Nursing strike!! :/

My son will be 4 weeks old in 3 days.  When he was born my milk had not come in and I learned that I have slightly inverted nipples.  The nurses advised supplementing him wih a bottle until I could nurse.  I have been pumping these last few weeks and giving him breastmilk via bottle as much as possible, but I'm not getting enough milk to make it through the day so he does get formula as well.  I'm trying to get him to feed from the breast but he wants nothing to do with it.  He arches his back and fusses when I bring him to the breast.  I've tried nipple shields, feeding some breastmilk from the bottle before the breast,  catching him before he wakes to try to get him to nurse and it's always the same,  ends in both if us frustrated and I just end up bottle feeding him.  I really don't want to give up but I don't know what else to do.  Please help!!!

[logigirl]

I had this happen, exactly. I would keep at it until one day I held dd on my chest & she found her way to the nipple and started to nurse. I had a lot of topless days at first due to countless pumping hours and attempts to feed. It all worked out. It is a long and exhausting process but if you're dedicated to it, the best advice is to keep trying.

[CantWait2BAMommy]

Today has been one of those days where I'm just completely exhausted.  My husband has been sick the last few days and hasn't been able to help with our son.  I'm tired and behind on pumping, laundry, and other household stuff and had had a pretty emotional day, cried quite a few times with my son. BUT your not going to believe this... HE ACTUALLY DID IT!  He latched for the first time EVER to the left side for 25 min!! I couldn't believe it!  When he first started and I heard his first big gulps I cried happy tears!! I was just amazed it felt so good to have him actually do it for the first time.  He fell asleep after and I didn't make him go to the right but I will start with that breast at the next feeding.  I hope he continues to nurse!! Fingers crossed for no more troubles!!

Sorry long response but I'm just super excited I had to share it with somebody!  Thankyou for your advise,  I will definitely do my best to be persistent.  Breastfeeding is very important to me :)

[mum2beagain]

Ah, glad he was able to nurse to day, keep up the good work mama.

[mature_enough]

That's such great news! Good Job mama and great advice Logi. I love the "topless" comment. Skin-to-skin is my version of a "cure all" to almost any breastfeeding problem.

[logigirl]

lol, congrats! I know how you feel, breath easy :) If you ever feel you need help let us know. These ladies on here have been the greatest support team ever... and i have had MANY hurdles to successful breastfeeding, so this forum has helped tremendously! Have a good time bfing and enjoy that baby!!!

[CantWait2BAMommy]

Thankyou ladies!  I am so thankful to have support on here,  it's so helpful.  Well we had that 1 first great experience THEN lol I couldn't get him on to save my life that night and all he next day.  Kinda brought me back down feeling like I may never get it again.  So I ended up calling the lactation consultant at the hospital I delivered at yesterday and we wen and saw her today.  My little stinker latched right on NO PROBLEM once we got in there!  Lol of course I was excited but in disbelief because he latched on so easily! So we just talked for a while about my concerns while I was nursing then went home.  :) Today has been a pretty good day after that appointment we had 1 not so great start but still got him latched quite a few times today!  Yay!  

BUT THE KICKER IS.... He ONLY wants the left breast.  Will not take the right!  Im not exactly sure why.  When I pump I get more milk from the right.  Maybe it's too fast for him, but he wolnt even latch so I don't feel like its that.  My nipple doesn't stick out as much as the left side but I still feel he should be able to latch to it.  I've tried pumping before to make it stick out more and ice to make it harder but no luck.  Gotta keep trying though I hope to be able to get him on both.  He seems to still be hungry once he drains the left. But super excited to at least has him nursing on one! Good start!

Any suggestions or ideas on how to get him to take the other breast as well??

Thanks so much for your help!  

[SunWorshiper_26]

Omg your success made me cry happy tears!  Try pumping a min to get that nipple out a bit then try latching him on there

[Brittny27]

I pumped for the first 3.5 months! every 4 hours day and night. She would not latch. I would cry and feel like such a failure because I couldn't nurse her. I tried nipple shields and pumping a little before feeding to get rid of the engorgement to make it easier for her to latch. Because I was pumping I was an over producer. I pumped 10oz every 4 hours. Once I went down to nursing only after about 4.5 months I no longer produce like that and at 8 months I stopped leaking.

I was finally able to get her to latch on with a LOT of work and using the nipple shield. I think she was so use to the latex feel from the bottle nipple. It was a lot of work and I would not change it for anything. She's now 17 months old and a boob leech! I don't think were giving up breastfeeding any time soon.

Keep at it and find a Le Leche League near you for the support. I don't think I would have been able to do it with out other moms support. I didn't have any in my family supporting me except DH. Everyone else was telling me to just give up and use formula. I never wanted formula for my daughter and cried about having to give it in the hospital or they weren't going to discharge her.