New Mom Having Breast Feeding Issues

Quit all that whining and make that kid eat already.... dont be a pus! hahahahah and for all you people that think Im horrible for saying that you should all know that I happen to know this crazy lady and Im joking with her.... well, kinda!

Just keep pumping and feeding. You could try to wipe and clean the nipples before putting on. Another thing to try is if there clean as you go to put the nipple in squeeze some milk on her lips. But I know that if you just pump as much as she feeds and feed it through a bottle its the same and than also dad and you can enjoy feeding the precious little one.

C.,
Please get ahold of this woman below, she is an incredible lactation consultant! She will know what to do.

Cathy Holland LCCE,BS,RN,IBCLC,FACCE
1127 Berkshire Road
Grosse Pointe Park MI 48230
United States
Phone: ###-###-####
Email: ____@____.com

C-sections don't affect when your milk comes in at all. I had a c.

Anyway, keep putting baby to the breast. Sometimes you have to force it a bit. They will get SO hungry that they just can't 'see' what is right in front of them. I would not give her a bottle. Bottles are MUCH easier for baby to get the milk, so taking the breast is going to be more work for baby. Which would YOU choose? Something easy or hard? But putting baby to the breast will ensure that your flow stays strong. You're pumping, so you have plenty. If you weren't getting any from pumping, then there are other issues.

There are many lactation nurses who will work with you. They typically charge maybe $80 an hour.... but often it just takes that one hour. They are worth their weight in GOLD!!! Or platinum! :-) Seriously. We had issues, and after ONE session ... no more problems.

La Leche League is also a good resource.

And by the way, baby is gettin colostrum until the milk comes in, which is fine. No supplementing really needed.

Congratulations! I had similar issues - though no C-Section, but had a vacuum delivery and that caused latching issues.

1. Get a lactation specialist or the one on one help of a Le Letche League member! You are at a very critical point and you need expert advise. And it needs to be one on one help, not over the phone.

2. Try some home remedies for increasing your milk supply. Things like Mother's Milk Tea or the herb Fennegreek (sp?). Drink lots of water!

3. Don't use a bottle! You can spoon feed her, use a little cup (shot glass), eye dropper, syringe, or there are even some tube things you can tape onto the breast so while she's nursing and stimulating you, she's getting the pumped milk through the tube. The latter suggestion, which will do the most for helping your milk come in, requires someone to help you as balancing baby, tube and milk container is tough alone.

4. If she is having a hard time latching on she might need some cranial manipulation. (this isn't as scary as it sounds, not whacking and cracking stuff) Osteopathic Physicians are trained to provide this treatment, though many are not comfortable in this area. My husband was trained to do this in med school, he's now in his internship in Kalamazoo. We had our daughter treated by his teacher at about 4 months old so my husband could learn to be comfortable working on a baby.

My daughter didn't latch on for 4 days, and my milk was just starting to come in. I'd pumped and spooned some of the half milk/colostrum into her mouth and she just suddenly latched on, it was nothing of my doing, she just decided to do it. Unfortunately she didn't latch well (I was kind of flat nippled) and I kept bleeding and having all types of issues. Where we lived at the time I didn't have access to a lactation specialist or LLL, so we just struggled on and it as SO PAINFUL!!!! I did get a few LLL people to talk to me over the phone, but though it was helpful and encouraging, it wasn't terribly helpful.

At 6 weeks she'd lost so much weight she was 10 oz. LESS then her birth weight (and at a week she'd nearly gained it back) and pretty dehydrated. Our Pedi recommended supplementing with formula as my pump wasn't too good and I wasn't getting much. My husband (a med student) was not supportive and INSISTED SHE HAD TO USE A BOTTLE AS WE WERE IN CRISIS, even though my OBGYN had suggested spoon feeding as an alternative. Anyway I was so emotionally frazzled I couldn't stand up for myself and do things the way I felt was best, so she had bottles. It took over a week to meet with the lactation specialist face to face and by then my daughter wasn't interested in nursing. She helped me, and got me on some herbs, but it was too late. She did start nursing good again for a short time, but by 8 weeks wanted NOTHING to do with it. She's scream hysterically and refuse the breast and I had no one to help me. I even tried the drug reglen to boost my milk supply and that made me have panic attacks and I couldn't sleep and when I did I'd have nightmares, so after 3 days I quit it and nursing attempts ended.

