Is it too late to breastfeed after three weeks of formula feeding? I have tried virtually everything from lactation consults to prescrption Reglan (which I had an adverse reaction to) to tea and pumping...and pumping, but still never even one drop of colostrum or milk. My daughter is three and a half weeks old and has no problems latching but has been formula fed due to dehydration issues from my lack of milk. I'm desparate to breastfeed her and am devastated that I cannot. Any advice?
I just wanted to thank you all for responding so quickly! I am going to call my lactation consultant first thing Monday morning about the SNS or "Nursing IV". I still have the syringe given to us at the hospital and although it was messy, she seemed not to mind nursing with it in the corner of her mouth. Thanks for your words of encouragement, I am breaking the pump back out to give it another shot...wish me luck! :-)
Besides the obvious of talking to dr. or lactation consultants. I'd say keep trying. Big thing that helps is to relax.
otherwise some none medicine ideas...
Fenugreek , can get it in capsule form
oatmeal
Mother’s Milk Tea
Brewer’s Yeast & Blessed Thistle
More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules
Drink more water
etc
KEEP TRYING!!!! anything is possible! find a good midwife or doula to help you! try "birthways." good luck mama!
I wonder if you could talk to your OB re. why this might be happening. Perhaps there is a medical issue to explain why there is a milk production problem.
There was a tool that my lactation consultant had me use - it was like a formula IV - a small container of formula with a VERY thin tube; the tube clipped to my bra strap and the thin tube was placed alongside the nipple so that the end went into the baby's mouth with the nipple. That way, the extra suction a baby gives was applied to the nipple and the tube supplied formula to supplement my milk. It definitely helped production. I'd be happy to connect you - she's in Los Angeles but maybe she can refer you or help long distance.
HUGS this is such a frustrating thing. I don't know what to tell you, but I know who can help. Message Kate C on here. She is amazing and I am sure she will know what to do.
Just remember that bottle fed babies do just fine and as much as you want to if it doesn't work, you're still a good, wonderful loving mom ok
I did the formula 'IV' thing with my 28 weeker preemie & my full term baby. I found that using a syringe of formula with the tubing I was able to make sure that my son got a good latch. When he sucked hard enough to make the formula go out of the syringe he had a good latch & it wasn't so easy for him to get the 'milk' just like with nursing, they have to work hard to get the milk. To start out with don't use the syringe plunger until you start getting a milk supply that way your baby doesn't get discouraged or dehydrated again. Between nursings pump with a good quality pump (unless she nurses so much that you don't have time for your nipples to rest). Your daughter will be the best breast 'pump' to get your supply started.
I'm sorry, but sometimes your supply doesn't come back. When I dried up with my preemie nothing could bring my milk back.
God bless!
Hi - The other moms already gave you great advice so I just wanted to add that it's never too late to try breastfeeding. I know of women that didn't start until 3 months. With patience & persistence anything is possible, Good Luck & God Bless!!
M., Don't give up hope and try to relax a bit and that will help. I have 4 children and due to sever health issues I was only able to actually nurse one a short time.
I have also been a wet nurse, to help mothers untl they could on thier own. You have already got the information of people to contact so ask them if they have information of a wet nurse so that you have the baby used to the taste of breast milk and formula. Then just keep at it and don't give up and esp. DO NOT beat yourself up on this! If you have tried everything and it has not happened~ it is not becasue you are letting your child down in some way. Enjoy the holding and sweet talking you get to do while you get to feed this sweetie a bottle. That is just as important as your being able to nurse a child.
You may find that with the next child that you will have no trouble at all.
Babies are the best lactation consultants, teas, and pumps. Breastfeed her every two hours, then feed her formula too so she can get fed. If your milk is going to come in, she is the best one to bring it in. Also, relax. I know it's easy to say and hard to do. Start a routine where you plan to pump, and spend five minutes relaxing first. Learn to meditate yourself into a relaxed state very quickly, and do that before you breastfeed.
I just wanted to say You Are Amazing! That fact that you still want to try to breastfeed is a testament to what a wonderful caring mother you will be. Many of the benefits of breastfeeding are in the skin to ski ncontact and the "time out" with the baby so feeding with an SNS at the breast will still acheive that. You may produce milk, you may not but your still a mother who loves her baby. I have always been a big breastfeeding, attachment parenting advocate and with my first three children I was able to do it but with my last two things were different, my fourth child developemed multiple medical problems around a year and self weaned at 16 months and then quit eating. She is now on a feeding tube with formula and thriving. I went through a lot of negative feelings as a mom because I could not feed my child without help BUT I now realize that giving her what she needs makes me the best mom ever. She is almost 3 and doesn't eat liek other kids and that's okay because we're doing what's best for her even if we're buying her formula in bulk from Nestle (who I swore I'd never buy a thing from before because of their formula marketing to third world countires) who are the only manufacturer who maek a formula that meets her needs. Because of my 4th child's needs I could not be a good parent and do all the co-sleeping, nursing on demand and baby wearing that I did with the first four with number 5, but she is 17 months now and thriving on the different but still loving attention she gets from me, her siblings and many more baby sitters than the others had at her age. Keep trying but recognize that motherhood might be different than you imagined.
