Desperatly Need Breast Feeding Help

Hi Shelby, The only thing that I can suggest is to keep pumping. It's kind of like supply and demand. I think I pumped for a month straight with my daughter. Just be careful of engorgement; owww. When I had my nine year old, nobody ever told me this and I ended up not breastfeeding him. Now I have a ninth month old girl and I breastfed her for six months.

Marina

I recommend Mother's Milk tea. My hospital's lactation consultants recommended it to me and it really worked! It doesn't taste real good (like black licorice) but it is worth it. You can get it at vitamin stores or Sprouts, Wild Oats, etc.

I can't help with the breastfeeding, I bottled fed my three kids (16, 5, 3). I do know what it's like to live here away from friends and family. If you need someone to talk to just holler. Send me an e-mail and I'll get right back to you.
A.
____@____.com

Call a lactation consultant (thru the La Leche - you have the website from an earlier post) ASAP. They're free. And try Fenugreek. It comes in pill form - I did not like the tea. Drink lots of water, pump or feed as often as you can & TRY not to stress about it. Formula is not bad for the baby. We didn't get the hang of breast feeding until my daughter was about a month old. I was not producing very much milk (and when I pumped - I didn't get much) and then at 2 wks old, I got a yeast infection & was feeding her formula every other feeding cuz of the pain. She ended up breast feeding exclusively for 19 months, so don't despair - it's work, but you should be able to get it back. And remember that babies are WAY more efficient at getting milk from you than pumping - so don't let that make you think that's how much she's getting. Good Luck!

S., Hurry and get in touch with TMC Lactation Specialists or the Le Leche League for help before it's too late! I'm sure a lactation specialist can help. When my 3 y.o. was born I had a lot of trouble because he had a short tongue (frenulum) and they helped me nurse for as long as I did. Without them I wouldn't have been able to last a week. Nursing is such a healthy and wonderful thing to do! Good luck and hang in there!
M.

Hi S.,

I have a 4 1/2 month old breast fed baby. I haven't had the same problem that you're having, but did take several breast feeding classes before she was born. I think pumpming is the right thing to try to up the milk production. There is also a tea (obviously not for immediate resolution) called mother's milk that has helped me - you can buy it at organic food stores like Whole Foods, Sun Flower, etc. But, my best recommendation is to contact La Leche League. Do you know them? They probably can provide the best advice. It's an int'l breast feeding organization and there's local people: http://www.lllusa.org/web/AlbuquerqueNM.html. Hotline number is: ALBUQUERQUE LLL HOTLINE ###-###-####.

I am bit of an older mom (first at 39) who also has no family here, so if you want to chat via email feel free. Hang in there!

L.

S.,
Don't stress. I am not sure what state you are in but you need to contact La Leche League in your area, your hospital will also have a lactation consultant. They will help you. I had a hard time with my first daughter too. You could even call your baby's pediatrician. There are many people out there that can help you, you are not alone!

Hi S.,
Unfortunately, I don't have too much good advice. The one thing I have to say is that milk production can sometimes be realted to our emotional well bieng. Just like anything when you are stressed or nervous this may affect the milk supply. Relax, enjoy, and just keep cuddling baby and let her play with the nipple. The more stimulation the more milk production. Also eat and drink lots of good stuff. By the way where do you live? Do you live in Tucson? There is a great support group there. Good luck!

St Josephs hospital on Wilmot has a great breast feeding care nurse on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week even holidays. I believe there is a one time charge on $30.00,but they are there for you every step of the way and are very good about following up with you and continueing to help you until you feel comfortable. Hope this helps. Good luck! :)

Hi S.
I have a 5 week old and last weekend I had to go out of town for 4 days and while I was gone I was only able to pump twice a day, so when I got back my milk had gone down significantly. I was determined to breastfeed so the day I got back she latched on and it was so painful, but I kept doing it. She was frustrated and so was I b/c not as much milk was there for her, so I just pumped and pumped whether any milk came at all. Every 2 hours I pumped and if i could I let her latch on (due to the pain). I also was drinking 8 oz of water every 2 hours and I am taking Fenugreek which is an herbal supplement that helps with let down of milk and aids in digestion and also drinking mother's milk tea. You can find both of those at any natural food stores. It took 2 days to get my milk supply to her needs. It still isn't as much as I had before I left, but at least she is happy. I hope this helps and I understand your disappointment in not being able to breastfeed.
R.

First, take a step back and breathe....I have a 9month old little girl...In the beginning, she latched on incorrectly so my nipples, cracked, bled, and had very little skin on them because they were so chaffed....There were times when it was so painful that I had to give her formula from a bottle because I just could not bare the thought of feeding her.....