I was only one of 3 women my lactation specialist couldn't help - in her whole career, and probably most of the reason was that I didn't get in to see her soon enough (and could only see her once a week as she served 5 counties), and also the introduction of the bottle. Now not all children are affected this way, some can go back and forth between breast and bottle with no problems, but for those who can't its devastating. Secondly, having the vacuum delivery often is hard on the cranial nerves that control sucking, so many babies delivered this way have a hard time breastfeeding. My lactation specialist said that we could've had issues if we'd had a c-section as well (since that was an option I'd declined, and wondered if I should've chosen it later on). When my daughter was treated at 4 months with cranial manipulation my husband's teacher (Osteopathic Physician) confirmed what the lactation specialist had said.

I don't want to worry you at all, but just advise you to get support immediately. You'll do great! Best wishes!

Honey,
No matter what the lactation police say, It is perfectly fine not to breastfeed. I also had a C-section and my baby was not interested in breastfeeding. Her pediatrition, adopted herself, told us she was not breastfed and was perfectly healthy, loved her mother, and of course, is very smart:) When we finally decided to let the nurses give our daughter a bottle there was a great weight lifted off me. Happy mommy = happy baby!

As a lot of other moms have already said, having a C-section does not have anything to do with your milk supply. Now that being said, a C-section (or even an epidural) CAN affect the breast/nipple tissue causing issues with your baby latching on but that is only within the first 48 hours. My mom is a labor nurse/lactation consultant and was present for my (unplanned) C-section and also to help guide me through the next two weeks of trial, error, and very sore nipples, until through pure stubborness on my part, and not giving up, my little girl finally got it! My mom would certainly say DO NOT use a nippple shield! It can only further confuse your baby in latching on properly to your nipple not to mention give you nipple ulcers. Express a little bit of your milk on to your nipple to get her interested and see if that doesn't help. At this point, all your baby needs is an ounce or so at feeding time so don't worry if she's not on for very long. Keep at it, try different positions and avoid using a bottle or offering a pacifier until breast feeding is well established. Sometimes it's just a persistance thing and it will work out for the both of you if you keep at it. Also, if after giving it your best, you simply feel you cannot make it work, don't let anyone make you feel badly about it. Some breasting feeding/milk is better than none. Good luck to you and baby as you learn how to do this together.

The reason she's not feeding from the breast is because you've given her a bottle. She should not have been given ANY bottles until at least 4-6 weeks after birth to cement the breastfeeding. It's MUCH easier to get milk out of a bottle and she's not wanting to work at it to get the flow going from your breasts!

My advice - don't give her a single bottle from this point until she's a pro at breastfeeding. She WILL NOT starve. She will probably feed ALOT until your milk comes in better, but it WILL come in and she will be fine. Good luck babe!

First of all sweet new mommy, a c-section doesn't affect breast milk's arrival. That's a myth. If you are producing milk to pump, you have enough to nurse. Just keep trying to button her on at every opportunity, she may just be having a latch issue. Nursing is something that while natural and instinctual, still is a learning process for both of you. Please contact the lactation consultant at your local hospital ( they are usually happy to help over the phone for free) and/or your local La Leche League whom I'm certain will be eager to help you and your new baby get off to better start with the best gift you can give her. She will get the hang of it, however if a bottle is always being offered (which is usually easier to get milk from) she will learn that it's easier to take a bottle. Don't lose hope! Good luck to you!

Good for you for making the decision to breastfeed your precious daughter! It sounds like she's confused because of drinking from a bottle, which is how I'm assuming she's been getting the pumped milk. She has to learn now how to nurse directly from you. You can go on the LaLeche League website www.llli.org and click on Resources then on Answer Pages to get a good deal of information. You can also look at www.drjacknewman.com for good video clips on nursing. You can also connect with your local LaLeche League group and contact the leader, thru the LLL website.

Please do not be discouraged. With a little patience and persistence, you can do this! The main thing is to make sure she's getting enough milk. Get her to open her mouth wide and taken in as much of the breast as possible. Might be easiest to start when she's very relaxed, maybe just as she's waking up. Put her to the breast early and often. If your breast is too full, you can pump or hand-express a bit of milk first to soften it.

This is a common problem because it's easier for them to feed from an artifical nipple but the brest is so much better in every way once they figure it out.

Good luck!!

Hi C.,
I would consider feeding her with a syringe or dropper, the pumped milk. I had to do that with my son cause he just wasn't interested in nursing. Using a bottle may cause confusion. I'd also call La Leche League for ideas and help as well.. don't give up.. keep nursing every 2 hours and feed her the pumped milk.

My son didn't want to nurse, we fed him with an eye dropper for about 2 weeks and still offered the breast.. it was at about 4 weeks or a little longer that he finally latched on and hasn't stopped since. : )

I would suggest you asking help with a lactationist..Even i had problems with my twins and they helped me and my babies to latch and that took about a week or so for them to train me and babies..

Oh boy that sure was helpful..Thats very easy to feed instead of pumping all the time..and when you breast feed you will even produce much milk than pumping..

thanks,
Madhu

She's not going to want the breast if you are giving bottles.

