How goes the breastfeeding?

 I know several of us had talked about previous struggles with breastfeeding and hopes that this time would go well. How is everyone doing? Successes? Anyone have to make the switch to formula?

Well, I decided to give breastfeeding another try. I've never had any success with my other children but really wanted to try again. Caeden was really sleepy for the first 12 hours after he was born and wouldn't latch on. The hospital had me expressing my milk and feeding him with a syringe as they were worried he wouldn't feed. I could never get him to latch on after that and switched to formula in hospital as I was just so worried about him not feeding.

However, I'd bought a double breast pump and decided to carry on expressing when he came home as I really wanted to give him the benefits of my milk, at first I had to top him up with formula as I wasn't making enough for him but now I've built my supply up I'm exclusively expressing my milk and giving it to him in a bottle. I just find breast feeding impossible but at least this way he is getting my milk. It's hard work I'm having to express every 2-3 hours through the day and every 4-5 hours through the night to keep up with him but I'm going to stick it as long as I'm able to as there are so many bugs around at the moment and this will give him some immunity.

How are you finding the breastfeeding? Hope you are having better luck than me.

My little guy is doing pretty well. He too was really sleepy for the first 24hrs. His latch is ok though if he's really hungry he tries to suck my nipple in resulting in his top lip rolling in and causing a little pain til I roll it out. I also had to supplement until my milk came in and even then it wasn't enough to fight the jaundiceso I ended up having family come help with the girls for a few days so I could just nurse and pump to get my supply up. Thankfully my milk is up now and Christopher is gaining weight really well. So far so good for me especially now that my milk supply is better. I am nursing every 2hrs around the clock with him tnough so i'm rather tired but its worth it. Dd2 I also started out well but had to deal with nursing strikes as she got a little older, so i'm hoping that things thay as good as they are now...praying no strikes with this one. Glad you are able to work out pumping so babe gets your milk!

 i was pumping regularly for the first two weeks and then out of the blue my milk dried up and she was such a good baby until then...i have some frozen and we are feeding her alternating formula and breast milk. but now it seems like i cant keep her full i feel bad cause my body stopped producing milk and now i feel like i cant keep her fed and its the worst feeling nowing shes hungry and i just fed her!!!

My little bean didnt seem real interested the first 24 hours either but he now nurses every 2 hours during the day and several times at night. However he is projectile vomiting right after a couple of feedings every day if I can't get him to burp. It is not easy getting him to burp. Also, my breasts are still sore when he nurses and I don't remember that with the others. I'm not sure if it is the way he is latching on or just normal. Kudos to those who are pumping to continue the breast milk feedings! Danielle, I am trying to figure out how to increase my milk supply other than just pumping, have you heard of Fenagreek? It's herbal and supposed to help but it makes your breast milk smell like maple syrup and I am not sure if it is safe at this early stage. I used it when my daughter was 1 to increase my milk and it worked but I am afraid to try it so soon. You might want to investigate it though... good luck!

Dani, i agree with the use of fenugreek (though some women it just doesnt work). I havent read anything that contraindicates its use this early. I have been using the mother's milk tea on occasion just in case and i recently read that a bowl of oatmeal a day can also help. I'm glad that no one seems to be struggling too badly though. My breasts are also more sore this time and Christopher's latch isn't any worse than his sister's but he has a much stronger latch and suck than his sister did causing my let down to be stronger so I figured that is why my breasts are a bit more sore (that and he's been going through a growth spurt the past couple days nursing much more frequently). Hope everyone else is doing well and having success with giving their little ones mommy's milk.

 thanks for the advice you guys....ive been getting about half an ounce here and there (i know sad) but im just glad i got some milk my great grandmother couldnt breastfeed neither could my grandmother or mother so again im just happy my little one got some milk

I'm glad you are staying positive about it. My mil couldn't bf either. My mom was a pro at it and here I struggle with it. My biggest problem is I literally produce only in my left breast though my right goes through engorgement pains and minor leaking (I produce at most a half oz a couple times a day). So I have had to nurse exclusively from my left side for all 3 children. Keep staying positive and encourzaged by what you can and have been able to do.

Just checking up on everyone and seeing how everything is going. Danie have you been able to continue pumping for your LO?