re: Low Supply and Relactation Support and Info!

Looking for advice. Please help.

http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about1120593.html

I need help.

i have a 5 day old who didnt latch well so i decided to pump until my nipples healed and now that i try and put him back on the breast he fusses and kind of refuses.... any hope i can get him back on or will i have to pump now.

I'm trying to relactate.
Here is my reaaaallllly long story:
I mostly breastfed from the start. I was pretty much forced into giving my daughter formula in the hospital. They claimed that if they didn't give it to her, she would get sick because of her blood sugar, because she was "so big"   (7lbs 15 1/2oz)
The whole time I was trying to BF, it was very frustrating. MJ did not want to latch on most of the time, and would break suction a lot, and I developed a blister on one nipple, so I started pumping. My supply started out okay for a few day, getting 2.5-3oz every time, and slowly went to barely 2oz. After a while, I tried to get her to latch on again, with not much success. I would occasionally get a good latch and it would last a good amount of time. But that was very rare. So I kept pumping.
We moved to a new place. I tried to latch her on again because I was getting less and less every time I pumped. This time was even worse than the others. She would latch, but very poor latches, and would unlatch every 30 seconds to every 4 seconds and try to get back on, only to repeat the process as many as 40-50 times every feeding. Needless to say it became exhausting. I started to dread nursing and felt like a failure every time that it didn't work.
Around this time my husband and I decided to call in a LC. She visited my home and she basically told me that as soon as my daughter had any sort of latch, to hold her head to my breast and not let her pull away, that MJ would improve the latch as she sucked (she didn't, it was still painful) and would 'adjust' to the new way if I kept it up. This technique did NOT work, and only made my daughter scream and cry every single time I tried.
It got to the point where I was starting to resent my daughter -I would tell her that if she couldn't take my breast, she would go hungry, and would leave her in her crib and make my husband take care of her while I cried, I felt so horrible and guilty. I couldn't believe later that I was so angry, and at my baby! I still don't totally get that, but I do still feel guilty about it.
The pump for some reason would not take my breast- it would somewhat work, but after each pull, it would push my breast away... wtf?! So I would even get really angry and frustrated with the breast pump, to the point where I would disassemble it and throw the pieces across the room. After one particularly horrible day, I stopped trying completely- no pumping, no attempting to nurse at all. I never completely dried up, but the only stimulation my breast/nipples had was sexual.
I did not try to pump or anything for 2 months (from ~3M until now). I still can get a little dribble. I have been pumping as much as possible for 2 days now. I can now get few drops out of each breast, but not enough for there to even be anything in the bottle.
I really need advice and encouragement from anyone that can help me. I have recently tried to get my daughter to latch on, and she will not at all. She cries and gets mad/annoyed when I try to give her my nipple. I don't know what to do, and I have no idea how long it will take if I can only pump. Help?

just wanted to bump this and see if we could get it going again. =D

i have a toddler and ive noticed that my supply has been dropping. i have been working more lately and only been able to feed her at night when i am home. it has been fine for awhile but it seems that one side has become her preferance. well as one would imagine i have one huge boob thats always full and a tiny little boob. it is driving me crazy and makes me uncomfortable. i have tried increasing nursing on the sad side when im with her but she gets pissed off after awhile because there is little milk. no matter what i do i cant really seem to get more off the one side. i have debated on taking fenugreek for it but i think that would make my other boobs problem worse. gah!

*sorry vent*

Quoting *Lolo*:" i have a toddler and ive noticed that my supply has been dropping. i have been working more lately and ... [snip!] ... side. i have debated on taking fenugreek for it but i think that would make my other boobs problem worse. gah! *sorry vent*"

come ask in the BFing thread!
http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about1620511.html

Quoting dream {BFT}:" come ask in the BFing thread! http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about1620511.html"

i hate asking in there because i cant keep up.... i get like 50 pages behind and dont have time to read it all!

