sandhillsanglican
New member
I have a 5.5 week old baby, born via emergency c section after a two day failed induction. Our breastfeeding journey has had its ups and downs. My milk took a while to come in, baby was showing signs of dehydration and we had to supplement with formula from about day 5 to 2 weeks. I got some help with latching and some encouragement from our nurses and we were able to exclusively BF from then on. He’s been waking up only once in the middle of the night to feed, and sleeping 3-4 hour stretches at night.
He’s had the right number of wet diapers since that first few days and his weight has increased as expected, which made me feel a bit better for a while.
I’ve had a lot of anxiety over breastfeeding, including that baby wasn’t getting enough, that his latch isn’t always great and that he sometimes slept for longer stretches, and it would decrease my supply even further. It also gave me anxiety when he would nurse for 1 hour (which he did consistently since the beginning) and kept showing hunger cues minutes after he was done. It was mostly at night (when I was most tired). I came to understand cluster feeding is normal, but I wasn’t prepared for it and many of the health professionals I contacted with weren’t very encouraging. I used to cry at almost every feeding. Sleep deprivation certainly didn’t help.
Another thing that worries me is that I don’t feel a let down at all. I don’t leak from the other breast while baby is nursing, I hardly leak at all. I sometimes feel my breasts a bit fuller, but mostly during the night. The difference in my breasts from the beginning to the end of the feed is minimal. This all leads me to believe I have a low supply.
His latch has always seemed shallow but I can hear him swallow for a short while when he begins to nurse. I usually do compressions and try to switch breasts. I try to burp him and change his diaper midway if he’s falling asleep.
We did get him checked for a lip or tongue tie and the dentist said it was at the limit, but not needing intervention. She advised us to get him seen by PT because his jaw was a bit tight, and we have the appointment scheduled.
For the last 2 weeks or so he started spitting up little amounts, which usually didn’t happen. He’d sometimes unlatch and arch his back and our pediatrician said it might be from reflux. Then he started unlatching shortly after beginning and crying, which he now does most feeds. We’ve tried burping more often and keeping him more upright, but sometimes it will just continue until we take a break. I can hardly ever tell when he is done, because he’ll either fall asleep or we just have to take a break because he just keeps unlatching. This paired with being preoccupied with wake windows makes me constantly watch the clock and wonder how I’m supposed to feed him enough and keep my milk supply.
For the first couple of times I’d just go “well, that wasn’t a very successful one” and hope the next feeding would go better, but it’s been happening almost every time and I can’t help but fear he’s not getting enough. I’m back to questioning if I’m reading hunger and fullness cues right, if he’s even getting any milk at all… Sometimes it’s very overwhelming, and I feel bad that I’m not providing baby not only his food but also the calming and nurturing moments I could be.
I tried pumping and a Haakaa a couple of times, but never got more than 10-15ml at a time. I started fenugreek and it did seem to increase my supply a bit at first (either that or it was wishful thinking on my part) but it doesn’t seem to be making a difference now.
I realize this is all over the place, but I think that translates how confused I am about all of it. I don’t know if I should start pumping more regularly to try and increase my supply, because I’m scared I won’t have enough when he does nurse. Is my BF journey condemned? Should I try to pump or use the Haakaa? Or should I just keep going until he’s weighed again at his 2 month appointment (although it’s so long from now) and see how we go from there?
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this and share some advice.
He’s had the right number of wet diapers since that first few days and his weight has increased as expected, which made me feel a bit better for a while.
I’ve had a lot of anxiety over breastfeeding, including that baby wasn’t getting enough, that his latch isn’t always great and that he sometimes slept for longer stretches, and it would decrease my supply even further. It also gave me anxiety when he would nurse for 1 hour (which he did consistently since the beginning) and kept showing hunger cues minutes after he was done. It was mostly at night (when I was most tired). I came to understand cluster feeding is normal, but I wasn’t prepared for it and many of the health professionals I contacted with weren’t very encouraging. I used to cry at almost every feeding. Sleep deprivation certainly didn’t help.
Another thing that worries me is that I don’t feel a let down at all. I don’t leak from the other breast while baby is nursing, I hardly leak at all. I sometimes feel my breasts a bit fuller, but mostly during the night. The difference in my breasts from the beginning to the end of the feed is minimal. This all leads me to believe I have a low supply.
His latch has always seemed shallow but I can hear him swallow for a short while when he begins to nurse. I usually do compressions and try to switch breasts. I try to burp him and change his diaper midway if he’s falling asleep.
We did get him checked for a lip or tongue tie and the dentist said it was at the limit, but not needing intervention. She advised us to get him seen by PT because his jaw was a bit tight, and we have the appointment scheduled.
For the last 2 weeks or so he started spitting up little amounts, which usually didn’t happen. He’d sometimes unlatch and arch his back and our pediatrician said it might be from reflux. Then he started unlatching shortly after beginning and crying, which he now does most feeds. We’ve tried burping more often and keeping him more upright, but sometimes it will just continue until we take a break. I can hardly ever tell when he is done, because he’ll either fall asleep or we just have to take a break because he just keeps unlatching. This paired with being preoccupied with wake windows makes me constantly watch the clock and wonder how I’m supposed to feed him enough and keep my milk supply.
For the first couple of times I’d just go “well, that wasn’t a very successful one” and hope the next feeding would go better, but it’s been happening almost every time and I can’t help but fear he’s not getting enough. I’m back to questioning if I’m reading hunger and fullness cues right, if he’s even getting any milk at all… Sometimes it’s very overwhelming, and I feel bad that I’m not providing baby not only his food but also the calming and nurturing moments I could be.
I tried pumping and a Haakaa a couple of times, but never got more than 10-15ml at a time. I started fenugreek and it did seem to increase my supply a bit at first (either that or it was wishful thinking on my part) but it doesn’t seem to be making a difference now.
I realize this is all over the place, but I think that translates how confused I am about all of it. I don’t know if I should start pumping more regularly to try and increase my supply, because I’m scared I won’t have enough when he does nurse. Is my BF journey condemned? Should I try to pump or use the Haakaa? Or should I just keep going until he’s weighed again at his 2 month appointment (although it’s so long from now) and see how we go from there?
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this and share some advice.