Looks like its going to be a long hard road

[courts&munchkins]

So on Friday I had a lactation consultant come out and see us as dd's feeding was becoming more and more painful not to mention the fact that she was becoming more and more unsettled, and the horrible sucking/clicking noise she makes was getting worse. I was so confused because I knew she doesn't have tongue tie and her attachment looked right it just didn't sound or feel right. Anyway the LC said it's definately not me, I am doing everything right, it's entirely her. Apparently her face is crooked (lol sounds weird I know) Sometimes apparently what happens is when they are engaged in the pelvis for a long time before birth their face can morph to be not quite straight which means she can't get a proper vaccum when feeding which is causing her to not suck properly (disorganised suck LC called it) and is causing the horrible pinching feeling I feel when she is feeding. Her suck is also causing her feeding patterns because she has to work twice as hard so she is exhausted quicker and that's why she keeps waking up 20 mins later still hungry. And what I thought was my fast flow causing all her choking is actually because she doesn't have a proper suck/swallow pattern.

Unfortunately she said it's not something that is easily fixed. We are seeing a kinesiologist on Tuesday who is apparently great at this kind of problem, apparently he helps to train certain muscles to strengthen to help her be able to suck better. She says she doesn't truly understand how he works but he produces results so I am banking on that. But other than that it's going to be tough. She said that they can sometimes produce better results feeding ebm out of a bottle because that way you can physically push the cheeks to be able to create a better vacuum but whilst she's still thriving she wants me to try to see if with the kinesiolgists help, get her feeding at the breast better because full time expressing with 2 other toddlers would be really hard work. She has the same problem with a bottle as well (the horrible clicking sound)so that wouldn't be an easy fix either. Not to mention the fact that she completely rejects the bottle as I found out last night when I tried to give her some infant gaviscon in some ebm last night. The lc said the biggest problem I will have is maintaining a healthy supply whilst she's feeding so ineffectively.

I just hope I can find the strength to put up with the 30min/hrly feedings daily and the 90min/2hrly noghtly plus a 3yo an 18 month old and the battle to keep my supply up. And whatever we have to do to try and get her sucking better. Hopefully at the end I'll be able to say we got through it and in the end enjoyed our breastfeeding journey, hopefully eventually one without pain. Right now I am just exhausted... so I hope it gets better. Fingers crossed the kinesiologist can help us.

[Shanti]

Firstly, huge you are doing it tough right now.

I can relate to parts of your post. My BF journey with DD at the start was SO difficult. DD seemed to have the inability to coordinate her suck/swallow/breathe rhythm also and had a weak suck. I put this down to perhaps her being posterior baby and it being a bit traumatic for her (long pushing stage and being posterior etc)..... that's my theory anyway. We also had attachment/positioning issues for weeks which didn't help. My milk supply went down, went up, went down, went up etc for weeks in the beginning. I found having a really reliable pump (Medela Swing - Electric pump) was my best friend at the time, I also took Fenugreek tablets (health food store) which made me smell like curry but I didn't care it worked!! And I had to take motilium drugs (prescribed by GP) for some weeks to help my milk supply. It was tough, BUT with persistence, a WONDERFUL LC doing home visits for quite a few weeks, and vistiing my local MCHN regularly, we got through this. It took sheer determination and persistence but we did it. DD also needed top ups from 3wks of age with EBM/formula (usually EBM but sometimes formula as i found it hard to keep up with her demands for milk vs my supply ) and 3hrly pumping around the clock for weeks. We finally established BF after 4mths. I hope it doesn't take you this long but if it does, know that you aren't alone!

In relation to her not wanting the bottle, have you tried a different teat/brand? My LC at the time recommended I try the Pigeon Peristaltic teats with the bottles and DD took to them like a duck to water. Of course I then worried constantly about her wanting to prefer the bottle over boob but thankfully with persistence and ensuring I BF her first every feed time, before the bottle was given, this helped us avoid this problem. And we had no choice, she was starving and needed it!! (had weight losses)
So try a different teat/brand perhaps and see how you go..... also you can feed your DD via a small cup or Medela website you can check out different feeding things you can buy for bubs without having to go down that bottle path.....

It was tiring and I only had me and DD to care for, so I can only imagine what you're going through.

Good on you for seeking help early and seeing an LC. It sounds like you have a good supportive LC there. I hope the Kinesiology helps you too. I believe in that also. It's helped me and DD at one stage too.

So have you got a good pump? Is your partner supportive and helpful when he is home? all these things make a HUGE difference.

Remember you can call the 1800 mum 2 mum helpline and talk to an Australian Breastfeeding Counsellor at any time too for support, information and guidance.

I hope I've helped somewhat. I'll be watching your thread and following your journey. You CAN do this. And it feels awesome when you come out the other side of it.... trust me.

[RainbowBrite]

I just wanted to give you
And to say well done on persisting.
I have everything crossed that the kinesiologist can help.