how to get baby from bottle to breast - Page 2

[Jenns_3_babies]

thank you for all the ideas. I did put them to use yesterday. After much running around we had to do during the day, when we got home, I got busy with BF. When he started showing the signs he was hungry, I immediately put him to the breast. I BF for over 2 straight hours. He has a very good latch. BUT, he just wasn't getting enough. Every time he would let go of 1 breast and start crying, I put him on the other. We did this the entire time until all he did was cry. I had no more feeling left in my breast. I was massaging them most of the time. I tried expressing some out of either breast, but not 1 lil' drop came out. I knew I was dry. However, my right breast still hurt on the side, so I knew that one wasn't completely empty. I kept offering him it, but to no avail, he was starving. I gave in and offered him a bottle. He went to take it, having a couple drops fall in his mouth, but he refused!! He instead started rooting for me. So we went at it again for I don't know how long. Finally, we were both done. He was starving, I was famished as I hadn't eaten dinner yet, and had to pee in the worst way. I had drunk over 3 gallons of water while nursing him as I had a constant thirst (dh kept up w/it). I think I got dehydrated during my running around from earlier. Plus I know to drink tons of h2o while bf. So dh gave him a bubba and he wolfed down 3 ounces.

throughout the night and still today, I'm nursing him till there is no more and he's screaming he's hungry, then I give him a bottle. I know my body's not making enough. I only squirted him that one time when my breasts were very engorged. I haven't been leaking at all. When I do pump, I only get a couple drops. I can't hand express even the littlest drop.

It's good to know that now he prefers me, wants me, but I'm just not making enough. I had this problem with my 1st DC. I remember taking herbal supplements with her that did work a bit, but never kept up with her demands so I supplemented with a bottle after nursing. I thought my milk had a good jump start after taking them for 3 weeks or so and as soon as I stopped taking them, it all dried up no matter what I did.

I do feel good knowing that every lil' bit he's getting is better than nothing, but I need to boost my supply, or correct the letdown issue. I think that's my problem with my right breast. My 1st DC hated my right breast too, just like this one does.

I also have to add that he wants to nuzzle me when he's falling asleep, and use me as a binky. That makes me feel good knowing that he *wants* to nurse. Now it's up to my body.

[alegna]

As long as you're using the bottles and not pumping, you're not GOING to make enough. You're telling your body not to make more milk. The first couple of weeks are just like that. You really need to get the bottles out of the picture.

Do you have access to a scale where you can weigh him before and after nursing?

-Angela

[sarah0404]

Can you get your hands on a nursing supplimenter? Its like a bottle sort of thing that holds milk with a fine tube attached to it. The tube sits along side your nipple and your baby gets the extra milk at the breast, rather than from a bottle.

Here is a link: http://www.positivelybreastfeeding.c...eeding/SNS.htm I think its a Canadian website. (sorry I didn't check where you live, but I'm sure these are available pretty much everywhere)

As you probably already know you have to keep feeding to make more milk. The supplimenter can be really helpful with this. You could use it at the end of feeds to top him up, or maybe at the begining if he is impatient waiting for the milk to start flowing.

Don't worry about not being able to pump anything. It doesn't mean a thing. I had an oversupply problem with my first baby - she'd always choke and milk would pour everywhere, but I couldn't pump much at all. It took me over a week to pump enough milk for a 4oz bottle! And not everyone gets engorged, feels full or feels a letdown either. It doesn't mean you have no milk.

Dr Jack Newman has an excellent book called The Ultimate Breastfeeding Answer Book. Here is a link to it on Amazon - i believe there is a new and updated version out now too: http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Breas...9328612&sr=8-2

The book has lots of good information about supplimenting, and low supply. I HIGHLY recommend it!

I'd love to try and help you out more, but we're on our way out to swimming lessons. Good luck! I really hope you can work through your problems.

[BakerALM]

Originally Posted by alegna

As long as you're using the bottles and not pumping, you're not GOING to make enough. You're telling your body not to make more milk. The first couple of weeks are just like that. You really need to get the bottles out of the picture.

Do you have access to a scale where you can weigh him before and after nursing?

-Angela

not to mention that you are teaching him that milk should flow fast! The breast does never stop making milk, so if your babe wants more he should just stay latched on while the drips flow. You can feel totally empty soft/squishy not be able to hand express/pump anything and your babe will be able to extract milk from you. Trust your body and NEVER unlatch your babe if he is on correctly for any reason. Take him to the bathroom with you, eat with him, sleep with him. He may stay attached for 24hrs a day and that is the way it should be. He knows what he needs to do to make milk and by showing him (w/ a bottle) that milk should flow fast you are messing the gentile balance of MM production.

