Breastfeeding

[coolrunning]

I requested to join the breastfeeding community here on LJ but I'm wondering if someone knows the answer to my questions in the meantime. How late is too late to teach baby to latch on to the breast? (example: someone decides not to BF then changes their mind and wants to). Also any advice on how to get baby to open his mouth wider and stop

Comments

[thejoysofjess]

I think it's still possible. He's still very young and people often have babies in the NICU for weeks and then are able to breastfeed.

Right now, I would find your local LLL, e-mail/call the leaders for a good LC's number. It might be one of yours, it might not. It also might cost money. But definitely call, because it sounds like this is really what you want to do and you're going to need help.

I would drop the bottles all together. You can feed him using a syringe and your finger for now. It sounds like he's got nipple confusion, which makes sense. Dropping the bottle should help with that.

[coolrunning]

I really did like the LC's I had in the hospital, or at least the one I worked with initially. She was very straight and to the point, and wasn't afraid to be assertive (not sure if that's the right word) with the baby. Basically she didn't dick around heh. If there was any charge for their services it was billed to my insurance, which I'm very lucky to have such good insurance right now.

I will try to call them today. In the meantime I do like your idea of using syringes. I knew I saved the ones from the hospital I used to collect colostrum for a reason. Thank you :)

[mangofandango]

I am not an expert here, but I am pretty sure that it's not too late. It is likely to be difficult, but I believe it's possible. Hang in there. Definitely ask in breastfeeding when you're approved, which I hope is very soon - but also, for sure, call the LCs. I understand it can be really hard to call, but know that you are doing a good thing by asking for help with this. Take your husband up on his offer if you need to, there's no shame in that either.

Good luck!

[coolrunning]

Thank you :)

[pumpkindoodles]

First of all, congrats on your son! As long as you are still producing milk, it's not too late. My son had latch issues, and nipple confusion, which led to exclusive pumping for me when he was less than a week old. I continued to try (almost everything), to get him to latch, despite still pumping and bottle feeding. At a certain point, I had to make that decision that it wasn't as important HOW he was getting my milk, just that he was getting it. However, when he was about 10-12 weeks old, we finally had a breakthrough. I learned how to nurse him in the side lying position, and he latched on wonderfully! It helped a lot that by that point, he was a little more coordinated than a brand new newborn. But, by that point, he was also sleeping through the night, and I was working full-time (plus overtime). So unfortunately for us, there just wasn't too much time for nursing! What worked for us was to nurse in the morning, and then I pumped throughout the day (and night), and he got the rest of his feedings from a bottle. But as

[coolrunning]

I was in the same mindset as you when I left the hospital. As long as he's getting the milk somehow it didn't really matter. But after a few days of pumping I am absolutely exhausted. I mean, I have enough pieces that I can pump 4 times before needing to wash anything, but when you're pumping every 3 hours you really only get 2 hours of sleep at a time, which really isn't enough to get any quality REM sleep. I was getting dehydrated and not eating enough, which doesn't help supply any. I was barely managing until last night when the three of us were asleep - my SO and I in bed and baby in his play yard next to me. He woke up hungry and started crying and I didn't hear it. I woke up nearly an hour later to find my SO and the baby in the living room. It kind of scared me. I have my SO home for one more week and then I'm on my own, through most of the day and night (he works third shift). It would be a little easier if I could just roll over, pick up baby, feed, put him back and go back to sleep rather than having to get up,

[jeunelis]

Is there a La Leche League around you? If you look on their website there may be a group around you too. They will be able to help you too.

*hugs*

[thesmallestbird]

This sounds just like how i felt after my daughters birth and after 2 months of exclusively pumping she has been exclusively breastfed for 5 months now. You can do it! If you want to talk my email is chantel.hodge@live.com

[jamie_marie]

My best friend had a baby and after exclusively pumping for over almost three weeks, she was able to switch to the breast (with the help of a LC) and now her son is over three months and is only on the breast. I think it's definitely possible.

Don't feel like a failure either, you've been through a lot. Good luck, mama!

[coolrunning]

Thank you for the encouragement :)

[bafleyanne]

It is NOT too late! Call a lactation consultant. They are there to help and they WANT to help you. You can definitely do it, but you will probably need some help from someone who can actually watch what your baby is doing and make suggestions.

Good luck! :)