group. The Leaders can show you how to nurse your baby. There is a meeting this morning (Jan 14th) in the Toledo area. If you're in that area, email me and I'll get you the location. You can also call the hospital where you delivered and talk with their LC. You should have been shown how to nurse your baby. However, if you were consistently giving bottles in hospital, they may have thought you'd decided to only bottle feed. I hope this helps. If you have further questions, please feel free to email me. Best wishes, S.

Call the La Leche League right away! Call the hospital from which you were just discharged and ask for a phone number. Really, they should have provided better support for you as a new mother.

Any nurse on staff has the obligation to assist you in this most important matter.

Good luck! And don't give up!

Wow, I am so surprised that they did not show you; you always hear stories of the crazy lactation consultants.

I agree with other posters - call the hospital. Breast feeding can be frustrating at first, but I promise you in the long run it pays off. It is such a great bonding experience (not that you cannot bond with bottles) and of course saves you a ton of money.

The local library should have breast feeding books too. In the meantime check out the internet I am sure there are websites that give you examples of proper latching on.

www.llli.org is a great research.

Sorry, I had to pick my jaw off the floor...
How long were you in the hospital? NO nurses showed you? Every hospital I have been in (I have 3 kids) the nurses watch to make sure you know how to nurse. They watch for proper latching, and make sure the baby is nursing regularly. They also explain that your breast will leak...

I would definently call the hospital! If they don't have a lactation consultant they may be able to just have you come into the maternity ward and talk to a nurse...
Find your nearest Laleche league... They will support you thru the hard times...
Or even your pediatritian would be able to sit and talk you thru it (ok, it would be one of their nurses)...
I nursed all 3 of my munchkins and plan on nursing any others we have. I will tell you this straight.
It will hurt at times. Especially in the begining until your nipples toughen up and baby and you become pros... All 3 of mine had latching problems and it took about a month before hubby could speak to me while nursing... Don't give up... If it hurts for more than a few seconds... Unlatch and try again. Make sure You are comfortable and have a drink and maybe a small snack with in reach. Be prepared to nurse for 30 minutes at a time if you have a slow nurser... So try not to plan anything until you guys are in a good nursing pattern.
Lansonol is AWESOME! You find it in the baby section next to the breast pads. Rub some of it on your poor sore nipples and it helps keep them soft and pliable aka easier for baby to suckle and less painful for you.
Breast pads will keep you from going thru many shirts a day.
Personally I like the lansonol brand breast pads since they cover basicly the whole breast... If they do slip, your still covered. :-)
Keep trying... Once you get the hang of it, which will happen sooner than you think you will LOVE the nursing...So please keep trying.
Due to a medical issue with our 3rd we had to supplement him with formula... Wow, that was expensive! I nursed the first 2 for over a year and the 3rd for 6 months... He is perfectly fine now and I am grateful that when we needed it formula was an option... But it can get pricy.
Get a good breast pump and keep your supply up.
I do not know what insurance you have but sometimes the insurance will pay for a breastpump from the hospital. Call them and ask... Or, walmart has ok ones for 30. - bucks...
I suggest a battery/ electric one... momma just sits and it does all the work. But for the occasional pump, hand ones are great also (cheaper also). Some find that the electric ones pull too hard and prefer the hand ones... Personal choise.
Good luck and enjoy nursing the baby...

If you can get to Beaumont hospital Royal Oak they have excellent lactation consultants.. call the main hospital number and they can put you through to the lactation consultants..

They most important thing is to put the baby on the breast. YOu need to squeeze the nipple part a bit and get the baby to open his mouth very wide. You want the baby to get as much in his mouth as he can.

It should not hurt. If it hurts he is not on the brest correctly.

Never pull the baby off the breast.. Always put your finger in the babys mouth to break the suction. and then take the baby off the breast...

The baby need to nurse every 2 hours around the clock. If you are lucky he will sleep 3 or 4 hours during the night.. But other than that he needs to eat every 2 hours.

Do not give him formula until you get the hang of nursing. He needs to nurse often so you will make lots of milk.

Breast feeding is very hard in the beginning but once you get the hang of it it is super easy..

I breast fed both of my kids.. they have been super healthy no ear infections..

feel free to ask me any questions..

Congrates on your new baby. I would think you could call the hospital and they could give you some names/number of some people/classes who teach about breastfeeding, also your local wic offices have people who teach about breast feeding. It is something that sometimes takes a while to get the hang of, but is totaly worth it. Good luck.