I had the same issue with my now 4 year old. I was feeling such guilt and anguish over the whole thing. Finally one day one of the lactation specialists I had been talking to told me that I should move on. So I took her advice as hard as it was. I had to look at the positive sides of using formula which there are many. After this experience and talking with other mothers it is actually more common than we are told as first time mothers. No one warned me about this problem. It seems to be a undiscussed issue because we think and believe nature will run its course then feel like a failure when it doesn't happen. I am pregnant again and will hope for the best but if it doesn't work I will not beat myself up so much about it (I hope).
This is the tool they are speaking of...it is called the SNS (supplemental nursing system)
http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Supplemental-Nursing-Sterile...
you can order it online in several places or get from most LC's. Or some medical supply stores have them too.
Besides stimulation, I found the best help to be fenugreek, but with a baby that young, I am not sure. Here is the info on it, in any case:
a lactation consultant just told my best friend, who is having supply issues, to take Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle pills, 3 of each, 3 times a day and to pump, pump, pump! She also said to make sure to drink alot and to eat enough fat. My friend told me its helping her alot! Good luck!
What Patricia G. suggested is a great tool. I too used the 'formula IV' (love the name; since I don't know what it is really called) and that way baby was 'breastfeeding' and not becoming dehydrated. It took two weeks for my milk to come in with my first baby but once it was in we were fine. With my second and third, I was so worried about it not coming in that I used the formula IV for about a week but then with each baby we were off and running.
You need to make sure you are drinking copious amounts of water.
I wish you the best of luck.
If all else fails - my mom wasn't able to breastfeed me to the pediatrician's satisfaction (it was 1969 and BFing was considered hillbilly-ish) so I was put on formula. I still love my mom and consider myself fairly healthy and well adjusted. ;) Mom was able to BF my 2 younger brothers with no problem and milk to spare.
I had a hard time with my 1st born - was able to breastfeed but had to eat Fenugreek the entire time, could never pump more than 1 oz. per breast at a time and had to follow a strict diet. With baby #2 my milk took about 7 days to show up so I was scared - but now we're doing great and I was able to quit taking the tea and fenugreek by the 3rd month. My OBGYN says it's very common for moms to struggle the first time around and have it easier with each additional baby 'cuz our bodies "remember" what to do and do it more efficiently the next time.
You're amazing for continuing to try to bf. Do your best to take the pressure off of yourself (I know that's easy for me to say!) Stress can have a negative impact on milk production, so try to relax and be positive.
The SNS is a great option b/c it'll allow her to continue stimulating your body while she gets nutrition.
If you are pumping _after_ she nurses, that could partially explain the lack of colostrum and milk when you pump. We had minor issues when my LO was born and for the first few days I pumped after she nursed and was very worried that I never got anything out until my milk came in after 2.5 days. I would hope that by now you'd be getting some milk when you pump, but if she is latching on and sucking then she may be getting at least a little bit of nutrition.
I have seen someone else suggest that you and the baby get naked (well, keep a diaper on the baby! :) ) and crawl into bed for at least a full day. Only get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Other than that, have the baby up close to your body, skin to skin, and let her latch on and nurse as much as she wants. If you can do it for a couple of days, then go for it.
Drink as much water as you can stand. I'd aim for at least a gallon per day. If you have trouble drinking that much water, add a little flavouring to it - maybe a slice of lemon or lime. On days I let myself get a little dehydrated and need to drink a lot, fast, I tend to make a quart of Gatorade because I'll usually suck that down faster than a quart of water. I know it's high sodium but I figure it's better than being dehydrated! :)
Other moms have also suggested eating a lot of oatmeal.
Keep in mind that you are doing your best, and for whatever reason it might not work. Try not to beat yourself up, because as I said earlier stress can significantly decrease your milk supply. While formula can't provide quite everything that breast milk does, babies can thrive on formula and do very very well. If that ends up being the route you have to take, try to be at peace with it and enjoy your LO. Her love for you will not be lessened any.
Good luck to you - I hope some of the suggestions you get from the moms here help you out!
I can't answer your question specifically, but I can say this. You are a great mom, you are doing the best you can and your daughter will ok even if the breastfeeding doesn't work out.
Relax, enjoy your baby. Try the system they described below and keep latching that beautiful baby on and your milk may com in! I truly believe that stress can be harmful to your milk supply. I've seen it in many of my friends. Try your best to let go of the desperation and the devastation... they are not helping your supply. Know that you are the best mom your baby can ever imagine.
Good luck!
Jessica
I was in a very similar situation and felt terrible about it until a very wise friend told me that I was being incredibly selfish in my desperation to breastfeed. It takes a bit of a mind shift, but a good mother is one who provides her child with love, affection and nutrition no matter what the source. It is not about you, it is about her, and she needs a happy and attentive mother who is not desperate and obsessive and in a constant panic about breastfeeding. She needs you , so take a deep breath and let it go. Both of my boys have been formula fed and are healthy and strong and I have an incredible physical and emotional bond with both. It is ok to let it go.
