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.
My 13 day old and I have had a rough day today. I thought we were doing so great with the breastfeeding but he has lost weight since last week and I am so upset! I have stopped crying but it took a few hours (my poor husband) but I think that has to do with being so sleep deprived because we are feeding every 2-3 hours day and night and I thought I was giving him nutrition and here, I am not. So, I have an appointment with the lactation consultant tomorrow and am determined to find a solution. I just feel so bad that I thought he was getting enough and yet he isn't growing on track. I so want to be a successful breastfeeding mom! Anyway, I am consumed with this today and I think DH is concerned that I have post partum depression. I don't. This is the first day that I have had a break down. Anyway, I have to call the pediatrician tomorrow morning to report in about if he has gotten more energetic or whatever. Doc told me that he is staying on too long to actually be getting anything so to pull him off after he dawdles or if he makes it 15 minutes of sucking. Oh, I feel so confused. I just thought I would vent a little and read through the posts here.
I am sending you huge hugs to you, because I know how hard this is. Most babies, turn this around and start BF just fine. Good luck!
But, it sounds like you're doing all the right things. Make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Keep taking your vitamins! Have you bought a breast pump yet? What I did was nurse my daughter on one side, then pump the other side (or pump while she was nursing, you get more out that way!). Then if she seemed satisfied w/ nursing I saved the milk, but if she still seemed hungry I would give her the bottle of expressed milk. (just in case she wasn't sucking properly, or we had a bad mom/baby connection some how, that way I could SEE she was getting milk in a bottle but it was still breast milk). It sounds great you're getting support from a LC, and also on here. I found SO many answers on this board to the questions I had and still have. Nothing better than a group of women who are doing or have done what you're going through now! Also, don't forget to burp him well during and after feedings. Sometimes when he starts to dawdle or un-latches, sit him up and burp him, then try him again on the breast. Maybe he's getting air into his stomach and can't get all the food he needs. And cher is totally right- it can take 2+ weeks for babies to get back to their birth weights!
Just like YOU had to be taught how to nurse, so does your son- it's not something that all babies just pop out and know how to do! So don't feel bad, don't beat yourself up- you're providing him with a great deal of nutrition and anti-bodies, and he'll soon be growing like a weed!
P.S. I'm a successful BF mom, but only God n' my husband know how much I cried in the beginning..I was so ready to give up. Hang in there. Let me know what happens =)