Do I Attempt Breastfeeding with #2?
Jun 9, 2017 8:31:05 GMT -5
Post by bootsorhearts on Jun 9, 2017 8:31:05 GMT -5
Hey ladies!
This group was very helpful when I was struggling with breastfeeding issues with #1, so I need some honest advice from you as I prepare for the arrival of #2 (September!)
I'll try to summarize the issues I had with baby #1 and why I ended up as a (struggling) EPer for 9 months. I want some input into whether the same issues are likely to happen again.
Issues:
1. Baby Boots was born at 36 weeks and was 4lb 11oz due to IUGR. He was unable to latch at all without a nipple shield.
2. With a nipple shield, he still had a terrible latch, he was only on the nipple, he couldn't get any boob in his mouth
3. After a few weeks, his latch was destroying my nipples, even with the shield so it had to go
4. Even with the nipple shield, we had to supplement with pumped milk or formula because he wasn't getting enough
5. Once the nipple shield was gone, same issue: terrible latch that wasn't deep enough and tore up my nipples and he couldn't get enough milk out.
6. I have very dense, hard breasts that don't compress easily, which I suspect maybe partly why he couldn't get enough in his mouth to get a good latch
7. A regular electric pump didn't get milk out, I had to use a hospital grade or manual pump.
8. Even with the hospital grade pump on a high setting, milk would not come out unless I manually squeezed HARD while pumping, the whole time. This made my boobs very sore and bruised. This issue never resolved, even after pumping for 9 months. My boobs looked like two big blueberries most of the time!
9. To get my supply up (which I had to do in a panic because baby decided one day to reject formula), I had to start pumping every 2 hours, around the clock, for almost a full week. Even then, I *just* barely made enough, I rarely had any leftover to freeze.
10. Once my supply came up, I was able to pump on a more reasonable schedule and only pump when he ate.
11. Up until he was 5 months old, I still tried at least once a day to get him to nurse but his latch was always shallow (tried all the youtube tricks, met with two different lactation consultants, etc.) so it never worked and he got frustrated even when he did latch because milk didn't come out fast enough for him.
12. We had him evaluated for tongue and lip tie which he had but both were mild. Nevertheless we had them fixed at a pediatric dentist. Did not help at all, but he was almost 3 months old at that point. His latch never got better.
So yes he was born small and maybe had trouble getting the hang of it, but I can't help thinking that because my breasts are so hard and I had so much trouble getting milk out of them, there was just no way he was going to. Is that something that can happen?? And if that's the case, wouldn't I be likely to have the same problem with #2? Needless to say with all the issues, I struggled with post-partum depression for which I had to take medication and I'd so much like to avoid that this time.
Any advice, thoughts, ideas appreciated.
ETA: I did try squeezing while he was latched, but that would cause him to lose his latch. My breasts are relatively small and stiff/hard so I think that was why that trick didn't work.
This group was very helpful when I was struggling with breastfeeding issues with #1, so I need some honest advice from you as I prepare for the arrival of #2 (September!)
I'll try to summarize the issues I had with baby #1 and why I ended up as a (struggling) EPer for 9 months. I want some input into whether the same issues are likely to happen again.
Issues:
1. Baby Boots was born at 36 weeks and was 4lb 11oz due to IUGR. He was unable to latch at all without a nipple shield.
2. With a nipple shield, he still had a terrible latch, he was only on the nipple, he couldn't get any boob in his mouth
3. After a few weeks, his latch was destroying my nipples, even with the shield so it had to go
4. Even with the nipple shield, we had to supplement with pumped milk or formula because he wasn't getting enough
5. Once the nipple shield was gone, same issue: terrible latch that wasn't deep enough and tore up my nipples and he couldn't get enough milk out.
6. I have very dense, hard breasts that don't compress easily, which I suspect maybe partly why he couldn't get enough in his mouth to get a good latch
7. A regular electric pump didn't get milk out, I had to use a hospital grade or manual pump.
8. Even with the hospital grade pump on a high setting, milk would not come out unless I manually squeezed HARD while pumping, the whole time. This made my boobs very sore and bruised. This issue never resolved, even after pumping for 9 months. My boobs looked like two big blueberries most of the time!
9. To get my supply up (which I had to do in a panic because baby decided one day to reject formula), I had to start pumping every 2 hours, around the clock, for almost a full week. Even then, I *just* barely made enough, I rarely had any leftover to freeze.
10. Once my supply came up, I was able to pump on a more reasonable schedule and only pump when he ate.
11. Up until he was 5 months old, I still tried at least once a day to get him to nurse but his latch was always shallow (tried all the youtube tricks, met with two different lactation consultants, etc.) so it never worked and he got frustrated even when he did latch because milk didn't come out fast enough for him.
12. We had him evaluated for tongue and lip tie which he had but both were mild. Nevertheless we had them fixed at a pediatric dentist. Did not help at all, but he was almost 3 months old at that point. His latch never got better.
So yes he was born small and maybe had trouble getting the hang of it, but I can't help thinking that because my breasts are so hard and I had so much trouble getting milk out of them, there was just no way he was going to. Is that something that can happen?? And if that's the case, wouldn't I be likely to have the same problem with #2? Needless to say with all the issues, I struggled with post-partum depression for which I had to take medication and I'd so much like to avoid that this time.
Any advice, thoughts, ideas appreciated.
ETA: I did try squeezing while he was latched, but that would cause him to lose his latch. My breasts are relatively small and stiff/hard so I think that was why that trick didn't work.
