Breastfeeding - Houston, TX

The hospital where you delivered should have a Lactation Consultant on staff that can help you. Call them today. Good Luck!

Have you tried a different position? I had that problem, with my first child due to stess and it all being new. I had to pump and then fed from a bottle. Hope this helps.

F.,
I am amidwife, you can call me and I will see if I can help you. Please call a local LLL(la leche leg) They will give you FREE help. You didnt say WHy you had a section. If the baby is early it could be a poor sucking reflex. it could be his tongue(is it heart shaped?) it could be yeast etc. HANG IN THERE! Breast is more than just best it is IT! Please get some help and support and KEEP BREASTFEEDING!
Call me
Sam Evans LM CPM
###-###-####

You need to contact a lactation consultant. There will probably be one on staff at the hospital or birthing center if you had your baby in a facility. DO IT NOW!!! Your baby could be losing weight. A lactation consultant can come to your home, weigh your baby with a very precise scale, then help him latch on properly to nurse, then weigh him after he nurses to see if he got any milk from you. They can help teach you to latch on, etc. There are privite lactation consultants out there, but try the hospital first. It may be included as part of the delivery. Another option in the La Leche League.
There is at least one hormone that your doctor can do a blood test for to see if you have the right chemicals in your body to produce milk. I had a great deal of trouble breast feeding. I was tested for these chemicals. They turned out to be fine. The supplements out there typically work on the chemicals. If you pump and are not producing milk, then it is either the chemicals or the breast tissue. As it turned out, my breasts don't work and neither did my sisters. We had to switch over to formula for the health of our babies. I would try and get help, but don't beat yourself up if your body doesn't make milk. Sometimes it just doesn't, even if you really want it to.
Good luck.

I am sure everything is fine, but I would talk to a lactation consultant if I were you. My 2 week old does the exact same thing, but I have more than enough milk coming in. There are lots of possibilities as to what is happening in your situation. The best advice for more milk production is more nursing. The more you nurse, the more milk you will produce. Good luck with everything!!

Hi F..
I nursed 3 children for about 18 months each. I am the poster child of breast feeding!
If he pulls away he is probably not getting any. Make sure he is latched on right- his mouth needs to be around the whole nipple, like if you put your mouth up against a window with your lips out.And his little nose should be pushed up against your breast. Also, be sure you drink a TON. When I first started, my mom would bring me a huge glass (like 20 ounces) of milk or water as I nursed. Remember the little guy is draining your body, so you need to keep your body hydrated. That is very important. I also noticed that sometimes if they had gas, it would bother them to eat. So I would give them a little drop of mylecon (or the HEB brand) before eating. Because think about it- if you have to burp, you don't want to drink, right? So try those things and see how it goes. But most importantly, drink , drink, drink!
Good luck!
L.

I had a similar problem due to the fact that my son was having a hard time latching on. I would not have thought this was the problem because he seemed to be sucking just fine. I did know something was going on b/c he seemed frustrated and as you are saying would let go and start crying. I went to see a lactation specialist through the Methodist health care system and it was great. They suggested I temporarly use a nursing sheild. It is similar to a bottle nipple that you place over your own and is easier for the baby to latch on. I was told to use it temporarly b/c their are risks that b/c there is less skin to skin contact that you will start to product less milk. I did not have this problem and used it for the entire first year (I breast feed until my son's first bday).

F.,

I have a few things you can do. I am breastfeeding my five month old and also have an almost 4 year old. The most likely reason for him letting go is because the milk is not coming fast enough. I'm sure you have milk, but maybe it isn't as much as he wants. If you've fed him bottles (which is completely fine), he may want the speed that the bottle gave him and doesn't get that with breastfeeding. If you are concerned about the amount of milk, pump at one feeding to find out what you are producing. If it is less than 4 ounces, he may need more. On to your next question, yes, there are many things you can take to produce more milk. Talk to your OB. There are prescriptions and also over the counter Fenugreek that works for a lot of people. I think you can get that at any GNC or maybe even HEB.
My dr also suggested pumping immediately after breastfeeding my daughter to increase my milk supply.

Lastly, make sure he is really hungry when you are trying to feed him. Maybe all he wants is to suck (pacifier).

Good luck. I hope this helps.
J.

Well, F., it sounds like your son is going through a growth spurt! They have one at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. I will NEVER forget that time! My daughter would do the same thing. There should be plenty of milk, but he is crying because he is so hungry and it's not coming out fast enough. You can express some milk with your pump, and as soon as you hayve a let down, then put him on again (because it comes out fast during a let down). I used to feed my baby almost every hour just so when she was nursing she wasn't SO hungry. You can also make rice packs and put them on your breasts right before feeding him so that you will have a let down faster. Just get a sock, fill it with uncooked rice, tie up the end and microwave it for about 30 seconds then hold it to your breast before you feed him. There is a tea you can drink called Fenugreek (sp) that is also supposed to work well, but I really believe that the problem is the growth spurt. They only last a few days so hang in there! I hope I helped!

