Struggling with breastfeeding big time

[Louisa K]

I'm really struggling with breastfeeding, he latches on very well and sucks for ages, but he falls asleep with my nipple in his mouth and does the odd little suck here and there but I feel like he is just using my nipple as a dummie.

Also I really don't think he is getting enough to fill him up, my milk hasn't come through yet so I dont mind him sucking for ages because I know it will encourage the milk to come but he never seems full up at all.

I'm finding this very hard.

Today he was screaming like he was totally starving, I can even hear his little belly rumbling so I made him a bottle, he drank loads (even after about 4 hours of sucking on my boob) and fell straight to sleep and has been asleep ever since..

I really want to breastfeed him, but I don't want him to go hungry.

I really dont know what to do.

 

[marley2580]

Keep going with it hun. As you said, he's sucking to bring in the milk. Take him to bed with you, plug him in and get some sleep yourself. Your milk should be coming in shortly.

If you still feel that he's not getting enough tomorrow, have a wee chat with your midwife about cup feeding. I had to cup feed Kaya for a day while waiting for my milk to come in. Ironically though, supplementing means that it can take longer for your milk to come in as the baby sleeps instead of feeding. Babies are born with good reserves, as long as he's having lots of wet nappies try not to worry too much.

 

[Samantha675]

That is why a baby put fats stores on, and that it is totally normal for them to lose a bit of weight while the milk comes in. He has to work for that milk, it will come in, and eveything will settle. Before it comes in, let him feed when he wants to, as often as he wants to and that will help as well. Hang in there love, you can do this. If you have a Le Leche League near you, give them a call, and they can be amazing help from everything I have heard and read.

 

[Margerle]

This is awesome advice ladies!

Keep working Louisa! It's worth it!

Remember that baby had a constant connection with you for 9 months. He IS using you a bit as a comfort - with the specific reason to bring his food in!

Hang in there mama... as was said, just grab a good book or a stack of movies, a big glass of water, crawl up on the couch, latch him on and enjoy your new baby!

 

[masi]

When you get your milk, it will all be so much easier. Maybe another day, and you'll be so proud you perservered. Hang in there!!

 

[luckyme225]

Breastfeeding can be really frustrating the first week, I felt like Connor wasn't getting any food at all. He wouldn't stay on the breast for more then 10 minutes, would only feed on one side at a time and never really wanted to eat. I found that pumping really helped to bring in my milk faster. Once my milk came in and my engorgement went away, things started to get a whole lot easier. I also fed him the milk that I pumped so I could make sure he was getting enough in the first few days. Some say not to do it but he has had no problem with nipple confusion (guess I got lucky). Your doing great~

 

[Louisa K]

Thanks for all the advice ladies.. Its still such early days and I am probably expecting to much to soon..

 

[Carley]

Keep at it hunny; your milk should be in anytime!

 

[Mango]

Keep breast feeding hun you are doing well. My lil one's tummy was rumbling badly and it was actually due to reflux and not because she was hungry. Babies can sometimes be fussy at the breast when milk is flowing too fast, not fast enough etc.

Many babies will fal asleep at the breast because it is so so comforting to them. If you notice bub falling alseep, just blow a lil in his/her face to keep them going. But trust me, a hungry baby will not fall asleep so u are doing well.

Don't give up!!!! If you have more questions definitely post, I'm sure amongst us all we have been through it all ok.

 

[masi]

Hows it going now? Any better?

 

[JennyLynn512]

I am right there along with you Louisa. Valerie was big when she was born and since I am breastfeeding and only had cholostrome, she started to lose weight pretty fast. I was so concerned, but everyone said this was normal. My milk has finally came in today (engorgement hell, haha) and she's getting a lot of milk. I am still have trouble getting her to latch and stay latched on the right breast. She absolutely loves the left one and will stay on there as long as I want her to. But when I switch sides, she throws a fit and refuses to suck. So I have been pumping the right breast so that my breasts are both getting used. It's definitely hard! Has it been any better for you today?

 

[AquaDementia]

Girls, the first week of breastfeeding is incredibly difficult for brand new moms.
Both us and our babies are just learning the process, and it is all so new.
Even though the baby has the instinct to suck, it doesn't mean that he or she will be successful right away.

Mia and I struggled for a few days and I got really depressed and cried all the time because I couldn't feed my baby and formula seemed so unfair to her when I had something to offer, but we couldn't establish a proper latch.

I started pumping the milk because of the latching problem and I have her that for a week. Then one day we just tried the breast again and it worked right away, I cried from happiness.

Don't give up on it, it will happen.

