Frustrated with Breastfeeding

T.; every chidl is different and so is every breast feeding experience, i would say its ok to ween her, if ou want to , ang give her some infant cereal, she may want more food, other than breast milk , for you to make more milk, you would need to pump more often and working may not provide that for you, i say great job for going that long, my son quit breastfeeding at one month and that was hard to take, youve gotten 4 months in, congratualations, keep being the good mom that you are, and find what works for her and you , if you need milk and she cant have it, then i would definitely get some milk in me some how, she can get calcium in her in other ways, either way , keep up the good work and have a wonderful day, D. s

Hi T.. I too had a big problem with latching. I had lactation consultants and pumps. I tried and tried until I could not do it anymore. My milk supply just "went away" and I never was able to get it back up even with (what seemed like) constant pumping! SO...my babies drank a good quality formula and they are fine. I know my daughter did not drink much but she still held a healthy weight and eventually started to move up in ounces. Good luck.

Hi T.!

I have to say no lectures will come from me... my daughter and I had a hard time "connecting". I reached out for help and got a LOT of harshness and stringent "take the bottle away..." and "keep going no matter how stressful..."

Up theirs, seriously.

I pumped almost up to 1 year (I had some personal medical issues that made it so I had to stop earlier).

I didn't produce much at all either... but I started to produce more after talking to some doctors and other mothers by trying a few things...

I would say get yourself a good pump and pump every 2 hours... you may only get a little at first, but your body is a sort of "supply and demand"... the more in demand, the more it will supply.

Fenugreek is a wonderful product. You find it in Mother's Milk teas and all sorts of "nursing" supplements. They are easily found in the Women's Supplement isle at Whole Foods and/or maybe trader joe's?

Fenugreek WILL make you sweat more. Your milk ducts/glands are VERY closely related to your sweat glands. The Fenugreek sets them in overdrive and helps you produce more... I found I was drinking TONS of water because of the sweating and pumping!

I also supplemented with Nestle Good Start. She didn't seem to have any gas problems or colic.

I hope this helps! Please msg me if you have any questions with everything above or anything else~

Good Luck and remember, what's important is that the baby is getting the food that she needs... and if nursing isn't going to happen there ARE other very healthy means of doing so... But you already knew that, you've been through this twice before!

Have you considered using her favorite bottle's nipple on you while nursing? It is best to use one attached to something, so that the baby can't choke on it. It might work. Hang in there, it'll get easier. You baby is just a busy and curious child and will do something great someday. Also, try nursing while just laying on the couch and maybe you'll stay awake.

Hi T.,
Boy this all sounds too familiar. I to am breastfeeding. My daughter in almost 5 1/2 months now & in the beginning started getting very frustrated. She had no problems latching on but I didn't like the fact of not knowing how much milk she was actually getting. Seemed like she was always eating & I was so exhausted and frustrated cause I'm still working full time. Then the colic came & I thought I was going to lose my mind. Everything is trial & error I guess cause you figure out things as you go along. I went to a breastfeeding specialist and she suggested that I cut dairy out of my diet in which I thought she was crazy (believe me this killed me too cause I LOVE cheese & ice cream) and that made a world of difference. The colic eventually went away. I get my dairy fix from the lactose free cheese which isn't the same but it's something for now. I'm drinking rice milk now too which isn't so bad and buy the soy ice cream etc. To me it's worth it from having to hear my daughter screaming cause she is in so much pain. Then I also found out I had to cut gassy foods like brocolli & beans out of my diet to the point where I thought about stopping the breastfeeding causes I feel like I can't eat anything now but don't give up. It's all worth it in the end & your giving your baby the best that she can't get from formulas.
My daughter does alot better now but tends to get squirmy, kicking her legs etc while I'm trying to feed her too. Not sure where that came from but yes it gets very frustrating. If you keep up with the breastfeeding & pumping when your not breastfeeding then your milk supply will come back slowly but surely. I've always seemed to get more milk on one side then the other but have read that it's normal. I know it's easier said then done but try to be patient believe I know it's hard at time cause I've been there too. If I can offer any other input please feel free to email me. I laughed when I read your post cause alot of it was similiar to me...at least we don't have the toddler running around...LOL Good luck!!!!

