[pixandpug]

This will be short as I am sure the baby will wake any second now!
I have a 8 day old baby that has attachment issues. Long difficult labour followed by a day in the SCN being force fed every 2 hours on bottles. It seems like he is trying to find the breast but it quickly frustrated and won't open his mouth. I am pumping as often as I can (supply came in late) but am getting more and more exhausted and am having a hard time. Baby has put himself on 2 - 3 hour schedule and is very chucky. Don't want to give up on BF but am very worried it will never happen for us.
Can anyone recommend a lactation consultant?

[noi'mnot]

I just pm'd you.

[Joey11]

I did breastfeeding clinic through the hospital - however Northern in Epping so not your area. Did you hospital have an LC you can use?

MCHN may be able to refer you somewhere. They were able to refer me to one employed by the council.

Good luck!

[noi'mnot]

Just had another thought: If you were at the Women's, they have BESS - give them a call. They will help.

Seriously, get on to it asap, the sooner you get help the more likely your success. Good luck!

[CharliMarley]

It is perfectly normal for a baby of this age wanting to feed 2 hourly, but I can understand your angst at trying to keep up with pumping. If you phone the ABA Helpline - they will be able to find you a lactation consultant in your area. I would assume there is one at the hospital you birthed in.

[Tesseract]

Edit: just saw you are in Kensington.

FWIW I had a very similar start to breastfeeding and with a great LC was able to get it sorted and am still feeding her at 14 months. It is so hard right now, but you're doing exactly the right thing by finding an LC because it sounds like you need that level of support.

This post has been edited by Tesseract: 07/05/2012, 09:55 AM

[deejie]

Where in Melbourne are you located OP?

Have you seen this website? It lists all the LCs in each area of Melbourne:
http://www.lactation.org.au/consultants

I am in the inner south and know a few well recommended ones in the area.

Edit-- just saw PPs comment that you are in Kensington. Have PMd you
Also, BESS are good, but they can have a long wait list to get in. It took DS1 and I three very long weeks to get an appointment. Much better to hire a private LC and get the issue sorted as soon as possible!

This post has been edited by deejie: 07/05/2012, 09:58 AM

[lucky 2]

There is a pinned topic in this forum with links to help find a private LC, I've linked LCANZ list and I'll add yours from CLC deejie so thanks for that.
If you want to be bulk billed you apparently can use the bfing service at the Northern (Epping) even if you didn't give birth there.
http://www.nh.org.au/breastfeeding-support/w1/i1002378/
All the best.

[pixandpug]

Thanks to all for you suggestions and PM's. I managed to get a LC over today and some progress was made, though it looks as though it will be slow going. Baby Lucien has some issues with his sucking and tongue tie as well as a possible back problem that is making feeding on the left side difficult. We managed to attach with the use of a nipple shield. This is great but means feeds now take an hour and I am already not sure how to get everything done. I am always neglecting something. I still need to top up and express 8 times a day.
I have an appointment with BESS, but not until next Monday. They don't do the day clinic anymore, but rather a 1 hour appointment. I'll also go to a breastfeeding clinic in Kensington on Thurs.
I knew this would be hard, but sometimes it is really a struggle to imagine how I/we will get through this.

[Tesseract]

So glad you got someone out to you so soon!

Is Lucien your first baby? If you have no other kids to trend to (and possibly even if you do) then I would say that there is nothing else you needto be doing. I did nothing but breastfed for the first 12 weeks. Honestly if at the end of the day I had showered and feed myself it was a massive achievement. Leave. The. Housework. It's not your business right new, breastfeeding or not!

I remember the gruelling, awful routine of struggle to feed, then top up, then pump, I thought I was gonna crash out at any moment. But somehow I got through it and she slowly got stronger and better, then at about 12 weeks it was all good. And it was worth it, for me anyway.

Anyway, EN is here if you need to chat anytime!

Ask the best, Tess xx