Breastfeeding is work for the baby, bottles just drip and she doesn't have to really do much to get milk out.

I suggest you express just enough to get milk moving and try to latch her on so the milk is there and ready to go for her while she gets used to the nursing thing.

And c-sections DO cause your milk to be slower because you don't have the benefit of labor/birth hormones to clue your body into what comes next. One minute you're pregnant the next you're not and it takes your body a little bit to catch up. I've had 3 (unwanted) c-sections First one I waited 4 days, Second it was 4days, and the third it was 6 days (traumatic surgery) So be patient with yourself.

It was three weeks before my son got the hang of nursing! He just did not want to latch on. Just be persistent! I had to hire a lactation consultant to come to our house. BEST $100 I EVER SPENT! She was so helpful and about a week after her visit, we were just fine! She suggested laying down on my side and laying him next to me and nursing him that way. It worked! And eventually he would nurse in just about any position. I ended up nursing him for 11 months. Keep at it; she'll get it! Best of luck to you and congratulations!

That happened with me. I pumped for a MONTH and fed my daughter bottles... then at one month I didn't have a bottle when she needed it and just tried to nurse AND SHE LATCHED ON PERFECTLY AND NURSED FOR 11 MONTHS AFTER THAT... DON'T GIVE UP...IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO, FIND SUPPORT. This is GREAT that you posted on here... Just keep trying...

Some babies, especially c-section babies are just lazy at the breast. Whoever told you that a c-section caused your milk to be slow doesn't have a clue. She could be confused by offering her both...bottle and breast. My question is are you pumping because she is not interested in the breast? Does she latch on at the breast at all? You might try a breastshield. It's like a bottle nipple that goes over your nipple making it easier for babycakes to latch on. It creates a suction, so it stays on. You might have nipples that don't pull out so she is having difficulty latching on. The breastshield will help pull it out so she can eventually latch on to just you. I had one "flat" nipple and the breastshield did the trick. A Le Leche League group leader could be a great help. Go to their website and find a local mom you could call for help. Hang in there, she'll get it! Good job, you are doing the best thing for you and your baby!

I had a C-section too. I had lots of trouble with my son latching on. I unfortunately got an infection from my surgery and had to stay in the hospital a whole week. This actually gave me extra time with the lactation nurse who eventually helped my son and I with our breastfeeding issues. I ended up having to use a nipple shield for the first 2 weeks. After that, it kind of came naturally. If you haven't seen a lactation nurse yet, maybe seeing one could help. They can see what's wrong with the process and make the correct suggestions. Hope that helps.

It took my daughter a full week after my c-section to successfully nurse. Once she started nursing, she only used one side for a few days. It was very frustrating! I pumped what I could and had her sip it out of a cup or spoon. We also supplemented with formula because it took so long for my milk supply to get going.

I called my lactation consultant from the hospital several times for encouragement. She told me that everything that I was doing was good and to not stop trying. I followed her advice and had a successful bf relationship with my daughter for over a year.

Good luck!

Hi C., c-section doesn't affect the milk. I never heard that before, had sections for all 3 births, and never was told this. I am a firm believer in the thought that if you bottle feed at all in the first 2-4 weeks, you will hamper the breastfeeding. A bottle is easier for a baby than breasfeeding. All is not lost, get help now.

I strongly recommend that you contact Le leche league, either get a contact number from llli.org or call your hospital, have someone come over to your house to help you learn latch on techniques and get your beautiful baby girl restarted. (Rebecca ###-###-#### ____@____.com, this is the fenton person, I personally know her and she is such a kind woman)

If you want to nurse, it would be important to do this right away. You can re-introduce the bottle/pumped milk after she is a pro at nursing, it does take a little time to get the hang of it, but she will be fine in the meantime, but it may mean A LOT of nursing sessions. Nursed babies generally eat more often, my daughter nursed 45 minutes at a time in the first week. It was a wonderfully bonding time, especially since it was a c section and i felt that i missed out. good luck.

get the baby on the breast.. she will never learn to breast feed by drinking a bottle.

the baby can get much more milk than your pump.

My milk came in on the 4th day.. yu should be able totell when your milk comes in..