 

[AquaDementia]

Oh and Mia lost 5 oz in the hospital in 2 days and regained it all and 3 oz more 6 days after birth mostly on breast milk. She is still gaining weight, not as much as if she was being fed formula, but she is going up.

 

[luckyme225]

I am right there along with you Louisa. Valerie was big when she was born and since I am breastfeeding and only had cholostrome, she started to lose weight pretty fast. I was so concerned, but everyone said this was normal. My milk has finally came in today (engorgement hell, haha) and she's getting a lot of milk. I am still have trouble getting her to latch and stay latched on the right breast. She absolutely loves the left one and will stay on there as long as I want her to. But when I switch sides, she throws a fit and refuses to suck. So I have been pumping the right breast so that my breasts are both getting used. It's definitely hard! Has it been any better for you today?

My little guy hated my right breast until around 2 weeks. It took him about 10 minutes of putting it in his mouth and him spitting it out until he would finally give in and eat. I would get so frustrated, especially at night, I don't know how many times I wanted to break down and cry that first week. Sometimes he still does that same thing but only for a minute and he will stay on for around 15 minutes.

 

[mickey]

if you want to hang out, you possibly have to accept the fact to be a couch potatoe for a while, sorry!

Juleika was exactly the same and I was stuck on the sofa for ages!!! my bum got sore from all the sitting, lol

she still uses me as a dummy when she wakes at night, though!

but it's def worth hanging out

see that you have the remote control of the tv always next to you

good luck

 

[coz]

hiya i was the same for the first few days with him and they got so sore, but keep it up if they get that bad just give him a bottle, i really struggled too but if u keep at it it gets easier each day and my nipples arnt that sore any more and hes only a week old is very hard at the start xxxx

 

[Louisa K]

Well my milk came through which is good, but im having the same problems.. He is feeding for literally hours, constantly sucking too and the second he comes off the boob he screams... the only thing that settles him is a bottle which he drinks super fast and goes straight to sleep nicely..

he just wont sleep until he is full and he just dosent get full on my breastmilk..

I have been sitting here breastfeeding for 3 hours now.. he's little mouth is still sucking away..

its to hard.. i cant get anything else done like wash up, go and have a bath, nothing, i literally cant move!

surely this isn't meant to be this hard!!

 

[Margerle]

Louisa

Your baby was sustained by you 100% in touch and nutruition for almost a year. NON STOP.

Now, he has to be put down, not eat not have your touch, not have the usual sounds of your body (which are as loud as a vaccuum cleaner!).

This is the time when he is establishing in his mind the bond that you will be there when he needs you.

As I mentioned to another poster a great resource is Dr. Karp...

https://www.thehappiestbaby.com/

It is REALLY hard, and as you and he continue to bond and share it WILL get easier. I promise. Don't feel bad if you need to put him down for a minute or two to use the restroom, or have a quick shower. Nap with him if you need to and get to know your baby and he YOU! This is an exquisitely frustrating and wonderful time! But you can do it



BTW he may be hitting the first of many growth spurts which cause him to be that much more needy and inconsolable... first is around 10 -14 days. The next is 2-4 weeks later... and the next is usually around 3 months if I remember right. Then some kids at 4 months start teething (though most start at 5-6 months...)

 

[coz]

keep at it hun, i had such a bad time the first 6 days was terrible in the hospital he fed all night he would only be off for about 30 mins then hed be back on again i couldnt get him to sleep and the midwifes couldnt either then when my milk came in he was better but my nipples were bleeding and got so sore for about 3 days id give him the odd bottle in the night but now they seemed to of tuffend up and its got so easy im sure it will for u aswell and ur baby will start getting better too xxxx

oh at first the mws didnt tell me this aswell but when i feed i feed him once on my one breast then next feed use the other but i have been told if i use say my left breast and he unlatches or falls to sleep but he wants feeding again in less than 2 hours i need to use that breast again so hes still getting the proper milk cos when they first feed its just a thirst quenching milk then the hind milk comes in, not sure if u new that or not but might help xxx

 

[Louisa K]

Well it seems my milk, if you can call it that, has gone.. the mw said she didn't think i'll get any coz my boobs are soft and even if she squeezed my nipple nothing came out, she suggested i switch to bottles which i have and everything is going well now, he's getting enough food and sleeping better.. he just wasn't getting anything from me, poor little man..

my boobs never went hard like they said they would, i had few drips of milk but that was it, now nothing.. i havent had to use a single breastpad.. i have about 200 stocked up.. lol what a waste..

dunno why my boobs didnt work but im not gonna stress over it, it was making me ill, feeling like i couldnt provide for my baby, i kinda feel like a big weight has lifted now..