Breast feeding! I want to breast feed my son to be, but i wasnt successful with my daughter, help?

[littlelady2010_kaitlyn]

This is going to be long, sorry-It would mean a lot to me to be able to breast feed my son when he is born, but I had a horrible experience with my daughter, first she was premature by 5weeks, so I think that had a lot to do with it. But I had no support, I tried to get help, but I couldn't even find a lactation consultant that would see me within 3months, by then it was too late. I didn't get to breast feed right away, it was 24hours later, because of my c-section. They were giving me a lot of morphine to control my pain, I didn't react well to it. So she had bottles for the first 24hours. Then I started to try to breast feed, she did latch alright, but it seemed like she wasn't able to suck hard enough to get much out, so they had me supplementing with formula, I tried and tried, I was feeding her every 3hours, then formula after(that's what the hospital told me to do) but I just wasn't making much, so they put me on domperidone(sp) a med to increase my milk, I don't know what happened but my breast felt so hard and swollen all the time, but still I could only make 1/4ounce out of each breast. And she was eating 4ounces of formula after breast feeding by this time. I tried pumping in between feedings, but still nothing. Eventually she just started rejecting the breast, so discouraged and feeling like a failure, I gave up.                               One big concern with my little guy, is he will probably be born early, they tell me as early 32-34weeks, so he might have feeding problems that way.   So I have signed up for a breastfeeding class. But what else can I do to be successful? Does anyone have any tips to over come problems like I had? Any tips or stories of your own to share? Anything would be appreciated thanks for listening.

[littlelady2010_kaitlyn]

Wow Sunworshiper_26, I have spdondylilothesis, a break in the L5 S1, with the disk now 45percent slipped out also spondylitis. Our back issues arnt the exact same, but they sound very similar! That's so weird, I didn't bother posting the exact name, most people have no idea what it is. How do you manage your pain now? Did your little one go through withdrawals because of the med? I know percocet and vicodein are very similar drugs. Yes I didn't know that mothers on pain killers tend to deliver early either, but my ob has treated many high risk women with pain issues, and that's what she told me, that they all tend to deliver around 34-35weeks. I totally understand GERD, my daughter had it when she was born at 35weeks. But she also had a milk allergy. It was so frustrating, because my doctor didn't believe how bad her reflex was she would projectile vomit 4feet! I kept telling him there was something wrong, he said no its normal for babies to spit up, this was not spitting up, finally one day after more then a few visits to his office, she projectile vomited on him, well sure enough, he said ya ok that isn't normal, we changed her to lactose free formula, we would sit her up right after feedings, and we also found burping her 4times thought a bottle made a big difference! I hope things settle down with your little one soon, I know how upsetting it can be to have them feed then lose it all!

[SunWorshiper_26]

Lilliady2010 I did not know that those on narcotics tend to deliver early!  I have a fractured spine and an arthritic condition of the spine called Ankylosing spondylitis and I took vicodein regularly through my pregnancy, like you it was that or be unable to move.

We are getting better at BF but with my preemie it's stressful bc she has GERD :( silly reflex

[littlelady2010_kaitlyn]

JoyRenee - There are a few reasons why they think he will be born early. First, because of my daughter, I may have made it to 35weeks with her, but for 7weeks before that, I kept going into labor.                             Then, I'm already showing signs of early labor, my cervix is funneling, its very short and soft, and I've just recently started to loose bits and pieces of my plug. I have contractions quite a bit though out the day, and with each week they come more. If my cervix changes anymore, I will be put on a daily medication to stop them, but they told me it may not work.           Last, I feel very very guilty about this factor, I have a fairly bad back problem, I'm in pain everyday, before I got pregnant, I did struggle quit a bit, but now as I get farther along, I'm unable to even get out of bed on my own most days, I use a walker almost all of the time now its so bad. So just for me to somewhat manage my pain, I'm on daily narcotics, at this point they feel a short acting medication is better so I am on 2percocet every 4hours. However this doesn't even make it bare able most days, but I refuse to take anything stronger. My obgyn has treated many women with pain issues, most that are on high does of meds deliver at about 34weeks. I feel as though my body is just giving up at this point, but I hope that I can keep him in for at least another 7weeks,(I'm 29 now). So because of this issue he and I will face is possible withdrawals at birth from the medication, I'm absolutely terrified, I'm learning all I can, seeing every specialist you can think of, and hoping that things will be ok. Like I said, I feel so guilty taking these medications and the possible effects. But I will do everything I possible can to make it easier for him, that's another reason why I want to breast feed so badly. Thanks for listening.

