Can anyone help me or can you recommend a LC in South Eastern Melb suburbs?

[arielle]

I have posted this in the professional support panel, but thought I'd re-post it here to in the hope of getting some more useful suggestions.
It's a bit long, I'm sorry, but there's a LOT to explain for someone to get the full picture.
Here we go:

Hi Barb

My little fella is almost 6wks old, and we have been having trouble feeding since around 1 or 2wks old. My flow seems to be too fast and forceful for bub a lot of the time, and he doesn't cope with it, pulling off the boob, screaming, and/or coughing and spluttering. To cope with the flow (I assume) his attachment is very shallow. When the flow isn't too fast his attachment is still too shallow, and I can't seem to improve it, and this seems to result in inefficient feeding, where he either gets upset that he isn't getting it quickly enough, or because he is sucking in air as he feeds. If I try to improve the attachment, it may sometimes help a little, but then he will often revert back to a shallow latch again, and then crack it before long! If I keep trying to detach him and then re-attach him to get a better latch, he gets extremely cranky (v.short tether), and gives up after around the 3rd or 4th try.

Things seemed to be on the improve in this last week or so, and I thought we were almost at that magical 6wk mark that people talk about, when things start to settle (supply and demand even out, flow settles, and bub starts to get the hang of it), but the last couple of days have proven otherwise, and I am really not sure what to do now. I am now having issues with him refusing to feed from my left side (my slower side) for more than 30secs or so, just about all of the time (don't know what it is - his attachment is just pitiful on this side, no matter what I do), and then this results in me being way too full on this side, and then him complaining about it being too fast.

I should mention that DS is putting on weight beautifully, and has plenty of wet and pooey nappies, but our problem is that just about every feed involves a lot of frustrated and distressed screaming (from baby, not me, LOL, however, I sure feel like it, at times!), especially our 4/5am feed. It breaks my heart as I want feeding time to be a bonding, warm and snuggly time for him, the poor little thing! I want that for me too, ofcourse! It's also frustrating as we end up doing a lot of small patchy feeds here and there, and so I feel like I am trying to feed and re-settle a good part of the day. Aaaagh!

I have tried so many different things:
-feeding him with his mouth above plain of nipple so that he's sucking against gravity
-feeding lying down, in football hold, koala hold, across chest (with bum down in lap), etc...
-expressing a little before feed (hard to do when juggling a hungry baby and a demanding 3yr old)
-settling him when he loses the plot with the forceful let down, and letting milk gush out until it stops, then re-attaching
-feeding from one side two feeds in a row, before switching to other side, as this would supposedly give boobs the message that not so much is needed, and reduce supply a little.
- I have also got despearte and expressed and tried feeding the EBM from a bottle, which also results in screaming (tried 5 different teats)
-and much more!!!

Sometimes the various techniques /positions work, and then the next time they don't! Oh so frustrating!!! I am pretty sure that each feed I am dealing with different issues, i.e. too fast let down in morning, or when boob is too full as last feed was not a good one, and then slower flow later in day, which just doesn't work with a shallow attachment. There are also some times I just can't figure out what the hell is going on, especially now that I feel that supply and demand are starting to even out.

He is also a bit of a spewey baby (3-4 spews post feed, and we often need a couple of costume changes per day), and I have wondered if perhaps he has reflux happening during a feed and this is making him pull of and scream too? I just don't know, and am probably clutching at straws??

I really don't know where to go from here! I am a little exasperated. Can you suggest anything, or are we really looking like we're LC candidates??
Is there anything else a LC can recommend do you think?? I feel like I have tried everything!!! As our issues are different every feed, I also feel like it would take a LC to spend all day with us for all of our probs to be addressed. I don't think they do this do they? I don't think I could afford it, even if they did!!!

Any help you can offer I'd greatly appreciate it! I am very grateful for your time.

Kind regards,
Arielle

P.s. we live in outer south eastern suburbs of melbourne. Anyone know of a really good LC who works this way?

[~me~]

Have you tried ringing the ABA 1800 686 268? They may be able to give advice and they may know of a lactation consultant out your way.
Most maternity hospitals have them, so you could try and ring where you gave birth and see if you can get in.
Hope it all settles soon.

[Khaleesi]

I know of a great LC in Berwick, will be happy to give you her name if it's not too far

[buliej]

We live Bayside and had Margaret Callaghan 0418854498 visit us at home - expensive but worth it - I don't remember exactly how long she spent with us but 2 1/2 - 3 hours sounds about right - also, how it worked is that I called her in the morning of the day we agreed on as that was the only way I could guesstimate the next few feeds - my baby was sleeping when she arrived but she used the time well to get a full picture and she won't leave until she sits through a feed and then works on the particular issues. I believe Sandringham hospital also has a day B/F'ing program that you can go to and other hospitals may also - I have no idea how you book in for this though.

[arielle]

Thanks ladies!
I am Bayside too, so Margaret could be a good option thanks buliej. Would you mind giving me an idea (pm if you'd prefer) about what the fees are like?

If you don't mind, cheshire, I'd love to grab the details of the lady out your way too. I would like to get the names of a few, have a chat, and go from there.

Heather - I have been on the phone to the ABA a couple of times now, who've suggested a few different helpful hints (which, again, work some times, and not others), and I am now also an ABA member, and going to fortnightly meetups. The last time I spoke on phone to ABA, they suggested I look into a lactaction consultant. I was about to, and then things started to improve a little. We've just seemed to go backwards again now.

I have also spoken to my MCHN about it, a friend who's a MCHN, and been to 2 different bf drop-in centres. I have had so much helpful advice, and am so grateful that these sorts of services are available to us!! Like I said, the advice I've been getting has helped some times and not others. I feel like I'm trying to work out how to put together a particularly difficult puzzle, trying to work out our problems. I dearly hope it'll sort itself out with time, but it's not feeling like it right now.

Thanks again for your suggestions. I will keep plodding along, and hopefully get there before long.

Anyone else been through something similar?

[buliej]

I want to say it was between $300-400 - but can't remember where in that range. The nice thing is that I have had questions since her visit and have called her - and she is happy to discuss and help (without additional charge). If you google her name, you will find lots of positive experiences.

[Manhattan]

For cheaper, but just as good alternatives, from memory the ABA has a drop in Centre in Dandenong, and also, the City of Kingston runs a Breastfeeding Drop in on Wednesdays in Parkdale. And they also have several LCs that do house calls. Oh and also, the Sandringham Hospital runs a Breasfeeding Day clinic, I spent 2 days there!

You are doing a great job hun, it is mighty hard work establishing breastfeeding. My experience was similar. DD seemed to have a love/hate realtionship with the breast. She really wanted it, but constantly pulling on/off, refusing to take it, refusing milk from a cup, spoon and bottle. In the end we worked out that she had silent reflux, and by about 12 weeks, we had perfected breastfeeding, and went on to feed for 14 months. Hang in there hun, you're doing great

[Kmn]

If you have private health insurance, there is an excellent breastfeeding day stay (come in at 9, stay for at least 2 feeds, go home around 4 from memory) run by the LC's at Jessie Mac in Clayton. I'm sure its available without the insurance too, but it may be expensive.