any ideas?

[kate0517]

so...my daughter was 8lbs 1oz when she was born...left the hospital at 7lbs 5oz. Then one week from her birth she was at 7lbs 12oz...then at 3 weeks from birth she was at 8lbs 5oz and now at 4 weeks(one week from the last check) she is only 8lbs 8oz. So her weight gain has slowed up again.

She latches well for the first 5 minutes and then slips and completely pinches my nipple off. So then I switch sides and she does well and once the flow slows she completely pinches it again and during that time I don't think she is getting much out. So now I think my supply is starting to dwiindle based on what she is doing.

So I was recommended to nurse her for the 5 minutes on each side and then once she slips take her off and and pump the rest. I don't want to give her a bottle so basically she will probabbly want to nurse every hour. I figure this is the only way to get my supply back up though...

I don't want to quit at all or offer a bottle because I am too afraid of what will happen if I do offer her a bottle, but I need advice...

[kate0517]

ok...11 people read it and no one has any advice at all :(

[sundrip]

First, who gave you the advice? Was it a lactation consultant or the pedi because it sounds like the problem could be complex and that sounds like a very simple answer. Do you have any nursing support close by? Maybe the LLL or an LC?

Second, nursing every hour isn't actually all that unusual- especially around 3 weeks when there is often a growth spurt. How often is she nursing now?

Third, what happens if you re-offer the same breast? I'm concerned that she may not be getting enough hind milk. What does her poop look like? Is it at all green and/or "frothy." Could the problem be that she is sleepy or do you have a strong letdown? Have you tried burping her when she un-latches?

Finally, there are a number of options other than a bottle feed. You could try cups, finger feedings, droppers, and/or supplimental nursing systems. While pumping with a hospital grade pump may be needed for a time to get your supply back up, that doesn't mean your baby should have to eat from the bottle- especially if you're having latch problems. However, 3-4 weeks is often considered a good time to introduce a bottle if your baby will be needing to take one.

[maine06]

I agree with sundrip... 5 mins a side is not going to give her what she needs. once her latch gets wonky, take her off and relatch to the same breast.

[01buckler15]

I was going to say don't limit the re-latching to only two times. Just try going back and forth untill she seems full. Sometimes I still have to do that with Keegan.

[kate0517]

I wish this all were an easy fix too. There are times she would nurse clear from one hour into the next. I am exhausted by it. I don't think she is getting what she needs. Some of her diapers are good yellow seedy poop and others are just clear orange liquid followed by some seeds left behind...that is what most of them are actually. I just feel like I am starving my child. I want to be able to pump after feedings, but then if I do like 10 minutes later she wants to nurse again...and there is just nothing there.

Thanks for the advice...

She never seems full though...

[Irish-Eyes]

If she's only getting 5 mins on the boob before you switch her, she's only getting the foremilk which is mostly water. The hindmilk has the fat, protein and calories that she needs to gain weight so you need to be draining a boob before you switch her. Try different positions but keep her on the same boob until you feel that it's empty. Then you should move her over. If she's not getting the hindmilk, then weight gain would naturally be very slow.

[kate0517]

I figured this one out...her latch is good, looks good...is good...but what she does with the nip when it is in her mouth is another story. changing positions etc does not change anything...when my nipple comes out of her mouth it looks like a tube of lipstick...so she squeezes it together and after the foremilk is gone she gets mad and won't try for the hind milk. So...my hubby and I talked and we rented a hospital grade pump and we are going to attempt to see if pumping and feeding her EBM makes a difference. Now with that said, I have no idea what my supply is like so if it is good then that won't be a problem, but I have never tried pumping only without nursing so I am nervous...I don't want to use any formula, but I might have to...

If she's only getting 5 mins on the boob before you switch her, she's only getting the foremilk which is mostly water. The hindmilk has the fat, protein and calories that she needs to gain weight so you need to be draining a boob before you switch her. Try different positions but keep her on the same boob until you feel that it's empty. Then you should move her over. If she's not getting the hindmilk, then weight gain would naturally be very slow.