Hello T. ~ You've received a lot of great advice. I am currently BFing my 8 month old although he is not lactose intolerant he is actually allergic...he is also very squirmy and distracted what I usually do is just take him off & let him play for a bit I feed him when he's interested & hungry in between BFing I do pump & I too only pump about 4 oz at a time but am able to make a full 8 ounce bottle if I need to w/what I've pumped. As far as the dairy goes....incredibly hard...I had to cut dairy completely out of my diet when he was about 2 months...there are several different brands one in particular is cherry brooke kitchen chocolate cake mix (completely free of the top 8 most common allergens even gluten free) enjoy life makes a dairy free chocolate chip which I melt & use as a drizzle on my chocolate cake & top w/raspberries. Be careful w/the dairy free cheeses as some do contain casein which is a dairy derivative...as far as pumping ahead & eating dairy to get your fix....I also wanted to do the same; especially over thanksgiving & christmas holidays...I talked w/our ped & allergist & they both told me that it could take up to a week or 2 for dairy to completely be out of your system..so for me that was a no.

I also have a 4 almost 5 year old daughter who was also allergic to dairy (diagnosed at 6 months) also had to do a dairy elimination diet w/her as well....it's really tough I know hang in there. Please feel free to email me w/any questions off site if you like

T.-

I am so sorry to hear of your struggles. I think you have received a lot of good advice here. I am glad that someone mentioned the possibility of postpartum depression, because from the tone of your message and some of the things you said, I think you may be starting to go through that. Weight gain, feelings of guilt, fatigue are all warning signs. You should talk with a doctor about it, because you need to take care of YOU first!

I am a big fan of breastfeeding but also realize it is not always possible. In your case, it sounds like you really do need to keep it up, though, until she can tolerate some kind of formula. I agree that you need to get a hospital quality pump and you need to pump OFTEN to get your supply back up. Maybe every couple of hours, if possible. You body will try to meet the increase in demand with an increase in production.

With my second child, I did a lot of nursing lying on my side on the couch, because that seemed to do well for her. I had another little one running around then, too, and at times it was difficult. However, maybe when you know you are going to need some time to lie down and nurse, you could set your 3 yr up with some kind of activity that you know will keep him occupied for 20 minutes or so (or however long your nursing sessions seem to last). You could do play-doh, coloring, blocks, whatever can keep him busy long enough to allow you to nurse without worrying about him getting into trouble.

I hope things get easier for you soon, either with breastfeeding or finding the right formula. Good luck and let us know how things work out!

Hi T.,

I can hear your frustration coming through what you've written. You're going through a lot right now. A baby who is fussing while on the breast. But at the same time she can't handle formula. Add to that work and school. It's no wonder you're tired.

As for the lactose intolerance, what she most likely has is a sensitivity to a protein that's found in cow's milk. 75% of babies that can't handle cow's milk also can't handle soy either. So any cow's milk or soy based formulas would upset your baby girl's tummy.

One thing that really helps is instead of seeing what you can't have, find out what you can have. A health food store is a good place to start. You could have rice milk (rice dream), or almond milk. They make almond cheese too. There are a ton of products that will be similar to what you're missing-and craving.

I think you're little one is squirming at the breast because the supply is low. Contact a local Lactation Consultant. I'm an LC. If you can't find a local LC, email me. Your LC can give you information on herbs that can help build the milk supply. She might also be teething. That would add to her squirminess too.

I hope this info helps.

S.

Hello! You are doing a great job so keep up the hard work!!! I went to a health food store and started taking Fenu Greek. It took about 3 - 4 days to work but it worked great for me! They also have a rx your doctor can prescribe for you which I have not taken myself but my friend did and said it worked great! Either way I would consult your doctor for support and suggestions! Hope this helps :) Hang in there!

T.,

I would buy a breast pump and pump the milk; it will help get your milk supply back up and you can feed her with a bottle which will make it easier to attend to your three and a half year old. Also, if you pump a lot of milk in advance, you could drink some milk or eat some yogurt ... it should just take a few hours or a day or so to get the lactose out of your system. If that won't work, I would talk to your daughter's doctor about soy formula, they do make it, it's just a little more expensive than lactose based. I would also contact la leche league and ask them for advice. Are there any friends of yours with a child around your son's age that you can get together with? Let the kids play and you can try to nurse your daughter? Good luck!

T., I'm not sure where you delivered your baby. However, I delivered at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn. They have Lactician Nurses available to answer questions for you. They are there during the day time hours only and M-F. But, I would give them a call. I don't remember the number but I'm sure you could call the main switch board and they could get you to them. I'm sure they would help.

