I had my daughter a month ago today. When i had got her after she was born she latched on fine. But after that she wouldnt latch on at all. The two days we were in the hospital i tried everytime but ended up having to bottle feed her. Well when we got home the first night she wouldnt go to sleep and i was out of ideas so i tried to get her to latch on again and what do you know she did. Ever since i breast feed everytime i have the chance, but it seems like she doesnt get enough and i still have to give her a bottle. Ive seen a lactation specilist and she says the latch is good and shes getting everything i have. But for some reason im not making enough milk. The women i talked to said it could be because she didnt breast feed for two days. To make matters alittle more complicated she lost 11 oz in the first two weeks because the formula she got she wasnt keeping down. Her doctor put her on soy formula and its helping in the last two weeks she has slowly gained most of it back. Its been a long month but we are finally getting back on track. Chey is growing and she is a wonderful baby and despite the inital problems im loving being a mommy.
Good for you for trying!! I think the problem is the bottles. the more you feed her, the more milk you will make. If she isn't getting 100% of her milk from you, your body isn't going to know that it needs to make more. Also, she now proably prefers the bottle because she can get more, faster. And when she eats from the breast it is more work to get your milk out. Do you nurse at night?? I would if i was you, and at nap time. Nurse ALL the time. I know it sounds like a bit much, but you need her to be on the best as much as possible to get your supply up. Also there are teas you can drink for supply issue. And there are some cookies that help you make more milk.
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/breastfeeding/2288837.html
Here's the Recipe;
1 cup butter or marg
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 4 tablespoons water
* 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal*
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups oats, thick cut if you can get them
* 1 cup or more chocolate chips
* 2 tablespoons of brewers yeast* (be generous)
Directions:
Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. Mix together 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes. Cream (beat well) margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mix well. Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the margarine mix. Beat until blended. Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips. Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips. Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment or silpat. The dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop.
Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.
Serves: 6 dozen cookies
Preparation time: 15 minutes
*can be found at any local health food store.
*NOTE* IT MUST BE BREWERS YEAST, NO SUBSTITUTIONS.
Good luck momma. HTH. Also do you have a breastfeeding buddy?? If not you really should pm naivete about getting one!! that way you can just pm or im them when you need a little support!! :D
Do you have support from family or friends so that you can put off other responsibilities for a couple of days? At least a day?
What you really need to do, IMO, is take your baby to bed with you. Bring a couple bottles of water, and just hang out, without your shirt, in bed. Nurse allllll day long. Bring a book, a couple movies, and just drink tons of water and nurse as often as your baby will let you. Nurse her to sleep, nurse her when she wakes up, nurse, nurse, nurse.
Your body is continually making milk. constantly. the more she drinks, the more you make. If she doesn't get enough in one feeding, stop, drink some water, then put her back on. And check it out--the most nutrtitious, fattening milk is the kind that baby gets when your breasts feel totally empty, when you think there's nothing left in there. There is, and it's good stuff.
Toss the formula and bottles, or at least get them out of the house. You don't need them. You just need a nursing day or two. It'll be great for both of you.
Oh yes..everyone gave great advice...I second it all...
Cookies for breastmilk?? HECK YES. lol