Quoting *Lolo*:" i have a toddler and ive noticed that my supply has been dropping. i have been working more lately and ... [snip!] ... side. i have debated on taking fenugreek for it but i think that would make my other boobs problem worse. gah! *sorry vent*"

Okay momma - you HAVE to pump that little side & you probably have to pump it twice as often as you nurse from the big side. I had (at one time) a small B cup on one side & a DD on the other side...LOL It was funny - sort of, unless you were ME in which case it was not funny. Today I can laugh as I fixed it - but it was so hard to deal with. So you will have to pump pump pump & try to get her to latch for as long as she is willing, even if it's just two minutes. Stimulation is what you need. You can take something like fenugreek - but I am not sure I would in your case. You will up supply in both sides doing that & although there are ways around that (like doing a little pumping, etc) if you are at all prone to clogs, you could get one. I would try however to make lactation cookies - and then see if the small side seems fuller & see if that helps you to latch her on that breast.

http://www.food.com/recipe/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-lactation-cookies-by-noel-trujillo-192346

Quoting justanothamotha:" Okay momma - you HAVE to pump that little side & you probably have to pump it twice as often as you ... [snip!] ... you to latch her on that breast. http://www.food.com/recipe/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-lactation-cookies-by-noel-trujillo-192346"

how are those different than regular oatmeal choc chip cookies?

Quoting dream {BFT}:" how are those different than regular oatmeal choc chip cookies?"

They contain flax seed & brewers yeast - both of which support healthy lactation. They are not galactogogues though - so they are milder than those & are less prone to causing oversupply issues (although anything that improves supply can do that if milk isn't extracted well enough). Frankly I thought they worked (for ME) far better than fenugreek anyway. Plus - oatmeal helps of course, but old fashioned rolled oats are far more effective than quick oats...so any oatmeal cookie can help - but these have some bonus things. AND they are delicious. I always make them in a gift basket for any new nursing momma I know. I think the best nursing momma gift is as follows: A basket with a set of soothie gel pads, a tube of lansinoh, a batch of lactation cookies, a dozen bottles of water, a few bottles of juice, some snacks (tailored to mommas liking - but usually fruit, granola bars, crackers, anything that doesn't require refrigeration), chap stick, a small thing of hand lotion & hand sanitizer, I usually throw in a few therma care heat patches for achy back, and a letter of encouragement about what a great thing they are doing for baby & for themselves & how it is okay to not love nursing all the time & to not get discouraged when it's tough, instead reach out to someone who understands & offers support (like me   ) - and I ALWAYS throw in a homemade coupon for one free meal made from scratch by me & a couple of loads of laundry & I expect them to cash them in! Seriously - try giving THAT to a nursing mom & see if she doesn't cry. We ALL need help, love & support.

Quoting justanothamotha:" They contain flax seed & brewers yeast - both of which support healthy lactation. They are not galactogogues ... [snip!] ... cash them in! Seriously - try giving THAT to a nursing mom & see if she doesn't cry. We ALL need help, love & support."

aww that is so sweet. Sounds perfect. maybe I'll make MYSELF a basket next time. lol since I will never have my mom or friends or anyone around for any of my births.

the oatmeal cookies sound delicious. In fact, my aunt makes amazing oatmeal raisin cookies .. which is why I asked if they were different than normal because I don't really NEED a supply boost. lol

now I want some cookies!

