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NOatly . That’s all I have to say.
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I’d highly recommend working with a lactation consultant, especially because I think it is covered by insurance. Curious why you are pumping already? Unless there was some medical advice to do so, I’d just work on latching and nursing baby and that’s the best way to signal your body to produce milk. Also it takes several days for milk to come in. Let baby nurse frequently and make sure you eat well and drink a lot of fluids. You’re learning, mama, you’re doing great!
Chief
Yes, that was me! Two pieces of advice:
1) get a good lactation consultant who you trust and have a good rapport with (some of them are looney!)
2) Do not feel guilty in the slightest about supplementing with formula. It can actually help save a breastfeeding relationship by depressurizing the situation and does not impact your long-term breastfeeding relationship if done well.
I was so stressed and sleepless about breastfeeding the first few days and my baby was clearly so hungry and my husband was anxious... we were all MISERABLE.
God bless the lactation consultant who came to our house and talked me off a ledge and coached us through supplementing with formula while my milk came in.
Using formula was singlehandedly the most important thing I did for my mental health and my baby’s happiness during those first few weeks. We ended up having a totally fine breastfeeding relationship in the long term that didn’t require formula (never loved breastfeeding, but that’s a different story :-))
I pumped for two months straight. I power pumped. I ate the damn cookies. And the most I ever got in a day was a quarter of an ounce. Let that sink in. Baby boy had 100% formula. I’m here to say that I have a healthy thriving 7 year old who is never sick and reads ahead of his grade level. Maybe he won’t go to Harvard like the breast milk warriors claim but I think he’ll be ok. ;) More importantly, you will be okay and so will your darling baby. Good luck!
Freaking warrior!
Conversation Starter
It’s gonna take some time sweetie but just keep breastfeeding and your baby will learn how to latch and practice milk expression. Milk in the beginning is not going to be abundant, you’ll more have colostrum. Even tiny drops of that magus liquid is beneficial to your baby, so keep giving it to him/her. Also, a boppy is helping me a lot!
Pro
This was me last week. I just about lost my mind. We didn’t have a diaper change in over 16 hours after coming home from the hospital. I cried so much when the pediatrician hotline said to use formula to avoid dehydration. (My hormones are still making me cry about it now.) It was the right thing for my baby. We did formula as a supplement for three days and then my milk came in and we are back to exclusively breastfeeding. He’s totally healthy and fine. He may not have been without it. Do not judge yourself. You are doing your best and that is enough. I was amazed they didn’t warn me about this at the hospital. I did have a lactation consultant come over and she was amazing. Good luck! You are doing great!
No advice more than what the ladies here have already said but I just wanted to chime in and say that this chain is so positive and so supportive! Breast-feeding is tough and I don’t think we realize how difficult it is until we are in that situation. so much love to all you women out there who are acting as such a critical support system for each other ❤️
For both of mine, I had a very hard time in hospital, but as soon as I went home it was all fine. It just took a couple of days for it to come in and for baby to figure it out. Delivered in 2 different hospitals- the first one was great and explained it would be ok, the second wanted me to supplement ASAP and made me feel like I was doing something wrong and starving my baby. Thank goodness I knew better, or I would have given up. Keep at it with skin to skin contact, offering breast, trying different positions... it’s not as easy for either of you as some may lead you to think. If you’re unsure of anything call your pediatrician or get a lactation specialist to help you. Just watch for signs of dehydration from baby
Conversation Starter
That was me! Hugs, and a few things wish someone had told me:
-agree with above comments - get a good lactation consultant to visit you at home.
-Try hand expressing using small syringes- much more effective during the initial days and you’ll get a few mls - not a lot, I would barely get 1 ml of colostrum at first but still it will help and even that amount is still good for your baby’s immune system. It’s easy when you get used to it. It’s normal to not have anything with the pump.
-Keep pumping to stimulate your body. My baby was latching perfectly but wasn’t sucking as powerful as needed for my milk to kick in. Pumping helped stimulate breasts though nothing was coming out at first. It doesn’t mean your baby isn’t getting anything. The way the pump works is a bit different than how your baby draws milk so don’t feel bad when you pump and there’s nothing.
-motilium (needs prescription), fenugreek, lactation tea/cookies, non-alcohol beer, oats all help increase supply
-if you need to supplement with formula, get bottles that have a very slow flow, nipple shape that help smooth transition between breast and bottle. Otherwise baby will get used to the bottle and start rejecting the breast. My baby was crying at the sight of my breast and wanted the bottle only, which made me very depressed. We then found Pigeon wide neck newborn bottles, it made a huge difference. I wish someone had told this before.
-Take care of yourself! If you need to use formula don’t feel bad. It’s ok and very common. Fed is best and you can increase your milk supply over the coming days/weeks Your hormones might make you feel depressed so take care of yourself.
-make sure you take care of your nipples. Use lansiloh or earth mama angel.
Pro
We supplemented with formula until my milk came in around day 5. I tried pumping but never got colostrum (which to be fair doesn’t mean I wasn’t making any, just that I couldn’t pump it out) and nursing was extremely difficult because it was just so painful. I did find a lactation consultant that was very helpful and it was worth every dollar for someone to come to my home and help show me what a proper latch is supposed to look and feel like (surprise surprise, it does hurt like a m***). Took about a month for things to settle down but I continued to nurse until 16 months so it worked! Be patient, it’s easy to be hard on yourself because people make it look like it took no effort...it was a lot of work for me but I really started enjoying that bond after a couple months. Also have nipple creams handy, I loved earth baby mama brand.
By the way - no shame at all if you did want to shift to formula, breastfeeding is not the best choice for everyone. Fed is best!
My milk didn’t come in for 5 days with my first and 7 days with my second. Baby’s stomach is SO tiny, even drops will be enough to fill them for now. Just keep breastfeeding and offering - it’s tiring for you but will help things come together. And definitely get some support. It feels like it should be this natural, automatic thing but it isn’t always that way, but you are doing great!
Conversation Starter
No but girl, formula is the best!!!
Me too!!! I was so upset about supplementing with formula, but that was the best thing for my baby. Eventually after 3.5 weeks I was able to exclusively breastfeed!!
How are you doing OP? We’re all cheering you on here! ❤️
Conversation Starter
colostrum come in even after three days?
Me too. Took 5 days but eventually it came.
Yep. My milk came in about 7 days. Longest week of my life. There is no shame in supplementing with formula as needed, just keep up feed+supplement+pump as often as you can stand it and it’ll happen. Hang in there!
Hang in there, takes a week
Conversation Starter
Thank you everyone! Much appreciate all the encouragement!
Two weeks in, a pumping session produces 15-20 ml from both boobs. I pump 3-4 times a day and it hurts like a MF. My little boy eats 90 ml every 2-3 hours. Idk how to get there.
Also can’t latch and my lactation consultant couldn’t do a deep bite either. Was told that my boobs are too firm to squeeze more breast tissues into my baby’s small mouth. Still very frustrated.
You’re doing great 🤗
OP you’re doing great!! Took me 3.5 weeks to get the supply my baby needed.. I consumed the following to aid in lactation:
Mother’s milk tea
Oatmeal lactation cookies by munchkin
Goats rue - herbal supplement
Shatavari - indian herbal supplement
Fenugreek powder - took a teaspoon with warm milk. The powder is bitter in taste. Again in India it’s widely consumed to help with milk supply
Everything is readily available at Whole Foods and amazon :)
Let me know if you have any questions. Everything is very safe to consume for breastfeeding mothers.
Good luck! Cheering for you!!