[littlelady2010_kaitlyn]

Wow ladies I must say thank you S0 MUCH for sharing your experiences with me. It really does give me hope that I will be able to succeed with this. I want this so badly for his sake more than anything, I think before my main problem was not have any support. So that's why I'm doing all possible research, to prepare before hand.         SunWorshiper_26, I hope you and your little one get the hang of it soon, you guys can do it. Thanks for sharing!      chrissymom - wow that's truly amazing that you kept trying after being not being successful with 2! And how you were determined to at least give your premature little one, the best start possible by continuing to pump, even when you weren't getting much. Also how hard was it seeing your little one in the NICU? How did you coupe? I'm so nervous that I'm going to be a complete wreck, how did you leave the NICU? I honestly don't know how I will even leave to shower or sleep. I'm so very scared. Oh and thank you, it means a lot that you took the time to wright me such a long post!                       StephRox_13- wow that's truly amazing how you were able to connect so well with your baby, while he was in the NICU, that you picked up on his cues. Are you weaning him now?does breast feeding at a later age help you connect with him still? I'm just curious about why women continue even after the first year.  

[JoyRenee]

May I ask why they think your little one will be born early?

The more prepared you are the more success you will have. Don't let the baby have bottles for starters. If you can breastfeed within their first hour of life. It might be sore, tender or even painful. That does NOT always mean incorrect latch! I know from experience.

My first two daughters I failed at nursing. With my third I was more prepared and didn't have any bottles or formula at my disposal. It was nurse or nothing! And she is still nursing at 15-months-old.

If you are tenacious and persistent then you can do it! And if you need more immediate help contact La Leche League.

[StephRox13]

I guess I was really lucky that the hospital I had my son had a lactation specialist there & was very encouraging & helpful. My son was born at 33 weeks and beside a few other issues his main was eating apneas (where he'd try to suck then quit breathing). He ate thru a feeding tube thru his nose for a week or two. While doing that we'd try to get him to latch on or suck on a bottle nipple so he "thought" he was getting the milk thru that instead of gravity working thru his nose. I didn't have any problems making milk so I pumped all the time & took it up to the hospital, they would supplement it with vitamins & he'd eat that way. Then once he figured out how to latch on we still had to deal with the apnea part of it. He was still hooked up to machines while I nursed him until one day I noticed him squirming or making a face I sat him up & patted his back. Once he looked alright I started to get him going again the nurse asked why I stopped & sat him up. I told her he made a face, she said that he had quit breathing. So now he was able to "show" me when he was having problems & I was catching it so I was just a matter of time before he got released to come home.

I was able to nurse him for 16 months. I will just say every baby is different, hopefully the hospital where u have your son at has the programs you need. The best of luck you both.

[chrissymom]

Hey there, I had the same problem, all my babies have been premies, 34 weeks, 29 weeks, and 29+ weeks. I was the same as you the first two times, my little boys couldn't latch on and I was never encouraged or told that I could still try to breastfeed again when they got a bit bigger and stronger. However, with my little girl, it was the opposite sort of, the midwives had still been mentioning breast feeding to me while she was still in hospital which I thought strange, so I dismissed the idea thinking she wouldn't be able to do it, I was pumping regularily with a picture of her or something that she had been wearing, because this helps feeling closer to your baby, also it is known that C-section mums take a little longer to come into their milk, I started pumping every 3-4 hours for 15-20 minutes each breast even though there wasn't any milk coming, this alerts your bbs that the "baby" needs more. Anyways, my little girls got out of hospital at 9 weeks, and she was still having expressed breast milk via bottle then about a week later, she was still looking hungry after her bottle so i thought, why not, lets see what she does, so I put her to breast and she latched! I was tunned, also disappointed because I couldn't get her to do it next feed, I called my breast feeding helpline, (other breast feeding mums) and they were fabulous, so i think the breast feeding class will be invaluable for you, and after that I breast fed successfully until she was 10 months (teeth!) you can do it, I know you can, you are strong and determined, think positive, if your baby is early keep something that belongs to him close by, and pump like crazy as much as you can to encourage your milk supply, even if nothing comes out, and the class as I said should be no end of help to you. Good luck and all the best and well done for trying all this. You will be fabulous I know it. Sorry this was really long : P     all the best hunny. x

[SunWorshiper_26]

My little girl was born at 35 weeks we are still working on BF I pump and bottle feed after ever feeding but pump every 3 hrs to get your milk to come in if you aren't able to BF or not able to put her to the breast often. Also check out leche league they have support groups and offer lots and lots of help. Lastly don't hesitate to ask the staff at the hospital for help so you feel confident in BF before you leave the hospital. Make it clear this is your intention (to BF) and ask for ad much help as you need. Good luck!  My little girl and I are still trying to get the hang of it. Going to call a lactation consultant this week, she latches but doesn't suck well doesn't get enough from me but i would also like to BF.