The fight for breast milk

[user1465146157]

Dear all

I've written a few posts about breastfeeding but here is where i'm at now.

My DD is just 8 days old and can't latch on to me because i have inverted nipples. The day she was born they just said to put her on formula and we would keep trying with these syringe things to try and draw the nipple out. This didn't work and i left hospital having fed her formula only.

At home I managed to draw out a little colostrum and give her that by hand at any rare opportunity.

the infant breastfeeding advisor said to keep pumping and see if that stimulated things but while my breasts did go hard on day 3, the milk never came.

Baby has had nothing but formula and from day 4 has shown signs of colic - every evening crying and fussing like crazy - i can't help think this is something i could change (MAYBE) if i was able to express milk?

Anyway - long story but now i've accepted she can't latch on - she actually cries at my nipple. So I just want to express - I've been using an electric pump and there were some droplets which is great - but how do I get enough for a full feed?? Tried again and nothing is coming out...

Anyone else been able to produce milk days/weeks after the birth / AFTER the usual milk arrival time with just pumping alone?

Any advice would be great - also understood pumping as much as possible is the way to go, and am finding it hard to get the time in - with feeds, colic bouts lasting 5 hours and little trips to doctors, midwives and registry offices getting in the way....

thanks x

My sister pumped for 3 months using a hospital grade pump she rented. She pumped around the clock every 3hours without fail and kept up her supply. She managed to get baby to latch on after 3 months and never looked back as she continued to feed until he was 2.

Yes another voice for saying if you can afford to throw money at the problem, do. The mini ready-made bottles which you can just serve directly meant one fewer job for the first while, as I was getting to grips with the infernal latching/pumping/feeding regime. Similarly getting your hands on the best pump you can will also help.

Apologies if this is insensitive if your finances don't allow for this at the moment.