Frustrated (vent)

[lil_miss_understood]

I'm so tired of CONSTANTLY nursing. DS's bad latch means he's not getting milk well and when I manage to get him to have a good latch, rather than his usual shallow one, he gags and chokes and looks at me like I'm trying to kill him. He's 8 weeks old now and I've been working on this bad latch since he was born, trying to get it deeper. (I know it's a shallow latch because I have a problem with sore nipples and the IBCLC I went to see confirmed.)
I started off with an inverted nipple on one side, which I've finally (in the last few weeks) managed to get him to latch onto (THANK GOD). I'm so sick of taking him off, putting him on, taking him off, putting him on and then doing breast compressions, switching sides, breast compressions, switching sides, to keep him awake long enough to "empty" my breasts. Not to mention that I'm pumping and using an SNS to make sure he gets enough still... and not the "good" SNS but the crappy "starter" ones from the hospital (I've heard the other one is easier to use).
I feel like I'm getting worn down and half the time I'm nursing him I'm thinking longingly of how easy it would be to just give him a bottle already... yet I don't because I wanted so badly to nurse my first and gave up with him because of similiar problems, which I regret greatly.
My house is a complete disaster zone, it's nearly impossible for me to get supper made at a decent hour- and while I'm making it, he's generally screaming in the background while DH holds him because he wants to eat still (DH doesn't cook).
I really don't know how much more of this I can handle. I wish he would just latch on NICELY and EAT properly.

PLEASE tell me: it DOES get easier, right?

[quirkylayne]

Wow, you feel really frustrated! I can relate to that. I didn't have the same problems but nursing can be trying. It takes alot of energy of the body and mind! You can do it and it will get easier with time. As your baby grows he will be able to 'help' more and as you teach him his latch will get better. I have a few suggestions, maybe one of them will help you?

Have you tried using a nipple shell to help draw out your nipples? You wear it in your bra when not nursing, you can usually get them at target, walgreens, and the like.

Would you consider asking someone (a family member or the person who said call me if you need anything) to bring you a meal or two? Or if you don't know any cooks someone who could throw in a load of laundry or hold the baby while you take a shower?

Or perhaps you could send your husband to the store for some easy quick food? Eggs, rotisserie chicken, baby carrotts, etc?

[straighthaircurly]

My sister just went through this. She had inverted nipples on both sides and kept hoping they would pop out with the breastfeeding. They didn't and it was very tough going. She used the nipple shells/shields mentioned by the other respondent and that helped keep her from getting so sore and helped her daughter develop a better latch. But her daughter was also getting frustrated with having to work so hard. My sister pumped a lot and introduced the bottle early to give herself a break (that way her dh could be doing a lot of the feedings when he was home from work). She kept that up for about 7 or 8 months and then had to give up. It was tough but she felt strongly about giving it her best (even while people around her were telling her to quit.

You need to do what is best for everyone including yourself. Try what you can and then make peace with the situation knowing that you have done the best that you can with a less than ideal situation.

[lil_miss_understood]

? about Mother's Milk tea

nak

We went to see the LC today. Apparently we have successfully corrected the bad latch, now we just need to work on milk supply it appears. I guess due to having the bad latch as long as we did, and not having a hospital-grade pump, my milk supply has dropped.
So, on the way home, DH and I bit the bullet and forked out the nearly $350 for a PIS, as well as picking up some Mother's Milk tea. Hopefully, these will help the situation.
So, I'll still be nursing and pumping but I have hope that there's an end in sight to the non-stop nursing. I love my baby but I seriously feel like God should have provided me with a pouch at times lately.
Speaking of pouches, we got a Moby wrap too! I'm excited about that. I realize that just because he won't want to nurse all the time soon (hopefully), he'll likely still want to be carried much of the time.

Can anyone tell me how long it usually takes to see an increase in supply when using Mother's Milk tea?

[quirkylayne]

I'm glad to hear it is going better. I don't know the answer to your question, I think it depends on the person. You can also add other things like oatmeal and granola to your diet as natural milk production boosters. Good luck.

[MaryJaneLouise]

See the stickie at the top of the forum for info on increasing a lowsupply.

It does get easier :.