Breast feeding problem
So I have been breastfeeding for 7 weeks now. It has been so wonderful and came so natural to both of us I feel lucky. Monday my nipples were a little sore, I figured from pumping and dumping bc i drank at the wedding I went to. Then my baby was wanting to eat more, like 15 min on each side every 2 hours. So now my nipples are really sore to the point it is bringing me to tears not only when he latches on but while he eats. Before this weekend he was only eating on one side for 15 min every 2 hours. I tried pumping to store the milk like I always do but i only got an once out of each breast. So I am just real confused, Is he getting enough to eat? Is he just going through a growth spurt? Is something wrong with my milk supply bc I drank? If anyone knows anything let me know. I have left a message with la leche league. I dont want to give up on this bc I know its whats best for my baby but I don't know how much more I can take.
nursing
Carly,
It is so hard and frustrating sometimes to nurse. I did with both of my children and neither one of them was easy. I turned to the lactation nurses at St. Joe hospital in South Bend. They even have a support group for nursing moms. You can bring your baby in once a week and weight them, make sure that they are gaining. I would go and weight them before I nursed, then I would nurse and weight them again to see how much they transfered. It does get easier.
I have never heard of alcohol being a problem with drying up milk, but I know if you take an anihistamine that can dry it. Also right around 8 weeks they go through a big ole growth spurt.
I would recommend calling the lactation nurses, but I am pretty sure that the support group is tomorrow at 2. You can call and check.
Just know it gets better. I hope that this helps somewhat.
Amy
alcohol
I have heard that alcohol can sometimes temporarily reduce milk supply. Apparently there are also old studies that suggest alcohol actually increased supply, so who knows! One thing that did help my supply was Fenugreek.
Like amydar2 mentioned, I also remember having nursing set-backs right around the 8 week mark too.
If you need relief for your sore nipples, someone here (I think it was Mommy of 2) suggested Lansinoh, it is worked wonders for me! It's also safe for baby, so no need to wash it off before you nurse.
Jessica
~ Mommy to Luke and Shawn
difficulties
I had some difficulty around that time too with breastfeeding. I remember having difficulty pumping and it seemed like my son was cluster feeding as well. Maybe he's going through a growth spurt like you thought. I agree with the other ladies--the lactation consultants are wonderful! There is a class at Elkhart General hospital several times a week too. I would call one of them and see what they think. Fenugreek does help with supply too, but I found that when I took it my son didn't want to nurse as well.
Don't let it drive you
Don't let it drive you crazy! Sometimes it's great for one but not all. I nursed the first two but my last was huge and had dangerously low sugar so I put her right on a bottle. She's fine just like the others. My second sucked a hole in my left nipple and I bought a nipple shield or I was done. The shield is a very thin silicone cover with a nipple that fits on top of yours. Nobody told me until 2:00 in the morning when I was bleeding and said I'd never feed again. I don't know why all the secrets. They also gave me shells. Which these are totally weird but work. They draw out the nipples and obviously the milk because I couldn't lean over without spilling out of the shells. It becomes insane to torture your body. Your baby won't starve while you heal, and drink lots of milk yourself and fennel seed (I think) is what a witch doctor told (ok kidding), it's on totino's pizza. Every bit of advice helps.
nipple shield
Lynn is right, the nipple shields work and do help, but be careful using them. They can also decrease your milk supply. Not to mention, my son enjoyed that shield so much he refused to nurse without it.....for 13 months! Talk about a hassle! Nursing is supposed to be convenient, nothing convenient about trying to hold a wiggling, hungry baby while trying to place that shield just so, while trying hard not to just whip your breast out in front of everyone to make the whole process easier :)
Jessica
~ Mommy to Luke and Shawn
breast feeding
I learned from the lactation nurses that it is about supply and demand-the more he eats the more your milk will come in-so even if when you are pumping you only get an ounce you may want to try again sooner that 2 hours to feed your son on the opposite side from previous feeding. There is an ointment-(the texture if vicks)for raw or cracked nipples that is a life saver-and it doesn't harm baby-and of course I can't think of the name of it-they sell it at most pharmacy's over the counter by the nursing pads.