Make sure that the nipple gets way into the mouth and you can help massage the breast to get milkflow out. There are some teas that you can get from the natural health store for milk production! Be encouraged and don't give up! You will learn to work together and this is the absolute best thing for him!

It maybe that he's just a bit frustrated with the let down. He's wanting your milk ASAP, but he needs to work at it in order for the let down to happen. He's never done the nursing thing, so he has to learn a bit more. If you need further assistance I know of a great lactation consultant named Cathy Clark. She's located on Renfert Way just across the street from North Austin Medical Center. She's wonderful and would be happy to assist you in your breastfeeding issues. I have breastfed all three of my kiddos (my baby boy being 12 wks. today), I couldn't have done it without her breastfeeding classes. To produce milk, you really need to take care of you. Eat good foods and take your prenatals still and keep hydrated, your body will do the rest.

Hi now it has been awhile since I last breast fed my children, but there is a tea out there that you can buy at health food places that helps you produce more milk. Also I was told to while breast feeding if you can also pump the other breast it fools the body into thinking you have twins, and the more you drink the more you body can produce. Also hot rags heat in general helps produce milk. well I hope this helps, S.

Hang in there! This can be a very hard time for both of you. If you are stressed out and nervous, then your baby will sense this. Are you pumping to keep your milk flow going? You may just have to pump and use the bottle. I had a friend who had to do that but she would try to get her baby to breast feed ever once in awhile. One day her baby decided that she wanted to breast feed and she got to have that bond with her for awhile. She is a working mom, so she couldn't be consistent all day long. But the important thing is to make sure that your baby gets the breast milk for at least the first year of his life. The longer he gets the breast milk the healthier he'll grow up to be. And less visits to the doctor, for illness's.

Good luck and try not to dwell on other peoples opinions. What works for you and your family is what is good for you. That goes for all things related to raising a child. And no one "has to" know the truth, if you know what I mean.

I heard that mashmellow root was good for milk production!

My son also had some problem latching on, so they had me meet with a lactation consultant before I left the Hospital. She gave me some nipple shields to use. I guess they use them for people with inverted nipples, etc. I don't have that...my little man was just having a hard time latching on to me. Anyway, I really liked them and I do feel like they helped. I don't know know if you have seen/tried them, but they are basically a suction cup for your nipples. They are bigger and easier for the babies to find and get in their mouths. For me, they had me use them until my nipple stuck out far enough for him to find easily on his own. And the plus side of them is that it doesn't hurt you nearly as bad!! Good luck to you.

Hi, this is my first time responding to anyone, I usually just read what other people have to say. But I think I might have some tips for you. I have a 5 y/o daughter whom I breastfed for 16mths and a 3m/o daughter whom I am currently breastfeeding. First I want to say congratulations on your bundle of joy! It is a very exciting time with moments of stress here and there to say the least. Well, to answer your questions you might want to consult with a lactation consultant I believe they are available through your local la leche league. Also, at HEB I found a latching device that you place over your nipple which helps the baby latch on better. It's by Lasinoh brand. When I breastfed my first daughter I took FENUGREEK which helps with milk production and you can buy it at sunharvest. I would talk to your doctor first of course to make sure it's okay to take it.
I hope this helps and good luck with your baby. Also, keep trying don't get discouraged what your giving your baby is a special gift that will last him a lifetime.

I also had a lot of breastfeeding problems for the 1st month after having a c section but then successfully fed my son until he was 13 months old ( he is now 22 months). My advice would be to see a lactation consultant as soon as possible. I had very poor milk supply and they were able to pinpoint this and then rectify the situation with increased direct breastfeeding and pumping. They also helped with latching on correctly. I can't recommend them highly enough. I went to the lactation center at North Central Baptist and saw Mary Beth. But that was because I had my baby at that location. They do not charge anything for weighing the baby but do for a consultation. I believe though at Methodist Hospital the service is completely free of charge whether you had your baby there or not. If you call their main switchboard number and ask to be put through to the lactation center there. If not look it up on their website.

Hope this helps.
S.

My advice:
go see a La Leche League Leader! It is free! You can do a phone consult or go to a meeting
http://www.lllhouston.org/

There are three meetings this morning and a few next week as well. Having an experienced mama there to help you latch your baby on (and keep him on) likely will be more help than anything I could write. Leaders are trained to recognize and help with lots of different nursing challenges. I have friends who are leaders and they would say this is why do it - they are there to help! Again, totally free!

