Is this stressing you out? Is it making time with your baby not enjoyable? If you've seen 3 lactation consultants, it sounds to me like you gave it a shot. I breastfed for 6 weeks with no problem. At 7 weeks my daughter wouldn't breastfeed anymore (she didn't want the bottle either, but that was easier to out down when she started screaming). I just pumped and gave her breastmilk until she was 4 months and that got to be too much.

It only stresses me out when I am trying to feed him from my boob and all he is doing is screaming. I love every second with my baby and feeding him his bottle with my breastmilk is still bonding time for me. I just wanted to know if there were any tricks or tips people did to get their baby to feed.

I had a c section so my milk and premilk didnt come in until 3 days after i had my c section.

I too attempted to nurse him. got the same reaction with my son - constant screaming with unsuccessful latching. i kept trying for almost 3 months. after 5 minutes of him crying i stopped trying for that time.

I eventually just gave up because i didnt want to trumatize him.

i am sorry that you are not having any luck

In the beginning what really helped me was my DH. I would position my son with one hand and hold my boob with the other. My DH would then gently massage my boob to start the flow of milk and as soon as my son would taste it he would begin to drink. I had a c-section so it took me around 5 days for my milk to really come in. Once we both got the hang of it it got a TON better. Best of luck!!

Thanks I had a c section as well.

I'm with ya on having a hard time. My bf-ing in the hospital was sporadic due to dr's in and out and an issue with my left leg which left me immobile for the entire 4 days I was in there. Not to mention being a bit bashful and not comfy with whipping the ole boob out. The twins stayed in the nursery at night as DH would go home to tend to the dogs, so there wasn't any bfing then either. I did pump as much as I could.


Anyway, since we've been home (twins are 3 weeks old today), I've tried and tried working with my two. Abby is latching on and doing pretty good. Max on the other hand isn't doing so swell. He just doesn't seem to latch on too good and then when he does, he falls asleep within 10 minutes. Then other times he'll get really fussy and scream bloody murder and it really upsets me. He refuses the breast.

It's so discouraging when this happens. I question what I'm doing, if I'm feeding him enough, why is he crying like this, etc.

We met with a LC and I plan on going back next week for another feeding assessment. My other concern is my supply... I just don't think that my supply is good enough to support two. Which makes me wonder how much and how often I should suppliment with formula? I did begin taking Fenugreek a week ago and have seen some increase but cannot tell for sure.

This is just too confusing. It should be a nice and rewarding bonding session between mother and child. So far, it isn't like this for me. My boobs hurt, nipples hurt, back hurts... I feel like an old lady!

Hopefully has some good advice.
Please do not give up. It IS doable. The LC'S that you saw...were they IBCLC certified? If not, try to find one that is. IBCLC is the highest certification available, and they ahve to re-;as tests every 5 years, so they must be up-to-date. SOunds to me like you have not found the right one yet. However, do not despair. I would suggest you go back to the hospital firs,t and see if there is one there who can help you. Because you have latch issues, I would also ask for them to chekck for a tongue-tie, which can cause such problems. Most likely though, it was the anaesthesia and delayed skin-on-skin contact that created this problem thouhg....However, it should be checked out.

Please, please, repost this int he BF support group on DS. There are actually SEVERAL bf moms of TWINS, who can definitely encourage someone like sissy..actually, one of them even has a classic case of OVERSUPPLY...despite having twins. She could feed triplets!

Now, here are some links for you:

Stop giving him the bottle. IF yo have to feed him expressed bm, then do so from a dropper, syringe, spoon,etc. A bottle will make it much harder to get him to latch, because the latching will require work, whereas the flow from the bottle is easy,..milk fows out almost by itself. It is smart of yo to pump to keep up your supply, though. My first son took a whopping 3.5 mths to latch by himself. Until then, I needed DH 's extra pair of hands to help him latch! He sucked his own tongue, which we had to physically remove from his palate to get him to latch. That is a bit extreme, but if you are determined, you can overcome almost any obstacle.

