Give me hope

[amandalaine]

This is upsetting me soooo much...Preston was breastfeeding fine the first day and a half in the hospital, then he started getting fussy when I put him to the nipple, but he would eventually take it and nurse. Then we had to supplement formula until my milk came in because he lost a pound...My milk has come in, but now I'm lucky if I get 5 sucks out of him on my breast. He'll drink the breast milk out of a bottle, he'll drink the formula out of the bottle, but when it comes to the breast, he'll get on the nipple for like half a second and then get fussy and will keep pushing himself off. He knows how to latch on, he will if he gets calmed down enough, but he barely ever stays on and when he does he barely takes any. I'm so persistant with him too, but it doesn't seem to matter. This is absolutely killing me because one of the things I was SO looking forward to was being able to breastfeed him. Does anyone have any suggestions other than hang in there and keep trying?

[mara_jade81]

Is it just on one side or for both sides? Maybe try holding him a different way? Not sure what else to tell you right now. Hayden went through a period where he didn't want to nurse on one side so I had to hold him to trick him to nurse on that side

[Legs]

Hang in there.

When my daughter was 5 days old she got a strain of pneumonia and I was determined to breastfeed her. It took some patience, but just keep trying to breastfeed him. Stroke his hair and chin while you do it and softly whisper to him.

I will say this, do not kill yourself over it. If you try as hard as you can and he still won't, do not feel bad or stressed. You are still just as good as a Mom!!!

Good luck!!!

[*Crystal*]

Reagan was like that! She nursed fine in the hospital and once we got home she wouldnt take it!! We ended up not breastfeeding after two weeks because my milk never came in!!

[Ste9]

A lot of babies will prefer the bottle over the breast if given the choice because the bottle is easier. They have to work a little more to get it from the breast. It's one of the reasons that I wish hospitals weren't so persistant about bottling a breastfeeder. If anything they should have taught you to finger feed a supplement if it was really needed. It's almost like they try to set Mom's up to fail!

Anyway I would try to nurse as often as possible. Prior to breastfeeding use a pump or warm washcloth to help with letdown. A pump works best but you can use a warm washcloth and handexpress to release your letdown. It sounds like he's getting frustrated that the milk isn't there immediately. Once you feel the letdown, put him to the breast and he should latch and stay there. Let him nurse as long as he can and then pump for a few mintes afterward. You really need to get him to the breast and not the bottle as mch as possible. Since it is supply and demand, you need to get your breasts to produce that extra that he is getting from the bottle, which is why I suggest using the pump.

Oatmeal is good to eat as well. It will help increase your milk supply or at Henry's you can buy "Mother's milk tea" that will help increase your supply.

Hang in there. It sounds like he's just frustrated.

[Germanchick]

I had that problem with Kailtyn for a while. For the first week she was latching on perfect but after that she wouldn't latch on correctly. turn her head away after a short time and it was killing me because my nipples were hurting so bad. So I started pumping and feeding her the breastmilk in a bottle. I did that exclusilvely for three weeks or so and then decided to try breastfeeding again. To my surprise she is now latching on properly again and is nursing without any problems. Just keep trying. And if it doesn't work the way you imagined, try not to feel bad. Breastfeeding or not breastfeeding isn't the deciding factor in being a great mom

[Veronica]

Originally Posted by Ste9 A lot of babies will prefer the bottle over the breast if given the choice because the bottle is easier. They have to work a little more to get it from the breast. It's one of the reasons that I wish hospitals weren't so persistant about bottling a breastfeeder. If anything they should have taught you to finger feed a supplement if it was really needed. It's almost like they try to set Mom's up to fail! Anyway I would try to nurse as often as possible. Prior to breastfeeding use a pump or warm washcloth to help with letdown. A pump works best but you can use a warm washcloth and handexpress to release your letdown. It sounds like he's getting frustrated that the milk isn't there immediately. Once you feel the letdown, put him to the breast and he should latch and stay there. Let him nurse as long as he can and then pump for a few mintes afterward. You really need to get him to the breast and not the bottle as mch as possible. Since it is supply and demand, you need to get your breasts to produce that extra that he is getting from the bottle, which is why I suggest using the pump. Oatmeal is good to eat as well. It will help increase your milk supply or at Henry's you can buy "Mother's milk tea" that will help increase your supply. Hang in there. It sounds like he's just frustrated.

okay this totally sounds like what a LC will tell you!!!! If he has the choice he's going to chose the bottle...this is why the navy hospital wont give bottles...breastfeeders lose weight when they are born...so for them to supplement, just made it harder on you! you can always go to lalecheleauge.org or I can give you the name and number of the best LC at the Navy Hospital...she helped me through TWO bouts of masitits!!! Good Luck chick and DONT GIVE UP!!!!!

[Ste9]

Not a LC but I've BF all 4 of my birthchildren for varying amounts of time. I wish I knew then what I know now. I did have two babies in the NICU, one I was taught to fingerfeed and the other they would bottle when I wasn't there. The bottler went on to BF exclusively for 8 months so it is possible.

[SezzySue]

i wish i had advise but i have never been there. i hope it gets better.

try contacting a lactation consultant

[Cherrish]

I never had that problem with DD...she was such a voracious eater and loved to fall asleep at the breast.
I know it's frustrating sweetie, but try to hang in there....have you tried calling the hospital and asking what to do?