Call the hospital and ask for a lactation consultant.

Or you can wing it and just put baby to your breast.

Contact the hospital where you delivered and ask them about your local LaLeche League Group. It is an organization that helps breastfeeding mothers. There should be a director at the hospital. www.laleache.org could also help with information. You will leak milk for a while until your baby gets a little older and establishes a routine and can eat more. Until then, I suggest you let the baby nurse, or use a pump to store it for bottle feedings. There are nursing pads you wear inside of your bra to catch the leaking in between nursings.
Good Luck!
Congratulations!
C.

A little about me: SAHM of 4(breastfed) kids, and friends with many moms who breastfeed including a mom with 10 children. And a cousin of a lactation consultant (who was the head of lactation in Okanawa, Japan for 3 years)I homeschool, enjoy traveling, horses,cowboys, the west,and have a passion for log cabins. Be married to wonderful hubby for 14 years.

Here is the direct page for the LLL Meeting in Royal Oak. Call one of the leaders and explain your situation. Hopfully one of them will be able to come over and help you. http://www.lllusa.org/web/RoyalOakMI.html

I just wanted to add a quick note I agree with everyone else, you were given great advice and resources but just wanted to add even though it is very natural it can be difficult to get going, to get the right technique etc so please contact any or all of the suggestions made as soon as possible if you haven't figured it out on your own. I nursed two babies and I know it can be frustrating at first (I had help in the hospital and again in from my peds nurse) but it is so worth all the effort. Also definitely get yourself the lansonel and some nursing pads for the leaks! Good luck and don't give up!

yes there is. go to www.llli.org to find your local la leche league group in your area. This is a group of very dedicated women who will show you how. Also, email ____@____.com, she is a leading lactation consultant in the metro det. area. Also you can call the hospital back and see what services they have for you. Congrats on making the decision to breastfeed. It is a wonderful gift for your baby. Thanks for reaching out, don't give up, you can find the proper support. Babies innately know how to do this!

Yes, you can be taught how to breastfeed. You can call the La Leche League. They have people come out to your home and teach you. They are really helpful. I used them when I had my son and my milk didn't come in right away. Their phone number is 1-877-4-LALECHE. You can also go to their website: www.LLLUSA.org. You can also call the hospital you had your baby at and ask them if you can come back in and have someone show you how to breastfeed. You can also try it on your own. Most babies instinctively know how to latch on and get good suction. I hope you have good luck and it all works out for you. There is nothing like the bond created while breastfeeding!

N., put the baby to your breast and cradle him in your arms - you may need to put him on a pillow to support him up to your breast. Make sure his mouth is Really open as he latches on - so it's not just at the nipple tip which will really hurt and not be effective. It really feels strange at first but you get used to it. Call the hospital and ask to be put in touch with a breastfeeding counsellor or La Leche League. Hope the items I gave you were useful - congratulations on your baby - Alison

They didn't help you at the hospital??? Shame on them. Please call and ask to speak to the lactation consultant. Hopefully, they will have you and your baby come back in for a lesson or two or three! I had problems nursing my son and had to have a lactation consultant come to my house for a couple of hours. It was $100. But it was the best $100 I ever spent! She really helped me and within a week, my son was nursing like a pro! Please keep in mind that my son was over three weeks old before this happened! Keep at it! Best of luck to you!

Natassia ~
First, call the hospital and ask to speak to their lactation nurse. If they don't have one, email me and I can give you the number to the one at our hospital, but it's a little far for you to drive to see them (Wyandotte).

Second, lay the baby so that he is belly to belly with you, facing the breast. You want to do this when he's rooting around, smacking his lips, trying to get his fingers, not when he's totally crying. Sit straight up, be comfortable. Bring him to the breast (not you to him). Tickle his lower lip with the nipple and wait for him to open his mouth really big. You don't want him to just get the nipple, you'll get sore, but a big mouthful, you shouldn't see alot of areola when he's latched. It may pinch for a second, but shouldn't hurt for any length of time....if it hurts, he's latched wrong. When he's sucking, you should see the muscles along his jaw/ear moving, not his cheeks. You want to do 10 - 15 minutes on the 1st side, then as long as he'll go on the 2nd side.

