https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:29:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529760 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 02:22:59 +0000 brownie 529760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: you are doing great. A percentile when you get weighed often, I wouldn't worry about. We dropped off the chart and no one was concerned. Keep working at what you are doing. I know, my son started doing dangling baby at about 6 months old and could turn his head to nurse. </p> <p>I would keep playing with pillows and positions. What about stomach to stomach vertically. You lean back at about 45 degrees (put pillows behind your back). Lay her on you belly button to belly button and see if that works. It's called laid back breastfeeding if you want to look into it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529730 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:36:18 +0000 travelgirl1 529730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all SO much - I just needed a bit of support tonight : ) I think most of this was triggered by yesterday, because we had her hip appointment as well as her jabs and checkup, and it's so worrying with her hips so by the end of the day I was a nervous wreck. And the resident and nurse didn't really take into account that we're still adjusting to the harness, they just seemed to push the supplementing thing whereas the doctor at least was the voice of reason. But as a result I feel very much like I have to be pushing her to improve all the time: get her to kick to help her hips, get her to turn her head both ways so she doesn't get flat head, make her breastfeed, get her back taking bottles etc, and it's a lot of pressure.</p> <p>ANYWAY, DH watched me try and feed her and saw how upset she got and thought it was being on the boppy upsetting her, so he helped me do a kind of football position so using your arm like the football but then putting her on the opposite boob.. not sure what that's called. She latched straight on and although she didn't drink loads, she did have some. Phew! So I'll try with that position again tomorrow.</p> <p>As a funny aside, DH was demonstrating with A how to do this new position and it cracked her up no end that her daddy was trying to breastfeed her and she gave her first proper giggle! She's laughed before but it was made up of different noises, not a laugh like we would laugh, but this was a 'real' giggle. I can't wait to tell her when she's older that she first laughed when her daddy tried to breastfeed : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529704 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 23:59:14 +0000 shopaholic 529704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh sweetie! I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm in no position to give advice. Just wanted to let you know I read all of this and hope things get better for you both soon. You are being an amazing mama and doing all you can! {hugs} </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529701 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 23:55:57 +0000 bunnylove08 529701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a c section and it was hard for me to nurse dd regularly. I started to use YouTube to see how to do the football hold. Also having you Lo lay on a pillow when you sit so you don't have to cradle her might help you too. </p> <p>Keep at it you're doing a great job. You might also want to see if there us a la leche league near you. They offer free brats feed support groups </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529569 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:14:16 +0000 lovehoneybee 529569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FWIW, DS has been able to nurse just fine lying flat on his back with just his head turned (with me lying on my side next to him). </p> <p>Have you tried having your DH offer her a bottle (at least at night?) DS wouldn't take a bottle from me at first (I assume because he could smell me) but he would take one from everyone else. It won't help you during the day but it might at least get her to accept bottles (he'll take one from me sometimes now). You've gotten some great advice here, good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529547 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:51:08 +0000 Kemma 529547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: that's great progress that LO can now latch without a shield, it makes a big difference when Baby gets bigger and stronger because they get much easier to position and they can physically latch better due to a bigger mouth.</p> <p>I was also thinking the othe thing you could try is sitting in different chairs, the floor or lying in bed etc to feed, I find that the couch is easier to feed on because I have more space and room for LO to get positioned. We also get our best latch when LO is lying tummy to tummy with me and has her head / chin tilted back.</p> <p>Just take it one feed at a time and enjoy those smiles! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529533 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:33:49 +0000 travelgirl1 529533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: Thank you! I do think she has a shallow latch... she never used to be able to latch on at all without a nipple shield, but we weaned from the shield when we knew she was going in the harness (shields are very messy and we can't take the harness off at all so if milk spilled on it we couldn't clean it) and she managed really well. I'm going to try drinking more water and eating more, then pumping after every attempted feed tomorrow to make sure my supply doesn't tank.</p> <p>I might try feeding her in bed tomorrow too, so it's nice and chiled. She's so happy though, today at some points she just started gazing up at me and grinning while I was tearing my hair out about it all, lol, bless her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529531 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:31:39 +0000 regberadaisy 529531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with the suggestion of SNS giving breast milk. Maybe meeting with a LC face to face might help with positioning? Does your ped have one on staff?</p> <p>Keep up the good work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529519 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:22:01 +0000 Kemma 529519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First of all can I just say what a fantastic job you're doing with breastfeeding, it's a hard enough task / skill to master without the added stress and difficulty of the harness!</p> <p>First of all, I wouldn't worry too much about the slightly lower weight gain providing LO is still having plenty of wet and dirty diapers and is sleeping ok. You know your baby better than any doctor and if you think she's ok she probably is! </p> <p>How does your latch feel when baby is feeding? As LO gets bigger and you both adapt to life with her harness I'm sure positioning and feeding will get easier again. My LO is almost fifteen weeks old and we still have days where her latch is not that great! You could try feeding in a few different positions to see if you can find one that works for you both. Seeing an IBCLC or even contacting La Leche for help is also a great idea.</p> <p>With regards to boosting supply I always find that drinking heaps of water, eating LOTS of food and lactation cookies plus drinking Lactation tea are usually enough to get my supply really going.