Unexpected breastfeeding?

[mels823]

Just looking for some advice on this situation I was not expecting to be in!

I usually post on the exclusive pumping board.  My baby girl is about 5 weeks old.  Breastfeeding with her was just a miserable experience.  She just could not latch! After 4 different LCs trying to help, I gave up and resorted to EPing.  Pumping has been going just fine and I have it down to a science at this point. Yesterday, I had my shirt off getting ready to pump when my husband handed me the baby for a minute.  She very unexpectedly rooted around and latched on and had a full feeding session! I was so excited about this! A few hours later she was hungry again so I put her to the other side and she once again had a successful feeding session.  She was in a milk coma and fell right asleep.  

About 4 hours later she woke up for a nighttime feeding.  This time was not so successful.  I think my boobs were just way to full of milk.  They were leaking all over her and she would latch on for a minute and then start screaming.  I always have my best pumping sessions at night where the most milk is produced.  Is this the same while BFing? is there a way to get around this issue? I would love to continue to BF if I can and only pump to build a supply for when I go back to work.  

[bsquaredmsquared]

Congrats! What an unexpected surprise!

I would try pumping with a manual pump to empty a little bit first. I'm not an expert so I'd be interested to hear what the others have to say. On my end, I get the best output in the MOTN.

[Deleted]

You could pump a little first to give to your LO or store or if that doesn't matter to you just hand express into a burp cloth

[vavavictoria]

I dont know if this is an accepted method since I know most people aren't a fan of the shield but in my first months I was super engorged all the time and have one flat nipple. With a shield she could latch on when my breasts were too full and then you could take the shield off and relatch once the fullness has gone down a bit.

[fish8412]

Great!! I love my manual pump. Get one and pump a little bit to relieve engorgement before feeding LO.

[rosalie12]

Awesome news! I would also use the manual pump for a few minutes. I would not recommend a shield unless you absolutely need it. I am a slave to my shield. Haha

[mapetitefamille]

You're right; when you're too full, baby can't get a good latch. I just hand express into a burp cloth. You just need to do it enough so that the areola is soft.

[judyblume14]

What a very pleasant surprise! Latching can be tough for itty bitty babies - how exciting that she's ready to give it a second try! I had the same issue early on with being too full for her to get a good latch. I'd hand express into a towel at first, but then started pumping for just a minute or so and putting it in the fridge. After a few of these "relief" pumps, I'd combine story, and freeze. I didn't want to waste it!

As for your questions about when you get the yield from pumping... LO  wakes up just once in the MOTN (usually), and only ever takes one breast.  And often in the morning (6am), she has a very quick first feed.  So, my big pump of the day is my first pump at work (sometime between 8 and 9).

[mels823]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I think I will try to do a little hand expressing first... I haven't tried again since. It was so hard for me to fail with breastfeeding the first time that I am too scared to let myself fail at it the second time. This might not be the best week to try, I'm recovering from 3 wisdom teeth that just came out where nothing has been going right during the recovery, so I'm still in a lot of pain. Next week I'll give it a try again

[telos]

Feb 23, 2015 10:34:51 GMT -5 mels823 said:

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I think I will try to do a little hand expressing first... I haven't tried again since. It was so hard for me to fail with breastfeeding the first time that I am too scared to let myself fail at it the second time. This might not be the best week to try, I'm recovering from 3 wisdom teeth that just came out where nothing has been going right during the recovery, so I'm still in a lot of pain. Next week I'll give it a try again

Oh no - sorry to hear about your wisdom teeth!  Definitely let yourself recover.  I struggled with latch and overactive letdown issues with DS and know how physically and emotionally draining it can be.

You've gotten great advice - I agree with manually pumping a bit before feeding LO in the night (common to produce more in the MOTN).  If you're having overactive letdown issues (which can be related to, but separate from oversupply), make sure you have a burp cloth or towel nearby so that you can unlatch LO and catch the spray, to let the OALD subside - generally, you can feel a letdown coming on and it's hard to trigger a letdown by pumping with your hands.  That might be one reason why your LO is nursing for a minute and then breaks off screaming.  That's a common pattern for OALD.  Another solution (for me) was using an actual, manual pump to trigger the letdown rather than pumping with my hands. This Avent Pump is very affordable and saved me a lot of stress with DS and DD.  Kept it by my nightstand.  I was able to store the ounce or so that I pumped before feeding so that it didn't go to waste (every bit counts!) and I would take it on short vacations for emergencies because it's easier to travel with than an electric pump.

[mully626]

Feb 23, 2015 10:34:51 GMT -5 mels823 said:

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I think I will try to do a little hand expressing first... I haven't tried again since. It was so hard for me to fail with breastfeeding the first time that I am too scared to let myself fail at it the second time. This might not be the best week to try, I'm recovering from 3 wisdom teeth that just came out where nothing has been going right during the recovery, so I'm still in a lot of pain. Next week I'll give it a try again

Try not to think of it as failing.  Any way that you feed your baby is a success!  It just has to work for you.  But, it seems like you have a baby that is open to nursing from the source so I'd definitely give it a try when you feel up to it!  Starting mid-morning and trying to nurse through the day to get the hang of it might be your best option.  Both mommies and babies can get easily frustrated in the middle of the night when they're just hungry and tired.  Good Luck!

[cgab36]

Awesome! We used a shield for the first 8 weeks. It helped a lot especially when really full

[mdkc14]

Yay for LO latching randomly! As pp stated, you should either pump a little bit or hand express to help LO out. I also had issues in the beginning with latch issues but was finally told to just recline back in a chair or on the bed and lay LO tummy to tummy and let him root around and latch on his own. Within 24 hours we were golden and I haven't looked back since.
If you haven't tried that position I definitely recommend it.