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I appreciate that you made this open to all methods of feeding - it's all challenging!

I'm FF for medical reasons (I'm on antiseizure meds), although I did attempt to BF in the hospital just because. It didn't work because LO had a bad latch even with a nipple shield. I've suspected for weeks that he had a milk allergy and we're finally addressing it with Alimentum. It's been challenging dealing with the diaper rash from Hades and his reflux and other rashes and congestion but I think we're finally maybe turning a corner.

Glad you started this. We're breastfeeding but it has been really challenging. LO is gaining weight like crazy and I think my supply is decent, but his latch is very painful even after a visit from the lactation consultant. And for the past two nights he has switched from nursing every 3 hours to every 1.5 to 2 hours which is doing a number on my sleep considering how long it takes to get him back down afterwards. The LC suggested I just do one breast at each feeding, which we're done the past week and a half. But he really still seems hungry after 20-30 minutes on one side so I'm going back to 15 on one side, then however long he wants on the second.

I think we may introduce a bottle tonight, even though we are a few days shy of the three weeks the LC recommended. How is everyone else hanging in there?

Hello Ladies!

Im not on the June board, but thought I would post anyways.

I just had my LO June 30 after having a crash c-section (which has had its only challenges!) Despite all that, we left the hospital yesterday with LO already being back up over his birth weight. My milk had already come in by tuesday/wednesday. The challenge we are having is that LO is overly eager to latch. I have been having a hard time getting it in his mouth far enough before he starts sucking! Has any one else's had an experience like this? The nurses were not overly helpful at giving suggestions. I am hoping to get an appointment with the LC next week.

@BabyBruins: supply issues are so stressful!! I'm sorry to hear your back to pumping, but so happy his poops are no longer green and its not a dairy issue!

@BabyBruins: We also dealt with bright green poop for about 4 days before I read about fore milk/hind milk imbalance and started block feeding. But when I mentioned it afterward to our Pediatrician she said green poop is normal??? Either way, the block feeding (from only one side per 2 hour period) worked and we are back to mostly mustard color poop too.

I'm pretty late to the party, but I thought I'd check in and see how everyone is doing feeding these little hungry people

Overall, E is a great eater - he's gained almost 5 lbs in 6 weeks! @Meagan2014: @beachbee: He definitely is in the over eager category, he starts panting and bangs his head into my chest... He is like a crazed milk-vampire. Early on this often resulted in a bad latch which really messed up one of my nipples. It's better now but I think it hurt my supply on that side. Now I've got two different sized boobs and when I pump I get 3-4 oz on one side and 1.5 on the other.

I'm trying to even things out by always starting on the bad side first, can't tell if it's working yet... To make things even more interesting, I think I have over active letdown on the "good" side. little mr. hungry deals with this by just letting milk run out of his mouth all over my clothes (or a strategically positioned burp cloth).

Does all of this wacky stuff eventually regulate or is this just how it goes with breast feeding?

@CakeLady: I'm not sure if the production difference between sides will regulate, but I would assume so if you continue stimulating the "bad" side more often. As for the let-down issues, your supply will change around 4 months. From that point on, your breasts always have milk, and your body no longer requires a hormonal trigger to "let down" milk when your baby starts nursing. Your let down issues should improve at that point.

@CakeLady: I think I could have written your post. I've got an over eager little guy too! The panting and the vigorous head shaking before latching is quite amusing lol. And instead of letting the milk flow out of his mouth when it's too strong, he just pulls off and lets it flow into my bra before he re-latches. It's a good thing we love these little creatures

Hi fellow June mamas and others. My LO is almost 3 weeks and we've been having some latch issues too. It feels good when we start, but then as my breast deflates, I think her latch changes position. I too have ended up with cracked nipples that we are now working on healing. We are thankfully past the toe-curling stage and now in the merely cringe stage. It's just hard to heal when the little beast keeps sucking on it 10 times a day.

Does anyone have any healing tips or tricks other than pumping (I am trying to avoid it for now if I can). I had an LC here and she is coming back on Monday for a follow up to help address any lingering issues. I am using the cradle hold which I like but sometimes it takes me so long to get her on and we both get so frustrated.

@shortcake: @MsBadger: I'm a June '13 mama, lurking on your thread! just wanted to throw out that these gel pads are awesome for helping your nipples heal. Wear them in you nursing bra between feedings, they last about a week.

http://www.amazon.com/Ameda-17261M-ComfortGel-Hydrogel-Pads/dp/B003IP2L38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405829834&sr=8-1&keywords=comfort+gel+pads#productDetails

There are also these shells, for keeping cloth, etc off your sore nipples if they need to air out or are really sensitive:
http://www.amazon.com/SoftShells-Breast-Shell-Soothers-Nipples/dp/B000058DPN/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1405829966&sr=8-3&keywords=nursing+shell

Thanks for all the tips!

@msbadger: my LC also suggested saline and I did it for a few days, but need to start again. Thanks for the tip about getting the netti pot saline.

@seattlemom: I need to try the gel pads. I have been using the soft shells but I cut the back (a few slits on the soft plastic part) so they are more of a shell and less of a way to bring out the nipple.

@littleveesmommy: so happy BFing is going well so far.

@BabyBruins: we also tried a routine and it failed with DD1 we started a bedtime routine early, maybe around 4ish weeks. she loved the bath and we had plenty of time to do lotion, sing songs, and read a story before rocking her down to sleep. well all of that is out the window. we tried last week, but DD2 hates the bath and DD1 is a crazy monster toddler by the time it is bed time so we've just accepted the fact that there is no routine, and we're happy when we get both kids asleep before 10! i hope once she starts to get herself on more of an eating/napping schedule it will work out better. as for spaced feedings, we are right there with you! the evenings are just brutal, she wants to eat all the time. during the day we get about 2-3 hours and then usually play time and a pretty good nap until she's ready to eat again.