Sorry it's been so rough. My son weened himself at 8months, which finally allowed us both to sleep through the night. Breastfeeding wasn't all that and a bag of tricks. So I do empathize with you. Good luck, hope it works out.

helloe T.
it sounds like you are doing what you can and you got alot of great advice one thing they didn't mention is that they make a tea i think it called mother milk it help with the supply and try pumping more and longer and if it come down to you stopping know that you gave your baby the best for four months and don't beat your self up have you teyrd lactose free milk for your self it not that bad real cold good luck in what ever you do

Hugs to you. It is hard being a mom and breastfeeding is no joy ride. My 5 month old is doing similar things with being finicky with his eating. He will nurse for about 1-5 minutes on one side, and then want to switch. We do a mix of bottle and nursing. I work as well. We have not had formula problems. I know there are some formulas that are for very sensitive kids, but they are more money. Since she is 4 months, have you thought about cereal? I know it is a little early, but it might help.

As for pumping and supply, all I know is that you have to do it often. You also need a good pump. I found my Medela on craigslist for a good price. There is this stuff at Whole Foods called More Milk Plus. It is about $19 and tastes like nasty licorice, but it seems to work well for me. I like the Mother's Milk tea, but I am not sure it is in the dosage that you would need. I found a lot of support on http://www.kellymom.com/. Also, Dr. Neuman has a clinic in Canada that he puts on his website. You can google his name. There are a lot of good resources there. Good luck.

You sound sooo frustrated and exhausted! I can only imagine.
I'm not sure what advice you're looking for... if you're looking to relactate then I'd suggest contacting La Leche League... I have a couple friends that I could refer you to that are leaders.

If you're looking for support in weaning, then know that you were able to nurse for a few months and that's great! My son had lactose issues too and it is sooo challenging to not have dairy. I did find that I lost the weight much quicker cutting it out.

Best wishes in whatever you decide to do.

: )

First of all, do not condem yourself for not breastfeeding. It is your personal choice. Contact someone from the LaLeche league (google it in your area). They may have some sound advice. Malt (beer) seems to increase breast milk supply as well you drinking each and everytime you breastfeed (8oz). Have you contacted the pediatrician about your daughter's intolerance of formula? There are lactose free formulas out there. Whether you are bottle feeding or breastfeeding, you must be relaxed. The baby can sense your stress and reacts. I, personally, did better when I switched my four children to bottles. It just fit my lifestyles and did not affect them in anyway. (They are between 24 and 31 years of age and all quite successful in their lives.) I breastfed my youngest until she was 4 months exclusively just so I could say I tried. It was hard to be so tied down. I hope that does not sound unmotherlike. I made up for it in other ways. Good Luck and get relaxed.

Wow T., I'm sorry that you are having such a hard time. You may be experiencing post-pardom depression. Talk to your doctor about it. That can interfere with milk production. My youngest was weaned at 4 1/2 months, but at 8 months of age I had to go back to nursing because he was allergic to cows milk, soy milk, goats milk, etc. That was not a good situation, as he went without food and was hospitalized for IV nurishment. When your daughter gets distracted, simply use your finger into the corner of her mouth to break the sucktion, then put your breast away. She will learn soon enough that when it's time to eat, she had better pay attention. If you must give up breastfeeding, work closely with her doctor, as the family lactose intolerance can become a major problem. I don't wish that on anyone. To increase your milk supply, pump first, than nurse. Your daughter can drain the milk glands much better that a pump, so after a few days your supply will begin to increase. This worked for me after being dry for a few months before going back to nursing. You need to drink much more water also! Protien is another thing that you must increase. Take a calcium tablet each day, your body is craving it by yearning for dairy products yourself. You should feel less tired after you get your nutrients meet if it is not hormonal. Good luck.

T.~ I understand your frustration, depression and guilt. Bfeeding was a nightmare for me with my last 2 kids. Not to mention I had severe ppd. I couldn't bf for more than a week. I was miserable, baby was hungry and my body was way too stressed. I now know that they were both tongue tied (still are) and that probably had a lot to do with my problem. Anytime anybody would mention bfeeding I would burst into tears because I knew it was best and I felt like I had all this milk and I was denying my babies of what they needed. Second time around (3rd baby) the same thing happened...but I was much less guilty. Once I resigned to a bottle and formula and had happy, full babies, life was much different. We had the lactose issue, too, as well as spitting up. They spit up ALL THE TIME, but they outgrew it, and they drink/eat milk products. Bfeeding isn't easy sometimes. For some it goes without a hitch but not for me. There comes a time when you have to do what you need to do. Billions of babies were formula fed and grew up to be healthy adults. Your baby is getting good 'stuff' and has been for 4 months...that did WONDERS for her! If you just can't do it anymore, then that's that! You still have to be a mom to a toddler and a teen, a wife to your husband, and a stable, secure woman for yourself.

