[Bek+3]

Breastfeeding hasn't been easy for me any of the times. I've experienced the same challenges and more as others but not breastfeeding was not an option for me so I moved mountains to make it happen.

My first baby was in SCN for 9 days. I also dealt with my nipples being torn to shreds and bleeding, tongue tie, unsupportive pro formula friends and family, not knowing or understanding the supply and demand (demand and supply more like it) process; a lot of stress. It was an uphill battle for a long time. I also went back to work for 3 days a week when he was 4 months so I was expressing a lot which took a lot of dedication. We remained breastfeeding for 22 months.

My short version breastfeeding story is on the below link.

http://ibreastfed.com/2010/10/breastfeedin...-rebeccas-story

I had an emergency C/S no labour due to an eclamptic fit and I spend 5 weeks in hospital all up. Then he was unwell so we were separated at birth for 4 days as he was flown to another hospital. He was in hospital for 6 weeks and I was not able to put him to the breast for the first time til he was about 4 weeks old as he was either ventilated or too sick to suck. I breastfed him through 2 minor and 2 major heart surgeries for 29 months. He was also in right heart failure for a few months and spent a lot of time in hospital for various reasons.

My third was a 32 week prem. I had an emergency C/S no labour with him also as my liver was was failing due to severe PE. He went to NICU and I went to ICU so we didn't meet til he was 3 days old. I had extremely low supply with him. The milk didn't come in til day 7 and when it did the amount was pathetic. He had milk bank milk until my supply caught up. He was on huge NG tube feeds as well. More milk than a full term new born would have just to fatten him up. I was expressing a lot. Much of the time by hand too. I was transferred and he was born 700km's from where we live and I didn't bring my breastpump. Hand expressing had left me literally black and blue and it HURT. Of course, I used the electric pumps at the hospital but we were only there about 8 hours a day with 2 other kids and Christmas etc. He was then flown back to our home hospital for the last of his hospital stay. That was much easier. My prems hospital journey was much less stressful then his big brothers. There is never a point where we were told he might die. His NICU journey wasn't as smooth as it could have been either though. He has been exclusive on breastmilk now for 10 months and counting.

I'm glad I persisted through the common hurdles and some more extreme and extenuating circumstances. It never came easy to me and there was certainly an easier option available. It was very hard, but very much worth it too.

[Justaduck]

DD was born at 38+6 via planned c-section. I have breathing issues so both Ob & my respiratory physician decided that was safest method for her delivery.
She was looking for milk by the time we were in recovery. The nurse down there told me to wait until we get upstairs and a midwife could show me what to do. Bub was still hungry to I just let her try and work it out for herself rather than hold her off for an hour.

She ended up going a bit yellow and developed mild jaundice. Feeding her really hurt, I had heard this and didn't think much of it. I ended up getting big red and purple marks (hickeys) from her. She wasn't attaching properly. Time after time, feed after feed they would try and attach her properly but she wasn't having a bar of it. Her weight was dropping and she was getting yellower and more lethargic. They said she was tired & not wanting to eat because of the jaundice, but she needed to eat to help aid the jaundice. Her bilirubin levels were checked and just low enough to avoid the lights. I had to express into a medicine cup at first and syringe feed bub. Later on they brought a big mechanical pump in and I had to be hooked up to it & express and bottle feed bub. 4 days into the hospital stay & they said I could stay another night if I wanted. I stayed til 7pm and went home. I figured all I was doing there was pumping and bottle feeding which I would rather do at home (I had very slack care even though I was in what was rated as the best maternity hospital in the country). I had my antenatal teacher as my discharge midwife and she got a nipple shield for us to try. Bub had lost about 15% of her bodyweight by discharge.

A few days of the nipple shied at home and bub was attaching much better. Boobs were nowhere near as sore and red and we didn't need the shield any more. Problem was she still was not gaining next to no weight. Clinic suggested that I eat six high protein meals a day and stay home and not go anywhere for a week. I could not eat three big meals, let alone six, as much as I tried, and ended up a bit stir crazy from sitting around the house. Following week and no difference was made. The cdu suggested that I express and give her 50mL top ups at the end of the feed. All that resulted in was her throwing up the excess milk. She was a big chucker too and a lot of milk would get brought up. I ended up stopping 'burping' her as she wasn't actually expelling air, just bringing up more milk.

