Anyone having breastfeeding problems? - Page 2

[GinaRae]

Try to keep working on the latch or at the very least just get her to lick the nipple or take it into her mouth. The more you can get her to your breast, the more hormones will cause a let down and increase your milk. Perhaps put her on one side and the pump on the other side to catch and encourage any milk let down.

[maisiedotes]

Originally Posted by Momma Aimee

make sure you are drinking A LOT of water...... more than you would ever think necessary ...

have you tried, like i suggested before, pumping both sides, or pumping while the baby nurses?

A

I pump both sides at once at the beginning but after about 20-30 minutes I switch to one side at a time so I can express the milk at the same time. I don't know that I am coordinated enough to nurse and pump at the same time- I need extra arms I think! The LC said I could try pumping for 3-5 min, shutting the pump off for a minute, and repeating that cycle to encourage multiple let-downs. I am going to try this at the next pumping. Has anyone tried this?

[Momma Aimee]

I pump both sides at once at the beginning but after about 20-30 minutes I switch to one side at a time so I can express the milk at the same time. I don't know that I am coordinated enough to nurse and pump at the same time- I need extra arms I think! The LC said I could try pumping for 3-5 min, shutting the pump off for a minute, and repeating that cycle to encourage multiple let-downs. I am going to try this at the next pumping. Has anyone tried this?

yes

you can also -- while the pump is running, move the cone around a little on the breast ... like "a different latch" and also this stim the whole breast ... anopther thing you can do is when the milk slows down, then shut off the pump and restart (or move the cone) to get a new let down .........

also -- and this only just happned to me for the frist time this week -- despite pumping with Theo ... if you just sit there pumping, there milk will slow, the almost stop, and if you keep at it, it will "reletdown" and statrt over all one its own -- i had read about this but only just expereinced it

remember -- the pump is not as effective as a baby ... even getting the baby to lay on the bearst or lick at it -- as Gina suggested -- will hit your hormones and help wiht production.

also -- you body has a learning curve -- keep with it and you WILL pump more .............

also warm compresses on the breast while pumping (or just before baby eats)

a hot bath or shower just befreo -- litterally just before pumping -- or feeding

momma milk tea

fungreek supplments

also trying to pump inbetween feedings, not jsut after feedings .....

or in my case -- i have a firehose of a let down -- and a lot of milk -- i am pumping BEFORE most feedings, if it has been over 2 hours, so that C can latch on and so he is not choked ....

Aimee

[maisiedotes]

Thanks! I also just talked to the ped. and she recommended that once the milk is consistently coming out, I turn the pump up a bit and that will make the pumping time 20 min instead of an hour. THAT sounded appealing. I am also going to put baby on the breast before pumping for her usual 20 min and hopefully she can get things moving along... thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

[Curlita]

When I was pumping, the LC recommended 15 minutes at a time. Otherwise that is a LOT of time pumping -- ask your LC on Monday about how much time to spend pumping. It's hard on your nipples, too. And I second Aimee's suggestion about moving the cone around. It also seems to help to turn the pump suction down and then up again

How are you supplementing? It's a pain in the ass, but I recommend using a tube at the boob (a boob tube, heh heh). That way she is stimulating your breast, drinking the formula, and also getting some breast milk. Then you can pump after to continue stimulating your breasts.

We never got more than 35-40 ccs into Conrad at a feeding. He was about 5 days old (Mairaed's age I think?) at the time.

And yes, eventually you will be a milk fountain instead of a dribbler.

[Momma Aimee]

i find the KEY is to do everything

I know that sounds stupid .. but if each "idea" helps to a small extent, then add them together -- yk?

also -- some of them work together -- m ore water, lots more water, and mother's milk tea .... more breast stim ... skin to skin contact with baby -- naked baby on nude boob even not eating .... they all may make small impacts, but added together you get more .....

[Momma Aimee]

also ... while i have yet to use any of them...

there are proudcts out there -- herbal combinations -- that are suppose to help.

I have drank mother's milk tea with no noticable effect, my sis drinks one cup and is engorged in an hour ... so i think we are all sensitive to things differntly ...

http://motherlove.com/product_lactation_pack.php

$21.95
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1/2 oz. Goats Rue Liquid Extract
Sample sizes of More Milk Plus and Goats Rue Vegetarian Capsules
1/4 oz. Nipple Cream
1/4 oz. Diaper Rash & Thrush Relief

also see
http://motherlove.com/products_extracts.php

More Milk Plus liquid herbal extracts
Motherlove's best selling product to increase breast milk. Fenugreek, the dominant herb in this blend, is highly recommended by lactation consultants. This product works for most women whose milk supply has decreased due to growth spurts, separation, illness or stress. Available in a grain alcohol or alcohol-free (glycerin) base. Not for use during pregnancy.