You can always call the L&D unit where you delivered and ask to speak to the nurse manager. Let her know that you weren't provided basic teaching that you had requested. Or you can wait and see if you get a survey in the mail, make sure you write that down! We do get surveys back and read the comments that patients write. I've been an L&D nurse for over 13 yrs and can't imagine a patient going home with no instruction at all. We have to chart the feedings, how they're doing, the latch, etc.

Good Luck!
feel free to email me if you need to!
D.

My best advice would be to go to www.llli.org. I am sure there is a way to find a le leche league near you. They are for all breast feeding but I say it's up to you. Right off I would say to get a pump and start pumping. This will help your milk come in and help you feel better. Also, the health department should have a nurse that can come to your home and help. We have 1 come once a week cause our son was not gaining the way he should, she has been giving me the support I need. Stay calm and relax; it will come, it is more natural than you may think. Good luck,
Michelle

Just so you know, it's going to hurt and may for about 2-3 weeks. If you can get through that, it's the easiest, quickest, best thing in the world! (Of course the best for you and your baby too!!!) I can't imagine having to deal with bottles all the time! Plus the expense of formula and all the health problems that can come with that! So tough it out and you will be so happy! It's not easy in the beginning, takes time to get a routine going, positioning right and so on, but know that you can do it and both of you will be so rewarded! Good luck!!

N. -

Depending on what hospital you were at, they might have lactation consultants that you can contact for assistance, as well as breastfeeding groups. I'm pretty sure Spectrum-Health in GR does. You could also look up your local La Leche League (http://www.llli.org/Web/Michigan.html). There is a link right on their page for help too.

J.

Oh my goodness.. that's sooo sad that they didn't show you.

There is a La Leche Group that meets in Royal Oak, that's not far from you.. just look up on the website and call a leader and they can meet with you seperately if you need them too.. it's free.

If no one gets back to you.. PM me and I"ll get you the name of someone I know in my area that can find someone to get to you right away.

And it shouldn't hurt to nurse.. if so, there MAY be somethign wrong with the lack.

I'd also recommend not bottle feeding until your nursing is established. If you need to, use a eye dropper or syringe to feed your baby instead but bottles can sometimes get in the way of establishing a good nursing relationship. We used an eye dropper for my son for a bit and then he latched on fine.

It's important to get your baby nursing right away.

I have nursed all 5 of my kids and I gotta tell you each one was a different experience. For me the first couple of weeks were very uncomfortable...but it got better-but I got engorged with each child (i digress) if you don't have the money for a lactation consultant, if you know a nurse or a mom who has breastfed then ask them or like the other mom's saod wic, la leche are good website and places-be encouraged and you will be successful-for me it's like giving birth a little discomfort for a little while then you get your big reward.

The hospital where you delivered has a lactation consultant. Most hospitals will even have them come to your house to teach you how to breastfeed properly. Check the paperwork you were given when sent home--there should be a number for questions.

Make sure to keep you milk supply going until you learn. Try with the baby or pump.

Good luck!

Some moms say it hurts, but it really shouldn't. As long as you squeeze the aereola area together and try to get most of it in the baby's mouth, along with the nipple of course. Do this when baby is opening wide. There will be times when it's not in their just right. That will give you a pinching feeling. Just stick you're finger in the side of baby's mouth to loosen the hold and try to get more of the nipple and aereola in again. Good luck. Try not to feed the baby formula. If you look at the ingredients, it is made of mostly oil, powdered oil. How can that be good for a baby?

Yes and you can still latch the baby on. You just need to make sure the baby is latch on completely. Intruduce your nipple to the babies moth. Its pretty natural how they open big and latch on. Make sure no lip is under and its sealed. You will know if the baby is on right if you can her her/him suck and swallow. If you need more help call the hospital where you was at ask them for a lactation consultant.

there should be a lactation consultant in the hospital where you delivered your baby. There are also breastfeeding groups out there also that your hospital should have the contact information for.

Hi!

Call the hospital where you delivered your baby and tell them that you would like to talk to a lactation consultant or come in for a meeting with a lactation consultant. The specialize in breastfeeding and should be able to help you with any issue you are having. If the hospital can't help you call the pediatrician and ask for the name of someone that can help you with breastfeeding. Good luck!!

