Positive stories after crappy start to BF?

[HousePlantNeglect]

Can anyone hit me with some positive stories of BF following a tricky start?

Baby #3 is 10days old, lost 8% BW and hasn’t regained it. Due a weight check today but for the last 12hrs hasn’t BF and have had to top her up with BM and FF. she has a posterior tongue tie which I could get snipped but I wonder if it might be too late for us since she is refusing the breast.

FWIW baby #1 was agony to BF but gained weight fine and I fed him for over a year. Baby #2 has the same weight gain issues as #3 but never recovered BF and ended up mixed feeding for a v short time before FF when my supply tanked. All had posterior tongue tie which was snipped!

My start to bf was horrendous. Tie had to be snipped 3 times - I'd do it OP as it can affect more than feeding. We had allergies, oversupply, fast let down, blebs, mastitis, my milk had high lipase so expressing was a faff, just everything you could think of that could go wrong went wrong. But after the first 6 weeks after we'd worked out allergies and got tongue snipped it got a lot better and I fed until 2.

I would recommend nipple shields in the short term and tongue tie assessment

Thanks @Beanbagtrap

How did you keep your supply going through all that? I’m pumping but hardly getting anything and feel like it’s tanked after the last 12 hrs of drama.

Shes defo got TT and is on the list to have it snipped. I was just thinking it might be too late and to quit while I’m ahead. I’m not in any pain or anything.

My baby had tongue tie which was picked up at 8 days and cut. It made a huge difference to feeding. Before the cut, he was fussy and the latch was painful. He’s 11 months now and I’m so glad we persevered with BF. If you’re not in pain and happy to keep going, I would. Hopefully you won’t have to wait too long for the TT to be cut.

See someone for the tt, it can make a massive difference.

Have you tried flipple technique?
That can really help for tt and/or biological nursing position.

Loads of skin to skin (which will also help you if expressing).

If you are giving bottles make sure you do paced feeding as that will help with baby transitioning between breast and bottle and help not develop a bottle preference. There are videos on-line for how to do paced feeding.

See a lactation consultant if you can. Lots do phone/on-line if you can’t find one near to you in person. They should help put a plan together to help you breastfeed.

At 3 months old my child was the same as her birth weight, refused to take a bottle and had to be fed through a tube. I had 100% persevered and it ended up being detrimental to her health. Please be careful.

@Notsandwiches My second had slow weight gain which is why I’m cautious. Last time (and this time) I did all the things helpfully suggested by other posters here-lactation consultant, TT release, paced feeding (I didn’t even use a bottle last time, used SNS), got loads of support, and poor little thing just gained weight so slowly. I ended up FF anyway but just further down the line.

@MilkToastHoney yes use the flipple! Had loads of input from lactation consultant on positioning and attachment. No pain at all and outwardly her latch looks perfect. Just obviously not transferring enough milk

yes use the flipple! Had loads of input from lactation consultant on positioning and attachment. No pain at all and outwardly her latch looks perfect. Just obviously not transferring enough milk

That’s good you’re getting support from LC.

Cranio osteopath can really help, especially if use along side tt snip (sessions before and after).

Breast compressions can help with milk transfer. My DC3 had a terrible latch and I literally had to squeeze milk into their mouth. Failed tt cuts, lots of issues. I did feed until self weaned at 6 though if you wanted positive stories!

It can up to 5 days to establish a decent milk supply with the pump.
I had to pump on both sides every ninety minutes for nearly a week.
I had the hand operated Avent pump and found that it helped me to get a certain rhythm.
For me it was 4 pumps and stop for a count of 4.
You need a break in the suction to keep the milk flowing.
I ended up BF my own baby, donating milk to my friend’s twins and donating to the local milk bank for 15 months.
I literally started off with only a few drops of milk.
You are doing an amazing job, please take care of yourself too.
Congratulations on your new baby.