The best advice I have **EVER** received is this; Bottlefeeding doesn't make you a bad mom, just like breastfeeding doesn't make you a good one!

Feel free to message me if you find yourself in need of some support. I understand, and you'll never get any negativity from me!

~L.

Go to your hospital and rent a heavy duty pump. My sister did this and she had no problems producing milk. I had a small one you purchase and had a hard time and never got to a decent amount of milk.

The heavy duty pumps are a big help.

Good luck

You're doing a GREAT job!!! I understand some of this -- I'm having some trouble breastfeeding my 1-month-old son -- and he's my THIRD baby! No problem with the first two. He wasn't latching well, and he wasn't gaining weight well, so for a few days now I'm pumping . . . and we've had to supplement with formula, starting last night. :(

Anyway, I went to a breastfeeding support group last week and it was a big help -- there was a lactation consultant running the meeting and she immediately changed my baby's position and the latch was just perfect! I'm planning on attending a La Leche League meeting next week as well . . . it doesn't hurt to get as many opinions and help as you can!

Check out llli.org ( I think) for a La Leche LEague meeting near you -- and the support group I went to was at Wyandotte Hospital. They meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month in the evening. But if you're not close by, you could contact your local hospital, and they might have a meeting for you to attend, or you could pay for a personal consultation with a lactation consultant.

GOOD LUCK!!

I am so sorry you are having a hard time. I don't have answers to all your questions, but here's what I do have for you...

My son got wiggly at 4 months also. I would just gently push his head toward my breast when I felt him pulling away so that he wouldn't break his latch. If you can tell that she is going to pull away anyway, make sure you stick your finger in her mouth and break the suction before she pulls off. That should eliminate the pain.

I wanted to say something about the lactose intolerance. Did you mean to say that she is allergic to dairy? Maybe you are just calling it by the wrong name, but I wanted to make sure you know that babies are almost never lactose intolerant. Our breast milk contains lactose (hence the term lactation),so if your breast milk does not bother her, she is not lactose intolerant. Many babies, however, are allergic to dairy (to the protein in cow's milk). If you aren't sure, you can go to an allergist and have a very painless skin prick test done to see if she is allergic to dairy. I would hate for you to have misdiagnosed her as lactose intolerant and be skipping the dairy for nothing. If she is allergic...

My son was allergic to dairy, so I know exactly how you feel about the dairy free diet. If you are interested, I have a list of VERY yummy foods you can buy at Meijers I created for another mom. I will be glad to email it to you if you want it. It's long, though, so I thought I would wait until you asked. It includes all kinds of yummy chocolate cake, chocolate candy, cookie dough, etc.

Good luck. Don't give up. You can do it.

Hi T., you have a unique situation here. Since you can't find a formula right now, you need to work on bringing your supply up, and that is possible. When you pump, you say you only get 4 ounces, so maybe that is all your baby is taking. Remember, supply equals demand. If you r baby is lactose intolerant, youc an stillhave lactose. lactose is digested in your body, so it won't affect her. Read Amanda's reply, I'm a little confused also regarding your baby's intolerance. AS for yourelf, drink lots of water, mother's milk tea, go to the laleche league website and find a leader in your area. You can and will get your baby on track. You will also get yourself on track. I was one of those mom's that gained weight during breastfeeding becasue hormones rule. And it is tiring to feed another person! I just figured that while I was nourishing them that was my priority, and when i was done I would get my body back to me. Also, talk to your doctor, and ask for suggestions for formula if that is the way to go. There has to be an answer here, it will just take awhile to find it. Hang in there.

I know you got a lot of great advice about this situation, but I just happened to be reading a magnet on my fridge earlier and thought I'd pass along the info (see, that's GOD talking to me, right there).
La Leche League Int'l website: www.lalecheleague.org
Nursing Mothers Counsel: www.nursingmothers.org

Also, contact the hospital you delivered at and ask for the Lactation Consultant. Make an appointment with them-- it may cost you money, but they are the EXPERTS and can provide you with hands-on help. You can mention the post-partum depression while you're there (Wow, did I cry my eyes out to the lactation consultant BOTH TIMES-- in person with my first baby, and on the phone more than once with my second baby-- and they were really nice about it).

