I need pumping help

[slcjess]

Thank you to everyone for your advice. I want to make sure we have tried everything possible so this gives me lots of ideas to try tonight and tomorrow so I can at least narrow down some troubleshooting for the lc next week. I'm gonna go steal him from h so we can try a few. It may be a screamy weekend in the Brawny household! Wish us luck. Ha.

[Jalapeñomel]

Feb 13, 2016 21:33:05 GMT -5 slcjess said:

Thank you to everyone for your advice. I want to make sure we have tried everything possible so this gives me lots of ideas to try tonight and tomorrow so I can at least narrow down some troubleshooting for the lc next week. I'm gonna go steal him from h so we can try a few. It may be a screamy weekend in the Brawny household! Wish us luck. Ha.

You got this!

[cbwm1]

You might also try a nipple shield. You can get them at Target, and it helped so much when I couldn't get Will go latch.

Everyone else has given good advice - skin to skin, keep trying, and it's normal for your supply to drop throughout the day.

You're doing great!

[StephaniePlum]

So sorry you are having so many troubles! It's such a hard thing all by itself- layer on top of that the sleep deprivation and birthing recovery, it's still a miracle to me that human beings exist as a species.

Kellymom.com, Google it, if that's not right, USA great resource. An LC will come to your house and can make such a difference. Our Ped had one on staff and it helped immeasurably.

Also, I've EP'd one baby and primarily breast fed the other and with both had a regular pump and a hospital grade- the hospital grade is sooo worth it. I do wish we had just bought one at the beginning. Also, for early days, wherever you rent a hospital grade pump, you can rent a scale for weighed feedings and once you start getting him latched, it's really great to have to check what he's eating in those early days.

Good luck! If you ultimately FF, that's so good too. In my post-pregnancy hormone days, it was so hard to accept that, even though my rationale mind knew it. Happy, healthy mom = happy, healthy baby!

[Deleted]

And for you. Sorry if I missed this, water will help your stitches feel better. More dilute pee will sting less.

[slcjess]

Feb 13, 2016 22:18:37 GMT -5 @astrid said:

And for you. Sorry if I missed this, water will help your stitches feel better. More dilute pee will sting less.

They gave me a couple peri bottles in the hospital for this but they kind of hurt too, I think the pressure from the water squirting is the problem. Mh got me some spray bottles today and my dr gave me some lidocaine to try topically. Im having a little trouble getting it in the right spots, but the good news is, I don't cry when I pee now, at least? Haha

[isabel]

Motherlove More Milk Plus (Amazon), tons of oatmeal, tons of water.

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2016 23:01:52 GMT -5 slcjess said:

Feb 13, 2016 22:18:37 GMT -5 @astrid said:

And for you. Sorry if I missed this, water will help your stitches feel better. More dilute pee will sting less.

They gave me a couple peri bottles in the hospital for this but they kind of hurt too, I think the pressure from the water squirting is the problem. Mh got me some spray bottles today and my dr gave me some lidocaine to try topically. Im having a little trouble getting it in the right spots, but the good news is, I don't cry when I pee now, at least? Haha

I know you have all the things going on, but try really hard to get in a couple soaks a day.

[slcjess]

Feb 13, 2016 23:19:22 GMT -5 tators said:

you're doing so great!

I know it's hard, but keep trying to get him to latch.

Good luck lady! And hugs! You guys are adorable

It kills me when he cries so hard. I just want to make everything easy and perfect for him. Lol. And thank you! I will take all the hugs. I might get mascara on your shirt though because I cry every 5 minutes now, I guess. 

[rachel6789]

Lots of water, brewer's yeast, and fenugreek helped me. I also pumped for 20 minutes instead of 15 because I would get a second letdown at that point.

But I wouldn't worry just yet. Your supply just came in. It's going to need time to really build and establish a demand.

[cabbagecabbage]

Good morning. I just saw this and can't add new advice but I wanted to reinforce that the most important ingredients to success ate baby AT the breast and your hydration. Everything else can give you a tiny bump but those two things are the keys to establishing a good breastfeeding relationship.

Don't worry too much. I know that's so hard but pee and poop are your best indicators right now. He's going to be much better at removing milk than any pump. Keep going and good luck. You e got this!

[loira]

I'm impressed by your supply! I pump about every 3 hours (except when I take a 6 hour hiatus to sleep at night). I can only get about 1oz per side every time I pump, except when I pump in the morning after I wake up, and since A is already eating about 3-4oz per feed we supplement with formula. I don't have a hospital grade pump, though, just the Phillips Avent - I was thinking of getting a Spectra, since people on here seem to really like them.