HTH
K., mama to
Catherine, 4.5y
Samuel, 16m

I haven't read all the replies, so forgive me if I'm repeating something. I noticed a lot of people recommend a lactation consultant. We used Cheryl Heymans at Special Additions on N. Lamar. She is fabulous. Lots of hospital lactation consultants, from what I've heard from folks, do not help as much with breastfeeding and are quick to have you supplement.

Lots of milk aid teas on the market--Central Market will for sure have one. I also ordered some from Earth Mama, Angel Baby.

Good luck! Stick with breastfeeding. It's worth the extra effort. I had to pump and spoon feed my little one and use a nipple shield for almost the first month. But it was worth it now that he can feed anywhere, anytime for free. And nothing compares to the bonding!

It does take 30 sec to 1 minute for the milk to start flowing well or "let down". Has your newborn been doing this all along, or has it just started?

Hard to say if it's a milk supply issue. Do you have a pump? You can pump a little to get the milk "going" for your baby. If it's a supply issue, you'll need the assistance of a postpartum doula or lactation consultant.

Either way, you should contact an LC where you delivered, or seek one privately. I am a childbirth educator and doula and can offer resources. It will be important for you to get professional assistance asap!

Shelley Scotka, ICCE, ICD
____@____.com
Certified Childbirth Educator
Breastfeeding Educator
Birth and Postpartum Doula

relax. take vitamins. & have a glass of beer or wine. as along as your baby is gaining weight / growing ... all is well. additionally, include exercise in your daily routine & garner / study nursing / new baby literature: u & baby will be fine :-)

My mother-in-law breastfed 5 kids and taught me how to do it as well. As someone else said you can squeeze your nipple until some milk comes out so that will encourage your baby to latch when he tastes the milk, you may have to squeeze really hard even to the point of a little pain. Also when you offer the breast, take the whole thing in your hand so that you can really chunk your nipple in his little mouth. So much depends on your body as well. I still have to actually hold my breast while feeding because it is so heavy that if I don't my son can't hold it in his mouth. So find out what works for you. I wish you all the best! You are a real trooper to go for breastfeeding after a c-section and I believe you will have the hang of it before you know it :)

F.,

Is it possible that your son is tongue tied? Just curious? How often is he demanding to be fed? My first born(now almost four), was tongue tied! Would latch on, and appeared to be feeding, but would cry and not settle down until he nursed again from day three of leaving hospital!
It was on the tenth day, at a doctor's visit, and no weight gain, our doctor diagnosed and clipt the webbing under the tongue! He didn't feel a thing, and feedings went smoothly after this!

If this is unrelated, disregard this, however there is a herbal supplement you can take to promote the production of breast milk! I just cannot think of the name! I hope this is helpful! Good Luck! Congratlulations on your newest addition!

Check out this website:

http://www.oil-testimonials.com/7532 Go to search and type in your question: Need more breatmilk.. you can read a list of testimonies on how essential oils have helped these women with producing more milk. If you have any questions or would like to find out more about Essential Oils contact me at www.youngliving.org/sherylhawkinson. I will be happy to help you.

I experienced the same thing with my son (now 14 months). Some thoughts: 1. does he need to burp - that was always the first thing I tried 2. my son had thrush at a very early age and he would let go because it hurt his mouth to suck 3. perhaps consult a lactation consultant or talk with someone at A Mother's Work in the village - they may be able to help. They also have ideas on what to do to increase milk supply, if in fact that is the problem. 4. perhaps you're milk isn't letting down fast enough and the baby is getting frustrated rather than sucking for a little longer. Good luck - I know it is hard, but try and stick it out.

Hi F.,

My only advise for you is to squeeze your nipples some and have some milk already on there so when he goes to latch on he knows he is about to eat and your milk is starting to drop or manually 'pump your breasts' for a minute or so that away the milk is already dropped so he doesn't have to try as hard. And also, remember to drink lots and lots of water. Your body can't put fluids out that it does not have. Good luck and don't give up and enjoy him while he is this little. Before you know it he'll be too big and busy to want to be held and kissed all day.
Take care and God Bless,
S.

Dear F.
Don't ever underestimate the quality or supply of your milk! God sends the milk along with the baby and the whole thing is the more milk your baby requires, the more you will feed him and the more milk you will make.
He is probably having trouble latching on due to having a wind/gas. Try burping him before putting him on the breast. Sometimes babies can get windy from crying before feeds.
Keep persisting - you'll be glad when you don't have to mix formula's and fuss with warming etc., in the middle of the night...you can just place baby on the boob.
Just ensure that he is gaining weight by going to the clinic weekly.