Try to keep as much milk in your breasts as possible right at this moment because she was just born. The reason for that, in order to have breastfeeding be successful in the begining and to get off to a great start is to have her on your breast most of the time. Almost the whole time just in the begining. I breastfed up until 7 months. That;s how I long I wanted. I know your first worry is to think she's not getting enough but like my pediatrician says in the begining your baby only needs 1teaspoon of colostrum(which is the start of the breastmilk) and thats all she\he needs to be full!!! Ask your doc, they'll tell you the same. So instead on focusing on how much your pumping or that you need to pump so your milk can come in or that you'll have enough, just remember that your baby only needs what she gets from you. Just you. You can pump after the milk has been flowing for about 7-10 days. Then do ahead and pump. Just concentrate on getting her feed wvert 2 hours. If you like, I've had problems with breastfeeding I feel like an expert but if you have any questions I would be more than happy to help. Congrats to you on choosing to breastfeed but for any reason at all you have to use formula or cannot breastfeed anymore do not let anyone tell your doing the wrong thing. You only know what's best for you and your baby!! Good Luck

Try squeezing a little of your breast milk onto your breast before trying to feed her. Once she tastes it on her lips, she may latch on easier. Also, it is very important to make sure she is latching on properly. Good luck!

Dear C.,

hang in there! My milk didn't come in for 4 days after delivery, and I also had to supplement her during a lengthy hospital stay. Kudos to you for persisting with the pump so she gets your milk. These starter days are the hardest, so hang in and be persistent. The bottle is easier, so you have to train her to take the breast. If you have enough milk to pump, you have enough to feed her, she has a tiny tummy!. In my case, I did have to see a lactation consultant, I called the hospital, and went back to see them, and they didn't charge me. All it took, was for me to hold her chin down when she was latching on and during feedings so she could take the nipple in. Sometimes I had to release a little milk because I over-produced. As long as my finger was gently holding her mouth open by her chin we did fine.
Really, the beginning is the hardest, you're doing great so far and you will get it. Congratulations on your new little one!

Congratulations on your baby girl!
I have had 2 C Sections and I think it can slow your milk by a bit. With my first son we had so much trouble breastfeeding that I almost gave up a number of times before we got it. But once we got it, it was really worth it and were able to keep it up until his first birthday. Like another poster, I had to have a lactation consultant come to the house - TOTALLY worthwhile. This is a new skill for both of you! We did supplement with syringe feedings for the first 5 or 6 days and then we used a nipple shield, which I also highly recomend - it helps baby latch on but also, when they pull off you can see that milk passed through and that was a big confidence boost to me.
Hang in there and get the help you need - but let me also say this - if you can't do it, you can't do it and your baby will be ok! It's a wonderful thing if it works, but try not to feel guilty if it doesn't. A fiend of mine found that all the stress of trying to breastfeed was really robbing the joy of having a new beautiful baby. And that's no fun either :)
I wish you all the best!

Yes. Don't feed her from a bottle. The first 15-30 days of breast feeding is difficult but then it is the best thing ever!!! Call your local La Leche League if you need guidance. You'll do just fine I'm sure. Best wishes. The more you pump the less milk you will have. Don't do it.

C.,

Stick with it. My daughter took 3 weeks to get it. I would try to nurse, if she would not (there was generally screaming involved) I would give her the bottle and then pump. One day she just decided to do it.

Do what you can emotionally and physically handle, she'll get the hang of it. And if she'll take a bottle, you might as well have dad do a night feed!

When you pump, is it the colostrom (I don't think I spelled it right) or is it milk? And do is it formula that is put in the bottle? I agree with the mom who said she will not starve, because she won't. Breastfeeding is the best thing for your little one, even formula companies admit it! Have you tried contacting a LeLache league? Most hospitals have a group that meeets, or even ask for a latation consultant? They could definatly help you. Don't give up so easily! You carried her 9 months not to give her some factory made milk. Give her the very best. Be as stubborn as she is, she will eventually eat, and realize how wonderful it is to nurse (I was never breastfed, but I did breastfeed my 3 children, and will my new baby, who is haveing a party in my belly as I type!) and then she'll be ok, you'll see. Don't listen to those who say to just give up! Where would all of us be if the great people listen to the voice of "reason" and gave up?
God's blessings to you and your family

Let me make this clear, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH NOT BREASTFEEDING!!!

What is great is that you are pumping and she is getting the nutrients of breast milk. That is the important part. The most important part is that she is eating.

If you two don't "mesh" with the breast, keep pumping and give her the good stuff.

Some women are Nazi's when it comes to breast/bottle.
The bottom line is what works for the two of you. She is eating and happy? You are ok with pumping? Then great!

You have more freedom. People can help you feed her! You can take turns sleeping at night while the other gets up and feeds! You can go on dates with your hubby/boyfriend, etc.!

My daughter and I didn't. I pumped for 10 months until my body didn't want me to anymore. By then I had enough milk saved up that we made a gradual switch to formula then to regular vitamin D milk.

Do what works for you.
Take the advice of others that seems most logical to YOU and throw the rest out the window... only you know what is best for you and your daughter!

HOpe this helped