Remember, the most important thing is that your child is healthy and eating....Whether it comes from the bottle, or your breast, your focus should be that your child is healthy....I went to a lactation consultant who showed me how to get my daughter to latch on properly, it worked....It's normal to go through the period of decreased milk production in the middle, I had that problem too, however, its temporary in most cases.....The hospital you delivered at should have an on-call lactation consultant and you should be able to meet her, free of charge....Try that, drink lots of water when you pump....I had to wait until my baby was crying because her mouth would open really wide and then I would place my breast in her mouth so that she would be latched on properly....Its frustrating and painful I know...Remember, would you rather she not eat, or have to take formula from a bottle....Of course you'd rather she eat from the bottle :)

Don't give up just yet. Your baby is getting milk even if you are unable to pump any. The baby can sense your stress. If your breasts are large enough you can just lay down on your bed on your side and put the baby right next to your nipple. Use pillows to get both of you just right and very comfortable. Then just enjoy this closeness by touching your little girl and relaxing yourself. She will suck eventually. Don't force things. Also, you can keep pumping even if nothing is coming out, it will help your breasts to continue to produce milk. You've probably heard all of this before but I was a new mom living here with no family and nowhere to turn for help when I had my first. It is hard and the stress does affect your milk supply but you haven't lost your milk. Keep trying without putting pressure on yourself. It takes a while to get both of you used to this new way of feeding. It's suppose to be natural but it sure doesn't seem natural when you are struggling. I'd love to help any way I can since I was once in your shoes and now I have a 4 year old son that I breastfed for 13 months and a 2 year old daughter that I breastfed for 7 months.

When I started breast feeding it was a horrible ordeal, it usually is that way for the first two weeks or so. The reason it is so hard is because both the mom and the baby are stressed out. The baby is actually losing weight at this point, it is because the first two (not sure) weeks you are only feeding them nutrients and not really a lot of protein, this also might be why you are not producing tons of milk. I talked to my nurse and she said that the bottle is just as good as the breast, it has come a long way. So I would recommend using the bottle as well as breast feeding until everyone gets comfortable with the situation. I was able to breast feed for a couple of months, but unfortunately I did not produce a lot of milk and had to stop.

Ok, love everyone's advice, but there is another place to go... Best Fed. it is a store with everything you could possibly need to breast feed, including lactation consultants. my son was put on the bottle in the hospital against my wishes, and then when they brought him back to me he didn't want the boob. the bottle is so easy to get the milk out of so they can be more lazy. sometimes position is the key, sometimes you think there is enough nipple area in his/her mouth, lazy baby ( they will learn...)try pumping every 2 hours no matter what is or isn't coming out. as far as the pumping goes you may need a different size flange (don't know if that is how to spell it) that was 1 of the problems i had. I would love to help you more if you would like to get in touch with me. ###-###-#### J.. good luck and i hope you can get things working the way you hoped.

Hi S.
I have breastfed both my son and daughter. Are you drinking enough water you should have like 2 gallons of water a day and I bet your milk will come in REALLY good thats what I did also be sure you get enough rest just because you are not pregnant any more doesnt mean you dont need the rest your body is working hard to produce milk and eat as much as you need you wont gain wait while breastfeeding remember rest,water,food are all neccesities to make your milk full and healthy to you and baby You should be taking your prenatals also until you are done breastfeeding
GOOD LUCK

Okay, first of all - breathe! :) There are a few reasons I can think of that your milk may not be coming down. Are you taking any decongestants? They will dry you out while they are in your system (4-24 hours depending on the drug). Are you drinking enough water yourself and eating? Is there any chance that you still may have a piece of your placenta inside? That happened to a friend of mine and she had a tiny little supply until 1 month post partum when they figured out that little problem.

You really need to get some help locally. I am not there right now or I would give you my phone number. :) Here are some online resources: lalecheleague.org and kellymom.com
The LLL is great and you can look for a local chapter for help. Call the LLLeader listed and they can meet with you personally or talk to you more in depth. The kellymom site is invaluable for bf moms. There is a local store called Baby Bear that is very pro-breastfeeding and attachment parenting... you might call them and just ask who they can refer you to. Have you asked where you delivered for the name of a lactation specialist? You want someone who is IBCLC certified (int'l board certified lactation specialist) and your pediatrician may even know someone.

Good luck and try to relax (I know - easier said than done) because when you are tense, your milk has a hard time coming down anyway.

C.

I understand your worry, this service is AMAZING talk with a Lactation Nurse RN by contacting the Comfort Line @ ###-###-#### it is an answering service leave a message and they will get back to you today (there is no charge). If you need they will setup an appointment and have you go in. I used this service and they are a GREAT help!! I felt comfortable and they took thier time answering all of my qustions. -i am breastfeeding a 6 month old girl. From a mom to a mom GOOD LUCK!!

Hi S.,

I understand what you are going through. My daughter was a premie and couldn't latch on for the first month after she was born and by the time she was able to, we had a hard time because she had become so used to the bottle. With the right tools though, she is now an old pro! :) The best advise I can give you is to let your daughter drink enough out of the bottle to satiate her immediate thirst, and then from there let her latch on to you. Even though you are not able to pump any milk right now, she will be able to draw it out of you with her sucking and her saliva will help to stimulate your milk supply. Also make sure you are drinking alot of water, because dehydration will also cause a decrease in your supply. There are also lactation supplements that you can take called Fenugreek and Mother's Milk. Fenugreek is an herbal pill that you can get in the Vitamin section of Fry's or at Sprouts. They will make you smell like maple syrup but I swear by them. Mother's Milk is a tea that you can drink, but you would have to drink ALOT of it to get the same results as the Fenugreek. Lastly I would strongly encourage you to contact La Leche League or the Lactation dept at your hospital and they can help you! Good luck!!

