Questions and answers

Compare this section with Yahoo Answers and Google Answers. Questions are all related to becoming pregnant, pregnancy, birth and babies.
Go to the Questions and answers index

Breastfeeding problems?
Added: 919 days ago.
Added by: mrslucky
Section: General.
Status: This question is Closed. (Questions will be closed after 10 days.)


I had big problems breastfeeding my 1st child, only managed 14 weeks. The end of it was horrible - I went from being 147lbs (which was my pre-pregnancy weight and my post partum weight) to 120lbs and I`m 5ft 9. He started to scream at the breast, be whingey a lot of the time cos he was hungry, when expressing I`d be lucky to gey put half an ounce from each breast, and when he started to lose weight I thought, `Right, that`s enough.` and reluctantly switched to bottle. My problems started when he was 6 weeks old and the health visitor said it was because I wasn`t eating enough (I just couldn`t eat). Now, my daughter (my 2nd child) is 6 weeks old and I`m eating fine but she`s only put on 2oz in 2 weeks. She was born 8lbs 13.5 and is now only 9lbs 15. My health visitor is worried, but she`s going by growth charts and the average baby -- I thought I`d get a mum`s perspective. Would you be worried? She`s not fussing at the breast and I`m expressing 3oz a day for work (working 2-4 nights a week for 5-8hrs a time, during which I don`t express - should I?). Any tips on increasing my milk supply and/or making her put on more weight? Sorry to bamble on lol. Any advice would be appreciated.

---

jumpingbean - 919 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I was having a problem where my daughter was only gaining 1oz a week. She was born at 6lbs 2 oz and at 6 weeks she was only 6lbs 7oz. My doctor was very concerned and we had to go to a peditrician. It turns out she was latching properly but then switching her tongue to the top of her mouth. She would hardly swallow and what she did put in her mouth would come right back out the side. She was still content with what she got but that's wasn't very much. I started to pump and give it to her that way. We also had to put her on formula to help her gain. I am also on a medication to help me produce more milk.

megandgrace - 919 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I would definitely say to pump 1/2 way through your shift or whenever you normally feed your baby if you were home that night. Also if time allows pump after a feeding or two during the day. At first you will not get too much milk out but the action of pumping will trick your breast into making more milk, after about a week of doing that you will start to get maybe a couple ounces each time. Save that milk for times needed. So if there is more milk available for your daughter she may get some more. I wouldn't be worried about her weight at this point, if she stops gaining weight or looses weight then of course worry but if she seems content after feedings then don't. Maybe also try nursing her more often, like if you nurse every 3 hours, decrease it to every 2 1/2 hours to get to start eating more. Also make sure you are drinking plenty of water, that helps with your supply too. Good luck and don't give up, you can do it, it may take some work but its all worth it, believe me!

luvbeingamom - 919 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I had a very similar situation as you. I stopped bf my first son around 4 weeks, pumped for 2 but that was all i could do. I successfully bf my second son until he was 15 months old. My bf baby gained weight slowly. He is also very small in compared to my formula fed son. They were both born at about the same weight (3 oz apart), by 3 months old my older son was wearing 9-12 mo cloths, my younger son was still in 0-3 mo. He is healthy and active. Every child is different and as long as your LO is gaining weight, eating well, and active. Then I would say he is fine. If he is loosing weight then i would be concerned. Good Luck.

mommy2lucas - 919 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I actually am having the same problem with the work situation. I work 2 8 hour days and 2 5 hour days a week and I did notice how hungry Lucas was after I fed him from both breasts still. My supply was decreasing. I started pumping at about half way through my shift and we are doing better so I would maybe try to express some milk while your working and see how that goes. When he was about 2 months old or so, just a bit older then your daughter is, he was gaining no weight at all, but I asked his Pediatrician about it. She said to try introducing a bit of cereal and formula into his diet and that really did work with the weight gain. Since then he has been great with the keeping up with weight gaining and such. I only gave him and still do give him 1 bottle of formula a day but as he is 6 and a half months he does get other things like 2nd stage food I'm sure are helping. Maybe talk it over with your health visitor and maybe try a bit of formula if your up for it and see how it goes. Every doctor is different about the cereal into so see what she thinks. It could just be a stage she's going through and she may just sprint up in weight anytime and not need anything. If it doesn't improve I would try some of these things if you both feels it's alright. But try not to worry too much, I'm sure she is perfectly fine and I hope she starts gaining like you want very soon!