breastfeeding

vegasbaby · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 31 Location: usa

anyone have any tips or tricks to get the baby to latch on? i was trying to breastfeed for the first time last night and omg so traumatizing. he just kept screaming and crying and i didnt know what to do! he latched on for a second and then continued to cry and scream. any info anyone can give me to help me get this technique down? Crying or Very sad

Lucy · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 9:06 pm

hi vegasbaby. How is your little one doing?

I had a similar problem with Ella when she started feeding. I think she got quite used to being hungry as she never used to moan and i think because of that she wasnt bothered how full she was and became quite lazy. If I did eventually get her to latch on then she wouldnt stay on for long and the hospital were always anxious to know how much she had taken which would mean aspirating her stomach before and after each feed.

In the end I expressed all her breast milk for my peace of mind to know how much she was getting and she seemed to take better from a bottle.

The only advice I can offer is to really persevere and don't be disheartened. Gastro babies are used to having empty stomachs and have not suckled from birth as what would normally happen. breast feeding can take a while to establish and just try and stay really calm and dont expect too much each feed. your baby will become stressed as it will sense you are tense. just relax and find a comfortable position. I think the trick is to relax, get comfortable and dont expect too much.

Sorry for rabitting on!!

Good luck
_________________
Proud mum to Ella, born 04/11/07 with gastroschisis

georgie · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 7

hello there,
hope your having an easier time of the feeding now, i wanted to tell you of my experiences of breastfeeding my daughter.
i was allowed to feed her when she was about 10 days old, at first she just lay there and either just looked at me or fell asleep, she did get quite worked up during some attempts. i found that lying her on a pillow on my lap was really good, it gave me both hands free to postion her and felt alot more comfertable. i agree with lucy, stay calm and don't expect too much, if you percevere you will get there in the end, just take your time, try different positions and be patient.
when gen did eventually start feeding she was good but did have some truely explosive vomits! i breast fed her for 11 months and by the end of it it was so easy i could barely remember the early struggles!
i'm sure if you stick with it you'll both get there. good luck.
georgie

vegasbaby · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 31 Location: usa

thanks so much. i think it's nipple confusion because before they allowed me to breast feed the doctors and nurses were giving him bottles. so maybe its that. i think its because my nipples dont touch the roof of his mouth and tounge and that he's too lazy to suck. i hear that they have things to put on your breasts for that. so im gonna try looking that up.

vegasbaby · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 31 Location: usa

Medela Nipple Guards are sooo awsome! they're like these silicone things that go over ur nipple and it makes it so much easier to suck and get milk out. if anyone was or is having problems like i was which was nipple confusion. or have inverted nipples or anything really that has to do w/ trouble on breastfeeding cause they wont latch on or anthing i totally recommend these!