Hi S.. Congrats on your new baby! PLEASE contact your local La Leche League as soon as possible. I don't know where you are located, but there are many local groups. The Arizona website is: www.lllofaz.org -- good luck, mama! You are giving your baby the best!

Hi S. first off I want to congratulate you on your angel!! As for the breast feeding tips...I can say that drinking a glass of beer or a glass of wine will help with helping produce milk. As for helping with the let down process you can either put a warm wash cloth on your breast while feeding your baby that will help ease it and let down. Or even taking a hot shower before and than trying to feed her? All of these techniques helped me to produce milk and help with the let-down process. I was also told by my doctor that you need to have patience and be calm cause your baby can sense alot of tension especially if you get frustrated if you can't feed her. I hope that this all helps you out if not I apologize in advance and wish the best of luck to you both!!

Hi S.,

The worst thing to do is stress over this. Stress will decrease your milk supply (I know!! it's not helping!!) Are you still taking your prenatal vitamins? I had preeclampsia, so because I was put on Magnesium, I had to feed my son formula, and had to pump and dump. at first I was only getting 2 oz. or 1.5 oz and my son wouldn't latch on because the nipple on the bottle made him a lazy eater. When you try to force it, it just frustrates the both of you. What worked for me to get my lil man to latch on was to lay down facing each other, have my arm around him with his head in the crook of my elbow, and his butt in my hand. We were both relaxed and comfortable and it just happend. It took him until he was 3 weeks old to latch on. 8 months later I'm still breastfeeding and supplementing with formula (enfamil with lipil) He is a very happy healthy baby, he has had one cold in his 8 months of existance (where a lot of my friends babies are sick every couple of months) and his first word was "boob" his daddy helped him with that one.

Don't stress. If it happens it happens, but if it doesn't work out for you two, at least know in your heart you tried your best, which is more than a lot of mom's are willing to do. you are an awesome mom! Just in case.. go to enfamil.com and join the "family beginnings" they will send you samples and coupons which are very nice.

I have only skimmed the advice so far, but everyone here is rootin' for you and your little one. First, please do contact a LLL or a lactation consultant! The cost of an LC will be little compared to the cost of formula.

My only other comment is that just b/c you are not pumping much does not mean you are not producing anything. I have three children and they have all thrived on breastmilk, but when it comes to pumping, it takes me a long time to produce anything of quantity. A baby is much more efficient at getting out milk than a pump.

Please keep trying and call someone to help!

Wow! Isn't it amazing how much we breastfeeding mothers pour out our support for one another? It's like we literally feel your pain. I know I do. PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP! I agree with all the other posters and I will try to offer a tad bit more advice in addition to what everyone else is saying. 1st off, I am another one like so many others that it took weeks for us to be able to nurse. I had every problem you can think of or read in the books: C-section, flat nipples, yeast infections, mastitis, you name it, I had it...everything that would prevent a woman from breastfeeding. Well, I stuck with it and was determined and it took us 6 weeks till he could really latch on and get the hang of it and it was more painful than the birth!! Let me just tell you that my son is now 11 months old, we are still going strong and he has always been in the 90th percentile for growth! He is HUGE and so strong, healthy and smart. S., if the only thing I can give you is hope, so be it, I'll do that. Please don't give up. You can be successful at this because I've proved it! Let me tell you some of the things that worked for me that may help you: the pump I used was the Medela pump in style ADVANCED. Please don't use the batteries, you get much better suction from the power supply. Also, do not gauge the amount of milk that comes from pumping as what you are actually producing. So many women THINK they are not producing enough milk or any milk at all. You could be blocked too. Your baby WILL suck as much as TWICE the amount you can get from pumping. Do keep pumping though as it does help keep your milk supply going. One time I got so blocked up and I had to pump for a whole HOUR before I let down and then 7 oz. came out of only one side!!! Do NOT underestimate the power of what your breasts can do. Remeber, your body will adjust. In the beginning, I could only pump 2 oz. and it varied. Sometimes my left would give us 2 oz. and the right only a half an oz. We had to supplement with formula at times and there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, you just need a little bit of help getting going. Supplementing is not the end of the world, it just gives you a boost when you need it.

