This is help for a friend who desperately wants to breastfeed but is starting to loose hope. She's a first time mama with an almost 3 week old and her supply is dwindling. Here's what she wrote to me and said I could share:
I had a breast reduction after I graduated from college, which was... I think... a little over 5 years ago? The doctor left my nipples attached to the "pedicle-" usually they slice the nipple right off and reattach it. So, ideally, my ducts are way more intact than the ordinary reduction. However, I have always always always had flat/inverted nipples which only come out to play when I'm in a cold classroom in front of children. Certainly never for my baby. I have tried to get her to latch several times (a day), just for fun and also because hey, what if it works? (She actually fed from me ONE TIME... we were having 'kangaroo time' one night before bed, which I do without a shirt so we can have skin-to-skin contact, and she burrowed and latched on and actually ate for about, oh, a minute and a half!)
In the hospital, the lactation consultant (1 of 2) gave me thera-shells, which were supposed to draw my nipples out over time. Three weeks later, nothin.' The lactation consultant (1 of 2) pretty much told me breast feeding would be not so successful for me, but I was determined because I know it's better for DD than that nasty formula. I really wanted to for ME because of the bonding and natural aspect. In addition to the nipple issues, the competent lactation consultant (2 of 2) told me that I would have supply problems because a percentage of the ducts would have had to have been cut; I may have the supply, but no way to get ALL of it out, she said. I went into birth not having a plan B because I was so set on breast feeding, so that's part of the reason we had to stay an extra night in the hospital. Long story.
Anyway, plan C was that DD would take formula until I could pump enough to bottle feed breastmilk to her. The most I have ever been able to express at one pumping was .75oz from each boob. That was my peak production. She takes 3 or 4 ounces at most feedings. For the last 2 days, I have barely been able to cover the bottom of the bottle. Part of that is my fault because I was so busy on Monday that I didn't pump at all and I think I tricked my body. I've been pumping every 2 hrs today, and I'm going to do the same thing tomorrow (lactation vacation) I'm giving it patience and persistence until Sunday or Monday, and then re-evaluating. I always have her snuggled in my lap while I pump so that I'm at least feeling her and smelling her skin.
If you have any hints for stubborn nipples or increasing production, I'd love to hear them! Or anything else!
I had a breast reduction after I graduated from college, which was... I think... a little over 5 years ago? The doctor left my nipples attached to the "pedicle-" usually they slice the nipple right off and reattach it. So, ideally, my ducts are way more intact than the ordinary reduction. However, I have always always always had flat/inverted nipples which only come out to play when I'm in a cold classroom in front of children. Certainly never for my baby. I have tried to get her to latch several times (a day), just for fun and also because hey, what if it works? (She actually fed from me ONE TIME... we were having 'kangaroo time' one night before bed, which I do without a shirt so we can have skin-to-skin contact, and she burrowed and latched on and actually ate for about, oh, a minute and a half!)
In the hospital, the lactation consultant (1 of 2) gave me thera-shells, which were supposed to draw my nipples out over time. Three weeks later, nothin.' The lactation consultant (1 of 2) pretty much told me breast feeding would be not so successful for me, but I was determined because I know it's better for DD than that nasty formula. I really wanted to for ME because of the bonding and natural aspect. In addition to the nipple issues, the competent lactation consultant (2 of 2) told me that I would have supply problems because a percentage of the ducts would have had to have been cut; I may have the supply, but no way to get ALL of it out, she said. I went into birth not having a plan B because I was so set on breast feeding, so that's part of the reason we had to stay an extra night in the hospital. Long story.
Anyway, plan C was that DD would take formula until I could pump enough to bottle feed breastmilk to her. The most I have ever been able to express at one pumping was .75oz from each boob. That was my peak production. She takes 3 or 4 ounces at most feedings. For the last 2 days, I have barely been able to cover the bottom of the bottle. Part of that is my fault because I was so busy on Monday that I didn't pump at all and I think I tricked my body. I've been pumping every 2 hrs today, and I'm going to do the same thing tomorrow (lactation vacation) I'm giving it patience and persistence until Sunday or Monday, and then re-evaluating. I always have her snuggled in my lap while I pump so that I'm at least feeling her and smelling her skin.
If you have any hints for stubborn nipples or increasing production, I'd love to hear them! Or anything else!