Finally, good job on sticking it out this far. Breastfeeding was the hardest thing I have ever done (it was even harder the second time!). You can do it! Don't be afraid to ask for help-- you are not alone!

Hi T.,

I'm sorry you're having so many problems nursing. The only thing that I know of to build up milk supply is to nurse more often or pump between nursings. The more you use them (breasts), the more milk you should get. When I was working and nursing our second child, I would pump at work and pour it all into a thermos. Then make bottles at the end of the day. So even if you only get a couple of ounces when you pump, you can add it to more ounces.

Our 8 month old seems to be lactose intolerant, so I have switched to drinking soymilk. I've gotten used to it and it comes in CHOCOLATE! I'm looking into ricemilk also. I do have ice cream once a week, that doesn't seem to adversly affect her. So maybe small quantities of dairy once in awhile will not harm your daughter.
Hope everything works out for both of you.

I am so sorry you are going through this, BF can be so hard.
I could never pump more than a few oz either, and none of my kids ever wanted bottles or formula. But I ended up in the hospital when my 3yr old was only 3 months, and so they let me use their pump to keep up my supply, and their pumps are soooo much better than any of the ones that I bought in the store. So if you still want to pump for them, I would rent one from the hospital and I swear you will see a world of difference!
But I would have to say that you have been doing a great job with BFing!!! One of my girls would not nurse for anything, and she had a really bad latch. IF you are still trying to BF, then I would sudjest getting a hold of a la leche (sp??) in your area, they can be really helpful. If you don't want to do that, you can google BFing problems, wont latch, (this is what I did) and I came accross a lot of atricales that were very helpfull, and gave me some tricks to get her to latch. One was a Syringe filled with brest milk or formula, with a long tube at the end taped right at your nipple. Then when she has her face near your nipple you start to press the syringe to let out the milk, as she gets the idea then she will start to drink. After she gets it then you start to only press out when she is latches on correctly, and then you don't need it any more. I But this was not easy, and took about 2 weeks, and I almost gave up a million times, so if you do this you really need to comit to it.
But you also sound like you are just done and don't really want to BF any more. If this is stressing you out too much, then I would keep tying to find a formula that will work for her tummy so that you can stop BFing all together. You need to do what's best for both of you.
GL, and I hope you find something that works for you.

My heart goes out to you, T., with so much on your plate! Sounds like your baby girl may be going thru a growth spurt. First, can you yourself drink rice or almond milk? I'm a big fan of the unsweetened almond milk in my cereal. It does sound like bfg may indeed be your only option, and I am sure it won't always be this difficult. Check out the latching video clips and info on drjacknewman.com. I think they may help you figure out what Little Miss is doing that's driving you nuts. Also, watch closely so you can break the latch before she does until she gets thru this phase. I'd try to have her empty one breast at each feeding so she's getting the rich hind milk that comes later in each feeding. Then, if she's willing, let her drink from the 2nd breast, maybe burping her between. Sounds like she's a bit gassy maybe. I wouldn't pump more than what you need for working. It's easier to just put her to the breast - less time-consuming. Is it possible to take this semester off either school or work? Will your younger son be in preschool at all? Are you trying to rest when you can? Maybe that's a dumb question! Hang in there. This is temporary. The main thing with the baby is to get enough nourishment and liquid into her to keep her healthy and growing well. I could send you some attachments on increasing milk supply etc. if you want. Take care of yourself in the midst of all this, T.!

First of all-- don't feel bad or beat yourself up. I think we all know that breast is best is most situations...but it isn't alway possible or "best". I breast feed my son for 4 mos and then stopped when I went back to work. I could only breast feed my daughter for 6 weeks. I had horrible crippling pains in my breast during and for about an hour after feeding her. My pediatrician said, if nursing is preventing you from being able to care for your children because you are in so much pain... it isn't best. Formula is ok. Anway, we switched to formula and though I sometimes feel quilty still... she was fine.

I would work with your pediatrician to find something she can tolerate or keep pumping. You may need to pump more frequently and for longer than you would nurse to get the same milk supply. Sometimes the type of pump matters too. You can rent the industrial powered ones from the hospital...and sometimes your insurance will cover it (esp. if your baby has allergies/reflux).