I camped out in our bedroom for several days and pumped religiously every 2 hours while my hubby fed our son a combination of pumped milk and formula. I didn't get much sleep, but I was determined and I was able to give myself a break later and catch up a bit. Yes, bottle feeding is not the end of the world AS LONG AS YOU USE THE RIGHT ONE!! Get the Playtex Nurser System and Breastmilk Storage Kit. You can pump directly into the liners with a converting ring and if you have to, mix your breast milk with the formula. My son was practically force fed formula in the hosp. b/c I was diabetic and his blood sugar was so low, but like I said, we kept at it with combining the bottle and nursing and luckily he took to both. I really think that using the Playtex Nurser system helped because that bag-type bottle and nipple combo are so close to nursing that it helped him not to have nipple confusion. That type of nipple makes the baby work hard to get milk just like nursing. Trust me, my nipples were flat as pancakes and he was still able to adjust! Bottom line, you just have to keep at it. Even if you can't nurse at least keep pumping. Just because you can't nurse does not mean that your baby isn't breastfed!! You can still breastfeed if you use a bottle. Nursing is not easy but if you put your mind to it, you can do it despite what everyone says. It will suck, no pun intended. It will hurt and you will be tempted to give up. But, if you stick with it, you can eventually be a success story and be able to give some other woman in trouble advice just like me. There was a time I never thought I'd be one to dole out advice and now here I am! It's a great feeling and I hope you get to experience it! Best of luck to you and keep up the good work! Just the fact that you asked for help speaks volumes!!!

hun- call your local la leche league -- they will coem over and help you! you can do this, i know they first few weeks are hard....iam in AZ, if you are here i can put you in contact with soem great LLL support moms. email me at ____@____.com
There are a ton of out here that can help you, dont give up- it will get better! do you have a good pediatrician that is helping you too? that can make a bug difference..
E.

As happens to many moms, you may not have enough breast milk supply ... don't worry lots of babies never get breast milk and grow up just fine. That is the first key to getting your milk back ... stop putting so much stress on yourself! Formula will not harm your baby. With that said, contact your local hospital or the hospital you delivered at and see if they have a lactation department. Make yourself and your baby an appointment ... at least talk to them on the phone! Scottsdale Healthcare Hospitals have great lactation nurses. The lactation nurses can help you determine if your milk supply is really gone or do you need to pump longer, more frequently, etc. to increase your supply.

I used a nipple shield for a month before I got my baby to latch without it (with the help of the nurses). He was supplemented with formula from day 1 because he was low birth weight. We finally got the hang of it and I breastfeed him for 13 months. Good luck!

I recommend trying a new position with the baby. The lactation consultant at the hospital suggested this with my first child. I tried the football hold and the traditional hold to no avail. He had such a hard time latching on. I finally tried laying down with him on our bed and feeding him that way. It really worked well for us. I think I was so relaxed just laying there with my baby, that he finally relaxed and nuzzled up next to my breast and was more willing to take the milk. I breastfed him for 15 months. Once he got the hang of breastfeeding, we went back to the other positions. It only took a few days and he was breastfeeding like a pro.

I had the same problem, however my daughter never really latched on. I was pumping constantly, when I read somewhere that there is a prescription that helps keep your milk supply up. It is called REGLAN and after taking it for about 2 days I was filling up bottle after bottle. I think I took it for about 3 weeks and afterwords I did not need anything. Hopefully this helps. By the way my daughter got soley breast milk until about 3.5 months when I had to return to work, so I thinks its worth it. Good luck!

Hi S.,

Don't give up. Keep trying with your daughter as often as you can. I remember being worried and frustrated as a new mom as well. My daughter is now 2 1/2 yr old, but as I can remember, I worked with her quite a bit trying to get her to latch on. I use my finger to let her suck on and get the motion going and then quickly move her mouth to my breast to get her to latch on. I also have to keep trying to wake her up after she latched on by moving her arm like the nurse has shown me. If you still have problems trying to get your daughter to latch on, you can call the local nurses at your hospital and they can probably provide you with more tips and techniques.

Best of luck,

V.

I went through nearly the same thing. my daughter was started on a bottle in the hospital before I got to see her and so it was an uphill battle to nurse her. With determination you can get there. Pump every couple hours during the day. Make sure you use a strong enough setting. Encourage your daughter to nurse with the nipple shield and then you sort of have to trick them away from it. My daughter had a problem with latching because there wasn't much to latch on to, the more i pumped the better it got and after a few failed attempts i finally got her to latch. It took about 2 weeks. Don't get discouraged because that can hinder your ability to produce milk. I just remembered the lactation consultant that told me she was able to START nursing her baby after he was 3-4 months old. So it can be done.

I know it seems like a lot of hard work but if you really want to breastfeed you can get there.

Hey there, I see that you have gotten a lot of responses and I was in the same boat as you. I found this women, her name is Amy and she is awesome. Here is her website.

http://www.breastfeedingandbabybasics.com/

I was very frustrated and in tears about breastfeeding and when I called her she was willing to come by that same eveing. But, I had her come on saturday morning instead. She is very flexible with her hours and actually prefers to work evening and weekends. She is certified and she spent two whole hours with me talking and anseweing my questions. I lived about 20 miles away and she was willing to drive that distance. On top of that, I was able to call her whenever I needed to ask more questions.