[frkls]

www.biologicalnurturing.com <------try this today!!! it helps the baby latch the way he is built instead of under the boob. this is how primates are built. the baby on top and you reclining instead of leaning over him. it looks like this:



it also sounds like you may have a little oversupply (which is very typical when milk first comes in), so it may help him to nurse against gravity. most women who pump get one ounce from both sides combined.

does this sound like him:
Gag, choke, strangle, gulp, gasp, cough while nursing

Pull off the breast often while nursing
(gets frustrated and cries when pulls off)
Clamp down on the nipple at let-down
Make a clicking sound when nursing

Spit up very often and/or tend to be very gassy

Periodically refuse to nurse

Dislike comfort nursing in general

[slcjess]

Feb 14, 2016 10:08:02 GMT -5 tators said:

Feb 14, 2016 0:14:46 GMT -5 slcjess said:

It kills me when he cries so hard. I just want to make everything easy and perfect for him. Lol. And thank you! I will take all the hugs. I might get mascara on your shirt though because I cry every 5 minutes now, I guess. 

I am so sorry. I had a hell of a time with my Second and nursing. If my mil hadn't come and supported me through it I don't think I could have done it. It's so hard sometimes. However- she is almost 10 months and nursing like a champ now and I do love it.

My only other advice is to try putting him on before he's super hungry.

And you know what? You're doing such a good job. Pm me if you need anything! Hugs again!

Thanks doll.  (heart)

[meli554]

Hugs, mama. You are doing great. Nursing newborns is so difficult. I had a hard time with all of mine. DS was born at 34 weeks due to pre-e, and I never got him to the breast (I EP for a year). I had a lot of anxiety after his birth and I think that contributed to things.

DD1 was also born at 34 weeks, and since I had been through the NICU experience before, I handled it a little better. I got her to the breast using a nipple shield, but we continued to have issues. I ended up getting her posterior tongue tie and upper lip tie fixed and it made a world of difference. I nursed her until a little over 2 when I got pregnant with DD2.

DD2 was born at 33 weeks and it took a little longer to get her to to the breast exclusively. But she is now 7 months and still nursing.

There were definitely times that I thought it wouldn't happen and was so stressed about it. It's hard, but try to take it one feeding at a time. Get help from a lactation consultant, and keep at it! You got this!

[slcjess]

frkls I was hoping you'd weigh in! Can I tell you what it looks like when we nurse, because he never latches at all so none of those really apply.
I wake him up (unwrap/undress, snuggle for a few mins, and dangle usually) I shove my boob in his mouth while he's half asleep and he just sits there with it, not doing anything. I express a little/push down to get a few drops out, nothing. Reposition to football hold, shove it back in, then he's angry and just screams into my boob. He never closes his mouth so he never latches, even with milk coming out. Then I switch sides and he screams into that boob for a few minutes. Then I hand him to h who gives him a bottle and I go pump. I do the hamburger hold. I do all the techniques they taught me in the hospital and worked there, but I must have forgotten exactly how to do it because it's not working anymore.
If it matters, sometimes my pump also doesn't get a good latch and I drip while I'm pumping, so I don't know if it could be a problem with my nipples.
I'm about to wake him to try again, I'll look at that website first and try that other hold!

eta: he's only spit up one time ever, and the only time he was exceptionally gassy was the few days we supplemented with formula before my milk came in because the colostrum just wasn't cutting it. He doesn't comfort nurse, and I don't know if they relate but he does sometimes like a paci 

[frkls]

Feb 14, 2016 14:10:31 GMT -5 slcjess said:

frkls I was hoping you'd weigh in! Can I tell you what it looks like when we nurse, because he never latches at all so none of those really apply.
I wake him up (unwrap/undress, snuggle for a few mins, and dangle usually) I shove my boob in his mouth while he's half asleep and he just sits there with it, not doing anything. I express a little/push down to get a few drops out, nothing. Reposition to football hold, shove it back in, then he's angry and just screams into my boob. He never closes his mouth so he never latches, even with milk coming out. Then I switch sides and he screams into that boob for a few minutes. Then I hand him to h who gives him a bottle and I go pump. I do the hamburger hold. I do all the techniques they taught me in the hospital and worked there, but I must have forgotten exactly how to do it because it's not working anymore.
If it matters, sometimes my pump also doesn't get a good latch and I drip while I'm pumping, so I don't know if it could be a problem with my nipples.
I'm about to wake him to try again, I'll look at that website first and try that other hold!

eta: he's only spit up one time ever, and the only time he was exceptionally gassy was the few days we supplemented with formula before my milk came in because the colostrum just wasn't cutting it. He doesn't comfort nurse, and I don't know if they relate but he does sometimes like a paci 

how'd it go?!  

