Many things against us????

[BabyGow]

OK. So here goes it.
My husband and I are stationed in Germany. I had my baby on the German economy. Not much I could do about that BUT I had planned on breastfeeding from the beginning (read books etc.) So Martin Xzavier (Max) was born 5 weeks early by emergency c-section. I had gestational diabetes and so they gave him glucose IV AND glucose water in bottle from day 1!!!!! Plus I didn't get to hold him or see him until 7 hours after birth! My husband got to hold him. After waiting to get milk in..I requested the Oxytocin spray and fennel tea. My milk came on the sixth day, but not enough..not nearly, but I kept pumping. they started formula(by bottle) on day 4!!! So I finally got him to latch on, but he will get mad and cry and scream and then go to sleep at the breast. I went to a LC and she said I was doing everything right, and she wasn't sure other than to keep trying. I am now pumping exclusively for him for now, but am determined to get him on the breast. I have done everything to keep him awake at the breast but to no avail. Yes, he gets Avent slow flow bottles with breastmilk and is eating 2-3 oz every 2-3 hours. So he is eating well and he is stooling etc. well. I really want the breastfeeding to work out and not to pump exclusively, but I will if I have to just so he can get breastmilk and not icky formula!! Any help from you ladies would be greatly appreciated. I was thinking of taking all weekedn this weekend and trying no bottles and just hope he gets hungry wnough to take the breast, but I am not sure I can deal with the horrible crying of hunger anf frustration for very long...I am sooo sad and the thought of purposely making him cry is against everything I wanted to do for him...I am at a loss...

[Momtwice]

Can you see another LC? Yours doesn't sound very helpful.

Do you have La Leche League in Germany?
http://www.lalecheleague.org

About milk supply:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

back to breast
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...to-breast.html

[Momtwice]

Oh and I suggest that you change the title of your thread to read "breastfeeding support needed in Germany." That way any mom who sees it who is familiar with Germany is more likely to stop by and help. Good luck!

[plantmama]

I just wanted to offer some encouragement. It's so frustrating.
My ds was born 10 weeks early so it took awhile before I could even start breastfeeding him. So hang in there.
One thing I would suggest is trying to nurse him when he isn't very hungry so he's not desparate, you know? It took so long for ds to really get nursing but once he did he had no problems.
Try nursing him as often as you want but don't expect too much and then gradually start being more and more insistent that he try. It sounds like he just has nipple confusion and needs to know what a real one is like.
I should say I don't have experience with nipple confusion because ds was not fed bottles until after he had been introduced to the breast.
I hope everything gets easier soon. It seems like you have the right attitude for success.
good luck!

[Sweetiemommy]

A lot of babies nurse well in their sleep (instinctively). If he falls asleep at the breast can you just lie down with him while he sleeps? Are you cosleeping or at least taking naps with him on the breast? This should help him to get some calories from your breast and hopefully he will not need the bottle feeding. Especially try to let him nap on the breast a half hour or so before he gets hungry (maybe before you try giving him the bottle). Find another lactation consultant, if possible!! Try finding an interpretor if your miltary base doesn't have what you need. I think Germany has a lot of midwifery, so maybe they are pro-breastfeeding too.

[sweetpeasmom]

Just wanted to give you some encouragement. Mine was 15 wks early and we had problems w/her not wanting to bf. After 6mths at home we finally succeeded. It was a long road but I feel if you just stick with it and be persistant it can happen.

[Ruthla]

No advice- just some more

[BabyGow]

Thanks bunches!

We are co-sleeping and nap time doesn't happen with me so far..usually sleeps in the sling..I guess I am not resting as much as I should...went to ER last night because of SOB and chest pain..but all is well and the motrin they had me on was too much and it gave me gastritis..lol. Oh well, least I can breath today. I did try again last night to have him at the breast but to no avail. He just arches his back away from it. I am taking it slow though..not forcing him to the breast just keeping it available if he wants to try it..keep suggestions coming though

[MarcyC]

Have you heard of the "Supplemental Nursing System" by Medela or the Lact-Aid system (www.lact-aid.com)? One of those systems might help to keep your baby more satisfied at the breast. It sounds like he might have gotten a bit "lazy" b/c the bottle is so much easier than the breast and getting an SNS or lact-aid would help with the flow and help him to realize the breast can be and is more satisfying than a bottle. We started using the SNS at about 1 month due to my low supply and now at 4 months we are still using it exclusively (no bottles). We do have to use some formula, but not nearly as much as if she were exclusively FF and she is getting all the breastmilk I can provide.