Anyhow, i hope this is helpful. I have lived here three years and konw that it is hard to meet other people. I still have been trying to meet others and have ery little family here. If you ever want to talk or meet up, please call. I do not mind driving. Thanks

My name is Kimberly Teninty, ###-###-####, and email is ____@____.com

I also have this group located in central phoenix for moms called central phoenix moms, here is that link

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/centralphoenixmoms/

S. -

Have you spoken with your doctor or a lactation specialist? Are you drinking enough fluids and eating enough? I had a couple of friends in your position and because the baby couldn't get enough breast milk, my friends resorted to formula.

Don't be sad (try not to be). You're not a failure and you and your baby will still bond during feeding times. She will still look to you for food and comfort.

Good luck.

M.

Hi S. and congratulations on the birth of your daughter!

There is a breast feeding support place called Best Fed at Thunderbird and 51st Avenue. Call them or stop by, they should be able to give you some great advice on this subject. Also, here a link to their website:

http://www.ebestfed.com/index2.html

Good Luck and don't give up! L.

First try to relax about it and just hang in there. Everyone already gave you great advice, I was awkward with it the first few days and my daughter wasn't latching on totally, but then when a lacation nurse came to visit us before we left the hospital, we had it mastered. Someone in your OB's office may already be qualified to do this or just give you pointers, so no need to look for one specifically. I'd mention it to them. They all want to see you succeed with it!

For us it was all in position. Everyone works differently, but for us, being my daughter was a preemie, the football hold worked miracles for us the first few weeks until she got the hang of it latching on completely. Because my daughter was preemie, I had to supplement her with formula and pump, as well as nurse, so she would get enough. It's okay to do all three! Just keep pumping in the meantime and freezing your milk until she's ready for it.

If your milk never really came in full strength, you haven't lost it - I didn't produce as much in the early weeks and it came in more fully later on when she was nursing regularly.

We've been at it over two years now!!! I've only got her partially weaned - so you can do it!!! Like a few said, LaLeche League is everyplace and they can help a lot too.

I know what it's like to be a new Mom and have no support or anyone around you. I'm a single Mom and have never been near family or friends thru this, and you are just clueless in the beginning, I know! Before you know it, you will be an old pro at everything when it comes to your daughter :-)

C.

Hello,
Okay, there are teas you can buy from Wild Oats and other natural food stores.I use to buy Weleda from sunflower market on the westside.But there is a brand at Wild Oats I feel is better but,I just forget the name. :( Even so this brand is good.Also make sure and limit any medications you can.As many decrease you supply.

There is alot that you can do to help. Contact your local hospital and they should have a lactation consultant that can help you or you can contact the la leche league and they have support groups and lactation consultants that can help you. what kind of pump are you using? You should be able to at least rent a hospital grade medela pump that will keep your milk flowing until she gets the hang of breastfeeding so that you won't have to give her formula. You can also drink mother's milk tea found at the grocery store or health food store or/and take fenugreek to help promote lactation. Alot of people have a hard time with breastfeeding- my son born 05-11/06 did not automatically latch on and it took us almost 8 weeks before we really got the hang of it but once we did it was smooth sailing. Good luck!

Check out
http://gotwww.net/ilca/
to find a board certified lactation consultant in your area, they can REALLY help a lot. Or contact the hospital/midwife where you gave birth - they too have resources. And, contact your local LaLeche League. They usually have meetings and support groups for breastfeeding women in all stages of motherhood. If you really want to keep nursing, get help! I had to see a lactation consultant w/my first, I almost quit after two weeks because it was so painful for me. But, I'm happy to say, I got help and was able to nurse exculsively for over a year. Hope this helps.

Hi,
I went though something similar with my daughter when she was born. I tried the nipple shield, pumping, etc. It was very hard and stressful so I completely symapthize with you. A friend of mine had come over about a week after my daughter was born and brought some "Organic Mother's Milk tea" by Traditional Medicinals. I believe that she bought it at Wild Oats or any grocery with a natural foods area. Anyhow I've head that it's the Funnel in it that helps with Lactation. There are also Fenugreek pills that you can buy too. Depending on how you feel I know that the La Leche League will help you in any way they can to help you increase your milk production. Thir website is http://www.lalecheleague.org and you can find a local group if you haven't already through there. Best of luck to you!

Hi S.,
I am a mother of four and a part-time doula and I was compelled to respond but it looks like you have already recieved a ton of great advice and even some numbers to call. No one ever tells you how much work it can be to get that initial latch going when beginning breastfeeding, it takes a lot of love, support and perseverance. I am glad you found a resource to ask for support and it looks like you are getting it. I was just going to let you know that you need a lactation consultant ASAP. You can call the local La Leche League for consultants and to attend breastfeeding support groups (and meet other new moms) at ###-###-####. There are also many stores in the valley that have resource lists with many lactation consultants to call anytime. There is Every Mother& Child (mesa) ###-###-####, BestFed (northwest) ###-###-####, Mothers Milk (scottsdale) ###-###-####. In the meantime try to relax let your baby have a bottle if necessary then when she is relaxed try to breastfeed again. Good Luck and please get a consultant right away and attend a La Leche League meeting for continued support.
M.

