Need Major Help Please (Updated)

[Nela]

Hey guys,

Background:

We're having some major problems with breastfeeding. Had colostrum all through pregnancy, so that was okay. Ended up with emergency csection and Nathan was in Neonatal ward so I could not feed him. My milk didn't come in until 4 days later, late in the evening. Before that, in the hospital, I pumped with a Medela pump to stimulate, only got a tiny bit of droplets. Finally on that 4th evening (Friday night), milk came in, and I was able to pump some for his 1am feed. On Saturday morning, I had him on breast for the first time at 5am but he wasn't latching very well. He was supplemented with formula. At his 9am feed, we tried to latch him but it wasn't going well until one nurse suggested nipple shields to make it easier to latch. This worked very well and he fed only on breastmilk then. However, he didn't have a real proper latch, only a latch at the tip. Saturday afternoon, my homecare worker came and she tried to get him to latch on properly but it wasn't working. I pumped and got a nice 85cc from both breasts together, enough for a full feed. I was satisfied that at the very worse, if he didn't latch well, we could pump and feed.

However, it all came to an abrupt stop. The next pumping, I got only 20cc. At the following one, 4am, there was nothing. Just droplets and pain.

The current problem:

My breasts are well engorged. There is milk production, my breasts and full and getting very sore. Nothing is coming out at the nipple though. In fact, they are partly deformed and discolored. At this point, I really need to get the milk to come out as they are very concerned about mastitis. We've tried expressing with the pump after a shower, after warm compresses, and manually but it's not working. I did notice that when I press at the nipple, my nipple seems to be pulled inwards. I would really like to be able to at least pump for my kiddo.

Does anyone have any idea on what to do, any links to videos, etc.? I've had several midwives assist me but they cannot figure it out. We are trying to get an appointment with the lactation consultant but we don't know how quickly we can see her. Right now, my breasts are hard as rocks and it hurts to pump. I'm quite concerned.

I greatly appreciate any help I can get!

 

[Calif]

Sometimes it's a vicious cycle. The more we stress, the less the milk comes out with the pump. Have you tried a nipple shield to help the baby latch?

 

[Nela]

Sometimes it's a vicious cycle. The more we stress, the less the milk comes out with the pump. Have you tried a nipple shield to help the baby latch?

"At his 9am feed, we tried to latch him but it wasn't going well until one nurse suggested nipple shields to make it easier to latch. This worked very well and he fed only on breastmilk then. However, he didn't have a real proper latch, only a latch at the tip."

I only really want to avoid an infection. I've already been very sick during the delivery. I would have preferred him getting breastmilk as much as possible but if we have to stop for my health then we will have to. Just sucks. Going to try and find more info

 

[Super G]

So sorry this isn't more straight forward for you. Sounds really tough.

My only suggestions are hand expressing whilst actually in the shower or lying in a bath.

Here's some links on hand expression from kellymom - https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/bf-links-pumps/

Good luck with in all and congratulations on your baby

 

[Julesillini8]

Hmm, really you are concerned about getting the milk out period right now, and will figure out baby later, am I right? I know you are trying to pump it out,can you maybe try a diff kind of pump? If you used an electric one, maybe try a hand pump? Or vice versa? I don't know I'm just trying to think of something for you! It's true that when you're stressed it's harder for let down and milk to be expressed, although I'm sure I would be stressed if mine were rock hard and I couldn't get anything out, so I know saying to relax is much easier said than done. Can you get anything out with expressing by hand? Or maybe try a different size phalange thingy ( the funnel part that goes on the breast, I don't know what it's called) maybe a bigger one to get more of your breast tissue in there for more suction to get the milk out?? Just trying to come up with a solution for you, not sure if any of this will work!

 

[Nela]

So sorry this isn't more straight forward for you. Sounds really tough.

My only suggestions are hand expressing whilst actually in the shower or lying in a bath.

Here's some links on hand expression from kellymom - https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/bf-links-pumps/

Good luck with in all and congratulations on your baby

Thank you Will be retrying expressing in the shower in the hopes that that will work and then try and pump. It happened so suddenly and surprised both the midwives and I.

Hmm, really you are concerned about getting the milk out period right now, and will figure out baby later, am I right? I know you are trying to pump it out,can you maybe try a diff kind of pump? If you used an electric one, maybe try a hand pump? Or vice versa? I don't know I'm just trying to think of something for you! It's true that when you're stressed it's harder for let down and milk to be expressed, although I'm sure I would be stressed if mine were rock hard and I couldn't get anything out, so I know saying to relax is much easier said than done. Can you get anything out with expressing by hand? Or maybe try a different size phalange thingy ( the funnel part that goes on the breast, I don't know what it's called) maybe a bigger one to get more of your breast tissue in there for more suction to get the milk out?? Just trying to come up with a solution for you, not sure if any of this will work!

Thank you Yep, right now we need to get the milk out. One midwife kept suggesting methods to increase production but I looked at her and asked what advantage increasing production would have if it's not coming out other than speeding up the risk of infection. She agreed that we need to get it out first. We tried expressing by hand with different methods but it wasn't working either. The midwife put warm compresses on (after the after shower method failed) and tried then but it still wasn't going. I also thought of the erm funnel part (I also have no clue what it's called ) but the midwife said they look fine? I'm thinking I might have to try a different one anyway, for my own satisfaction. Only thing that sucks is buying a pump if we're going to possibly have to stop soon. (We're renting this one to try the model and they have no different model to rent, this is the Ameda one)

Bah, here's hoping the shower and hand expressing will work. Meanwhile, while my OH is concerned about the possible complications, he's enjoying the show

Thanks again And thanks, Calif as well. Sorry for not saying it earlier!