Feel free, anyone of you to send me a pm if yo need more help! I also have a fantastic article I can send to you with great diagrams..but I need your e-mail address first..so send it to me, and I will get it out to you.

starting out right
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45:breastfeeding-starting-out-right&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

expressing bm
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16:expressing-breast-milk&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

finding a bf support person
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17:finding-a-breastfeeding-support-person&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

finger and cup feeding
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5:finger-and-cup-feeding&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

herbal remedies for milk supply
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21:herbal-remedies-for-milk-supply&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

is your ped supportive of bf?
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20:how-to-know-a-healthcare-practitioner-is-not-supportive-of-breastfeeding&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

is baby getting enough to drink?
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23:is-my-baby-getting-enough-milk&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

breast compressions to help your milk out and bb to drink
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8:breast-compression&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

manage bm intake
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29:protocol-to-manage-breastmilk-intake&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

importance of skin on skin contact....esp. if you are having latch problems get naked!
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82:the-importance-of-skin-to-skin-contact-&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

when bb does not yet latch
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54:when-baby-does-not-yet-latch&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

when latching
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:when-latching&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

Please do not give up. You can so do this. SO many of us there have struggles so hard. Remember, it is a learning curve for you an for baby too. IF yo never bf, you need to get the hang of it..so does bb! Do not be too harsh on yourself...and do NOT supplement, unless an lc tells you you must. And even then, do not give it in a bottle!


Also, see these video clips...good and bad latches, etc.
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=6&Itemid=13

Good luck, and hope to see you very soon in the bf support group!

I forgot to mention that with my third, I had a crash c-section and he almost died. He spent 5 wks in NICU, and 3 more mths in the hospital. He was unable to eat anything at all the first two weeks. But I worked hard...pumping and getting help..and he did not get a single drop of formula during his 4 mth hospitalisation. If my boy was 14 days without food (although on IV), you need not fret if your baby is not eating perfectly from day one, as long as he is peeing and pooping, at east some.

I also wanted to add this for your info:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuu8UEXzVQ0

A teaching video about breastfeeding, mother's milk, and early contact
with the newborn. We see women at ease with their bodies and mothers and
babies treated with respect for their skills in nourishing and seeking
nourishment. Topics covered in the 45 minute video include: attachment,
positioning, sore nipples, blocked ducts, engorge...ment, mastitis, sleepy
babies, increasing milk supply, night feedings, breastfeeding premature
infants, pumping and hand expression, breastfeeding twins and toddlers,
and the role of support people and prenatal caregivers. Breast is Best
was written and directed by obstetrician Gro Nylander, National
Coordinator for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in Norway, and
produced by the Norwegian Film Institute.
This mainly new version
of Breast is Best is revised and extended to also demonstrate e.g the
importance of skin-to-skin contact, even in caesarean section, easy
feeding at night, step by step feeding cues and latching on, toung-tie, etc.

Especially love this trailer for a teaching video as it even shows immediate skin-to-skin contact and nursing after a cesarean while mum is being sewed up. That's about as good as it gets in the case of a c/s. In 7 min, this little trailer covers mother-led latching, reverse pressure softening, nipple sandwich, safe co-sleeping.

Nurses at the mat ward as well as my dr. has told me that as long as the baby has breast fed in the first days of life when the colostrum is present then formula feeding your baby after that is no biggy. I also heard that you should wait till 3 months before making a decision to feed formula exclusively. I didn't go that route and my baby is healthy, happy and growing (not overeating which is a concern for some).

I know exactly what you're going through... thank goodness you started pumping you didn't go through engorgement. My experience was very very frustrating. About a couple weeks after bringing my little one from the hospital I decided formula was best for us.

During my entire pregnancy (all 3 trimesters) I had trouble with my breasts, they were always tender, itchy, just down right bothersome so when she was finally born I thought either it can get better (stimulation from the sucking will relieve it) or get worst... unfortunately it got worst. My breasts were constantly tender, peeling, itchy etc. and plus although in the hospital she was latching, she just couldn't get the hang of suckling (would fall asleep) and eventually wouldn't be getting enough to eat (we would have to top her off with formula). When we came home 4 days later it got worst... so we continued to rely on the formula to top her off. I decided I was going to offer my breast only when she was not fussy and super hungry...as per suggestion fr. a few lactose consultants... which unfortunately led to engorgement. Engorgement is one of the most painful and annoying pains to go through... I couldn't believe it... after all these issues with my breasts and things were only getting worst. Massaging them in the shower and pumping afterwards was the only thing that helped... that and cabbage leaves.

In order to regain my sanity I decided to stick with formula. Started wearing cabbage leaves all the time to drain out my breasts safely and sure enough I haven't had any problems since. I don't regret my decision at all. My baby is happy, healthy and we still bond very much so. When she feeds the whole world is turned off and i sing to her, seeing her feed brings such joy. In order to keep the bond I am always the one who feeds her as well (well, my husband will feed her at night when she's half asleep).

Good luck on your decision.