I can understand what you are going through. The same thing happened to me when I had my son. I was adamant about breast feeding and I felt like I was letting my son down by using formula but I had to change my views because I did not make enough breast milk to support him. I did everything the lactation specialist here said to try and it did not help me. There is a tea that is called Mother's Milk and it is supposed to help. It did not however help me. It is alwasys worth a try though. If you ever need to talk I will gladly listen. I know it is hard when all you want is the best for your child.

I have a 11 month old daughter who I am still nursing...I had major trouble in the beginning and had to use the nipple shield as well...I went to a store called "Baby, Mother, and More" in Mesa on the SE corner of Gilbert and Southern. The number is ###-###-####...They have a lactation consultant named Mary and if anyone can help you she can. It's not much money to go see her and then you can call her anytime and ask her questions after that. She really cares and is so patient. I would call tomorrow. She really saved me. Let me know how it goes.

Ps. The guy that owns the store Chuck is also incredibly helpful. Good Luck.

hi! i know this may be frustrating, but there are a few solutions. make sure you are drinking enough water! sometimes when my daughter was "new", i would forget about what i needed because i was so focused on her! then, eating real oatmeal (not instant oatmeal) the real stuff, helps... i am not sure exactly how... but it does! also, there is a tea called "mother's milk tea" that i still use once in a while. it is made of all sorts of herbs that are supposed to help stimulate milk production. it is a little bitter, but it helps. when my girl was about 7 months old, i was worried i wasn't producing enough, and my milk wasn't letting down when i pumped! i was frustrated and dissapointed! the tea really helped with my situation... i can only find it at safeway and frys, not walmart. i hope this helps you!

Hi S. and Congratulations! I have two boys and my first took a month to latch on and my second over a month! Hang in there! There is a natural product that you can take and find in a health food store called fenugreek (sp?) to help increase your milk production and be sure to drink lots of water. You shouldn't be taking any kind of allergy or sinus medication because it will cause you to dry up. Try not to stress about it because that also effects your production. You should also try contacting a lactation consultant/nurse for more advice. If I can be of any help, please let me know. Good luck.

S.,

Sometimes if you are stressed and nervous about being able to breast feel your baby, this will cause you to have problems with milk production. Go on ahead and give you baby bottles of formula to supplement at this time. You can still try to give her some breast feeding, but if it looks like she is fussing too much, have a bottle nearby an go on ahead and feed her. When she relaxes, you will probably relax, and you will see the milk production improve. Also, please be sure that you are staying well hydrated. If you are not taking in enough fluids here in this dry Arizona climate, your mild production will not be what it should be.

I am an older mother - I had my first three in the 70's and 80's, but I had my last child just 3 years ago when I was 45.

M.

Hi

Try pumping ever hour. I also had to resort to pumping because my little guy did not want to latch on. My son is now 4 weeks and I still can only pump two oz at one time. I have to supplement. It was the same with my daughter. They both got half breast milk and half formula. My doctor said my milk may not have fully ever come in because I had a c-section with both kids. He said sometimes because the body goes thru such trauma your milk never fully comes in.

Good luck!

I had trouble with my daughter latching on, too. With multiple people trying to maneuver my breast and my freaking out, my nipples would kind of flatten out and she couldn't get it. (sorry if that's tmi!) Then, we were both frustrated and it just wasn't going to work. I pumped like a mad woman with a double electric Medela and ended up able to feed her a lot for 9 whole months! And she even did manage to nurse sometimes, after I knew the milk would come.
It's amazing how your body will freeze up if you're feeling pressured or nervous, though, so I would suggest putting the pump on maybe right after a bath or shower (when I would notice leaking from the warm water) or, if you can stand it, leave the pump on yourself while you try to tune it out or relax doing something else--it might take a while, but I really think once it gets going you might be surprised. And of course, eat and drink plenty to keep the milk flowing. Good luck! (I'm due with my second child any day now and I'm hoping I can do less pumping and more actual nursing, but we'll see!)

I have been where you've been. I was all prepared to breastfeed my first daughter 6 years ago. I had taken the classes, read tons of articles, and talked to my friends with children. To my surprise, things didn't go quite as planned. I had a very low milk supply, my daughter was a sleepy baby, and she had problems latching on. I bought a high grade pump, which didn't help at all. I was only pumping about 1-2 oz. I met with a lactation consultant and even she had a difficult time figuring out what was going wrong. She gave me the SNS feeder and recommended fenugreek. I did all of that with no change. Eventually my doctor told me I had to feed her some formula because she was losing way too much weight. My daughter and I were both miserable. I was exhausted and frustrated trying to figure out what was going wrong. My daughter was crying a lot and I couldn't figure out why. So, I reluctantly decided to give formula a try. It was like night and day. She stopped crying so much because she was actually getting fed. It was very emotional for me, but in the end everyone was much happier. I also have a 20 month old and tried breastfeeding her too with the same end results. I have since read and my doctor told me that some women just aren't able to produce and maintain an appropriate milk supply. Now, I have to say this is very rare, but it does happen. I am a nurse and worked in labor and delivery, so I very much advocate breastfeeding. I would highly recommend trying everything you can to keep breastfeeding. However, if it does not work out, know that feeding your baby formula is not a failure on your part and it is OK. The best thing is the health of your baby and you. Both of my daughters have been formula fed and both are extremely healthy, smart, and happy little girls. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you come to a satisfactory resolution.