Dear N.,
Congratulations on the birth of your baby! When I had my first, I too left the hospital without really knowing how to breastfeed. The good news is, many hospitals have breast-feeding support groups led by lactation consultants. I am not sure where you live, but I know that in the Grand Rapids area, Spectrum Health and Metro both have these groups. I highly recommend attending one if you can; they were life-savers for me, offering help with breast-feeding but lots of other support too. (Spectrum's Lactation Warm Line is ###-###-####.) Also, Le Leche is a breast-feeding support that you can call for assistance (sorry, I don't have the number). Blessings to you as you care for your little baby.
Rachael

Definitely call the hospital and talk to a lactation consultant, get in touch with your local LLL http://www.llli.org/Web/Michigan.html too.

A good website for all things breastfeeding is www.kellymom.com

You could always wing it, but if it hurts for more than a few seconds the baby may be latching wrong (it's not rocket science but sometimes it takes practice to get it right). It IS going to hurt a little since your skin isn't used to being pulled & tugged on, but it gets better pretty quickly and is the best thing you'll ever do!

You've got a lot of great advice, but I'll add a little :)

One, I can't believe they didn't show you a thing at the hospital!

Two, this book was very helpful to me during the entire year I nursed. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Breastfeeding-Revised...

If I had a question I could always find an answer in there.

Stick with it :)

I'm guessing your milk probably is just coming in and you haven't been letting enough out via nursing or pumping. I thought the easiest way to breastfeed was the fooball holding method. Sit on a bed and place your baby right next you. Slide your hand and arm underneath. Your hand should be under her head. Bring her to your breast. I started on the side closest to the baby. It's easier to adjust. Now use your left hand. Place you nipple between your pointer and middle finger. By nipple I mean all of the areola (the dark portion of your breast). You want to put the entire arealo (sometimes more) in the baby's mouth. While you are bringing your breast to the baby you need to bring the baby to the breast. The baby should be as close to the breast as possible. Now it's up to the baby to open her mouth and latch on. You can help her open her mouth by rubbing your nipple across her lips or using your finger and sliding it from the corners of her lips down to her chin. If she still isn't feeling it, we would put just a dab of sugar water on my nipples. I say we becuase my husband did have to help out the first couple of times. If thebany if latched on appropriately, you will not be able to see most of your areola. Try lookin at her throat to see if she is swallowing.

The football hold is cool because you can use of on both sides. If you are holding her with your right hand simply swing her to the other breast (with her in your right hand). Nursing laying down also easy (both lay on your sides). But I didn't use that one until my little was nursing effectively. Also, feel free to call the hospital where you had your child. Sparrow bad a breastfeeding speciList on hand. I hope it all works out. Nursing can be frusturating.Stay calm. Try no to wait until the baby is hungry to feed her. Google nursing (breastfeeding) because everything is on the Internet.

Call la leche league

N.,
I'm sorry they never had a lactaction consultant come in.
The best info I can give you would be make sure the baby takes the whole nipple and part of your breast into their mouth. Make sure you are in a comfortable position when trying this. I always found that my 2 kids preferred skin to skin contact (my whole breast being bare). Sometimes you have to hold their head to your breast and squeeze your nipple and the area around it to squirt some milk in their mouth until they figure it out themselves. Also, make sure you let them nurse from both breasts equal time...burping in between. Watch out for the foods you eat--ones high in fiber will make them gassy, but are still good for both you and your baby. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reply. I nursed both of my children over 9 months each. E.

Oh my goodness Natassia! I can't believe they did not have a lactation consultant come and see you before you left. Call the hospital and ask to speak to a lactation consultant.

Ok, now on to some pratical matters. Leaking in the beginning is VERY normal. Your body is adjusting to the whole supply and demand cycle of your baby. I'm guessing this is your first. My best friend told me that with her first it was as if her body was trying to sort itself out on breastfeeding, then with the rest of her kids it worked like clockwork.

Anyway, leaking. Yes. You will leak. You will leak when you hear a baby cry... yours or anyone elses. You will leak if baby took a WHOLE LOT the day before and not so much today. You will just leak. I suggest Medella breast shields. I tried ALL of them. I liked Medella best. They were thin but BOY COULD THEY HOLD THE LIQUID! And they were not scratchy. They are a bit more expensive, but in my opinion, they were worth it. With other brands I always felt 'wet'. Not with Medella. You can pick them up at Target.

Remember, milk supply is a supply and demand situation. The more baby takes, the more your body makes. However, your body is a wonderful wonderful thing. It will adjust to the various amounts baby takes at different times in the day. For example... if baby takes more in the morning then in the afternoon ... you will make more in the morning then in the afternoon.:-)

It does take some time for your body to adjust to all of this. Most lactation consultants will say 6-8 weeks and your body should be adjusted.

