Aw Ren, I am so happy that you and Ava are doing so much better. What a relief! I hope things continue to improve heaps, and these troubled first couple of weeks will be a distant memory!
Ren, I am so glad to hear how things are going, and that it's all improving! I hope you enjoy your ABA coffee morning It's great spending time with other BFing mums.
Just a thought, it may not apply to you guys at all. I would have a chat with your LC about allergies/intolerances in regards to Ava. Given the combo of silent reflux and low weight gain, it might be something to consider. If your LC isn't sure there are other people who can help you out. HTHs
Ren, silent reflux is so hard to deal with and just exhausting. Our dd3 had it and it was nightmarish - I gave up breastfeeding before I realised what it was, unfortunately.
I'm sure you've been given lots of great advice already, but these are things that really helped my dd get comfortable:
- Raising the head of her bed a few inches so that she wasn't ever lying flat.
- A dummy - sometimes babies will self medicating by just wanting to feed constantly because the milk is soothing, but then of course their tummies are over-full and the reflux gets worse! Sometimes a dummy would alleviate that sucking need without overfilling the little tummy.
- Thickeners - you can give a little of these prior to a breastfeed and it will help stop regurgitation.
Some people also believe that reflux is a symptom of allergies. There may be some high allergy things you could try eliminating from your diet, such as milk, eggs, chocolate or the like, and see if that makes a difference.
Ren I am so glad you have some answers and direction now! Ava is just gorgeous . I hope the silent reflux is gone in a few weeks. You are a great Mum (and DH is such a proud daddy!). Don't feel bad at all about the top up formula feed, you are doing what you need to do!
I just wanted to say what a great job you are doing! The early weeks after having a baby are hard enough without having to go through all the issues you have.
My story about attachment and supply issues was so similar to yours but I had to put my ds on formula early on due to increasing risks of pnd and my inability to cope with the situation. My ds was such a lazy feeder, he would attach and then not suck, suprised many a midwife in the hospital! When I read your story it gives me hope that I will be able to bf with my next baby. I am interested in baby led attachment as we were doing the right attachment thing in the hospital which didn't work for us and may have led to me not being able to cope.
My ds is coming up to 12 weeks now which has come soo quickly so please enjoy the beautiful moments with ava as they grow up so quickly and you dont get that time back. My ds is alot more settled now then in the early days so it does get better!
So just wanted to say thank you for giving me hope!
Isabel - glad I've given you hope for your next baby with BF! It sure is hard work isnt it, on top of just looking after a newborn... having to express, worry about how much they are getting, etc its stressful.
Here's our update -
LC came over today and watched me attach. I had forgotten the 'chin to breast' part and she wasn't at the correct angle so that was what was causing the pain even though i'm sure i was doing it right!! It was only something slight but that was enough to be hurting my nipple. Showed her my right nipple and she said to not BF with it for a few days and only express from it. So i'm only feeding from L side and expressing R side after feeds and feeding her EBM top ups and if she is still hungry after that (i have to express 100ml each time!) then formula top ups too.
I'm disappointed to find my milk supply has dropped. This is due to Ava's inability to suck/feed effectively each time. She's lazy at the breast but mainly because she is too tired (or too hungry) to feed well and hence this affects my milk supply.... its a bit of a vicious cycle we've been in
DD is still hanging around her birth weight.... still not really gaining much.
Anyway, still persisting through..... I'm not yet what you'd call a "Breastfeeding success story" but I am DETERMINED to be one.
Oh, and LC believes the Paediatrician has diagnosed Silent Reflux incorrectly and that she is just hungry when she screams and not a reflux baby. So thats very confusing!! Although I believe more what my LC says then the Paed as I don't think he was very good. Seeing him tomorrow anyway and getting prescription off him for Maxalon to increase milk supply.
Hope to get Ava off the "Losec" tablets soon as LC doesn't believe she even needs them.... how confusing!!! To think she's been on drugs and didn't need them
Ooooh Ren, I would seriously look into getting Motilium over Maxalon. Maxalon is not used that much these days as a galactologue, Motilium is much more common as it has less side effects in long term use.
I know it's very confusing, and hard to know who to listen to. I'm still working through that now!!!! YOU are with your baby all day, YOU know what she responds to best. You choose who you think is the most knowledgeable, and who most supportive of you and Ava continuing BFing. Given that you're on the Losec I don't personally think it would hurt to leave her on it for a bit, as she's has such a good repsonse, while you sort out your BFing issues and get her gaining some more weight.
How would you feel about seeing someone like a naturopath/osteo/chiro? It could really help with the reflux situation, which might make the BFing thing easier over time.
Did you manage to get to your ABA meeting, and grab the booklet?
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It's great spending time with other BFing mums.
. I hope the silent reflux is gone in a few weeks. You are a great Mum (and DH is such a proud daddy!). Don't feel bad at all about the top up formula feed, you are doing what you need to do!
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