S., First Congratulation on your new little girl, I have three kids,They are a joy. I know you can get help with any problems that you are having with breast feeding, there is a company called I thnk " LeLeache Club"(look on the Internet) I am not sure where you live but there is a place that is so helpful it is called "Best Fed" on Thunderbird Between 51st-43rd ave, Good Luck

Are you drinking tons!!! of water?
drink more!! you can't make milk without it.
good luck

Hi S.-
It is NOT too late to get your daughter to breastfeed! Your body WILL start producing the appropriate amount of milk, but it's going to take some will power on your behalf. I helped a friend of mine with the exact same problem. She bottle-fed her son for the first 6 weeks because she was unable to get a good latch. At six weeks, we were able to wean him off the bottle and got him to breastfeed!

Spend one full day doing this, and your daughter will nurse. Take away the bottle, ONLY offer the breast. Yes, she will get frustrated, but if she is hungry, she will keep suckling at the breast. Then move on to day two. Trust me, I understand how hard it is to have a baby that won't nurse, but it worked for me and it worked for my friend and our babies are perfectly healthy!

I had a lot of trouble breastfeeding, too. I didn't own a pump, so I had to do this and it worked. It took me almost 2 months to get the breastfeeding to be comfortable. I swore I wasn't producing enough milk, but a friend of mine who breastfed 3 babies told me not to worry, they only need a very small amount when they're new. I stuck with it, shed more than just a few tears over how much I hated breastfeeding, and managed to successfully breastfeed for over a year.

Check a couple of things when you are breastfeeding: you should have more than just the nipple in her mouth. Get her to open her mouth wide, and get as much of the breast in her mouth as you can! Her mouth should cover all, or at least a good chunk, of the areole (the dark part surrounding the nipple). Next, HOLD the back of her head and just keep her on there. My daughter would fight me, get really upset, then after a couple of minutes, start nursing when I was first learning. (Remember: breastfeeding is NOT a delicate process!) Another important thing to remember is her whole little face should be "smashed" into the breast while she's nursing. Don't worry, she can still breathe just fine :-). This scared me at first, but it worked really well.

I really hope this helps you and that you are able to breastfeed. I truly belief if you stick with it, it'll work out. Best of luck! If you have questions, feel free to email me.

S.,
The biggest thing to remember when breastfeeding is not to stress out. It is hard not to but it is important that you are relaxed for your body to not hold back. Stress is very harmful in many ways. If you are set on breastfeeding the baby continue trying (I know it is hard if the baby is refusing the breast) every feeding and suppliment with formula only after you offer the breast. I would also recomend the suppliments that other people have posted about. They may help relax you as well and allow your body to produce the milk. The first three months of breastfeeding are the hardest. It took me two months to get breastfeedig down with my daughter. If you are determined then keep at it. But if you can't take the frustration anymore please dont feel bad for switching to formula. As mothers we do the best we can for our kids and try to balance all that with keeping our sanity. Relax, take a warm bath with your newborn daughter and dont beat yourself up about the feeding issue. Congratulations on the birth of your baby S.. Try to enjoy every minute.

Hi S.,

Briefly, you need to do the following to increase your milk production and to get your little baby to get to love nursing:

-Get a VERY GOOD breast pump, a hospital grade one if you don't have one already, rent one and pump as often as you can (few times for 10 or more minutes on each breast) AFTER you have put your baby to the breast.

-when you need to feed her use a dropper or a spoon to avoid using a bottle because she will get use to the bottle (as it s easier for her)and won't consider nursing

-Your baby needs to be at the breast as often as needed but do not push it to hard on her as she might get so frustrated that she will refuse the breast completely.

-put her on the breast when she is not starving but when she could be a little hungry or needs comfort to go to sleep. The idea is to get her to learn to nurse and to help you get let down.

-Drink mother's milk tea few times a day or use the herbal aid More Milk Plus by mother's love which you can find in a health store Wild oats or sprouts...

-Get some rest, eat well, take your prenatal vitamins and try to get one or two naps a day and try not to stress about your milk too much. It helps.

-get a help of a good lactation consultant at home if you can. she would spend few hours with you and would help you.

-DO NOT GIVE UP, NURSING YOUR BABY IS THE BEST THING and I think you are already DOING A GREAT JOB!!! Call me if you need to talk about this ###-###-####.

GOOD LUCK

S.,
Please contact your local hospital and ask to speak to a lactation consultant. It sounds like you are a perfect candidate for something called an "SNS" which is a supplemental feeding device. Here is a description:

Medela's Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) is a feeding tube device. Because it keeps the baby on the breast, the SNS avoids problems with sustaining the milk supply, and problems with nipple confusion for the baby.

