FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

My daughter is 2.5 weeks old. I've been breastfeeding her since the beginning. DH was off from work for the first two weeks and was feeding her a bottle of breast milk at night but now he's back to work and I told him that he should just let me do all the middle of the night feedings. He gives her one bottle now right before bed (between 10pm and 11pm).

It seems like at least once a day (or night) I have trouble breastfeeding. The baby latches just fine, but then she either wants to go on and off the breast constantly or she dozes off when I KNOW she hasn't had enough to eat yet and I can't get her to go back to eating. When the latter happens, I know that if I put her down she will be awake again in an hour looking for more food.

It's at the point where it's bringing me to tears and multiple times every day I think maybe I should just give up the breastfeeding or try to pump exclusively. Then on the other hand I keep thinking that if I just hang in there a little longer everything will eventually get better and these problems will stop. I don't know what to do but it is starting to me feel so unhappy (have been crying all morning because she was coming on and off until finally I caved and fed her a bottle of breast milk which she ate with no trouble).

Any advice would be appreciated.

FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

I can't really give you advice on what will help but I will tell you I gave up breastfeeding after a week and went to exclusively pumping. I regret not sticking with bfing bc exclusively pumping was so hard and time consuming! I hope someone can offer advice to help you. But the only advice I can give you is try to stick with it bc although giving a bottle is easier, pumping 8 times a day is not! It's double the work. Good luck!!

Re: FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

I can only speak from my experience. I EBF for a year and am doing extended BF my son is 21 months. My advice and of course you have to do what works for you. If you really want to BF then dont give any bottles until the baby is a little older, the bottles are easier so they dont want to nurse because they have to work at it. If you can manage on your own and your hubby is ok with it, then that is what i would do. Your baby needs time to get the hang of it and your milk production is better from nursing than pumping. Good luck its alot but so worth it I think. Its easier too no bottles to carry or clean.

FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

I srarted exclusively pumping at one week. I'm not saying that it s what you should do but it works better for me. It is time consuming but I've figured out ways so it's not so bad. I pump while I feed ds his bottle. now at 3 months I'm down to 4 or 5 pumps per day.I can clean my pump parts and his bottle in 5 minutes. it took longer for me to try and latch him and position him comfortably. plus I can just feed him a bottle while we're out rather than trying to find a place to nurse. I was not comfortable enough with nursing to try it in public.

FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

Have you tried tickling her feet or wiping her face with a damp cloth to try to keep her awake during feedings? That's what my ped had recommended to me, in addition to getting her undressed so she's not too warm and cozy. I was so tempted to give up BFing in the beginning. I didn't even use bottles at all at first, but my dd did the same thing as yours with falling asleep or pulling away during a feeding, just to be hungry an hour later. It might not be related to your DH givin bottles at night. It might just be a growth spurt. I feel like for the first few weeks all I did was bf around the clock and it was exhausting. But I you stick with it it will get better. Soon your baby will become more efficient at feeding and your body will regulate your supply to meet her needs. I'm glad I stuck with it because t worked out that I now love BFing and so glad not to have to bother with pumping and preparing bottles.

FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

The first few weeks are SO incredibly hard! I spent so much of the first few weeks crying due to similar reasons. DD had a shallow latch and would immediately fall asleep. I felt like I spent hours sitting with her just trying to get her to eat and then worrying about whether or not she was eating enough. Try undressing her as the PP mentioned or stroking the back of her neck (for some reason that worked wonders with my DD). I also changed her diaper in between sides or else I could never get her to latch on the 2nd side.

At the beginning, I really wanted to give up BF. I read that the first 40 days are the hardest, so I vowed to give myself 40 days before making a decision and I'm glad I did. It's not like a switch went off at 40 days, but both DD and I became better with feeding by then. I knew how to get her to latch more effectively and knew how to keep her more alert during feedings and she knew how to drink more efficiently. Now we are going strong at just over 4mo and I hope to continue EBF at least through the end of her first year. It definitely takes work, but if you stick with it a few more weeks, you will notice a change!! Hang in there, good luck!

FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

It will definitely get easier very soon! I know it's so hard not to stress about how much they eat, but you should try to relax a bit. If she's gaining weight and having wet and dirty diapers, then she's fine. Her tummy is very tiny so there will be times that she may want to eat after an hour no matter what. DD would refuse to nurse sometimes and if I offered a bottle, she ALWAYS took it, hungry or not. I would try to limit that this early if you want to continue bfing. If she dozes while nursing, you can keep her latched on and you may still get letdowns and she'll eat while sleeping. You can try breast compressions or tickling her neck or feet to get her to continue to eat even if she's snoozing. DD and I used to both doze off during some nighttime feedings in the beginning and it was a lifesaver. Just remember, you're both still learning so it's very normal to still be having trouble at times. Most of us have been there too and if you just take it one day at a time (or one feeding even) you can get through it. GL

Re: FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

Dd is almost 8 weeks old and I know exactly how you feel. In the beginning it was rough and frustrating bc no one an help you...but it does get easier if you can hang in there.

I kept dd awake by tickling her feet and changing her diaper between boobs. I would even undress her if I got desperate.

In the beginning (the first 2-4 weeks) I would breast feed dd and then give her an additional ounce in a bottle. This way she got used to breast feeding and I was certain she got enough...then eventually we stopped with the extra ounce bc she wouldn't need it.

I also had latching issues...had cracked nipples and it was very painful...so I got nipple shields and they saved me. Dd takes them with no problem...although its been a challenge for me to get her off the shields.

You have to do what works for you....but it will get easier if you hang with it. But it's a HUGE commitment...there are still days I think it would e easier to bottle feed but I. Waiting til I return to work then ill see what to do

Message edited 4/11/2013 12:56:15 PM.

Re: FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

seems like she knows the bottle is easier , just lay off them for some time if you can ,,, massage your breast aggressively while she is feeding from it to increase flow and pressure

Message edited 4/11/2013 1:59:41 PM.

Re: FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

When my LO woke up for milk and fell asleep, I would blow on her and wake her, if that did not work I would rub her a little and she would start sucking again. If its really upsetting you just wake her up, she will go back to sleep. She is still young.

You can pump and have the bottle ready for her around 11 so your supply doesnt go down if you feel she stays awake with the bottle. You're just so warm, cuddly and safe for her that is why she falls asleep.

Good luck. I found it was easier to whip out a boob when you're out and they're hungry. My friend exclusively pumped and it worked for her. Its all based on preference.

Re: FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

The first one to two months are the hardest! Personally, I think pumping is such a pain in the butt! I would hold off on pumping until your little one is 6-8 weeks old.

Don't be so hard on yourself. Just nurse away and for as long as your baby wants. It will get easier I promise!

FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

DON'T GIVE UP!!!

It's extremley hard and frustrating but well worth it!

I gave up and went to pumping and I regret every second! Pumping is such a PITA and then you are constantly worried about your supply. Plus when DD SSTN, I was waking in the middle of the night just to pump to keep my supply up and even then I had to give it up at 6 months bc I was unable to keep up with her even after mothers milk, teau, lactation cookies, feungreek, gatorade. UGH! I tried everything but really the only thing that works on keep the supply up is nursing.

Just hang in there and nurse away!

Message edited 4/11/2013 6:10:29 PM.

Re: FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

Re: FTM Needs Breastfeeding Advice

I am here to say hang in there, don't give up and it gets easier!!!!

My DD gave me all sorts of fits for the first 8 weeks and it was harrrd but I stuck it out and 6 months later we are still going strong!

My DD clusterfed in the evenings and would want to stay on me for hours - like 6 hours on and off. My nipples were in so much pain but I really believed in breastfeeding and stuck it out and very glad I did. Like I said the first 8 weeks are very hard but it gets easier and by 12 weeks it was a piece of cake! And honestly we tried giving a bottle during her fussy and clusterfeeding hours and it made no difference she was still crazy fussy!

Anyway try to keep her awake - change her diaper halfway through the feeding when u switch sides. We did this for several weeks and really helped to keep her up.

Also she may be working on your milk supply and trying to build it up. But it will pass and soon she will stretch out the feedings! Hang in there - sending hugs!