[2 in August]

Big hugs momma. I've been exactly where you are. It's really tough. I know how hard it is to have your baby scream at you when you try to nurse. My ds is going through a strike right now and will only nurse at night when he's half asleep. I've had to supp from the beginning and my supply never caught up.

That being said, have you had an lc check to see if your ds is sucking hard enough? Mine wasn't. The lc gave us a haberman, but I wish she would have given us an sns so he wouldn't have had the bottle. We did try a sns (from a better lc) but by then he was already used to the haberman and didn't like the sns. Since your baby is willing to nurse the sns could be the bridge you need to get your supply going. I can't see where adding herbs to help boost your supply would be a problem and extra pumping too if you can. But if he's willing I'd rather nurse more than pump since I don't respond well to the pump (even a hospital one).

[momuveight2B]

Originally Posted by Jenns_3_babies

. After much running around we had to do during the day, when we got home, I got busy with BF. .

I don't know how to say this other than just to say it. This is a huge part of the problem in addition to the bottles. Postpartum with a one week old baby is not the time to be running around town doing anything. The sooner you give in to the idea of getting rid of the bottles and spending a few days in bed with baby the sooner this will work into a good nursing relationship. Right now what you are doing is contrary to what your body needs and what your baby needs.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by momuveight2B

I don't know how to say this other than just to say it. This is a huge part of the problem in addition to the bottles. Postpartum with a one week old baby is not the time to be running around town doing anything. The sooner you give in to the idea of getting rid of the bottles and spending a few days in bed with baby the sooner this will work into a good nursing relationship. Right now what you are doing is contrary to what your body needs and what your baby needs.

:

good point.

-Angela

[pslmomma]

I agree, go to bed and nurse, nurse, nurse.

I had a 9lb 2oz one and a 7lb 4 oz one. We often times think that size is the case ( very deceiveing) but it sounds like in your case he is getting instant gratification from the bottle and likes that. Treat your boobs like they are pacifiers. If you are squirting him in the face, that sounds like you have a lot of milk.

HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR BODY! If you are still in doubt, I would call at lactation consultant and have her weigh him before and after the feeding just to check.

Good luck!

[Jenns_3_babies]

Originally Posted by momuveight2B

I don't know how to say this other than just to say it. This is a huge part of the problem in addition to the bottles. Postpartum with a one week old baby is not the time to be running around town doing anything. The sooner you give in to the idea of getting rid of the bottles and spending a few days in bed with baby the sooner this will work into a good nursing relationship. Right now what you are doing is contrary to what your body needs and what your baby needs.

I do appreciate all the help, but now I feel like I'm being attacked. Let me clarify a few things...

The baby was sent home with a wallaby blankey (UV light) (which I hated due to it's awkwardness) for jaundice. His levels were high. So when we got home on saturday, and sunday he HAD to spend most of his time in there. I couldn't nurse. I did try pumping though, and was only able to get a couple drops.

Monday and Tuesday all of the running around I had to do was MANDATORY. He had to go to dr's appts and get bloodwork done on both days. I had no choice. Believe me, I'd rather not go anywhere for the first month.

I"ve been pumping, but only able to get a couple drops.

My baby has *never* swallowed while nursing. There's definitely no gulping. Believe me, I pay attention. All he does is suck, suck, and suck. He has a great latch, and it's hard. I had this problem with my 1st DC. So I know for a fact my supply's low. That's why I'm going to herbal supplements. Yesterday I never felt anything different while BF.

It's a known fact that here is something that runs in my family where we can't BF. It doesn't affect all the women, as it tends to skip around. Something's wrong with the hormones. I don't know what, but I know I'm not by far the only one who couldn't BF.

I"ve only squirted him once in the face when I was engorged. I haven't been able to express anything since.

I've considered using a sns, but I don't know if it would work out with my household as I'm also busy taking care of a demanding jealous 20 month old and a 3 1/2 yo.

Since I"m very earlier postpartum, my bottom needs extra attention. I have a 2nd degree laceration. I can't go to the bathroom while taking care of that, so taking him in with me is totally out of the question.