More Milk Plus vegetarian capsules
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Goat's Rue
This is one of the most potent herbs to increase breast milk. By stimulating the development of mammary tissue, it allows adoptive mothers to successfully breastfeed, as well as women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and women who have had breast reduction surgery. It is also used to increase breast size in non-lactating women. Available in a liquid extract or vegetarian capsules.

More Milk Two
This product is specially formulated to safely increase breast milk while pregnant and nursing. It contains 3 herbs: raspberry leaf, nettles and alfalfa that increase milk as well as provide benefits for pregnant women. Alcohol-Free. Useful Herbs During Pregnancy

[JustVanessa]

hi ladies! I am not in your DDC but I just wanted to pop in and say you are all awesome mamas for bfing!

[maisiedotes]

Thank you all! We are doing the tube in the boob thing with a breast shield (sometimes). I have flat nipples although that certainly seems to be changing with all this pumping. What the heck is that thing called- the SNS? Supplemental nursing system, I think, by Medela? I like it but I don't like the shield. I sometimes just tape it against my boob higher up and make sure she gets the tube in her mouth so I don't have to bother with the shield. These boobages sure are taking a beating. I am buying stock in nipple butter! At this most recent feeding she would not latch on- I think the dry, cracked nipples are bothering her (and who could blame her for that?) I am going to work on getting them not so chapped.

[myjulybabes]

Also, stress can totally effect your letdown! Just learned that the hard way today. The older kids are off school for Thanksgiving break, so I had a major audience while I was pumping, and they were both asking for stuff and I didn't know how long the baby was going to sleep and....argh! I got less than an ounce, when I usually get around 2oz. After they went to bed tonight, and I could pump in peace, I got my usual 2, in 10 min, no problem. So my suggestion for those needing to get more is: try to relax and pump in a calm environment if/when possible!

And my good news for the day...between the pumping and a few formula supplements, Zoe gained 8oz in 7 days, and her jaundice is looking a lot better! She's up to a whopping 6lbs 4oz now. My little peanut! Hoping to cut out the formula soon, and the pumping by the time my month's rental is up, in about 3 weeks.

Oh, and I've tried pumping while she nurses on the other side. I can definitely get more that way, but it's not easy. She still needs me to support the breast she's nursing on most of the time, so I have to attempt to use my forearm to hold the pump while my hand holds the breast, and then hope she doesn't kick the bottle and detach the whole thing. If I just had 1 more hand...

[pixiesmommy]

We're having tongue-thrust issues, but the IBCLC was over this morning and things are already improving.
One thing she said about latch is to have her seen by a chiro who does cranial-sacral work since she descended the birth canal so quickly. I plan to try and do this next week.

Manda

[Momma Aimee]

thought of a few other things last night and wanted to add

1. when pumping AFTER a feeding, expect to pump a lot less, as the baby has already taken the "easy to get" stored milk just sitting there -- which is GOOD. in fact the as the baby nurses better, you will pump less. I alwasy pumped after T ate to finish emptying the boob, and then for 3 to 5 more minutes to keep up the stim (more or less make the feeding seem longer) to aid in upping production and to ensure a good milk supply.

2. if you want to pump to feed the freezer and get ahead .... which i did (and do) .. I would pump 45 to 60 minutes later .. more or less directly inbetween feedings. that way ther eis more milk "stored" and "wating" for the pump to drain like a baby would, but then still milk ready to be "easy" for the baby at next efeed -- remember your boobs are never empty... babe can always get milk, but the sotred milk is easy and waiting, the rest requires more effort and thus is harder on a new baby, a lazy nurser, a poor latch or a cleep baby ....

3, ty breast massage ...either before feed or pump or whikel feeding (if i feed in foot ball hold, i can use the other hand to massage the milk downt he boob towards the baby). start at theedge of the boob -- where it goes falt into your body -- and massage in cicrcel, small, and move towards the nipple. push in if necessary. i still can feel fat, almost hard, sinuse of milk at the outer sides of the boobs. a little pressure and massage will get that milk flowing -- for baby or for pump.

emptying the breasst is vital ... prevents infection and clouged ducts, and incresses supply

Oh, and I've tried pumping while she nurses on the other side. I can definitely get more that way, but it's not easy. She still needs me to support the breast she's nursing on most of the time, so I have to attempt to use my forearm to hold the pump while my hand holds the breast, and then hope she doesn't kick the bottle and detach the whole thing. If I just had 1 more hand...

I was most successful holding the baby in football hold whne doing this -- still am.