HELP PLEASE!

NevaehsMama0114

I am in tears right writing this. I need help! My daughter is 6 weeks and two days old, she will be two months on March 14th. Since late Wednesday night I am having huge problems with getting her to breastfeed! The first week and an half after she came from the hosptial she lost alot of weight because the hostial told me to feed every three to four hours instead of every two to three hours. She weighted 6 pounds 12.9 oz and she was 18 1/4 inches long., and in the first week and an half she went down to 6 pounds 1 oz. So I went to a lactation specialist and she check to see if she was lacting on right and she was. So the lactation specialist said to change to feeding her every hour and a half to every two hours and supplment with breast pumped milk or formula after feeding on the breast to get her back to a good weight. So I started to breastfeed her every hour and half to two hours. I would feed her 10 minutes or more on each breast and then feed her 2 oz of similic formula in a nuk bottle so she wouldn't get the bottle and breast confused. Did that for awhile and when I took her in Monday she weighted 7 pounds 3 oz and was 20 1/2 inches. She gained her birth weight back and more and had a growth spurt. Well Wednesday night at Walmart I brought her more Nuk bottles and some of the New SimlpySmart Similic bottles because I had a coupon for them. And since I started to use those she won't feed off of my breast. She fights me the whole time trying to get her to laction on to them. And if I do get her to laction on then she don't stay on or she only eats five minutes off the right breast only! I am starting to think she will never go back to my breast or if she does by the time she does my milk will be dried up! The whole time she fighting me about feeding off my breast she pushes against me with her hands balled up into my stomache or kick to push herself away from me! She show interest like she wants the breast but then don't stay lacted on or suck and she starts crying so I give in and give her the formula because I don't want her to go hungry. If I get on the breast at all it because I gave her alittle formula first and then pull out quick and put her on my breast. I want her to have my breastmilk one way or another. I can't keep on affording formula it is too expensive! I have a single electric breast pump by evenflo but I don't get even an half of ounce to give her and I feel like it is a waste of time to pump when I am not really getting anything out. I talked to a lactation specialist over the phone the other night that works for similic to get help she said that to go back to the nuk bottles and get her off of the similic bottle because it is confusing her and easier to get milk from it so she won't want my breast. And because the Nuk bottle is so much like the breast it might help her get back to feeding off my breast. To breastpump every two hours before and after I feed her to keep my milk supply up, and have someone feed her the bottle of formula in the Nuk bottle in till she feeding off my breast regularly again so she not confused and she thinks of me when she wants the breast and thinks of other besides me when she has the bottle. She also said that even if I am not getting really anything out yet breastpumping I eventually will and for the time being keep my milk supply up and will provent my milk drying up. I went back to the Nuk bottle and her Daddy feeds her the bottle but I only got two breastfeeding in yesterday within a 24 hour period and she only ate off the right breast for 8 mintues and not continuesly for one feeding and the left breast for five mintues and not continuesly for another feeding but I had to do the little trick with the bottle of formula first to get her on the breast both times! I pump like the specialist said to but I losing hope. I feel like I will never get back to feeding off my breast or pump enough in a bottle to even give her breastmilk that way. Formula is too expensive for me to buy all the time and she needs to eats! I feel like I am failing has a mother, I losting patience, hope and confedenice! And I just feel like crying all the time ! HELP PLAESE !

Fate

The lactation specialist from Similac hit it dead on. Keep doing that, or possibly eliminate the bottle altogether until she's 8 weeks. The more you nurse her, the more milk you will have. Latch her on whenever she is fussy. Every hour if possible. As for pumping, make sure you pump for a minute or two after the milk stops flowing. If I think my supply is low, I pump for 5 minutes after the milk stops flowing. Make sure you're drinking a ton of water. Atleast 8 glasses per day. As for her only wanting the one breast, hold her in a different position while latching her to the other breast. If she only wants the right boob, when you latch her to the left, position her in the football hold so she thinks she's on the same side. Try different positions with her, and try not to get frustrated. If you're upset, she will get upset.

Bahamamama4828

Yes and don't put your hand on the back of her head in a forcing manner to your breast. Take a nursing vacation. Take a day to spend with baby in bed if possible! Skin to skin, lots of fluids, nursing as much as possible.

NevaehsMama0114

At this point in time with her not taking the breast every feeding I have to keep her on the bottle so she eating because if I don't and she not taking the breast that feeding then she wouldn't be eating at all. I am afraid if she never takes the breast like she use to and I can't pump enough to feed her breastmilk in a bottle that she going to go hungry! I can't efford just buying formula all the time! And she needs to eat! I am going to the Hope clinic when it opens in the morning that helps moms out. They rent you a hosptial grade double eletric pump and the $20 for rent is for the parts because they won't reuse your parts after touching your body and I have parts for the medla double eletric pump so if that is the pump montior they give out to use for 3 months I already have the parts so I won't have to pay the rent amount. And I am also going to see my lactation specialist at the hosptial in person later in the morning to get help but after that if nothing else works, I don't know what else to do. I am starting to get hopeless!

kayleigh27

Im sorry momma. Just try to relax. You are not failing as a mother. You are doing the best you can! Just keep doing what the operator told you over the phone drink lots of fluids. Even while you're BFing. And eat well

trixiesmom8

When you pump don't think about it, I have noticed that if I stress about it then I don't get much out. Also I have heard to look at baby or have a baby blanket near by while you pump to help with let down. You are not a failure. Good luck!

LilSugarsMomma

Also, you can try WIC, they will rent you one for free. If all else fails, they'll provide formula as well. Good luck!

captivated

If you have to feed her formula because of not latching, avoid using a bottle and syringe feed instead. That will cause less nipple confusion.

Don't give up hon, you're doing great!

NevaehsMama0114

Hi again thanks for all advice. I talked to the lactation specialist yesterday afternoon. She don't it is the switching the bottle alone that is caused the problem. She also thinks that after the problem started my milk supply also decreased so my flow ain't as strong so that why she thinks I am still having problems after going back to the Nuk bottle. And because the flow and supply ain't as strong it takes alot more time and effort for daughter to get the milk she needs. So she said to pump with the pump I got now till I get the hosptial grade double pump I am getting from the hope clinic, to pump every hour during the day till my milk supply is back up better then do it every two hours during the day for 10 to 15 minutes on each breast, and pump every three hours and 10 to 15 minutes on each breast during the night so I don't have to get up so much and also take fenugreek in pill form or Organic Mother's Milk tea. She said that stuff really works. So I got the Mother's Milk tea tonight and I am having my first cup of it and doing the pumping and I get the better hosptial grade double electric pump later today. I was wondering how well the Mother's Milk tea works? My friend who is also got a profile on here by the screen name of WyattsMommy, she said she tried it and within 24 hours or less it worked so well that her breast hurt the next day because they were so full. Has anyone else used it and how well does it work?

Heather3girls1boy

The fenugreek pills may work better for her.

Mimii36

Oh man I hope you can get her to feed and get your supply back. Not having a supply is depressing. My supply dried up & I'm going through hell to get it back! It's very discouraging tho.