Now, I did have issues in the beginning. LOTS of issues. So much so I seriously considered stopping breastfeeding, but I knew it was the BEST thing for my baby...so I powered through and eventually made a private session appointment with a lactation consultant who was my ANGEL!

If you have engorgment issues. And if you are engorged, you will know it. It HURTS. Your breasts are hard and hot. It is NOT comfortable. Then you can pump just enough to relieve the pressure. No more. (remember, supply and demand) Also, cold cabbage leaves do WONDERS to relieve the pain. Don't know why...but they do. Just be careful how much you use them because they can cause milk to dry up.

I'm not a lactation consultant, and I would really encourage you to meet with one and/or attend a la leche leasgue meeting. But, when baby is latching on.... make sure baby's mouth is wide open WIDE open. Tongue out and down over the bottom gums. Have baby take as much of your breast in the mouth as possible. This will give you a good comfortable latch. Just sucking on your nipple will not stimulate your milk ducts properly, baby will have to suck harder, and you will hurt.

Also, in the beginning your let down may be a little forceful. It may be a little fast for baby. There are a couple of things you can do. If it seems like baby is gulping, you can express some milk off before baby eats to slow down the flow. Or you can take baby off the breast, cover with a shield and give baby a little break.

Don't worry about it though... baby will adjust. My daughter received MANY milk baths as an infant. The only problem with a fast let down like that is your milk WILL eventually regulate and the flow will slow down at some point. Then, you have to deal with a baby who is used to fast and furious milk...who now has to work a bit for it. It only took us about a week to work through that issue and then all was great.

You mentioned you were going to bottle feed as well. I'm hoping you mean you will pump and offer breastmilk in a bottle. Obviously it's your choice, but supplementing with formula can and most likely will interfere with your milk supply. Breastmilk it best. It's the BEST start to life you can offer your baby.

Pure lanolin is GREAT for sore nipples. If you do develop sore nipples it is most likely a latching issue. Nursing should not be painful. There is an adjustment period of your nipples getting used to be sucked on...but that is fairly short lived. If you exprience bleeding nipples, then that is a latch issue and you need to seek help. Pure lanolin is safe for baby and really does soothe. Also, allowing your milk to dry on your nipple before you cover up does wonders too.

Breastmilk has natural healing properties. (and by the way, is GREAT for pink eye if baby happens to contract that. Seriously...express some milk, use a dropper to put a couple of drops in baby's eyes and voila... pink eye is gone in a couple of days.)

Please feel free to message me with any questions. La leche league is a GREAT resource for nursing moms too. I would encourage you to hook up with your local chapter. And, a good lactation consultant is worth her weight in GOLD! There are some insurances who will pay for a consultation or pick up part of it. Most consultants will give you a receipt that has insurance codes on it.

Good luck and congratulations on your baby!

There should be an available lactation consultant at the hospital you could call. They should have been a little more attentive to your needs before you left the hospital! You could also call a Le Leche League Group Leader. What a wonderful group of moms!! You can find one online I am sure. Call immediately. I would recommend not mixing the breast/bottle thing. It can be very confusing to a newborn. Congrats on your baby!

Hi N.. CONGRADS on the baby...Call your DHS office. They actually have nurses that can come to your home free of charge to help you with breastfeeding. I know for sure Oakland County offers this program. Or you can contact the hospital in which you gave birth. Ask for the Labor and Delivery department or the Mother and Child department(this might be called something different). They can come to you and assist you with breastfeeding. I'm not sure if you have a pump or not but you can rent them from the hospital. I have found those to be more efficient than the store bought brands...They hurt a lot but they are more efficient...Hope this helps...

Oh sweetie! ABSOLUTELY!!! Your doctor's office really should be th first place you call. They should have a direct line telephone number for a lactation coach at the hospital. It is a very easy process. The only concern that you may encounter is difficulty at first with the baby wanting to latch on since it will be unfamiliar the first few times. DON'T give up. Until you can get in to see someone though, see if you can get a pump and at least bottle feed your breast milk to your baby. It's VERY healthy for the baby, and will surely relieve some of the pressure you're probably feeling, and will keep your breasts producing. The more you feed and/or pump the more likely you are to continue producing.