Breastfeeding challenges

  • Thursday, August 11, 2011 9:41 AM
    Message # 673981
    Claire (Administrator)
    This is my second baby and I'm having a lot of difficulty with breastfeeding this time around.  My questions are
    What do you use for sore nipples?
    What do you use to increase milk supply?
    What do you do when your doctor and lactation consultant disagree on the amount the baby needs to gain each week?

    So far I've been connected with the York Region breastfeeding clinics and I'm taking herbal supplements to increase milk supply.
    Thanks
    Claire
  • Thursday, August 11, 2011 11:41 AM
    Reply # 674052 on 673981
    Beth

    What do you use for sore nipples?

     

    I used Lansinoh:

    http://www.bynature.ca/lansinoh-lanolin.html

     

    It worked well for sore and cracked nipples.
  • Monday, August 15, 2011 7:55 PM
    Reply # 677101 on 673981
    NICOLE
    I used La Leche League in Markham lllmarkham@gmail.com

    They were a HUGE help to me, still are!
  • Monday, August 15, 2011 8:42 PM
    Reply # 677129 on 673981
    Jane
    claire wrote:This is my second baby and I'm having a lot of difficulty with breastfeeding this time around.  My questions are
    What do you use for sore nipples?
    What do you use to increase milk supply?
    What do you do when your doctor and lactation consultant disagree on the amount the baby needs to gain each week?

    So far I've been connected with the York Region breastfeeding clinics and I'm taking herbal supplements to increase milk supply.
    Thanks
    Claire


    Hi Claire.
    I went to the Newman clinic after experiencing what you did and more and not getting anywhere in York Region (constantly conflicting information).  It was the best $50 I spent.  They diagnosed all my issues, gave me a prescription for their APNO (all purpose nipple ointment) which worked way better than lanolin cream and also put me on Domperidone for milk supply which also made a huge difference.   www.nbci.ca

    Good luck!
  • Monday, August 15, 2011 8:45 PM
    Reply # 677133 on 673981
    Tatiana
    claire wrote:This is my second baby and I'm having a lot of difficulty with breastfeeding this time around.  My questions are
    What do you use for sore nipples?
    What do you use to increase milk supply?
    What do you do when your doctor and lactation consultant disagree on the amount the baby needs to gain each week?

    So far I've been connected with the York Region breastfeeding clinics and I'm taking herbal supplements to increase milk supply.
    Thanks
    Claire


    For sore/cracked nipples I also used Lansinoh cream, it's great. (It's also available at Babies R Us). Actually I only needed it during the first couple of weeks, and never since... (Making sure there is a proper latch on the nipple will also help to reduce unnecessary 'wear and tear' on them...)

    Milk supply is based on demand, so increasing demand should help to increase the supply, in other words trying to breast-feed more often. If your baby doesn't want to breast feed as often, try pumping in between feeding sessions, to increase demand. (Not too close to the baby's next feeding time though, so as not to deplete all supply too close to the feeding time. Also, you don't have to pump it all out, just enough to cause a significant letdown, which is the 'demand' portion). You can freeze the pumped milk for later use, as it can last for many months in the freezer. Also try switching breasts during each feeding, to make sure there's demand on both each time.

    I've been told that a typical amount of good weight gain is about half to one ounce per day on average, although it will vary between babies, and during different weeks of ages...

    These are just my personal suggestions of course, based on experience with my one baby...

    Last modified: Monday, August 15, 2011 8:52 PM | Tatiana
  • Tuesday, August 16, 2011 1:01 AM
    Reply # 677305 on 673981
    Helen

    Breastfeeding for my second baby was also a challenge in the beginning, to the point of bleeding nipples.  When my nipples started to have blood and blisters, I rubbed on Lasinoh every single time after I breastfed.  At night time, I rubbed on a thicker amount of Lasinoh and went to sleep without clothes or bras on, and I tried to not use the blanket above my chest.  Within 2 days the blood and blisters were all gone and my nipples healed. 

    I had a low supply of milk in the beginning so I started taking supplements.  The ones that I bought, I took 2 fengugeek and 2 blessed thistles, 3 times a day.  It's supposed to be more effective when you take both supplements together.  I took it for one week and stopped because my milk supply had increased.  I know it's hard to find time to rest but I think sleep has a lot to do with it too.  I notice I had more milk when I got more rest, and like others said.  Keep feeding.  The more you feed the more milk you will get.  It might take a day or two before the milk supply increases.

     
  • Monday, August 22, 2011 7:55 PM
    Reply # 682421 on 673981
    Dar
    I had all the breastfeeding problems with my first born: cracked nipples, bleeding nipples, multiple mastitis, engorgement, blocked ducts, etc. I was in constant pain day and night around the chest area for 2 months. Nothing worked except for the All Purpose Nipple Cream. You can get a prescription from your GP or your OB. The OBs all know about this Dr. Newman's All Purpose Nipple Cream.

    For the 2nd baby, I got the prescription from the hospital and got the cream when my daughter was 2 days old. No breastfeeding problems so far!
  • Monday, September 12, 2011 2:54 PM
    Reply # 697580 on 673981
    Jennifer
    I agree with the other posters, Dr. Newman's APNO is a miracle in a bottle.  I had the absolute worst time breastfeeding my first (two full months of me sobbing every time I had to feed my baby), finally my doc prescribed me the APNO and within two feedings I was pain free.  I used it from the get go with my second and would alternate between that and Lansinoh every other feed as suggested by my midwife and after only typical cracking/soreness from the milk coming in, I was totally fine.    You can find what needs to be in it here and just ask your doc to write a prescription for you: http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-APNO, plus the website has a ton of helpful information.  If you're still at the engorged state.  Pumping for 5 minutes (electric pump) or 10-20 minutes (hand-pump) will help baby to latch on a little easier.  You can always give what you've pumped in addition to nursing since you're struggling with supply.

    As for the weight gain...I'm surprised that there's controversy between the two.  If it's still the first few weeks, a 1/2 ounce to one ounce a day should be fine.  I always went by the mantra of so long as they're not losing they're fine.  If you're worried about supply, the best thing to do (although if you're sore, I know it's a dreaded thing to do), is nurse nurse nurse.  Even if your baby doesn't seem hungry.  The emptier your breasts are, the more it tells them that they need to produce.  Fenugreek and oatmeal can also be great.
  • Monday, September 19, 2011 5:20 PM
    Reply # 703515 on 673981
    Claire (Administrator)
    Thanks everyone for the advice and tips.  Ethan had is two month check up today and he is almost 13 pounds and 64cm.  The first month was brutal!  I supplemented at the breast, took the herbal remedies and domperidome and it was totally worth it.  We are 100% breast milk fed. 

    To increase my supply I pumped an extra 3-4 times a day for a month using the Medela pump in style in addition to the medication. 

    If there are other moms reading this who are having difficulty with breastfeeding. Do your best and keep trying! 

    Thanks for the love ladies :-)
    Claire
  • Tuesday, September 20, 2011 12:38 PM
    Reply # 704298 on 673981
    Dar
    There is a Chinese traditional soup that helps Chinese moms to increase their milk supply. But I would suggest that you check with your doctor before trying it. I have used it with my 2nd baby and I could see the difference in my milk supply comparing with my 1st baby. It works for me but I don't know if it will work for others.

    The soup consists of papaya flesh, fish and raw peanuts. Boil it for an hour (watch for the fish bones) and it's delicious. It's a traditional Chinese soup recipe that helps nursing mothers to keep up her milk supply.