The SNS was originally designed to help adoptive mothers to breastfeed. When a baby sucks on the mother's breast for a period of days or weeks, a hormonal mechanism is triggered that causes milk to be produced. This is known as induced lactation.

The SNS works by a bottle hung around the mother's neck. Two tubes are taped to her breasts so that the ends reach her nipples. The tubes are very small and soft and unnoticed by the baby. When the baby takes the nipple and areola into his or her mouth, he/she also takes the tube. Breastfeeding proceeds normally, maintaining the stimulation to maintain lactation and the intimacy between mother and baby, as well as providing baby with important supplement from the SNS.

In the meantime, you can supplement your own diet with fenugreek and fennel herbs to help increase milk supply. Ask your local La Leche League leader http://www.lalecheleague.com/ or do an online search for "increasing milk supply with herbs."

Here is a wonderful site with helpful tips as well: http://breastfeeding.com/

Best of luck!!

You can continue on nursing your baby exclusively breastfeeding by using healthy nursing tea by secrets of tea. This organic tea boosted my low flow successfully.

Hi S.!

I just feel for ya! I was in that same position. I went and talked with my daughter's pediatrician, and they had a laction specialist there who helped me through it. Our problem was that she didn't like to be held the "normal" way when I fed her. Instead she liked the football hold. She also showed me how to help her latch on. but I thought my milk was gone also, because when I pumped there wasn't much, but my pump just was terrible! Go talk with your pediatrician, or since maybe it's sunday and you can't look online at the different holds you can do with your daughter to feed her!!
Good Luck!!
C.

S., I am so sorry that you are having trouble. just being a new mom is hard enough. you need support because you can do this. I am not sure how far you are from Gilbert but on Gilbert rd and southern (South East Corner) next to the Audio Express is a GREAT mother nursing store. It is called Baby, mother & More. The BEST breastfeeding store in town. Chuck is the owner and Mary is the lactation consultant. Their number is 480-890-19870. All the help that you need is FREE!. Mary is available 24/7. here is her number. ###-###-####. Call her and she will help you. it is free. I love them them both. They helped me with all of my issues after my son was born. He is 9weeks old and I was in on saturday to get a nursing bra and tank to add to my collection. good luck and god bless J.

Sheila,

I am a Doula that would love to give you some numbers. Please email me at ____@____.com.

Drink as much water as possible- and keep pumping every time you feed her from both sides- the more you feed her from the breast- the more milk will come in- She gets way more milk from you then you will pump- keep having her latch on and drink- I know its frustrating but you can get your milk back- water and nurse! Good luck- you can also call a leche league person if you need more assistance-

look at this website http://www.selfexpressions.com/supnursys.html
I know many mothers that use this suplimental nursing system, from medela. This way the baby is eating while nursing at your breast causing the hormone for your body to produce milk. You may be able to find one locally, not sure where you live, but you could ask your local la leche league. And as the other mothers have said, don't be upset, that will not help your production. good luck, and congratulations.

S. - sweetheart - bless your heart. I was in your place when my first miracle was born. Almost no support, anxiety at every feeding time because he wouldn't latch on correctly and I was in constant pain, plus I was dealing with PPD and other emotional issues. After two weeks of struggling to hang in there, my stepmom came to see me and gently explained to me that it wasn't the end of the world to put my baby on formula. He's getting nourished either way, and it was just causing both of us frustration and emotional strain to continue trying to push through. I am IN NO WAY saying that breastfeeding is not the best option for you and Grace...when it works. When it doesn't, and you're exhausted and drained, your milk supply is dwindling and your daughter is stressed out, neither you or she are getting the benefits of nursing anyway. Many moms will beg to differ, but they weren't all alone with my colicky son for 14 hours a day in my tiny apartment with no money, transportation, support - and no way to get out. I'm not assuming you're in the exact position or even that you shouldn't try to stick it out a little longer. But I also think if you (and Grace's daddy?) weigh your options unemotionally and decide a bottle is better for your baby in your situation, you have nothing to be panicked or ashamed over. Have confidence that you made a sound decision in the best interest of your family and toss any guilt (from you or anyone else) out the window.

And, hey, if you need someone to provide support, I'd be happy to get your email. :) All the best to you and little Grace.

~ R.
____@____.com

If you had Grace at a hospital here, you can call the hospital and ask if they have a lactation consultant you can talk to. Most times it's free, and even talking to them on the phone will help.

Don't give up just yet, even though you may not be getting milk when you pump, your daughter is still getting some. Do you have a good double pump, or can you rent a hospital grade one? Make sure you are drinking a lot of water, and eating correctly, that will help. As someone else here already wrote, try to relax and not get stressed about it, as your sweet baby can pick up on that. Good luck, you have lots of momma's here cheering you on :)

Congratulations on your baby and welcome to Arizona! The most important thing is that you eat healthy foods and all your fruits and vegetables to make sure you produce the best milk possible. If that doesn't work either, you should call your lactation specialist and I believe they have a 1-800 number but I can't remember it anymore since it's been a while.