Breastfeeding - Dallas, TX

My first child made breastfeeding look easy. She did everything just like they said babies should. My second child was a nightmare. I knew it had worked for me before though so I was determined to make it work the 2nd time. I probably would have given up if I hadn't had the first experience. I met with a lactation consultant 2 times in the hospital and then called them after leaving the hospital a few times to ask questions. If you can afford it (still cheaper than formula) they can even come to your house to help. Pumping in between feedings also helps with milk production. You may have a completely different experience with this baby. Don't give up if it's what you want.

K.,
I am so sorry to hear about your troubles.As a mother of 5 who has breast fed all of them, I can tell you it is not always so easy to start. Be patient and do not stop trying to nurse. Offer your breast first when the baby is very hungry. Allow your baby to suckle for a few minutes even if you think you do not have milk yet. The act of suckling is what makes you produce milk. Your milk may be a little slow to come in. If you give up and go straight to bottles, then your milk will never fully come in because you have not let it know that you are going to need it. Also do not be afraid to use the pump between feeding to help to stimulate your breasts to make even more milk.

Good Luck,
K.

I had the same problem with my first. I started producing mut not very much and my DD wasn't a very patient baby either. I just had my 2nd and since my body had already gone through the whole baby thing I produced more this time around. I dont know where you are delivering but I delivered at Harris SW and they have a breastfeeding support center in the hospital for whenever you need it and have lacation consultants that come and help you as often as you feel you need them also for free. They helped SOO much! It does take a little bit for your milk to fully come in - about 3-4 days so be patient and let her go to the breast often. She will be getting colostrum at this point so dont think shes not getting anything. As long as she is gulping and has wet and muddy diapers she is getting something. Sometimes my son was soooo hungry when he woke up he had a hard time consentrating enough to latch on. I had this problem with my daughter too and gave her a bottle and then breastfed but then she liked the bottle since it was easier and that was the end of that. I was worried the same thing would happened but the lactation consultant at Harris was a frickin genius! She gave me a few seringes (sp?) and some formula. She put just a seringe full in his mouth to where it calmed enough to focus on learning how to latch on and then by the time my milk fully came in he learned how to latch and HATES a bottle. He will take it if he is hungry enough but literally gripes the whole time lol. Here is also a cookie reciepe that really boosted my milk supply and tasted yummy! I used crasins instead of chocolate chips tho. TASTY! Good luck and just remember to be patient! I am glad my hubby didnt let me give up even when I felt like I wanted too. It is a challege to BF when you have 2 but it is soooo worth it for so many reasons! Good luck!

Housepoet's Famous Lactation Boosting Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip & Flaxseed cookies:

* 1 cup butter or marg
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 4 tablespoons water
* 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal*
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups oats, thick cut if you can get them
* 1 cup or more chocolate chips
* 2 tablespoons of brewers yeast* (be generous)

Directions:

Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. Mix together 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes. Cream (beat well) margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mix well. Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the margarine mix. Beat until blended. Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips. Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips. Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment or silpat. The dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop.

Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.

Serves: 6 dozen cookies

Preparation time: 15 minutes

*can be found at any local health food store.
*NOTE* IT MUST BE BREWERS YEAST, NO SUBSTITUTIONS.

I would urge you to attend a La Leche League meeting while you are pregnant. This is a great group and helped me so much when I had issues breastfeeding my son. You can discusss your experience with them and they will give you help. I found them to be far more helpful than my Drs.

Contact your local La Leche League group ASAP:
http://www.lllusa.org/TX/
Those moms will be able to provide you with lots of support. Also, get the book "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding". Breastfeeding is truly a learned art and is best learned mother to mother. I had problems with my first - he was in ICU for 5 days, so they had me pump and dump and it did take me 2 months of persistence to get him off formula and I could not have done it without the support of the Lewisville La Leche League Leaders (Cathy and Kristen back in my day). Also, the www.llli.org website has tons of info and forums that weren't available in my day (10+ years ago). You also want to make sure you get a good start by ensuring that your baby isn't given formula or even a pacifier in the hospital as that can lead to early nipple confusion. For my second son, we made sure his basinet was well marked and I kept him in the room with me unless I was in the shower. I also nursed right after he was born as soon as they would let me - that's important to "kickstart" the process as the baby is often alert shortly after birth and has the natural instinct to suckle. Good luck and remember there's always help available here.

I didn't have any luck breastfeeding my first daughter, either. It just seemed like we weren't getting it right.

I had no plans to put myself through all the stress and guilt of failed attempts with my second, so I was prepared to formula feed again. However, in the recovery room (I had a C-section) she was sucking her fist and I decided to try. I put her to my breast and she took to it right away! It wasn't a terribly easy first six weeks but it wasn't nearly as difficult as with my first. I think being more relaxed about the whole thing helped A LOT. Also, my stepmother is very knowledgeable about the subject and I was able to speak with her about any questions or issues I had. Having her available to help (even if only by phone) is what kept us nursing through my baby's first growth spurt.

So, my advice is to not get stressed about it and have some support! Good luck to you.

I had the same problem as well. My milk did not come in and I had to pump every 2 hours for 9 months. I was able to produce some milk but had to also use formula. I have heard women say that they had more milk with their second babies. Breastfeeding classes are available through Woman's Hospital in Houston. I worked with a lactation consultant (at Woman's) for several months. Good Luck!

La Leche League is great!

Yes! There are classes and tons of support available. I have several friends who took the breastfeeding class that was offered through their hospitals. You can get info on it the same place you get info on the childbirth classes. The friends who took the class had the most success with breastfeeding. There are also lactation consultants out there that will/should come to the hospital the day the baby is born, then you can follow up with them as often as you need. Your OB/Gyn or pediatrician should be able to give you phone numbers or referrals.
There are also La Leche League chapters all over the place. I didn't go to their meetings because it seems like they advocate the family bed thing and long-term nursing. We didn't want to do either of those things, and got what we needed from the lactation consultant my OB referred me to. However, the La Leche folks are experts, so if you need help, they're definitely a great resource!

Yes, breastfeeding doesn't often come naturally and it's something both you and the baby have to learn. It takes about the first full month to really get the kinks worked out. Not that the whole month will be hard, but in hindsight, after nursing two kiddos, the first month is simply your learning curve. It was certainly easier after the second, but each baby is different and his nursing style was different from his sister's, etc. (his was more of "voracious eater" while my daughter was more "whenever you're ready, I'll have a little").

It's great that you're looking for info and willing to give it another try. Good luck!

With my first, I chose not to breastfeed...it seemed like my milk would never dry up. everything seemed the norm with #2...with #3, my milk never came in, with #4 again it seemed like it would never dry up. So every pregnancy is different, so try not to fret over it. Do it at your own pace, be relaxed and maybe try offering your baby your breast before it is ravished hungry-you know where they are just chewing on their fist because they think they are so hungry.

There are lactation nurses at hospitals and most all insurances will pay for a lactation nurse to visit you once you get home. You just have to ask. Call the hospital and ask about their lactation consultants.

Most importantly is being relaxed and letting what normally happens just happen. If it doesn't don't beat yourself up. Getting the baby fed is the most important thing. I am sure you know your first baby is bonded with you and perfectly fine even though it didn't breastfeed, so this time you won't have that added anxiety that some moms have about it. The baby can really feel your stress and that just causes everything to be messed up.

I never breastfed. It wasn't for me. My kids are perfectly bonded and healthy. That is what worked best for me. Don't think about last time and what did or didn't happen. Just relax, don't stress, and all will be good.

Good luck!

Hi K.,

What hospital are you delivering Siera at? Most, if not all, hospitals should offer breastfeeding classes. Check the hospital website online or call the hospital to find out. I know for sure that Plano Presby and Dallas Presby offer the classes. Your hospital should also have lactation consultants on-site that can help you after you give birth and they will continue to help you as long as you need it.

Good luck!

-Char

You should visit www.motherof7.com. The sponsor, my friend, is a mother of 7 children, one with special needs at birth. She has made two dvd's available to assist with breastfeeding; one "short version" and one "comprehensive" version. Take a look.

I have 2 sets of twins. I tried hard both times and my milk "came in," but never produced more than 1 to 2 ounces every 2 to 3 hours. I gave everything I could pump to my children for 3 months to help with antibodies and subsidized with formula. They are all quite healthy now. I did the best I could; not everyone is able to produce a lot of milk. But proper technique will help to maximize your production. good luck