Need Advice With Breastfeeding Please Read
11 Replies
 | c - January 2 |
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okay, so, i am 25 years old and just had my first baby...she is 3 weeks old. i really want to br___tfeed her exclusivly, (sp) but i am having some problems. she was 6 weeks premature, so she started out on formula at the hospital, i br___t fed as often as i could while she was there, they kept her for 5 days. when i finally took her home, i couldn't get her to latch on properly, so i was pumping and giving her 1.5 to 2 ounces at a time. i went to her first doctor's appt. and the pediatrician helped me with proper latch on techniques, (the nurses in the nicu tried but the ped. was just a better teacher,) any how that was last wednesday, and since then we have been doing pretty well, with very few exceptions. (if she is very fussy i still can't get her to latch on properly, and then she will only eat out of a bottle, so i pump and give her that) so my problem is this, my mother lives with my husband and i and she insists that the baby isn't getting enough from the br___t and that i should give her formula also...out of the 8-9 times that i feed her a day, maybe one diaper will be dry and everyone says that if she is making 6-8 wet diapers a day, she is getting enough. but mom says no!!! also the baby is nursing for any where from 10 to 25 minutes per feeding, if it is only 10, she wakes up sooner to eat next time, 25 and she sleeps a little longer. also the ped. told me that since she is so little (only 5pounds 7 ounces) she only needs to drain one br___t per feeding.............am i starving my baby?? i thought that i was doing okay but now my mom is making me nuts, i tried to explain to her tha t things have changed a little in 22 years since she had my sister, but she won't hear it...i am just so confused, if any one has any advice or input, that would be great, please, and thank you in advance.
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You are doing great! No offense to your mom, but do not listen to her. (I had similar issues with my parents, but luckily they live 30 minutes from me- LOL!) Listen to the doctor and to what your instincts are telling you. If she is wetting and soiling diapers regularly, and is gaining weight, then she is fine. Some may argue with me, but I would not supplement with formula as it seems to sabotage milk supply. My only concern for you guys is that you are using the bottle when she is fussy. I am afraid she may get a little lazy and start preferring the bottle over you, if she hasn't already. If it is okay with you to become a pumper, then fine. However, if you want to feed from the b___st, the use of the bottle has to stop or be minimized, especially given her age. She can't get better at latching on and sucking if she keeps getting the bottle. My little man is 8 weeks old today and he can still be a little p__ser when it comes to latching on properly. You just have to be patient. I am sure you will get a number of responses to this post, and some of the other women will probably give you some tips for making latching on easier. I hope it gets better for you two (it sounds like it is,) and that your mom starts to pipe down. Mine did once she saw how well my son was gaining weight. Congratulations and good luck!
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You are not starving your baby. As long as she is eatting, peeing and pooping enough, and gaining weight then she is fine. See if maybe you can take your little one for a weight gain and get your mom to go with you so she can see how well she is gaining weight. See if you can feed you daughter a little sooner and she shouldn't get fussy. I think that giving a bottle is okay sometimes. It will decrease your milk supply but your baby will also increase it when she wants to. I was having to supplement with a bottle because my baby wasn't gaining like she should be and it actually helped her to latch on better, I know this is not true for everyone. Other then that just tell your mom think you for her advice, and just like it go in one ear and out the other. I have a VERY nosey family so I have gotten pretty good at doing this with all there "wonderful" advice. Good luck
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 | JL - January 2 |
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Nobody b___stfed when we were kids. That is why our moms can't believe that our kids can possibly surivive on such a thing. I hear that from my mom all the time. Don't worry... I am sure your baby is dong great on your b___stmilk!
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Another thought... when I had my twin boys (now 2 1/2months) 1 wasn't gaining weight like the other- he was a sleeper, so the LC suggested I pump and give him 1oz by bottle after every feeding. This worked GREAT, and I didn't have to give him formula! That was 8oz more a day than what he would have gotten without it. Maybe she would be satisfied and get off your case if you fed him MORE b___stmilk? Just a thought. Good luck to you- my MIL was the same way because one of the twins was a couple oz heavier than the other- and looks bigger, she said we should get them gaining weight faster!!! WHY!?!?!?! Mother in laws....... I tell ya!?!?! Good luck to you!
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| c - January 3 |
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thank you all so much, i can't even tell you how much better i feel. i guess it is kind of easy to feel alone at those 2 am feedings. my little girl did great today, by the way...she latched right on all day, and pooped and peed like a little champ, it's funny, you'd never think that you would all but run through the house with a diaper full of pee, and be very excited about it! but i was! all day, every time she pooped or peed, i had to run and show my mother...towards the end (by the 7th diaper or so) she kind of lost patience with me and told me to feed my daughter how ever i want to. keep the good advice coming, thank you all so much, again!!
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Your mom is wrong :) Stick to your guns -it's YOUR baby. If you subst_tute with formula you'll make it harder for yourself to produce mik. Just check in with your doctor to make sure she's gaining the right amount of weight.
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I just wanted to add that I was very insecure about my milk supply in the beginning (and still am at times now and my baby is 9.5 weeks old). If I wasn't worried about quant_ty, I was concerned about quality...Mom, sis, sil, mil all didn't help and made me doubt myself, so monitor your baby's weight gain and as long as she's putting on then don't worry...I also think that the baby will let you know one way or the other if she's hungry. Congratulations and keep up the good work!
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 | H - January 3 |
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If formula was never created, how would babies get enough? There is a question for your mother! Keep at it, it sounds like you are doing great and be happy that deep down you know that you are giving your baby the very best! Imagine how fussy she will get going from highly digestible b___stmilk to harder to digest formula! This is your baby and you call the shots!
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| c - January 3 |
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just wanted to let every one know that i went to the doctor today and she weighs 6 pounds and 1 ounce...i am so excited, she was born on the 16 of dec. so she is 18
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| c - January 3 |
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just wanted to let every one know that i went to the doctor today and she weighs 6 pounds and 1 ounce!!! i am so excited, she was born on the 16 of dec. at 5 pounds and 6 ounces; and at her first dr. appt. she only weighed 5 punds and 7 ounces...so now she is 18 days old and that means that she is doing pretty good. the ped. was very pleased with her progress. also i brought my mom with me to the appt. and she could not deny the proof that the baby is getting "enough" because the proof was right there on the scale in the dr. office, needless to say she was pretty quiet on the way home!...anyway, thank you all so much for your support and advice, i really appreciate it :) :) :) good luck to everyone!!
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c- That is awesome! Isn't it a great feeling when they are thriving and it is all because of what you're giving them? Makes the tough bf stuff worthwhile if you ask me.
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