Help with Breastfeeding!! - Lavaca,AR

Sydne,
I had the exact same problem. You need to get her nursing on that side if at all possible. She may not like it because the letdown isn't as fast on that side, so you might try starting her on the right, just until you get a letdown and she gets a bit, then switch her. You can try just sliding her over (so she's still laying in the same position). Anyway, I would nurse/pump as much as you can on that side to stimulate the milk production. Don't ignore the right though. You may not get them to be exactly even (mine still aren't), but you can probably make it much less noticable. It is actually normal to have slightly different sizes.

Hi, sweety...Breastfeeding is a supply and demand type of thing. If you don't feed on one side the breast stops supplying. If you feed on only one side the breast that has the demand will fill the same amount your baby sucks, and will let down the milk about the same time each day. If you want to even out, only feed on the other side you want to start supplying again. Start out with her hungry sucking on the small side, then switch to the fuller side, start pumping the small breast inbetween feedings also, put in a bottle to fill her up, instead of giving her the fuller breast. In a 2 weeks or so, it should start evening out!
I wish you well, eat alot of protien, tuna, ect...it will help satify the baby and make your milk richer.
God Bless, BB

I would pump every two hour during the day. Try a warm shower or compress or shower right before pumping. Still try to get this babe to nurse bilaterally. Any pump is not as good as your baby. Just know that the left might never be as good a producer as the right. The size thing should even out though. Also, be sure to do manual massage before feeding or pumping. This will help with letdown and make your milk richer. Preemie babies need rich hindmilk with lots of calories, so you want to see milk that looks more like eagle brand than skim milk. Good luck. It's going to be okay. Also, make sure you are near or holding (at least able to see your baby) during pumping. It really does help with production. Feed then pump. Freeze what you get. You will have the occasion to want it. Persistance is the key. Breastfeeding a preemie is such a gift. You are doing great.

Start nursing her on your left breast. Even a little bit will help it start producing more milk in it. She may not want to at first but keep at it.

hot showers, warm compresses. try pumping when she is nursing on right side (after letdown). the trick is to get the pump going but only after letdown. if you pump every 3 hours, it WILL build milk supply, but if you are not getting much when you pump, you could become engourged and that will become painful and could lead to other problems. call your hospital nursery where you had her and ask for the number for the lactation consultant. that is their job (lactation consultants), helping new mothers and giving them tips for the babies born at their hospital.

hope this helps. i had a bit of difficulty with my first. she was 5lb 9 oz. when born full term and we contacted the lactation consultant and took classes together (the baby and me)until she got the hang of it! she went on to nurse for 18 months.

good luck! and remember, whatever is better for the baby (and mom)!

I was also gave birth to a low weight baby who was a preemie. I also breastfeed her to get her to gain weight. Unfortunately she won't go to the breast so I was forced to pump. So yes you should most definitely pump at least every 2-3 hours on the side that the baby won't latch to. The milk will start to come in more if you continue to pump. You should try to pump on that side as often as you breastfeed on the other side. I hope everything works out well for you. My 4lb 6 oz preemie is now a 30lb 2year old so there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Start trying to make her feed on that side too. As far as pumping goes...you MUST pump at least every 3 hours, every two hours for the next week if possible would be better. You may need to try a foot ball hold or different possition to get her to take that breast...my dd loved my left, but wasn't really happy with the right until i tried the football hold. My daughter was born 6 weeks early and came home from the NICU at 5 days old, 5lbs 1oz and 18in so I totally understand your frustration...If you are going to supplement...I would either get your hospital to get an SNS system or buy one online yourself...That's how I got dd to gain weight and nurse both sides.

http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/specialtyfdg.html

I used the starter SNS, but an SNS might be useful if you anticipate weight issues.

Also...I would recommend finding a LaLeche League and talk to them immediately. They have great resources.
I don't know what kind of pump you have...but I had great succes with the avent manual pump when i could barely get anything with others. I went from 1oz to 3oz immediately with that pump...I also had luck increasing my supply by pumping until I had a second letdown reflex (did this for a week and I started getting 8-9oz a time after that...but you must keep it up!)

M.
Amara 8/25/01

I am a La Leche League Leader that lives here in Benton. Based on what you've written and the amount of time that has passed since you had your baby, you might never have equal supply in both breasts. All hope isn't lost, however, since you are able to produce some! Frequent pumping and nursing on the left side will help. Another poster mentioned not forgetting or neglecting the right side, and that's right on.

Your daughter might be frustrated if she's really hungry and you offer her the left breast first, so one thing you can do is give her the right for a minute or two (so she isn't *starving*), and then switch to the left until she's done with it, and then back to the right to finish the meal.

Hope this helps. We're hoping to start a LLL Group in the Benton/Bryant area within the next year so there will be a stronger support presence for moms like you with questions.
Take care!

My baby was in NICU for 5 days. During that time I didn't know I was allowed to breastfeed so we were feeding him formula. Of course during that time I became extremely engorged. It hurt to even breathe. When I got ready to breastfeed my nipples were introverted so I couldn't feed or pump successfully. I had a lactation nurse assist me in getting things moving. It was a painful process, but it did work. She started out with cold ice packs, then moved to heat, and then started massaging the areas where she felt ridges. Pumping didn't work because that just created blisters and blood was getting in the milk. When I brought my baby home he wouldn't nurse from my left side so I was having the same issues again. The thing that worked best for me was this, while I was soaking in a hot bath I would place the very hot washcloth on my breast. After 10 or 15 minutes of soaking in a nice bath I was able to massage and pump out the milk by hand. That worked better for me than pumping. I acheived instant relief and my nipples didn't suffer for it. Good luck! I feel for you. I know how painful it is:(