I had the hardest time getting my son to latch on and stay. The only thing that helped me were these nipple protector things. They are clear and go over the nipple and has holes in it like a bottle nipple. That was the best thing I ever used and not only did it help him eat more, I never once started chapping or got sore from breastfeeding. They just suction cup right on and bam he was eating away and I was never uncomforatable. (I got mine from Burlington Coat Factory.)

Patience is the key. I found with my kiddos that if I would manipulate my nipple so it 'poked out' (roll it with your fingers) it gives baby a LOT more area to take into their mouth which makes it easier for them and will help save you some sore nipples from improper latch.

Keep it up!

As far as the latching on part just make sure he has the whole areola in his mouth and that he has a good seal around the nipple when he does get latched on. Don't get discourged it will happen you are both new at this and it takes time. For better milk production try three things 1. Drink lots of water 2.Try pumping in between feedings that will increase milk production and 3. At GNC they make a product called mothers milk tea you can drink and that helps also. If you keep having problems contact the local le leche leauge and maybe they can help with some lactation counseling. Breastfeeding is the best bonding experience you could ever have with your child and is the best for the immune system. Good luck and God bless!!! Don't give Up!!!!

F. make sure that baby is in a comfortable position also when baby latches on make sure that baby's lips make a C shape and not a V shape if this is happening it could cause your nipples to get sore and even cause cracking and bleeding also make sure you r comfortable. It is not you and there is nothing to buy to produce more milk you body knows when to produce milk this happens to many of moms in the begining just start over if baby doesn't latch on the first time it may take three or more times just be patient and if this doesn't help maybe renting a video from your local library will help or enrolling in a breastfeeding class will help. Best Wishes to you,baby and ur family.

Does the hospital where you delivered have a lactation department? Call them asap, if possible. They should be there on weekends, too and it is probably free for you. If the hospital doesn't have a lactation department, look up lactation consultants in the phone book.
Don't settle on talking to an ordinary R.N., you need one with a lactation specialty to get you through this and give you awesome support.
It is highly unlikely that there is no milk - very few women don't make milk.
There is probably something wrong with him - like an ear infection so it hurts when he sucks.
Please don't give up breastfeeding! You can get through this with the proper knowledge and support!!

Congratulations on your new baby! I know there have been lots of replies regarding getting help from an LC, & I just wanted to agree with this advice. Until my sister's first baby, I had no idea that breastfeeding could be difficult. I thought that was the one thing babies were born already knowing how to do! Not so. And this time at the beginning is so important for establishing your milk supply. So please, find help. Reading suggestions may help some, but having a professional observe you will give you so much more. Also, if you start to supplement it'll likely make it harder to breastfeed, so I hope you can get an LC soon. Stick with it, it's so worth it!

Sometimes babies get frustrated that the milk is not there right away. Just be patient and help him to get a let down. You might try to extract some before he begins feeding to speed up the process.

F.,

My daughter was doing that when she was about a month old; it turned out she had double ear infections.

Might want to have his ears checked.

Hi F.,
First of all, congratulations to you on your new sweet baby and kuddos to you for trying to breastfeed. I, too, had difficulty at first and it was hard for me and baby both to get the hang of everything, but don't give up... it really does get easier. It's hard to say what could be going on, but I know for me, I had similar sounding problems and I talked to both a lactation consultant and my OB/GYN and we all decided it might be a problem with let-down. My OB/GYN prescribed a medication called Reglan - it works to relax the muscles and tissues in your body making let down easier. It is actually a medication that is used for gastric problems, but it has a nice side-effect of helping with your milk supply. Once I started taking it, I noticed an immediate difference. When I talked to the doctor about it, he and I both concurred that the milk was probably already there, but my nervousness was keeping the milk from letting-down. I quit taking the medication after that and relaxed knowing that my milk supply was there... I just needed to chill out a little and stop worrying so much! :) You can also take an herb called Fenugreek, which is available over the counter. Before you do anything, though, you really do need to talk to your doctor and/or your lactation consultant. The La Leche League is also a great resource. Best wishes to you!

