Need help... I don't want to quit...

[Rat.2010]

Hello I need help, I have so many questions I really don't know where to begin. So ill start off telling a little about my situation first. I have a 1 month old little boy, when he was born he was little early so he had to stay in a special care unit for 3 days, nothing seriously wrong just he didn't want to eat and didn't want to keep breathing with out oxygen. While he was in there and I couldn't breastfeed him, they had me pump and because I wasn't getting enough milk yet they had to substitute in some formula. Well when he was out of the unit and allowed to come home his first doctors appointment he had lost a good amount of weight, so the doctor wanted me to really monitor his eating, so I continued to pump and for the last month I been pumping to feed him which was fine other then the soreness.. I was also pumping and storing a good amount I had at least 40 ounces frozen plus what ever was in the storage bottles in the fridge. We moved into a house last weds and I wasn't able to keep up with all the pumpings and I started using my frozen supply which I'm now down to less then 10 ounces, also the pump I was using has to go back and I got my pump out of storage, but because my supply is so low I started putting him straight on my breast instead of pumping and bottle feeding and is doing good but I know my supply is really low right now because he eats about 2 pumpings from both sides and now that he's latching on his not getting as much so I still have to pump to try and make up for what I'm lacking.

So here's some questions I have:

How can I get my supply up? (I tried the tea and I couldn't stand the taste I almost threw up)

How can I get rid of nipple soreness? (Since I've switched pumps and latching on they feel like they are on fire)

Will I ever have normal nipples while breastfeeding?(like being able to wash them and not want to scream in tremendous pain)

Well that's all the questions I can think of at this very moment.

 

[Jary]

Hi there! Not sure about getting supply up but I've hard oatmeal works. As for nipple soreness I tried a combo of lansinoh cream, nipple shields and breast shells. The pain and discomfort does get better. I know what your mean about being in the shower and knocking them etc

Good luck! You're doing so well already

 

[PurpleIvy44]

I was told the more you pump/feed the better your supply will increase b/c your body knows it have to begin making more. They told me to pump every hour but you'll have to schedule it around his feedings. You could pump/feed and then 15-20 mins later your milk will start to come in again, just not as much as the first.
You may want to try nipple butter or creams to help with the soreness. I'm still having nursing issues but they say your nipples will toughen up.