Hello Ren,
I just want to let you know I think you are doing a great job persisting through all these dramas! You are def encouraging others to keep going. I wish I had tried harder, next time I will. I seem to have had some similar problems as you in the early days and I kept trying to pump and feed but ended up exclusively pumping (still going at 6 months) I did call an LC but she was busy at the time and didn't call back so it put me off. It sounds like you really have a FANTASTIC one! Hang on to her.
You are doing such a great job for your little Ava. Well Done!!!
Hmmmmm. It's such a hard balancing act. I would definitely agree that you don't want to run yourself into the ground. That's why it's so important not to worry about anything else, just you, Ava, and breastfeeding. (it doesn't last forever, I promise!).
Fenugreek can be helpful, you need to take 3000mg/day, so make sure you buy the 100mg capsules.
Look, pumping is useful, but it's better if Ava can simply have more feeds at the breast. Is she up to that? If so, then I would just offer it to her when you would normally pump. After a few days, or a week, she will be getting the hang of it, and your supply should be increased.
Maxalon, you might need to give it a while yet. Did your LC talk about dosages? Make sure that she's happy with the amount you're taking, GPs aren't that great at prescribing galactalogues.
I have to go, crying boy, will come back tomorrow! You're doing SO SO well
Janie - I've only got 6 tablets left of Maxolon.... should I only take two today then instead of 3? I'm going to stay off them unless i feel my milk drops again and then i'll go onto Motillium. Thanku for your ongoing support in this thread you have been AMAZING
I went to the health food store yesterday and got Fenugreek tablets!! I woke this morning with full breasts!!! Leaking too.... ... does Fenugreek work that quickly??? mind you, DD didn't feed from 9pm til 4am (she slept through!!! she didnt sleep at all yesterday tho so i let her sleep) and she fed well from me on my right side for 20mins at 4am today. I offered the left but she still has trouble attaching on the L side and fusses. (still a big issue to work on)
I expressed alot yesterday and made sure i expressed every 2-4hrs and no more. This would have helped too.....
Today again, I'm staying home and working hard on expressing and feeding, expressing and feeding and establishing my supply so that within a few days I can exclusivebly B/Feed and no more formula.....!!
I'm slowly getting ahead of DD with the supply of EBM i have in the fridge and hopefully soon I can express enough to freeze.
I'm getting DD weighed with the LC today; will let you know how she goes. I have my ups and downs every day with the whole BF'ing thing but this morning I'm feeling confident again! I'm no way near ready to give up..... this breastmilk is too precious to me.
HJ - Fenugreek assists with milk production. I will have a look on the net for you. See what I can find.
Lady at health food store also said to try healthy fats in producing more milk so like Avocado, flaxseed oil, omega 3's etc.... good fats. I bought some flaxseed oil and an avocado after she told me that
Ren, yes I would take two Maxalon tablets today, maybe two tomorrow, and then one and one IYKWIM. Starting the fenugreek will help counteract any drop you may have noticed stopping the Maxalon. Although it sounds as though you are doing a fabulous job all on your own!!!! Just a note, some people find that fenugreek makes their babies very windy. So if you notice a change in Ava's behaviour that might be it. I took it for months, and I don't think it bothered my DS unduly, but some people have to stop taking it because it is so unsettling for their babies.
You sound as though you're doing a fantastic job, you are so dedicated Your hard work will pay off (in fact it already is, look at all that BM that Ava is getting!), and you will be so pleased and proud of yourself. Hey, can I ask how many feeds Ava is having now?
Good luck today with the LC, I hope you hear what you're hoping for Please update us when you get home!
Am I going to start smelling like maple syrup now?!?! (that's what I read about it)
I'm already sweet enough hehe
Janie - I am offering the breast at 'most' feeds, not all. Depends, if I've just expressed and she wakes unexpectedly for a feed then I will give a bottle of EBM or formula (if no EBM). Hoping to stop formula as of today or at least just offer 1 bottle of formula only.
I offer the R breast first because she feeds well off this one. My L one, well, we are working on that..... I still only offer 20mins on R side at a time otherwise DD gets lazy and comfort sucks.
DD feeds 2-4hrly. Mainly every 3hrs.
Ren, just wanted to pop in here and say I think you are doing a marvellous job! Janie and the girls have given fantastic advice.
Keep up the great effort you are putting in. I know from my experience, there were times when it all seemed so fruitless and I was ready to chuck it in, but I stuck with it and we are now here back to fully breastfeeding, no top ups needed.
