Author Topic: Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!  (Read 1257 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline RachandHarry

  • BW Aficionado
  • ***
  • Showing Appreciation 5
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 199
  • Location: New Zealand
Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!
« on: December 07, 2013, 18:51:53 pm »
Morning ladies.  Well I'm 39 weeks pregnant with my 2nd.  DS is 23 months.  I was never able to breastfed my DS and have always felt disappointed. 

Things are a lot different this time around.  DS was born with pneumonia and was in critical condition in intensive care for the first week and remained in intensive care but a stable condition for the second.  He was born via c section after a really long process of induction/labour for 4 days and failure to progress.  Due to his illness, we were unable to hold him for the first few days as he was severely jaundiced needing UV lights and requiring full time oxygen.  Anyway, needless to say we didn't get loads of skin to skin etc to help with bonding.   I was expressing 2 hourly (3 hourly overnight) and after the first few days expressing 2 hourly, feeding 3 hourly once he was well enough to be snuggled.

So anyway, this time around bubs is again being born by planned c section  :(
DS has reduced lung capacity and the specialists aren't sure if it's hereditary or as a direct result of his pneumonia causing irreparable damage.

I'm worried because my breasts haven't changed at all during pregnancy.  Not in size, shape or feeling.  With DS this also never happened and after a month even with all the expressing and feeding I was still only getting between 50 and 70 mls a day.  An entire day!    I'm really wanting to give it another go this time around but feeling really apprehensive about my boobs not tanking up!

Any BTDT advice or remedies to help things along will be gratefully received.  I've tried the teas and natural breast feeding tonic from pharmacies last time with no luck, not to say I won't have another go at them, just that I've had no previous success

TIA ladies and sorry for the novel!

 

Offline Khalam's Mama

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 123
  • Posts: 11335
  • Location: London
Re: Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2013, 21:08:05 pm »
Fenugreek?

Offline clazzat

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 286
  • Posts: 12883
  • Location: Kent, UK
Re: Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2013, 21:14:42 pm »
So sorry that you had such a rough time first time round - that sounds so difficult, and I can't imagine anyone would have managed to bf with that going on.

This time, firstly, don't assume that it is impossible before it starts - different babies have different attitudes, and you might find that actually it is a breeze this time round! You know what is going to happen for a start, which means that you can get information in advance; and odds are this baby is not going to have the health issues that made it so difficult first time.

Expressing is good, but it is nothing like as good as a baby actually feeding from you, so there is a pretty good chance that your body didn't make much milk because it didn't think there was a baby to feed, iyswim. The best thing you can do is try to feed and see what your body does - it might well kick into gear as soon as your baby latches on. I'm not sure that I would automatically go with supplements etc to start with, save them for if you need them, and remember that there is loads of information and support on here to help you with it.

I have to go now, but I will be back later. :-*

Offline Khalam's Mama

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 123
  • Posts: 11335
  • Location: London
Re: Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2013, 21:23:43 pm »
I agree have the suppliements in mind jic but totally see how it goes before you panic. I had a hard time with ds1 but found it easy with ds2 even though I was in itu after ds2 so you never know.

Offline RachandHarry

  • BW Aficionado
  • ***
  • Showing Appreciation 5
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 199
  • Location: New Zealand
Re: Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2013, 22:37:26 pm »
Aw thanks ladies.  I'm definitely on a mission to make it work so hence the question.  Just wanting to be as prepared as I can to give ourselves the best possible chance of success.  It's really nice to have some positive experiences and feedback :-)

Offline Erin M

  • The Sentinel
  • Global Moderator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 521
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 16463
  • Location: USA - the midwest...
Re: Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!
« Reply #5 on: December 08, 2013, 03:46:06 am »
There's some info here that might help: Making breastfeeding work - delays in milk production

Have you identified any IRL support?  That can make all the difference sometimes .   (((Hugs)), there's lots of people rooting here for you!

Offline RachandHarry

  • BW Aficionado
  • ***
  • Showing Appreciation 5
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 199
  • Location: New Zealand
Re: Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!
« Reply #6 on: December 08, 2013, 06:21:41 am »
Thanks Erin!  Not sure what it's like in the states but here in NZ we have access to lactation consultants free of charge as much as we need.  Our public health service and society both frown upon non breast fed babies to the point where if you need support with bottle fed babies it can be difficult to find help.  I'm really grateful for the link.....thanks a bunch x

Offline *Ali*

  • Breast Feeding & Pregnancy/Childbirth
  • Moderator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 373
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 22302
  • Caught in the act!
  • Location: London uk
Re: Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!
« Reply #7 on: December 08, 2013, 21:53:44 pm »
Maybe see if you can make an appt with a LC before the birth so you can be fully prepared. There is no replacement for IRL.

There are meds (like domperidome ) that you can get yo help supply if your dr feels you need it.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline Fiver

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 152
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 10105
  • Anyone for omelette?
  • Location: SW UK
Re: Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!
« Reply #8 on: December 08, 2013, 22:14:37 pm »
The fact that you're determined to feed is really good!!  A positive mental attitude is also important as breastfeeding is almost as much a psychological process as a physiological one.

Pumping is such hard work and a lot of women find it really difficult to get anything out for a pump, but will produce sufficient milk to feed their baby directly.

I know it's hard, but if you can put what happened last time at the back of your mind and concentrate on this time round being a success and taking all the IRL help you can get, you have a much better chance of BF going well.

Good luck :)
*** Amanda ***




Offline AliR

  • New & Learning The Ropes
  • *
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Posts: 34
  • Location: London
Re: Not feeling hopeful...remedies please if you know some!
« Reply #9 on: December 08, 2013, 22:41:32 pm »
I agree with all the above, and it's great that you're so keen to make it work this time, but would also add that if for whatever reason it doesn't, don't beat yourself up! 

My two are a slightly shorter gap than yours, my mums advice... When you sit down to feed, arm yourself with a snack, drink and book for the older one!