Good luck--

You are busy for sure!! I will suggest to try a different hold( football works nice)My sister in law told me that is that helps for a better latch. Nursing my 4th child now and I am so relieved!! And also to try best best to get your 3 year old to settle a bit while you try to nurse. Does she ever get fixed on a fan?
I also too get about 4 to 5 oz when I pump. Which may be all she is getting too!! When we bottle feed we get all caught up in that the baby has to finish the whole thing. Which is not true with breastfeeding babyies take what they want or is there. So you may be giving her just the right amount pumped too!!Is you pump electri or manual? I have found my manual to be quite a bit faster.
My children won't take food early, but have you tried giving her some solids ?
Another crazy idea, not for everyone. But I read about using a milk bank. The women are well screened and with a doctors prescription your health insurance may pay for it.Hang in there.
T. K

I don't have any advice, but I did want to wish you luck!

Hi T.,

First off your doing a great job nursing your baby even to 4 months. I suggest that you work with a IBCLC certified lactation consultant to get your problems worked out, then can give you recommendations for supplements to increase your milk supply and how to overcome your issues with feeding.

I see Barbara Robertson, IBCLC at the breastfeeding center of ann arbor she has a free clinic on Fridays http://center4cby.com/breastfeeding-center.html

I think your doing a great job!!! First there are two expensive formula s out there that may help with your babies reflux. One is by enfamil and the other is by good start. Also you may have to supplement. With only 4 oz thats not enough. Call the lactation consultant at the hospital you delivered ask ? to them. Also if you are supplement her you need to either cup or dropper feed so its not a nipple. it sounds like niple confusion. Good luck keep up the awesome job and get rest.

Hi T.
Nursing is hard at times I remember! So great job for trying so hard. So many kids don't even get that 4 months. I learned about when mine was going to pull off and could unlatch her before she she yanked it off. That helped a lot. And if she was to wiggly I'd take her off, so if she was hungry she'd want back on and learned to settle down. I also would pet her cheek and talk to her trying to be more interesting than the sounds around us.
I found a manual pump worked better for me. And a nursing tea like mothers milk really helped me make more milk. Also drinking lots of water and eating enough protein support milk production. I'd suggest eating more calcium rich foods like greens (saute onions, garlic add and a heap of chopped kale, the water from washing will steam it, cook till tender and bright green, add a bit of olive oil some lemon juice salt & pepper to taste), and try some dark chocolate it's good for the soul. That might help the dairy cravings. I also went through a depression and ate for emotional comfort I wasn't getting from family. It took me a long time to loose the pg weight because of it. Maybe a support group of some kind for comfort. I try to do more exercise when I'm depressed, it helps increase your bodies serotonin naturally. Maybe a yoga video and the 3 yo could do it with you, while playing peekaboo w/ the 4mo. And eat more veggies when you eat. I find if I have a bunch washed and ready I'll eat more of them.
And try tut.com for a happy thought, they"ll email them to you.

Good luck, hang in there you'll make it. A. H

T., in addition to a lactation consultant, have you had an occupational therapist or speech therapist look at her mouth and her latch? Early On offers free screenings if your insurance won't pay for you to see a pediatric OT or SLP.

Sounds like the baby may have some sensory issues w/ your holding her, and lying side-by-side on the bed eliminates her sensory discomfort. Sensory issues are part of an underdeveloped nervous system. Some occupational therapists are trained in sensory issues and may be helpful here. She may feel like she's falling unless she's on a solid, hard surface like the bed. Have you tried putting her on a really firm/solid nursing pillow? There's a new nursing pillow that I see Michelle Duggar wearing on the TV show "18 Kids and Counting". It hooks around Michelle's neck and shoulders somehow and she's able to walk around and nurse a baby at the same time. I don't know how firm it is, but it might be worth looking into.

Swaddling her in a blanket before you nurse her may be helpful to her sensory system.

Some herbs increase breast milk -- I took one called fenugreek and it worked. I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Please check w/ your doctor or nurse practitioner before you take an herb.

Also, you might try digestive enzymes with all meals and snacks, either one for lactose (lactase), or a broad spectrum enzyme that includes lactase. Again, ask your doctor first -- I am not a doctor. All of my kids had different reactions to foods and I stayed on a very bland diet while I was nursing. I went gluten and casein (wheat, all milk products, oats, barley, rye) for one child. You nurse for a short time -- you can handle dietary changes for a little while! If I can, ANYone can! (I'm trying to be encouraging!)

Good luck.