She was born at 3.57kg (I think the 50%ile). She is now 8.5 months and weighs 6.6kg (3rd %ile). The clinic next told me that I should give her formula to fatten her up so she could follow the scale. Talked to my GP and he has been amazing (no judgement here, if formula is what works best for you and your family then that is great too) in looking at her and not the scales. She was always alert, active, happy and exceeding milestones. I ended up stopping with the clinics as they just look at the scales and suggest formula now. DD has been on the move since she rolled at 17 days old. Her Dad has weight gain issues himself as well, so it could all be genetic. I did wish that if we had a daughter she got his metabolism (I am jealous that he eats like a horse and puts on no weight) and if we had a son he got mine (DP is jealous that I easily put on weight) but I was eating my words for a while there.
It was long and stressful having people fuss about weight gain, but at the end of the day I am just glad that we got through the initial attachment problems and had someone supportive of full breastfeeding for DD. We have stuck out the bfing this long and our intention is to go to a year old and go to cows milk (except for early morning and late night feed) and skip the formula stage altogether.

[Mum2TwoDSs]

Thank you lady lady! You are describing me exactly in your post. I am still trying at bfg, only thing is I am also comping ATM. Telling myself to RELAX....

[Mum2TwoDSs]

I just remembered I had very bad restless legs and sitting to breast feed was a kind of hell, especially at night.

Certainly identify with this. I keep myself entertained with mags and esp iPad.

[Mum2TwoDSs]

These stories are so timely and amazing! I am learning so much. I really needed it as I am struggling at the moment and bubs only less than 4 weeks old and am contemplating quitting. Your stories just inspire me not to give up and I can bf. thanks!

Keep them coming.

[antsy]

Great idea! I have really enjoyed reading these.

I have had a low supply with all three of my babies. I will write about my experience after having my third since it is the most recent.

Baby was born at 39 weeks via elective repeat c/s. BF in the first hour, latched on perfectly and all seemed well. Continued to BF very frequently over the next couple of days.

By day 2 baby is starting to act very hungry and stopped having wet nappies. By day 3 there are red marks in the nappies (a sign of dehydration) but I am assured it can also be normal. Baby is very unsettled and wants to BF continuously. He never comes off the breast looking satisfied. The lack of wet nappies is concerning me a lot. Midwives tell me to persevere and my milk will come in soon. Problem is, I think my milk has come in, but there just isnt much of it. I had sore hot breasts on day 2 and the milk has turned white, but I dont seem to be making much at all. Baby has lost just under 10% of weight and I am discharged home and told to keep persevering. At home baby seems a bit lethargic and there are hardly any wet nappies, you cant even tell if there is wee in them or not as they are so light.

Midwife does a home visit on day 4 and baby has now lost about 12% of his weight. I am advised to continue BF but top up with formula when needed. I also go to the doc to get motilium since it helped me with my previous babies. Things improve a lot after I begin the top ups, baby is weeing a lot more and seems more energetic. I am making sure my breasts are completely empty before giving a top up, so it doesnt affect my supply. Baby finally starts to gain weight by around day 12.

Over the next month I am BF every 1.5-2 hours in the day and a few times overnight. I am also giving 3-4 small bottles of top up formula a day. By about 2 months I notice that baby doesnt need as many top ups since he seems content after feeds, so I begin reducing them. By 3 months he is completely off the tops ups and fully BF. I am still taking the motilium.

I continue to BF throughout his first year. I now find it easy, convenient and a beautiful bonding time with my baby. There is nothing more adorable than the way they curl up into you while they feed. I still take motilium though, I have tried to reduce the number of tablets I take but notice a drop in supply when I do it.

Baby turns 1 and is still BF 4-5 times a day. I start trying to wean off the motilium. Slowly, over the next few months, I manage to drop from 8 tablets to 4. I notice a drop in supply but since baby is eating solids it doesnt really matter.

Baby is now 17 months old, BF about 3 times a day, and I am taking 3 motilium tablets a day. I am not making much milk any more but I guess it is just enough. I am so glad I perservered in the early days. There were a few times that I wanted to just give up BF since I was having so many problems, but I made it through and it eventually got easy. I feel so lucky to have gotten to this point because for a while there it looked like I wouldnt make it past the first few days.

[Mum2TwoDSs]

Bump!

[ez21]

I agree with Mum2TwoDSs, keep the stories coming! I think it's so important to share our experiences because when things aren't going so well we can know that we are not alone. You never know, your post may make the difference for someone who is going through a rough patch. This thread was so quiet for the longest time and I'm so glad that it's active again.

I'm 4 weeks into my second breastfeeding journey and, despite some problems with a strong let-down and a bub with a blocked nose, it's going well.