Congrats on the precious new baby. I experienced this with all three of mine. I was antibiotics after my c-section and my babies would latch on and then pull off and cry. I looked in their mouths and they had little red and white spots that were in there cheeks or the inside of their lips. They had developed thrush which is very common for babies. It is a yeast infection in their mouths. I had to cleanse my nipple and let them air dry between feedings and they had an antibiotic that I rubbed in their mouths. In a few days the soreness was getting better and the were getting better. I made sure to finish the antibiotic until all the spots were gone. With the first two-twins-I am sure that I missed a few doses here and there because on lack of sleep or just plain confusion and it took another round of med. to clear ir up. They did get it again months later and it wasnt long at all before they were well. I just expected it with the 3rd and it happened. Enjoy this little blessing and hang in there. The breast feeding is well worth it. Other than the thrush none of mine were sick and needed the doctors care until they were 1 year. They just had to go for shots and check-ups. God bless you and your family.

Hi F.,

There could be a number of reasons. Is he gaining weight? If so, then it is probably not your milk supply. It could be the he has a thrush infection.

When my daughter was 9 weeks old, I thought that she wasn't latching on correctly because my nipples were really sore. I visited a lactation consultant and we discovered that I had a thrush infection. The doctor treated it with a nystatin cream and it went away and we got back to happy nursing. I would check with your pediatrician and go see a lactation consultant. They are great with helping to perfect the
latch-on and also with pinpointing problems. I hope this helps.

Hi F., when I was nursing I used organic Mothers Milk Tea to help with milk production and that worked fine for me. You can get at Whole Foods and some of the other supermarkets may have it now. I know whole foods has it for sure.

My pediatrician recommended a yeastie beer, like Shiner or St. Polly Girl. I know it sounds funny, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with drinking one the above beverages (or one similiar)a day. Everything in moderation and you do fine. For latching on, Lansinoh and Medela both have a "latch on" cream that you can rub on yourself. It is supposed to help the nipple protrude so that the baby has something to latch to. Maybe it will work for you. Good luck.

i've had 2 c-section babies and both breastfed for 1 year. it was a great experience for both of us. i got to loose all my weight, never had to sterilize bottles, the 1st one never had an ear infection, both got the most nutritional diet you can give to them. they say you save $1K on formula if you breast feed for the year too! as you can see i'm a huge advocate...so kuddos to you! just remember, your milk works as supply and demand...so the more "action" taking place there..the more production...if you get frustrated b/c they are not latching on, and stop for hours or even the day...you are telling your breasts...make less...it's not needed. however, you want to make sure your little one is getting enough nutrtion...so if he isn't getting an milk in 2-3 hrs. supplement it...but pump! your body still need to think it needs to feed every how many hrs. you should be feeding. if it's still not working for you and you are determined to breast feed...see a lactation specialist...they will make sure you are postioning the baby correctly etc. i was asked before i had my baby..are you going to nurse? i said, i'm going to try...she said, "no you're not going to try, you're either going to do it or not." that always stuck with me thruout the early difficult time.. so i stuck w/ it...after we both the the hang of it, it was a piece of cake...good luck!

i usually read most responces so i dont double answer but dont feel like it.. latching on question.. the lip flip helped improve our latch. get him on then just pull the lips either up or down or both. we eventually got to where i then had to just pull his ching down for him to open wider.helped a lot. drs and most everyone say pull baby toward you not go to the baby... i on the other hand could never master this in the begining. as long as they are nursing thats good enough for me.

i have a 5month old that is still nursing!

Hi! I had a similiar problem with my milk supply. The best advise I got was to drink tons of water and my lactation nurse said to take the herb Fenugreek. It really helps. Hope it works out- just hang in there!!!

I had my first daughter about four weeks ago and had to start supplementing due to a low milk supply. I went in to see a lactation consultant at Providence where i had her and she was able to give me a lot of ideas and help. Wherever you had your son probably has a lactation consultant that would be willing to see you and will help you out a lot. She told me a list of herbs that you can try for upping your milk supply. My advice would really be to go see a lactation consultant. It really helped me.

This may sound silly, but if you are engourged and your breasts are full of milk, he may have trouble latching on due to the fullness. His frustration is causing him to cry. When my son was born (25 years ago!), a nurse at the hospital told me to take a bottle nipple and place it on my nipple for the baby to latch onto. After a few nursing sessions, this seemed to do the trick, and whenever my breasts filled up, we tried this trick again. It worked!

You baby is probably not triggering your let down quick enough and gets angry. If he has had a bottle before, he may not have patience. Try picking him up and feeding him while he is still asleep but should be due to eat. He will suck longer if he is drowsy and your milk will be triggered quicker if you are relaxed. Also you can stimulate your flow by hand or with a pump and when you feel the letdown, put him on.

If you are feeding regularly at 3 weeks, there should be enough milk for him. You can ensure that nursing is successful by making sure his mouth is wide open when he latches on. Gently hold your breast while he is nursing. If, per chance, you are having trouble producing milk, you have some options. One option is to take Dom Peridon. You'll need to find a compounding pharmacy that can mix it. Another is to buy the Mother's Milk tea.
I believe it has thistle and other good ingredients. Also, are you eating enough and drinking water? You'll need about 500 extra calories while you are nursing. Last, I would rush out and buy The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins. It reads like a how-to guide, giving you practical solutions for nursing issues/problems. I nursed twin boys and don't know what I would have done without it. Don't give up! Nursing your child has wonderful health benefits for you and your child. Good luck!

Hi F.,
The very best breastfeeding advice out there is from other mothers and leaders at a La Leche League meeting. They are held monthly all over the city. They can look at your latch and troubleshoot any other concerns you have. Here is a list for meetings in Austin http://www.lllaustin.org/.
Additionally, I have great success using More Milk Plus by Motherlove to increase milk supply. Order online or even find it at Central Market and Whole Foods.
Hope that helps!

La Leche League International
An international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and ... by La Leche League International and ...

www.llli.org

Fenugreek helped me to produce more milk. Don't give up. La Leche League helped me more than anything else they are great! You should find a meeting or call them today.

Good luck,
A.

Keep up the great work! It took my daughter and I about 4 weeks to get the hang of it. Make sure you drink plenty of water. Also, cale will help you produce milk. You can find it with the lettuce and cabage at the grocery store. Also, my 5 month old son will latch on and let go if I take too long to get to him when he is hungry. I have to get him before the hunger sets in or he is too upset to nurse. Good luck and congrats on your new little man! Nursing gets easier as they get older!

Congrats!!!

The number one thing to do to increase milk is to drink TONS of water. Did they give you the giant cup from the hospital? I would drink 3-4 of those a day. You need water for you so you need even more to produce milk. I could tell when I didn't drink enough, my milk would be less.

Plus, try poking/massaging your boob when he is latched on. It helps get the milk out.

Good luck

There is medication you can take to increase your milk supply (ask your doctor), but I don't recommend it. I tried it for one day and it was horrible. It gave me bad stomach cramps and made me go to the bathroom constantly (#2). It is actually made to empty your stomach/intestines out very quickly and the increase in milk is a side effect.
My son had issues latching on as well, and I just had to keep trying it. He may just be kind of lazy (mine was) and didn't want to work to get the milk out. Keep Trying, he'll get the hang of it.
Try going to the Leche League...I never went, but it was recommended to me.

Call a lactation expert/consultant at your hospital! Most labor and delivery nurses are also lactation consultants. And about supplelments, get some!! I used to drink a tea called "Mother's Milk" tea and I took some herbal supplements I found at this healthfood store (this was in Scottsdale, AZ). I'm not sure where you live, but if you don't have a lot of health food stores, look online. The tea and the supplement helped me produce so much milk that I could feed my baby and pump the rest to use for later. Good luck to you and don't give up with the breastfeeding...it gets better, I promise.

My son was having the same problems and when we took him in they gave us some medicine for acid reflux. The doctor said that they start crying because they have hurt burn and it is not comfortable for them to eat. You may take him to the doctor or call your doctor and see what they say.

Fenugreek is a wonderful herbal suppliment for increasing breastmilk.
As for the latching, make sure that when you are holding him, that his body is exactly paralel to your body. Not up and down, but just make sure he is not twisted or anything like that. His belly should be right up against yours. Maybe when he sucks he gets too much. It is so hard to tell when BFing.
You do need to make sure that you feed him often at first to make sure you get a good supply. If you try to space out feedings too early, that can effect the supply.
It is a struggle, but is so worth it if you can stick it out.

Along with what everyone else is saying... check his mouth inside. See if there are any white spots. He could have what is called Thrush. Its a yeast infection that can be passed back and fourth from mother to child and it makes it painful to nurse. If you see the spots take him to the doctor and they'll tell you how to clear it up.

My 4 month old did that a lot when she was new. I was just patient and she got better/ more efficient at nursing. I did notice that sometimes she just wanted to suck to feel secure, tried a binky, she didn't like it. Tried my knuckle and we had success.

There isn't usually milk immediately when he starts nursing; your milk will have to let down first. You can tell for sure that your milk has let down when his sucking patterns change from rapid to slower as he swallows the milk. In the early months, my breasts also tingled (almost painfully) when my milk let down, but that went away over time. If you think you are having trouble with milk let down, try relaxing and thinking about feeding your baby. Just thinking about my babies could make me start leaking in those early months. La Leche League also suggests that drinking a beer can help milk let down. I'm not really sure how much it helps, but at least you can drink a beer without the guilt if you're interested. You can also watch for milk in the corners of his mouth as he's nursing or after he's finished to make sure he is getting milk. The absolute best thing to do to make sure you produce enough milk for your baby is to nurse him often and don't supplement, at least not in the early weeks if you can help it. Your body supplies what he demands (it's an amazing thing). Also, as long as he is gaining weight, then he's probably getting enough to eat. If he's not gaining weight, you might check with his doctor--he might be a poor sucker (not sucking efficiently) in that case. Hang in there. Chances are, he's still just trying to get the hang of it (as are you, probably) and it will get easier. You'll be a pro in no time.
--mom of 3, nursed oldest until 21 months, 2nd until 17 months, and still nursing 12-month-old

Don't give up. You need to breastfeed more often and you need to be skin to skin contact (meaning take the baby cloth off and have skin to skin contact). Take a warm bath with the baby. The warm water helps produce the let down. Another option is to pump a little before you feed him to let the let down come so when he latches he get immediate gratification and is not having to work so hard. You could also place warm rages prior to help feeding the baby to help the milk come. Make sure he is opening his mouth really big so he can get a wide latch.

Just don't give up!

hang in there. He may not be latched on properly the first time, which is why he is pulling off.

When you hand express, do you get milk? Do your breasts feel full? Is it possible that they may be too full for him ot get a good latch?

If you continue to have problems, I would recommend you talk to a lactation consultant. There is a wonderful resource at a company called Woman's Work, in Rice Village. Or you can contact the hospital where you gave birth to see if they have lactation consultants there.

Breastfeeding is such a wonderful thing, and it is so rewarding for mom and baby. I breastfed all 3 of my boys, and my younger two were born after c-sections. Breastfeeding after a c-section can be more challenging, but it is worth it.

Hang in there!

What ever you do dont give up !!! Breastfeeding is not as easy as people think. And it does take practice try putting more of the breast in his mouth he may not be getting enough of the areolia in to get good suction. Keep trying and he will get it. I had to get my milk in using a breast pump because my son had to be in th NICU for the first week and I could'nt nures him for a while luckily he was a natural but we still had problems. Keep it up it was the most wonderful accomplishment when we both got it right!! just hang in there.

I have breastfed 4 of my 5 children and the one thing that I know works is to nurse more. Since the baby is letting go of the breast, if you can get a pump, pump your breasts every three hours like clockwork and give this to him from the bottle; but put your baby to the breast before you pump and try to nurse him naturally. If he continues to let go, just continue to pump and feed him your milk from the bottle. The more you nurse or pump your breasts, the more milk you make. It's like a simple supply and demand. Your body knows it has a baby to feed and it makes the milk supply depending on the baby's demands. I don't know if you are switching breasts or not at his feedings but if you are, try nursing him on one breast for the whole feeding and pumping the other breast. Then switch at the next feeding. If you are switching breasts, he could be getting only the colostrum and the foremilk, which is good for him but he wants that hindmilk that comes after the foremilk which has a thicker consistency. My name is M.. Email anytime. Hope I have helped you. Have a great day and Congratulations.

As everyone else has said - I'd recommend a lactation consultant.

Another possiblity (that I experienced with my two): Are you engorged? My two were preemies, and I was pumping 'round the clock while they were in the NICU. When they came home, I was producing much faster than they were consuming, so I was getting engorged. I wasn't really in pain, and was focused on them, so I didn't notice. They'd latch-suck-suck-suck- then pop off and scream. My lactation consultant recommended pumping thoroughly once a day (we had rented a hospital-grade pump), then let them nurse normally the remainder of the day. Within about a week, my milk supply slowed down to comsumption, and all was right with the world. :-D

Congrats, and best wishes!
M.

Most importantly, be patient. If you are determined to breastfeed, don't give the baby a bottle or pacifier b/c this interferes w/latch on. Your baby is probably just getting mad. This also can happen when your milk lets down and he doesn't like how fast it is flowing. As long as your baby is gaining weight, you are producing enough milk!

I was a breastfeeding counselor at WIC and we never recommended drinking any type of alcohol. it gets into the milk. We always suggested using fenugreek to increase milk supply.

Your baby is still very young and in the beginning feeding him every 1 1/2 to 2 hours is normal. His tummy is so little so he gets hungry fast! Also remember supply and demand! The more he is at your breast, the more milk you make. Feed him more and you make more.

Another way to check if he is getting enoough milk is to count how many wet diapers he is having. I do not suggest supplementing w/ a bottle rt now. You probably have first time mommy concerns which is normal! : ) They have done studies and even putting a mother's hand in cold water will prevent her milk from letting down b/c of the stress. So relax! Calm down! Envision your baby full and satisfied off of YOUR milk and your milk will let down easier.

