Breastfeeding

My baby girl was a month early and was in the NICU for 11 days because of her lungs so i wasnt able to start breastfeeding right away so I had to pump. Once i was able to start feeding her she wouldnt latch on. We ended up using a nipple sheild and she did good till we got home then she would just get mad and cry and cry. So i just pump and feed her from a bottle with a little nipple and she seems to tolerate it much better. Some have told me if I just pump I would dry up. Has that happened to anyone? What are some tips to keep your milk supply up?

If you're going to EP, be sure to have a hospital grade pump (like a Medela Symphony), and pump either every 3 hours around the clock or 2 hours during the day with a break at night.

yea thats the kind i have. shes eating more than im pumping. so my supply in the freezer is getting low

Quoting Mommy for the 1st time!:" yea thats the kind i have. shes eating more than im pumping. so my supply in the freezer is getting low"

Drink mothers milk tea, lots of water, and use fenungreek. That is supposed to help increase or keep up your supply.

I EP'd and dried up after two weeks. :/

what is mother's milk tea and where can you get it?

Quoting Mommy for the 1st time!:" what is mother's milk tea and where can you get it?"

You can get it at GMC. It's just a tea to help increase your supply.

I've been EP for a little over 4 weeks now. I'm starting to see that my boobs are not getting big as fast not are they hurting. I can go 6 hours or more without pumpin and it not hurt. Is my supply drying up? I'm actually going to let it dry up bc EP is not for me. I'd love to BF but she doesn't latch on well and with her being a preemie the doctor wants to know how much she is taking in. :/

Quoting AF - Blessed with 2:" I've been EP for a little over 4 weeks now. I'm starting to see that my boobs are not getting big as ... [snip!] ... love to BF but she doesn't latch on well and with her being a preemie the doctor wants to know how much she is taking in. :/"

That's what happened with me. It sounds like you are drying up. Cabbage leaves help dry you up as well.

It sounds like you are and thats what im afraid is gunna happen to me! She isnt latching on either thats why im using a bottle. I dont want to use formula cuz breast milk is so much better for them plus it doesnt cost anything. I just really hope i dont dry up.

Take funagreek, blessed thistle and pump a ton. Every few hours to keep your supply up. Also, you can work on the latching problems.Its not too late. Call the hospital and ask for a feeding syringe because babies prefer bottles over the breast. I did syringe feeding for a while and it worked SO MUCH better to help my son get latching. My hospital was certified"baby friendly" so they did a ton of great things to help me.

She is probably used to the bottle because its faster and easier. I would switch to a breastflow bottle when you absolutely NEED to use one and pump until you feel your let down before latching. Call an LC and keep working at it. Exclusively pumping is great and good for the baby but it's hard! It would be great if you could get em to latch! It would make life a lot easier for you.

Milk supply info:
http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/low-supply/


Latching problems:
http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/back-to-breast/


Also, try taking a luke warm bath and latching your little one in there when you can. It simulates the womb and can bring back their latching reflux like they are a new born all over again. It worked for me!

I had to pump for 3 months so please don't give up. Its hard but well worth it. Babies are trying to learn as much as you are! I hope this information helps!