Breastfeeding Support Group
While breastfeeding is recommended by many doctors, it is not as simple as it seems. This is a community dedicated to parents who are choosing to breastfeed, providing a safe place to discuss everything from pumping, to questions of whether baby is getting enough, weaning, breast care, scheduling, supply, and more.
I feel so lost :( my son has a wonderful latch couldn't be any better but it's been two days and I'm still not producing as much as I'd like to any one ever feel this way? I'm a new mom and my mother never breast feed u know i wasn't big in the 90s plus she worked in Chicago nd smoked, so Im lost n all of this advice would totally put me at ease
This too shall pass. I gave birth seven months ago and can relate to you feeling overwhelmed, inadequate and frustrated. I did the following things in the first week with my new little boy and found breastfeeding much better after this.
1. Drink LOTS of water. You are probably really thirsty anyway right now but drink at least twelve full glasses during the day and night and it will help your milk.
2. Let your baby spend A LOT of time suckling. You will to take breaks when he sleep and you need to crash but try to have him on you a lot, way more than once every three hours to get things going. The more he suckles the more your body will get reved up to go.
3. Sleep as much as you can. You need rest to produce milk and if you are cleaning, doing laundry, or fussing about while your little one naps, you are not giving your body time to make more milk. I was told by a nurse that if I got four hours of rest, my milk would come in more. This was impossible at the beginning because my son wouldn't sleep for longer than 2.5 hours at a time, but it quickly improved.
4. After every nursing, take care of your tender breasts by smoothly LANOLIN cream on them and wearing a comfy, supportive cotton bra. If your breasts ache as the milk comes in (mine ached the worse during week 2), lay warm face clothes on them or use a warm blow dryer on them to help.
5. Somewhere find time to pump milk. Even if you are only getting a half ounce out of each breast after you nurse, it will help stimulate your body.
6. If you haven't already done so, take advantage of any lactation specialst or breastfeeding clinic in your area. The hospital probably gave you a list of helpful people to phone if you are having trouble. I had one nurse come to my house on day 12 when I was giving up hope altogether and she was very supportive.
7. You HAVE to be comfortable to breastfeed. Make sure you are sitting correctly (back straight and legs prompt up in front of you with baby resting on a pillow on your lap). If you aren't relaxed, you'll tense up and baby will feel this and not enjoy the experience. Once your baby is a little stronger I loved feeding him in bed lying horizontally or in the warm bathtub. It's important that you two be skin to skin too now so that you both learn how to do this.
I hope this helps. Stick it out. The rewards of breastfeed are wonderful. My son is a healthy, happy boy and I treasure our nursing time. It will become very comfortable and enjoyable for you both very soon. Good luck! Please feel free to ask me any more questions as they arise.