Also making a nursing nook/corner w/ all the things you need to make you comfortable will help. Have water, pillow, foot stool, snacks, diaper, burp rag all readily available so you can get to it w/o having to get up. You may also want paper/pen to keep a journal of eating times and wet/dirty diapers. Then you can keep track if your lactation consultant asks or just for your piece of mind.

I have breast fed all 5 of my babies and 2 had tongue ties, 1 had a severe tongue tie which caused a lot of pain for me, but we managed through! Find support! If you have more questions or would like to talk to me, feel free to contact me! I would love to help you out!

Congratulations!! Enjoy him! This phase is so short and ends so quickly. Next year at this time, he will be getting into everything, jabbering away and learning how to walk!

Blessings,
M.
Mom to 5 Wonderful Kids
www.4MyChildrenSake.com

There are a few things it could be. Make sure his nose isn't stopped up, babies breath out of their noses. He maybe letting go to take a breath. Also, your letdown reflex may not be happening as fast as he would like it. Try to relax stress only makes it take longer. Also you may want to start trying to feed about thirty minutes before it is time for him to eat and he won't be so hungry that he gets frustrated when it takes a few minutes for your milk to drop. I don't know of anything you can take to increase milk supply but if you don't sub. any bottles and feed on demand for a couple of days your milk supply will increase. Just don't give up in a couple more weeks you both will be pros. Good luck!!!

Are you still on pain killers because I have heard that can lower milk production as can antihistimines (allergy meds)?

I had problems when I first started nursing. My milk didn't come in for ten days, but yours should be coming in by now.

Here are a couple of things that come to my mind: you need to make sure you are drinking a heck of a lot of water...way more than you ever have so you can produce the milk.

One other thing it can be is stress. You need to take your baby into a dark, quiet place, maybe put on soothing music and you have got to relax. Do whatever it is that is relaxing to you. That will allow you to "let down" the milk. It is kind of a tingling sensation that is often sparked by your baby crying...usually you would start leaking a little bit, that is when it is time to nurse.

Make sure you keep taking him to his pediatric visits to make sure he is gaining weight properly and discuss the nursing issue with your pediatrician who can rule out tongue-tiedness or other physical problems.

If you want professional help, there are lactation consultants in most hospitals and in some community programs. La Leche league has offices all over, depending where you are, they can offer support and advice too.

I hope this helps and good luck to you both!

The more he nurses the better your milk suppy gets. If you have access to a pump that can help too. You may want to supplement. Nurse for a feeding and then on the next feeding supplement and pump for 15-20 minutes. That way you know for sure that he is getting what he needs and not loosing any weight. With my first son, I had to supplement. I so didn't want to do that, but he had lost almost the 10% before we left the hospital and I too had a c-sect. When you are tired your milk supply goes down too, so get plenty of rest and drink lots of water as well. It was recommended to me by the lactation consultants at the hospital to use the Avent bottles. They told me the nipples were very similar to a mother's nipple. It all worked out for me. When my son was about 9 months old I noticed that my milk supply was dropping, I turned to the internet and found 2 herbs that I could take to help increase my supply. They are Fennel and Fenegreek, and I found some tea that is called Organic Mother's Milk. I had to sweeten it up because the fennel in was strong. GNC carried all three of these things. I have seen the tea recently at the New HEB on Slaughter. Just know that it does get better. I now have a 7 month old and my milk supply this time around is overabundant. Just know that you are not alone. Sorry if I rambled on, I hope some of this helps.

3 pieces of advice from a mom of 4 (all breast fed for a long time.) 1) make sure you are rested. 2) make sure you get enough to eat and drink. drink lots of water. and 3) make sure you are relaxed. if you are stressed, it will affect your son, especially when he is trying to nurse. you might try sipping some herbal tea before/during nursing, and maybe play very calm music. good luck, it can be a great experience.

Hi F.,
I know that breastfeeding can be a struggle- hang in there! I just had a couple of thoughts I wanted to pass on: he could be getting impatient because sometimes it does take a few minutes for the milk to let down, encourage him to keep trying. He could have a sore throat and swallowing hurts. If you are supplementing and haven't been nursing much then there could be not as much milk. If there's a slight clog in a duct then it could spray in a way he doesn't like. Our bodies are amazing, the Lord has an intricate plan: if you try to nurse your baby more and therefore causing more constant stimulus to your breast then you will produce more milk. It may take a day or two but your body knows how to produce according to the demand. I know when I had any problems the answer was always NURSE NURSE NURSE - things are created to fix themselves in due time (most of the time). Not like I have a lot of personal experience, with just one baby but my mother-in-law has had 12 and offers a lot of experience!
Hope it all works out!