You sound like you will get back to exclusive b/f very very soon, more quickly than I did because you're on top of the game early on.
With the expressing, if it is stressing you out too much, have a break from it. I was really bad at expressing and it wasn't doing much for my supply and as soon as I stopped things improved! The Fenugreek is great for your supply and let down. I take 2 capsules 3 times a day. I agree with Janie on the Motillium so get that if you feel you need more.
As soon as Ava starts comfort sucking take her off and switch sides. If she starts to comfort suck again, take her off and switch sides again. Don't let her slack off It will encourage her to suck strongly at feeds which means she will be drawing more milk from you which in turn will boost your supply.
Hope it all goes well with the LC. Keep us updated!
WOW!! I'm so impressed with my right boob!!! I expressed from it and got 70ml in just 8mins!!! I think the Fenugreek is helping!!
I just went to GP and got my script for Motillium which i start today too. I asked for that one instead of the Maxalon. Hope it works the same for me!!!
Another week and I should be off it and my supply established
Sara - thank you! so are you! I'm going to try footy hold today wish me luck! Kmn - thank you for that link! that's so great, i printed the article out!! Jennifer - thanku for the description of how to do it, it makes sense. I'll try it today.
My R nipple is still sore when she attaches but not half as bad.... when will the pain go completely???? It's healed well.... just still sore and tender but not EXCRUCIATING anymore.
I tried to send you a PM yesterday recommending paediatric chiropractors, but when I went to send it I got the database error . I saved my message and was going to try again today, but it looks like I don't need to! I highly recommend giving it a go, her neck may be out which is causing the feeding problems from one side.
Feeling frustrated.....
Ava won't stay on my Left nipple for long!! It's really frustrating me... it's my flat nipple side. Now and then she feeds 'ok' off it but other times she fusses and pulls on and off and screams and gets upset with me. This is in the cradle position, so yesterday I tried the football hold and it didn't work well for me, so then i lay her down and fed her lying down on L side and she seemed to not pull on and off as much lying down and fed a bit longer on L side.... no idea what is wrong? There is definitely plenty of milk there and I always hand express a little bit out first to get her interested and to encourage the let down..... could the let down be happening too fast or too slow? I never feel my let downs.
She feeds great off the R side but my L side has always been difficult. I've booked her in to see a Paed Chiro next week so hoping that may help? I'm finding this VERY frustrating because if she won't feed properly I then need to keep offering top ups of EBM and the whole idea of this is getting very tiring to me.... I want to stop doing this soon and exclusively BF.
Someone please tell me I will be able to exclusively BF one of these days..... grrrr!! I've been trying so very hard..... why isn't it easier??? I need a break!
I'm so terribly envious of people who don't have trouble BF'ing their babies.
Also, my R nipple is starting to hurt again and I'm attaching "beautifully" says the LC.
She also thinks my L nipple is all in my head and that DD seems to feed well off it, but when I get home i have these problems. She says my nipple being flat shouldnt affect the way she feeds but I definitely think it does....
If she is able to feed off that side in another position I would suspect it's not your nipple but a positioning issue... you could try taking her to an osteo or chiro to see if an adjustment helps her attach on that side.
Ren - it's quite nasty that she says it is all in your head. Trust yourself, I think you know your body and how it is going and how feeding is going better than her. I hope you are exclusively BF'ing soon. If laying down on the LHS works, can you do that for a while and see if Ava gets better with the left? Hang in there hun .
Ren, I really feel for you, I know just how hard things are for you ATM, it really sucks. I too was jealous, for a long time, of mothers who could breastfeed easily. Hell, I was jealous of those who could just breastfeed exclusively, easily or not! I can say with ease now that I am only happy for those who breastfeed their babies without dramas, there is no jealousy involved. It took me sometime to get here, but I did, and you will too. One day, when your own troubles are far behind you (and they will be!).
It is such a hard road for some. You are definitely having a difficult time, much more so than most. But try to remember......even mums (and bubs) who don't have too many troubles can take 6 weeks or so to get into the swing of BFing. Ava is not quite yet 6 weeks old, and yes, it's going to take you guys a bit longer than most. But it really is still early days, although it probably doesn't feel like it to you. One day she will be running around, and the first two or three months of her life will feel like a blip on the radar. I know I put in such long and hard hours in feeding my DS, breast, bottle, expressing, sterlising etc etc etc. It was such hard work and it felt never ending. You know, I finally sent the pump back at 5 months, and we never got rid of the bottles. That's a whole lot of hard work! But it feels like nothing now, I can hardly remember it, and I am sooooooooooooo glad I did it. It was all worthwhile. I'm not telling you this to depress you. I know 5 months of pumping and always using bottles sounds ridiculous to most, but I consider myself to be a success story And it is what YOU think that really counts.