</p> <p>Keep up the great job and hang in there Mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529510 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:18:11 +0000 travelgirl1 529510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Thank you : ) She's asleep now, she definitely hasn't had enough heavy diapers today but that's the first time I would have said that, she usually does. The really frustrating thing is I can't just give her a bottle of pumped milk, she won't have anything to do with it, grr. If she's the same tomorrow I'll use one of the feeding aids I got when she was born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529505 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:14:48 +0000 Bao 529505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: As hard as it is, try and relax. Drink lots of water and try and get some sleep, I found when I went through stressful times getting some rest really improved my supply. Probably because I couldn't think about what I was stressing about ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529502 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:11:51 +0000 travelgirl1 529502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Usually yes but not today. She had jabs yesterday though so not sure if that affected it.... I have been super stressed today with it all so sure that's part of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529498 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:10:35 +0000 travelgirl1 529498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: I know, the resident and nurse annoyed me too. Last month it was all about YOU MUST BREASTFEED NO MATTER WHAT and this month it's all oh, just give her formula. Totally not in tune with reality. The supervising doctor was MUCH better. When I rang the LC consultant today she said she was in the 25th percentile and to really not worry about it until the next weigh-in next month. She told me her kids were in the 3rd percentile and just fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529495 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:08:46 +0000 Bao 529495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: Has your LO been having lots of wet diapers? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529494 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:07:41 +0000 travelgirl1 529494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katiew92081: I have both of these at home so maybe I'll try that, thanks. For laying down, it would have to be with her on her back because of the harness, but good idea, I'll try it.</p> <p>@Bao: I do think stress is a factor. I was thinking about the private LC but am reluctant to shell out the $200 with our finances right now... I will do if this continues though. It's just so frustrating when you can't feed your baby or know how much they're eating! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529488 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:05:10 +0000 runsyellowlites 529488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sounds like such a frustrating situation for both you AND her! =( It doesn't sound like you're having supply issues, and she probably is just frustrated that she can't get comfy like she's used to. </p> <p>Do you know what % chart your doctor uses? The CDC chart isn't designed to track bf babies and they recommend to use the WHO chart. Even so, I personally wouldn't worry so much about the % as long as she is gaining! The average range of growth from 0-4 months is 5.5-8.5 oz per week. If she's in that range then I would NOT worry.</p> <p>Hearing about that resident actually kind of peeved me for you! Truth me told, aside from "breast is best", breastfeeding mechanics &amp; breastfed babies growth patterns really aren't taught in the medical community and so many times you get someone, whether doctor, resident, or nurse, suggesting supplementing when that really isn't the solution. =/</p> <p>I would just give her a few days or a couple weeks to get her bearings back in a good position and latch with her new brace restricting her. She will get it, just may take some time. Just remember if she's hungry then she'll eat and as long as she's got good output and IS gaining, then I'm sure she's fine. GL</p> <p>ETA: I second getting with an IBCLC to help with positioning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529484 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:01:16 +0000 Bao 529484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know stress can be a factor, but maybe LO isn't comfortable, like you mentioned, therefor not eating as much as she could/should because she is frustrated because of the position? I wonder if you could get a lactation consultant to come to your house and help you figure out a better position so both you and LO are comfortable. Try and relax as much as possible, it will all be ok :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529481 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 20:59:52 +0000 Dandelion 529481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you get a syringe or sns to help supplement?</p> <p>Hang in there. Have you tried laying alongside her to feed? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-omg-long-vent#post-529474 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 20:48:24 +0000 travelgirl1 529474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just when you think you have it sussed, your boobs/baby will throw you a curveball.</p> <p>It was all going great (after a very rocky start) and then A was put in a Pavlik harness and now positioning her is so hard! I can't even get the hang of football position so I'm trying to do a kind of cradle hold (which is what we did before the harness) while not putting pressure on her legs, which are strapped so widely apart it's so hard to get her close enough and sometimes I try feed her and she cries and I'm not sure whether she's not hungry or just frustrated that the position isn't good enough for her to latch properly. </p> <p>So yesterday she got weighed (11 weeks) and she's dropped a percentile in weight. I had suspected she wasn't eating as much as she should so it wasn't a massive surprise. The resident at the doctors and the nurse were both telling me to supplement, but I don't think there is a supply issue - although maybe there is, I don't know. I could give her pumped milk to top her off but she won't take a bottle, at all! My actual doctor overruled the resident and was telling me not to worry about the feeding thing and she wasn't worried but it's hard not to when you know she's not putting weight on as she should. Also, when she feeds she turns my nipples a bit white, like a blanched effect, which I read is her cutting off my blood supply! I've been trying to offer her more all day but it seems like she's hardly fed at all and I just feel like such a failure! My let down doesn't seem as strong as yesterday either, but I wonder if it's all because I'm super stressed out about it. I bought some More Milk Plus so maybe that will help. </p> <p>I called the hospital breastfeeding clinic today and they gave me some advice but that doesn't help me with positioning. I just feel SO helpless, she's not breastfeeding properly and she won't take a bottle so what can I do? Agggghhhh!</p> <p>Ha I just had to vent, if you made it through to the end thank you and well done : ) </p>