[sundrip]

a tube of lipstick is actually a good description of what your nipple should look like when she's done. The nipple gets sucked back way into the back of her mouth.

Also, just as a note, Megan is done in about 5-10 minutes and has been since she was tiny however, her weight gain has been good and I know I have a forceful let-down. So, time isn't everything but, if she's not falling off the breast and seeming content then, obviously, she's not getting quite enough.

You are heading coming out of a growth spurt and heading into another one so she will seem hungrier.

You may want to contact alikatgrrl via pm. I know that she has exclusively pumped.

[midgeend]

She sounds very similar to the way Annie nursed when she was that age too. I don't know that your LO's weight gain should concern you that much. Annie was 8lbs at birth....I don't know how much at 4 weeks, but only 10lbs by 2 months. If you are getting orange seedy poop, then she is getting the fat she needs. To keep her on longer though - have you been doing skin to skin? As far as the 5 minutes though....my experience with Annie is that she always nursed very quickly like that at that age...and I was concerned about her not getting hindmilk, but when I squeezed my breast after she was done, the milk was nice and creamy looking...so my hindmilk came out faster...maybe yours does too?

I agree, that you should try unlatching and then relatching to the same boob in one session. Do skin to skin as much as you can.

[courtneyandry]

lurking......
A friend of mine shortly after her milk came in borrowed a Moby, and left her son in dipe only, and wrapped him up and wore only sweatpants around the house for the afternoon w/him wrapped skin to skin....did that for a few days, and had a huge jump in her supply (wasn't lacking but wanted to gear up for pump & store for going back to work). She said she felt like a fountain, and was feeding and pumping for 3 weeks straight nearly. She was pumping anywhere from 12-20 oz each day in addition to feeding. Still pumps at least 12oz every morning AFTER feeding her son (2mo old). Good luck!

[babyjoy414]

I agree with sundrip... 5 mins a side is not going to give her what she needs. once her latch gets wonky, take her off and relatch to the same breast.
Ditto that and the burp....she will fuss and delatch if she needs a burp, then try and relatch.

[PurplePasion]

ok...11 people read it and no one has any advice at all :(

I saw your post but have no advice. Its been so long since I BFed that I don't remember much. The only reply I could give is :hugs: and I hope you work it out.

[kate0517]

I started the pumping and bottle feeding gig last night. I am able to pump out 2 ounces every two hours with a hospital grade pump. So I will have to supplement a little formula(like 1 bottle a day) because she is wanting more like 3 ounces per feeding...I have noticed a complete turn around in her wet diapers. she was having about 3 good ones a day and now I have already changed 4 and the day is no where near being over...It is helping me see that she is actually getting what she needs...hopefully when I bring her in on Monday for a weight check she will be at a good weight...

Thanks for all your advice, I just had no idea what else I could do...

[sundrip]

3 ounces a feeding is actually a little high for breast milk. You may find that she will want more at some times during the day and less at others. You might also find this information helpful: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

Also, you may find that as you pump more, your output may increase. You can also try being sure you are well-hydrated and see if that helps.

[swannie]

3 ounces a feeding is actually a little high for breast milk.

Not for 4 weeks old—sounds about right to me. I read somewhere that average intake peaks at around 4-5 per nursing session at around 6 weeks.

[sundrip]

Swannie- I think it really depends on the number of sessions a day. Daily intake is between 19 and 35 ounces a day with a typical intake being around 25 ounces.

[haydensmom]

A baby her age should be gaining around 1/2-1 ounce every day. So really, she's right on track for 1/2 ounce a day. At three weeks, there is a growth spurt, so you might have had a weight-check right after that one and the one the other day was probably right before the next. She's gaining, and well. As long as she's gaining, she's healthy. Just watch her diaper output. If she's having enough wet/poopy diapers, then there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

You are doing a great job momma! Try not to worry too much. :hugs: