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Well done Lisa you are doing such a fanastic job. The expressing is tiring but is worth it as it can get a little bit more into him which makes him stronger which means he is able to take a little bit more from the breast. I found that it did get easier over the weeks and worked out the best times for expressing when my supply was at its fullest so I didn't feel like I was expressing round the clock.
You should be so proud of yourself hun what you are doing for your little man. Well done Xx
Hi Lisa, how are you going with it all now? My bub is 12 weeks old now, and attachment has only become much easier as of almost two weeks ago. Its such a long road at the start and breastfeeding is not easy!!! But if you can stick it out you will get there. Check out baby led attachment as that helped me so much.
Hi Isadora,
Thanks for asking after me. We are still pretty much at the same place: starting with BF and ending with EBM. He falls asleep or cries and refuses to continue to feed. I hope I get there soon as it is difficult to continue the way things are going.
Congratulations to you on finally getting there with your bub!!
Hi Lisa,
I've been in a very similar situation for about the first 3 weeks of my DD's life. When we were in hospital we were having such troubles feeding, and when we got home, it just got worse, shed scream and scream when we'd try to feed her! Then we ended up feeding with a syringe and that was so bad because shed get so much wind!
(If you want to read in more detail, I'll show you my thread which shows the whole story) We did use a nipple shield, but even then, for awhile that didn't work! We ended up bottle feeding with EBM for a couple days while still trying to BF here and there.
We saw a lactation consultant who suggested to us to do breast compressions while were feeding until letdown happens, and also try shaping the breast in the "C" shape (Check the ABA website, sorry, I can't post a link at the moment)
Somehow that worked? I wish I could explain how and why, but I can't, all I know is that we haven't had to use a bottle since (except by choice a couple times)
If you would like some more info, let me know, and ask me questions and I'll help you in any way I can :hug:
At least you are still able to BF, even if it isnt for the whole feed! It will get better Hun, and I know it's the worst thing to hear (I know it peed me off to no end when people said it to me, but it's true!) perseverance is the key! My DD is feeding like a champ now, no shields, no nothing!
Hope - I'd love to read your story. I take inspiration from other people's journey. I've tried some breast compression. When I do it DS seems to choke but when a LC did it in the past it seemed to work. I find the C hold I bit difficult to twist my hand into the position. I'm glad you found somethings that work and I hope the answer presents itself soon for me.
Here is my post :)
Hi Lisa. Hang in there girl it will get better over time. I know at the moment it can seem really hard but you will both get there though might not be tomorrow. One of the things that I found did help with my let down was using a hot facecloth on the breast before I started feeding. In the earlier days I used never feel a let down occuring and believe that my let down was slower than other peoples which didn't encourage my DS to feed properly. We used to try the compression and I would see a difference in his sucking when I did this but also found the hot facecloth worked also. It might give a gentler flow which would mean you little man won't choke. I never really managed the C hold as I couldn't see to twist my hands into the right position and also hold him - where is that spare 3rd hand when you need it lol!
Are you doing EBM on each feed or just some of them? And are you using the shields?
We kept doing top ups for months and then when he was about 3 months old I decided I was only going to offer him top ups on two of his feeds. One in the early afternoon and the other at his dream feed. This has a two fold effect. I stopped freaking out about how much he was taking in as I knew on two of his feeds how much extra he was taking and then gradually he started refusing the tops ups or greatly reducing down the amount of top up he took. I was always doing the BF first and then offering top up. He went from taking maybe 100mls in a top up to 5-10mls. When he was about 6 months old we went overseas and probably due to jetlag and much to much going on during the day he went through a month of feeding multiple times during the night so I stopped the top ups completely and we never went back there.
I have only just stopped breast feeding him a week ago and he has just turned 18 months so please please believe me when I say you will get there. Our start was difficult and I wouldn't wish it on anyone but it is proof that you can make it through. He's still little and just needs a little bit more time to work out what to do. If his wees and poos are okay and he is growing okay then you don't need to worry.
Hope this helps and happy to try to answer any questions you have:hug:
Hope - thanks I appreciate you posting your story.
NW3 - I agree, where is the extra hand. It would be very handy!!! :) We have a good and over supply of EBM so this is where his top ups come from. I express after each feed, or attempted feed. Yes we are using shield and that extra hand would be handy here too. Okay, so if we are still on this roller coaster ride at 3 months maybe I will try dropping some of his top ups and see how we go. Great hint. I hope I can make it through too.
Hi Lisa
i cant give you a story of hope as i was unable to bf past 3 weeks.everything was against us from the start.bub had to be syringe fed for 4 days,then got mastitis,in and out of hospital,the cracked nipples (oh the pain). i made the choice to FF because i wanted to enjoy my son,and not dread him waking up. kwim?
but i can say you are doing such an AMAZING job so far. you are really trying so hard. i know how hard it can be expressing around the clock, and iv been there crying on the couch with the pump also. i also understand how frustrating and upsetting it can be when bub throws himself off your boob. it sucks.
you are doing everything right and to the best of your ability. so if you can, keep persisting. as all the previous posters have said, it does get better.
sending you lots of positive bfing vibes though the computer lol really hope it gets better for u hun.