You CAN do this Ren. You are a tough, determined mother, who wants to give her little girl the best in life. This is a massive hurdle for you, but you can get over it, and you will be better for it. Our BFing troubles have lead me into a whole new rewarding life, that would never have opened up to me had I had an easy BFing journey. I still wish I'd been able to do better for my DS, but that's not what life threw at me, I dealt with what I had to the best I could, and I am now seeing the benefits for both of us
I know that none of that is helpful to your left nipple but as well as practical advice and suggestions, you need to know that people have been where you are before, and they survived And I want you to know that I'm cheering you and Ava on, I really believe you can get through this.
Trust yourself, and your instincts. You are the only one who knows what it feels like when Ava is feeding. Tell your LC that things have changed with your R nipple, that it's not feeling right. Insist that you know what you're feeling. Lie down for as many feeds as you can. Babies love lying down to feed! And it's restful for you also. My DS would ONLY feed lying down for two months, from 3-5 months of age. It was a PITA, but it got us through, and one day he decided it was cool for mum to sit up again. And, I know it sounds silly, but try feeding standing up. At least while she's attaching, it really could be easier! Has your local ABA group got anymore meetings coming up? If so, head along. And TALK about your problems, don't put on a brave face. You might be surprised at how many mums will be able to help and support you.
I'd better go, sorry to ramble, but I really want you to know you're not alone. hang in there.
Last edited by Janie; March 13th, 2009 at 09:46 AM.
Ren. That's all I have No advice coz I have NFI either and am feeling the same today. My left nipple is not getting better and it hurts, I could cry. I have no idea what's different about that side and 3 LC's have told me attachment is perfect too
Ava was weighed yesterday by the MCHN at the clinic and she's put on 240g since Wednesday! She is now 4390g! I'm so happy about that!! Yay!!
She's sucking more effectively now and I'm still offering 20mins each side only and if she wants more I top her up with EBM but she doesn't usually want more.... she'll just feed 2hrs later.... does that seem good?? Also, this morning she only wanted 20mins on one side and seemed full! Even had a little vomit....so does that mean she's feeding faster now too??
She is sleeping well at night, her last feed usually is 10pm and then she sleeps until 3 or 4am.... we are happy about that and hope it stays that way for a little while at least.....
Now and then she is still getting top ups of formula but very rarely not as much as before mainly EBM or B/feeds.
My L nipple she still rejects in cradle position so i can't feed her when out and about on that side so just the R side but feeds well off both sides lying down.... must be the fast flow on the L side? It's the only thing I can think of..... I do have an abundance of milk I've noticed as when my boobs are full and she's about to feed, i only have to take my bra down and they are leaking all over the place and sometimes squirt milk!!!!!
Janie - you are right, I know I can get thru the hiccups and continue and I'm sure there will be plenty more... I still feel like I'm struggling still to BF her exclusively as we are still not yet there.... but we are getting there slowly and that's the best way isnt it...... "slow and steady wins the race" after all. This hasn't been easy (as you know all about!) yet I feel I appreciate it more than I would have if it had been easy for me if that makes sense??? I'm so very proud of myself for persisting. It's a good feeling. No, a GREAT feeling.
I breastfed in front of other mothers at a mothers group yesterday..... it felt really good to be there with the others breastfeeding my baby!
Yay Renstar!!! You are doing so well and I'm sure you will be glad once your reach the goal of exclusive breastfeeding! This is a great thread to have for new mums and pregnant mums to read also! You're awesome
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I woke this morning with full breasts!!! Leaking too.... ... does Fenugreek work that quickly??? mind you, DD didn't feed from 9pm til 4am (she slept through!!! she didnt sleep at all yesterday tho so i let her sleep) and she fed well from me on my right side for 20mins at 4am today. I offered the left but she still has trouble attaching on the L side and fusses. (still a big issue to work on)
Please update us when you get home!
I think the Fenugreek is helping!!
. I saved my message and was going to try again today, but it looks like I don't need to! I highly recommend giving it a go, her neck may be out which is causing the feeding problems from one side.
Feeling frustrated.....
I've been trying so very hard..... why isn't it easier??? I need a break!
and I'm attaching "beautifully" says the LC.
.
And I want you to know that I'm cheering you and Ava on, I really believe you can get through this. 
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