Breastfeeding. Who is and how it's going

[Brittny27]

Was just wondering who all decided to breastfeed and how it is going?

I have always said I would breastfeed when I had kids. I never imagined it would be so hard. It's taken nearly 9 weeks for Kaelynn to learn and now she is a pro.

I pumped for the first 5 weeks. I went to a Le Leche Leauge meeting and got some really good information and was determined to work at her nursing. I started with a nipple shield since she was so use to the feel of silicone from the bottle nipple. She resisted at first and there were many tears from me feeling like I failed as a mother because I couldn't breastfeed. I know that's not true but it's how I felt.  We used the nipple shield for 3 weeks. I tried several times to go without and she would just scream. It's now been a week without the nipple shield and it's such a different experiance nursing.

I've been dealing with engorgment as my supply adjusted from pumping 7-9oz every 3-4 hours to nursing. Kaelynn only eats 3-4 oz every 3 hours. This morning I  had to leave her with dad so I pumped and only got 6 oz and that was after 8 hours of her not nursing. So a pretty big drop.

I've noticed that she isn't as gassy either now that she doesn't take the bottle and the rare times she has been given one I do notice she gets gassy.  
  

[pameladawn414]

For the first 5 weeks I was exclusively breastfeeding, but Anna was having difficulties with getting put down for the night, so I started giving her two ounces of formula at each feed during the night and then topping her off with breastmilk and now she has been sleeping alot easier! I also give her the occasional bottle if we're out and about somewhere because I don't quite feel comfortable nursing in public but I try to breastfeed as much as possible.

[nola0805]

Aside from some supplements in the first two weeks, I have been exclusively breastfeeding.  I am with Bittny - it has been far more of a challenge than I expected.  Finn has a small and recessed chin, which makes a good latch difficult and as a result I had a low milk supply.  We were at a lactation support group when he was 4 days old.  I now have more milk (thanks to fenugreek) and he now latches better, but I have to use two hands to feed him and I must use the boppy (no breastfeeding while I lay in the bed and no breastfeeding in public without the boppy).  So breastfeeding has meant that I am stuck in the house most of the time.  I have also been pretty sore, and pumping has made that worse.  There are times that I enjoy it but mostly I am doing this out of obligation for his health and the hope that it will pay off and become enjoyable in the future (though his little sounds of contentment when he nurses do melt my heart).  He also refuses to take a bottle and I start work next week - not sure how this will work - my poor DH will have to endure some screaming.  

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I don't think it's bad that he's getting it from the bottle at all.  The biggest and most important reason for breastfeeding is for the baby to get the breastmilk for the nutrients and immune support.  Regardless of HOW they get it.  With my last son I found it easier to just pump and bottle feed and I'm doing the same thing this time around with Lily.  Because of several issues (my kids have major underbites, small mouths, I have big nipples and one is inverted) we have major latch issues and like you said its more frusterating than anything else.  I have found that we are both more comfortable with pumping and bottle feeding.  I can still bond with her just as well as if we were nursing.  I am also able to ensure she is getting enough at every feeding.  

For the first 6 1/2 weeks I had to supplement due to supply issues..partly because I ALWAYS have supply issues and partyl becuase of anemia due to partpartum blood loss.  I worked at pumping, took herbs etc.  For the last 2, almost 3, weeks we have elminated formula.  I was barely managing to stay ahead of her feedings with my pumping and one day I looked in the fridge and realized I had 8 bottles of breastmilk for her.  I stopped giving formula and she has been on breastmilk exclusively since.  I have been able to keep a stock of 8-10 bottls ahead of what she is eating so I've really been able to get my supply up and running.  I don't know how long I will continue to pump breastmilk.  With my last I stopped at 3 months, but we were buying a house and I was working fulltime and it was just less time consuming to do formula.  I'll just continue as long as I feel comfortable doing so.  

I don't know exactly how much she weighs, but best guess is just over 10 lbs.  I stood on the scale with and without her yesterday to see.  She doesn't have her 2 month appt until next friday, the 12th.  She'll be getting her shots then too.  She's really a good, sweet baby.  I love it when she smiles and starts to coo at me.  She sleeps really well, especially at night.  Some nights she will wake up a little and I can give her a pacifier (we did't start using one til she was 6 weeks) and she'll go back to sleep for the rest of the night.  Those nights she'll sleep around 9 hours.  Other nights she'll wake up to eat once after she's slept around 6 hours.  She's still pretty petite.  She's still wearing mostly newborn size clothes and is just now starting to fit (loosely) some of her 0-3 mos stuff.  

[cherylsangel]

In the beginning I was breastfeeding but stopped due to really bad pain. I pumped for awhile but i wasnt getting alot so I switched fynn to formula. Just recently i decided to switch back to the breast. He still remembers to latch and does really well but my lactation consultant says he is not sucking hard enough to get any milk out. At the appt he only took in one ounce, my supply is really low but I have been working on making sure i pump every 2 to 3 hours and it is slowly increasing. I want fynn to be exclusively breast milk but i think I want him to take it from the bottle.

Do you think that it is bad that I am not into him being at the boob? I find that instead of it being a bonding experience, we both just get frustrated and I dont want that. I thought maybe when my supply increases i could see if he will try taking milk from my boob again. I just want us to have a better experience then the one we are getting from feeding on the breast.

[Brittny27]

I agree I LOVE my boppy. I have two.

[Clysta]

I'm still breastfeeding. It's not been any more hard than I imagined it would be, but I think I've had it easier than others as well. I recently saw a lactation consultant and found out my positioning was wrong which was causing the majority of pain in my breasts. I got a boppy (which is wonderful to have breastfeeding or not) and it helped a lot.

I also had my first night away from Kylie on Saturday and got blocked ducts and massive engorgment as a result, even with frequent pumping.

She seems to get really gassy whether she gets a bottle or the breast. I'm not sure if it's due to my diet or just her. Right now she's only getting a bottle when someone else watches her, which isn't often, and she hasn't had formula in over a month. I'm glad we finally managed to cut it out.