Quoting Miss_Baby_Moma 2:" I need help. i have a 5 day old who didnt latch well so i decided to pump until my nipples healed ... [snip!] ... try and put him back on the breast he fusses and kind of refuses.... any hope i can get him back on or will i have to pump now."

ok well pumping that early only keeps u from building the supply right for ur baby... he probably got lazy.. wen u takem off the breast n pump n givem bottles they get lazy n dotn wana latch cuz its more work... stop the bottles n nurse... a 5 day old is going to hav trouble latching they r new at bfing!! thats ok and normal after a few MONTHS u will both experts at it but untill then have patience and keep trying to get the baby to latch on try the football hold.. r u using a boppy or pillow?? bring the baby to the breast not ur breats to the baby.. giving up n pumping/suplimeting will not make her latch a few days later it will only destroy all the work u started...u will not get as much milk wen pumping so ur supply wont be on with ur baby... in the beginning ur nipples may be sore or crack use lansinol creme but keep nursing n they will get tougher n u will be good.. it took 2 wks for mine to not be sore n bothered nemore.. but soreness can also be from a bad latch if it goes beyond that first couple of weeks. u need a good latch lay ur baby bally to belly and get them to open wide and put ur nipple in towards the roof of the babys mouth if the latch i no good dont keep going this will only cause soreness break the suction with ur finger and re latch hope this helps!

Quoting M.A.N.D.Y:" I'm trying to relactate. Here is my reaaaallllly long story: I mostly breastfed from the start. I was ... [snip!] ... when I try to give her my nipple. I don't know what to do, and I have no idea how long it will take if I can only pump. Help?"

ok so how old is she?I think the issue may be that she has gotten used to a bottle so is too lazy to nurse this is very common   .. I makes me sooo mad that they told u to give her formula in the hospital cuz she was o big.. thats bs!!! My daughter was 8 lbs n she never had formula. I told them I did not want them giving her ANYTHING !! she never left mr room till the next day to get her foot pricked n stuff. They started u off badly by doin that but hopefully u can get back on track. I have never relactated but im in a bfing thead that relates to it and Lactation consultants recommend pumping before each feeding to boost supply. So is she not nursing at all? are you giving her a formula? first take it slow and relax and try geting her on the breast. if u are feeling agitated the baby will sense it so you have to relax! and try to enjoy this closeness with ur baby. know that its not ur fault n ur trying!! So u need to to get her interested in taking the breast again... Start off trying to nurse her when she not super hungry.. this is prolly why ur having issues. if shes used to getting abottle n is really hungry she will not have the patience to nurse n will just scream for a bottle. ud think it would be the opposite but its not.. So try nurse her between feeding or atleast before shes actually really hungry to get her reaquanted with nursing. HOw long has it ben since u were ebfing??

resubscribing. =D

This seems really helpful! My baby is 11 days old. In the hospital she did PERFECT at breastfeeding! Had a perfect latch & feeding from the very first time..just after birth. As soon as we got home that all changed. She lost almost a pound in those first few days. Kept losing weight at home because she wouldn't continue nursing anymore. Her latch was still perfect, she'd get a few swallows, & quit. Start pulling away from breast and fuss. I went 6 hours of trying to get her to nurse & finally caved in to the bottle/formula. She took it way too well for my liking. She passed right out & slept like an angel. This happens every time I feed her now. Whether formula or the little breast milk I can get pumped out. It's like she wants her food NOW & doesn't wanna work for it. Her pediatrician told me to supplement a few feedings a day to help gain her weight back. After a couple days of doing that, she gained her weight back, but absolutely refuses the breast completely now. It's truly breaking my heart because I was so set on breastfeeding! I wanna cry every time I have to make a bottle of formula. I have a manual pump (all I could afford) & I can only get an ounce or ounce & a half for both breasts together, but it's still not enough for her. She's eating up to 4oz every feeding. I'm getting discouraged from pumping at all because it's just not enough & half the time I don't even get that much pumped out. I'm looking into the herbal stuff to help increase my milk supply so maybe I can at least pump more. And I'm seeing about possibly renting a better pump, maybe that'll help?
I'm so stressed out about all this. I just want her nurse so badly because I hate formula & I love the bonding experience between us. I'm at the verge of giving up all-together, but I really really don't want to. If this makes any sense, am I doing the right thing by continuing to try different things or is it hopeless now that she's taken to the bottle so well?