 

[Julesillini8]

Yes, just keep at it. Hmm what about trying to hand express while leaning downward. This sounds crazy, but I had mastitis when my first baby was 2 wks old. I had a pinched off duct ( due to her improper latch as I was a first time nurser and had no idea what was right or wrong...) anyhow my duct was blocked, and then became clogged and backed up and I developed mastitis as I couldn't undo it in time. When working with a lactation specialist, I had a hell of a time getting anything out hand expressing, so they had me lean forward so my boobs pointed down towards the floor and the try to massage them to express. Ha it sounds weird, but worth a try. Bet if you could get it started, then you could put the pump on to drain them. Uh, so frustrating keep trying!

 

[Nela]

Yes, just keep at it. Hmm what about trying to hand express while leaning downward. This sounds crazy, but I had mastitis when my first baby was 2 wks old. I had a pinched off duct ( due to her improper latch as I was a first time nurser and had no idea what was right or wrong...) anyhow my duct was blocked, and then became clogged and backed up and I developed mastitis as I couldn't undo it in time. When working with a lactation specialist, I had a hell of a time getting anything out hand expressing, so they had me lean forward so my boobs pointed down towards the floor and the try to massage them to express. Ha it sounds weird, but worth a try. Bet if you could get it started, then you could put the pump on to drain them. Uh, so frustrating keep trying!

I'll definitely give it a go. At this point, nothing sounds too crazy I had my staples removed today as well so hopefully that helps me maneuver better.

 

[Julesillini8]

Aw! I'm rooting for you, keep us posted, hopefully with your success soon! Mastitis is not a fun thing, I'm hoping for you to avoid getting to that point. My story is not good so I will not share.... Just keep trying is my advice best wishes!

 

[noon_child]

This may not be what you want to hear (it wouldn't have been when I was struggling) but all the experts say the best way to remove milk from the breast is to breastfeed.

Is LO in need of constant monitoring in NICU or can you do skin to skin? The more mother/baby hormones you can stimulate by skin contact and relaxing with your baby, the more likely you are to get a good letdown. Babies are also better than any other method at removing blockages from the ducts.

 

[Calif]

Sometimes it's a vicious cycle. The more we stress, the less the milk comes out with the pump. Have you tried a nipple shield to help the baby latch?

"At his 9am feed, we tried to latch him but it wasn't going well until one nurse suggested nipple shields to make it easier to latch. This worked very well and he fed only on breastmilk then. However, he didn't have a real proper latch, only a latch at the tip."

I only really want to avoid an infection. I've already been very sick during the delivery. I would have preferred him getting breastmilk as much as possible but if we have to stop for my health then we will have to. Just sucks. Going to try and find more info

So did you stop using the shields even though they worked because the latch was only at the tip? Or did they stop working? Even if the latch isn't great, if the shield is getting milk out, why not?

Btw are you using a hospital grade pump with the correct size flanges? That may help if you're not trying that already. But whenever I had a plugged duct, only the baby was able to suck it out. I never got mastitis.
I use a nipple shield btw.

 

[NurseSooz]

Definitely try hand expressing in a bath/shower. Even if its to reduce the pressure?

 

[Nela]

Hey guys,

I do apologize for not replying sooner, things were so crazy here. Thank you all for your advice. I pretty much tried all of your suggestions. I, too, had thought of the nipple shields and did put Nathan back on them to at least try and empty some out. Unfortunately, most methods worked temporarily but also stimulated more letdown so the problem would start right up again. Yesterday morning, my right breast was particularly red and angry looking so I made the decision to stop messing with them entirely until we could get the lactation consultant's advice. I figured, at this rate, despite risking lowering production, it would probably be best to avoid an infection and try stimulating production once that risk has passed. This morning's nurse agreed and I am waiting to speak to the lactation consultant now. Luckily though, the shower heat has helped and so they are softer this morning. At least right now I am not hurting so much and am finding it less stressful to deal with Nathan and the breastfeeding separately while we try to get things in working order again.

Thank you again so much, at least I am no longer as sore now!

 

[Nela]

I was waiting for help from a lactation consultant but no one has been getting back to me... One is on vacation, one postponed the appointment, and another just hasn't called back.

However, after deciding to leave my breasts alone for the entire day yesterday, the left side suddenly started leaking all on its own and wouldn't stop, soaking my nightgown... I pumped 50cc in 15mins from that side alone so that was good. The other is a little slower but it's no longer hard and it also started leaking on its own so I have much hope that I'll be able to pump it well in a few.

All this to say, that when things like this happen, it's more important to prevent the infection, and once that is accomplished, it is easier to work on stimulating the milk production after that. Stimulating production before unclogging is just bad news.

Hopefully this works now! Thank you again to all of you who replied!

 

[Julesillini8]

Glad things are working out! I would be kinda pissed at the lack of help you got from lactation specialists... That's terrible! Anyhow, thanks for updating us! I had mastitis so bad ( and waited too long to go to dr to get help) that it was so bad I had to go to a surgeon to have it drained, as antibiotics ( for over two weeks) didn't do a thing. It's a serious problem not to mess around with. And I nursed on it the whole time, even baby's sucking didn't help it. So glad you can finally drain them before you got into a big mess!