Earlier my problem was he wouldn't latch on, or stay latched on. Now, he likes to, but is not getting enough, or any at all. That's where I need help now. I've gone to LC in the past for my 1st DC, and I felt like I was being harrassed and incompetent. They couldn't understand my problem wasn't proper latching, but rather the milk supply itself. So I have the same problem now. I've been nursing round the clock for as much as he needs, but I can't starve him. My body's just not responding the way it should. I did start taking alphalfa and fenugreek yesterday. Thank god my breasts are starting to hurt and feel heavy again. It makes me feel better.

Like I said, I really do appreciate all the help, I guess I just needed to clarify a few things.

[melissakc]

I firmly believe that you know what is best for your baby. If your gut is telling you what to do, I believe you should do it.

I know what it's like to try to nurse a baby who is attached to wires and a bili-blanket for jaundice. Ugh, I hated those days. Hang in there!

You are doing a fabulous job! Given my NICU experience and other adventures along the way, I have found that it is very important to be able to be OK with what happens, even when it's not what we wanted to happen. You are doing the very, very best you can. (((HUGS)))

[doudat]

If you know you have a supply problem, why not try Domperidone?
If you truly are trying everything and your supply is never enough, I'd definitely try meds before using formula. I was on Dom for months with ds (low supply due to an undiagnosed tongue-tie) and it worked amazingly.

Just a thought!
Hang in there mama!!

[nataliekat]

Congratulations on your new baby, Jenn. Sounds like you're very dedicated to breastfeeding and doing all you can.

Do you have access to La Leche League in your area? Perhaps a Leader might have suggestions for you.

[danna]

I would consider taking meds to increase supply. I believe your OB can prescribe prolactin to boost your milk supply. Besides the herbs, eating oatmeal 3x a day can help, as well as getting as much rest and help around the house as possible. Also, give the Blessed Thistle a try for a quicker letdown.

If you're committed to BF, there's nothing like a competent, supportive LC. I would highly encourage you to get some referrals. Start with your OB and also ask the pediatric nurses at the hospital where you delivered.

Best of luck,
Danna

[babybugmama]

Also in the early days, I *never* heard my ds gulping. It made me really nervous. Just wanted to throw that out there. It sounds like it will be an uphill battle and will be up to you how hard you want to work to get there.

I have also heard eating oatmeal boosts supply. You already sound like you are drinking lots of water. Mother's milk tea, fenugreek...and just lots of stimulation. The more he's at the breast the more your body gets it that it needs to make more milk. All that comfort nursing you are doing is excellent!

[Jenns_3_babies]

thanks for all the extra tidbits.

I've never heard of domperidone, but I'll do lil' researching. I never even thought of calling the OB for a rx. I honestly didn't think they did anything like that: I did send DH out yesterday for the herbs. GNC doesn't carry Blessed Thistle. I have to go to an herbal store, but when am I ever going to get back out w/o the kids? I'm thinking about sending him, but I don't even really know where it is, plus he works so much (55 hrs/wk) and I feel guilty. I saw I can order it online, I just have to check as to how long it'll take to get here. I must've unconsciously knew that oatmeal would do me some good...the other day in between appointments I had to stop at the grocery store and I picked up 4 boxes of maple brown sugar oatmeal. Ummmm, my favorite.

I *think* the alfalfa and fenugreeks starting to work. My boobies sure are sore. But, this baby just like my 1st prefers my left over the right. So now that one's bigger and more sore. But, at least I know something's going on.

thanks again ladies. I just really wish I could successfully BF 1 of my babies as this was my last....:

[danna]

One other thing...pump the right breast while your kid's on the left, if you can, since when one breast is being stimulated the other usually has a letdown as well. Also, consider renting a hospital grade pump for a week and see if that helps. You can usually pump A LOT more (and a lot faster) with these than the consumer grade pump. I rented the hospital pump for close to three months but I had the opposite problem: too much milk and not enough babies to get it out of me.

If there's a Whole Foods in your area, they should carry Blessed Thistle. I have an unopened bottle I could mail you. PM me if you're interested.

Danna

[doudat]

Originally Posted by Jenns_3_babies

thanks for all the extra tidbits.

I've never heard of domperidone, but I'll do lil' researching. I never even thought of calling the OB for a rx. :

I don't think you can get dom in the US apart from a compounding pharmacy. You can always email Dr Newman for an rx if you need one, explaining your situation. Then you can order it online.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/19a-domperidone1.html