Breastfeeding SOS - Please Help!

My DS and I are having a bit of a problem with breastfeeding.  He is 1 month 1 week old, but we have been breastfeeding only for the past week as he was in NICU.  He has lost 5 oz in the past 4 days, and they are considering re-admitting him if we cannot get him to get more milk.  Here is the problem...

I am working on eating more and drinking more, but in all honesty I haven't had much of an appetite.  This affects how much milk I have.  I have been so tired and stressed out, and the more stressed I am the less milk I have.  Lastly, he bites.  I know he doesn't have teeth, but he has an incredibly strong suck and literally bites down with his gums.  This is the main problem as that causes excruciating pain like needles going thru my nipples and stops my milk.  So, the problem is not that I do not produce enough milk, because I do- the problem is he bites.  

I really want to breastfeed my son and do not want to give up on him.  However, I've had to add supplementing with a bottle to make sure he does not dehydrate and so he'll gain weight so I don't have to live in the hospital again.  In addition to all of this, I am pretty sure he has colic.  I am literally at my wits end... has anyone dealt with this / have any ideas or solutions?  Thanks in advance...

-Bearhitch

[AnnieBrooke]

Have you worked with a lactation consultant?  The first thing they will tell you is to make sure the latch is right.  He needs to be wrapping his lips onto your nipple like the bell of a trumpet -- flanged out, both the top lip and the bottom (like a monkey when it goes ooh ooh ooh, I guess you could describe it).  That will ease the pain.  He will bite less, too, as the milk will flow better.  A lactation consultant can be recommended by either the labor & delivery section of your hospital or by your gyn.

[ZevasMom]

I agree with AnnieBrooke; however, if all else fails, I would suggest pumping and bottle feeding the breastmilk... At least that way he will be getting all the goodness of mom's milk... Good luck!

[tmv]

Great advice, annie. Also make sure that he is back as far as he can be on the areola. The further back, the less sensitive. Breast feed often. Sometimes they bite bc that is how the bottle works. But, it can be retrained. Also, some babies are just born biting. Best wishes.

[BearHitch]

Yes, I talked with 2 of the 3 consultants at NICU and they all said he had a good latch, but no one really had ideas about biting.  We see another one today or on Monday, but I was just wondering if anyone else had had a biter and what they had to do.  I hear of a lot o moms who give up on breastfeeding in the 1st month, and of those who didn't and are so glad- I don't want to give up.

[mum2beagain]

You need to have a lactation consultant visit you again, I failed with my NICU baby at breastfeeeding and was heart broken, it is so much harder for them to learn to bresatfeed after all the invasive things they endure in the NICU. He could be biting because he is frustrated that he can't get the milk, maybe his suck isn't strong enough yet. Get the consultant to show you how to finger/tube feed your baby with expressed breat milk, I did that with my second and it really helped to strengthen his suck.

[jenstam]

A lactation consultant would be a big help again. Also, they can clamp down or bite, like you described if you have a powerful milk ejection reflex. He might be doing that to stop the flow because it's too much for him to swallow at once. Try pumping for 5 minutes or so before you feed him and see if that helps. If you are supplementing with a bottle, make sure it's your milk if you want to succeed at breastfeeding. Introducing formula will create less milk production and will slowly dwindle your supply.

The first month or so is very trying and exhausting. There were times I wanted to cry and I did. I had my doubts also in those early weeks. Brody was in the NICU also. It is not an easy transition but with patience you can make it work. PM me if you have anymore questions, I would be happy to try to help. **hugs**

[BearHitch]

Well thanks for the advice.  I talked to the lactation consultant last night and she told me that I had to pump and I came to the terrible realization that my milk supply is next to nil which is why he is biting- to try and get more milk.  So, now I am pumping after every feed and stopping him when he starts biting.  It is just so frustrating!!!