[slcjess]

Feb 14, 2016 16:11:06 GMT -5 frkls said:

Feb 14, 2016 14:10:31 GMT -5 slcjess said:

frkls I was hoping you'd weigh in! Can I tell you what it looks like when we nurse, because he never latches at all so none of those really apply.
I wake him up (unwrap/undress, snuggle for a few mins, and dangle usually) I shove my boob in his mouth while he's half asleep and he just sits there with it, not doing anything. I express a little/push down to get a few drops out, nothing. Reposition to football hold, shove it back in, then he's angry and just screams into my boob. He never closes his mouth so he never latches, even with milk coming out. Then I switch sides and he screams into that boob for a few minutes. Then I hand him to h who gives him a bottle and I go pump. I do the hamburger hold. I do all the techniques they taught me in the hospital and worked there, but I must have forgotten exactly how to do it because it's not working anymore.
If it matters, sometimes my pump also doesn't get a good latch and I drip while I'm pumping, so I don't know if it could be a problem with my nipples.
I'm about to wake him to try again, I'll look at that website first and try that other hold!

eta: he's only spit up one time ever, and the only time he was exceptionally gassy was the few days we supplemented with formula before my milk came in because the colostrum just wasn't cutting it. He doesn't comfort nurse, and I don't know if they relate but he does sometimes like a paci 

how'd it go?!  

Not well. Lol. I will keep trying til I can get an lc to come watch and see what we need to do differently

[Aquatica]

slcjess Thank you for this thread, I'm nearly in tears with the same issue.

[slcjess]

Feb 15, 2016 20:34:49 GMT -5 Aquatica said:

slcjess Thank you for this thread, I'm nearly in tears with the same issue.

I'm so sorry, it's so hard. :/ we still aren't on the boob but I've increased my water intake and that's increased my pumping output. Go read all the supportive messages in this thread, we will get through this together!  You got this! 

[slcjess]

narwhal I stepped outside to take the dog potty today and saw mountains! It was amazing! Lol. It's so gross. The worst part of living here for sure. I keep telling myself is almost over.

[Deleted]

I'm not the biggest LLL fan b/c I think a lot of them are super extreme, but I'd def. call my local LLL - one of those extreme nutters will be at your house SAME DAY, I bet.

[slcjess]

Feb 15, 2016 22:36:26 GMT -5 @bigtowlittletoe said:

I'm not the biggest LLL fan b/c I think a lot of them are super extreme, but I'd def. call my local LLL - one of those extreme nutters will be at your house SAME DAY, I bet.

I know, I have their number I just can't make myself do it for some reason. I need to do it sooner rather than later I just gotta force myself to do it

[sparkythelawyer]

Feb 14, 2016 14:10:31 GMT -5 slcjess said:

frkls I was hoping you'd weigh in! Can I tell you what it looks like when we nurse, because he never latches at all so none of those really apply.
I wake him up (unwrap/undress, snuggle for a few mins, and dangle usually) I shove my boob in his mouth while he's half asleep and he just sits there with it, not doing anything. I express a little/push down to get a few drops out, nothing. Reposition to football hold, shove it back in, then he's angry and just screams into my boob. He never closes his mouth so he never latches, even with milk coming out. Then I switch sides and he screams into that boob for a few minutes. Then I hand him to h who gives him a bottle and I go pump. I do the hamburger hold. I do all the techniques they taught me in the hospital and worked there, but I must have forgotten exactly how to do it because it's not working anymore.
If it matters, sometimes my pump also doesn't get a good latch and I drip while I'm pumping, so I don't know if it could be a problem with my nipples.
I'm about to wake him to try again, I'll look at that website first and try that other hold!

eta: he's only spit up one time ever, and the only time he was exceptionally gassy was the few days we supplemented with formula before my milk came in because the colostrum just wasn't cutting it. He doesn't comfort nurse, and I don't know if they relate but he does sometimes like a paci 

OK.

This was me.  I swore she was like a car making a noise.  Take it to the mechanic and works like a charm.  But then you drive home and it craps out in your driveway.

Get in front of an in person LC.  Also, find a support group.  A lot of the hospitals in my area had them.  When we were having what I call "Mechanical issues" I went to one LC on a Sunday at the hospital I delivered at.  She nursed great in their fancy pants chairs with great nursing support pillows and all that jazz.  Came home and......fail.  Next morning, went to a support group at a different hospital.  The support group ended up being me and Sparkybaby, one other new mom and her baby, and and LC.  So it was free and pretty much a private session with the LC.  We were able to bang out a decent approach to get her to latch and stay latched.  

Also, make sure you have him literally "high enough."  I had like, three pillows propping her up for my football hold nursing sessions so that neither of us had to reach, arch or crane to get things lined up right.  

When it gets stressful, look at your little one's fist.  That is about as big as his stomach is right now.  Not very big, is it?  That always let me know she didn't need that much.  

[cabbagecabbage]

Feb 16, 2016 0:56:42 GMT -5 slcjess said:

Feb 15, 2016 22:36:26 GMT -5 @bigtowlittletoe said:

I'm not the biggest LLL fan b/c I think a lot of them are super extreme, but I'd def. call my local LLL - one of those extreme nutters will be at your house SAME DAY, I bet.

I know, I have their number I just can't make myself do it for some reason. I need to do it sooner rather than later I just gotta force myself to do it

The LLL is so regional but mine is just a bunch of really kind moms and is organized by a grandma and a nicu nurse. It's been so helpful. They aren't scary or into witchcraft. They're just really enthusiastic and will help a ton. No obligations. I have dropped in on about 4 meeting over 2 years when I needed a boost. I was welcomed each time.