frustrated

[CheleRae]

My ds is two weeks old. The first week of breastfeeding did not go very well. He does not latch on very well and is very slow to eat (drink, drink, pause, drink, drink, pause, etc he does the same thing with a bottle) and falls asleep every time. I try to keep him awake but he does not seem to mind. This is my third child and breastfeeding went well with the second child and I had issues with my first child until she was about 2 months old. (Sores on my nipples, the left one nearly was torn in half, did not latch very well either). I also had mastitis with the first two children with in a week of coming home, and thankfully have not had that issue this time.

I had to stopp feeding my son from the breast due to sores again, it was just too painful to tollerate and have been pumping to be able to still feed my son breast milk and supplementing with formula; usually at night. Just tonight I tried to feed him from my right breast which is healed and it still was very sore to feed. I was very hesitant to even try it again but really wanted to give it a go. I do not think I will be able to allow him to feed from the breast, I am afraid it is going to get bad again. I am having issues pumping too. At first it was going oaky and I had what seemed to be a lot of milk (getting 4 ounces every three hours) and now I barely get 2 ounces every 6 hours. I really want to try to still pump. I also feel full (thinking though that it might be my bra too small and squishing me) and the right breast has a hard spot on the right side back near the armpit that will clear out after I pump. When I pump I also have to squeze my breast to really get the milk to come out. I am not feeling let down either and do not notice the 'gush' of milk when I pump.

So my questions are: Is there a way to help increase milk supply (I am eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of fluids etc, taking my prenat vit)? Should I look into a different pump? What suggestions can you offer to help me continue to offer my son breat milk?

Thank you for your help

[caryn]

I had to stopp feeding my son from the breast due to sores again, it was just too painful to tollerate and have been pumping to be able to still feed my son breast milk and supplementing with formula; usually at night. Just tonight I tried to feed him from my right breast which is healed and it still was very sore to feed. I was very hesitant to even try it again but really wanted to give it a go. I do not think I will be able to allow him to feed from the breast, I am afraid it is going to get bad again.

You need to be seen by an IBCLC.
Pain is a sign there is something wrong.


I am having issues pumping too. At first it was going oaky and I had what seemed to be a lot of milk (getting 4 ounces every three hours) and now I barely get 2 ounces every 6 hours. I really want to try to still pump.

Pump on a schedule every three hours the same time every day. Make sure the breast shields you are pumping into are not too tight. I would also suggest renting a hospital grade breast pump.

also feel full (thinking though that it might be my bra too small and squishing me)
DO NOT WEAR BRAS THAT ARE TOO SMALL!
You are compressing the milk ducts.

and the right breast has a hard spot on the right side back near the armpit that will clear out after I pump. When I pump I also have to squeze my breast to really get the milk to come out. I am not feeling let down either and do not notice the 'gush' of milk when I pump.
Massage with warm wet washcloth prior to pumping as well

Contact an IBCLC to be seen immediately. Your pain level can mean a bacterial or candida (yeast) infection.