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Becky Parker
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| Posted: June 14 2008 at 5:48am | IP Logged
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My ds is 11 months old and we're really struggling here. It began about 3 months ago when he stopped gaining weight, and then he actually started losing weight. The pediatrician said "ween him!" the lactation consultant said "after nursing pump and try to cup feed him". I took the lactation consultant's advice, and while it took some extra time, he started doing better. But, now when I pump, I don't get anything. I'm drinking tons of water and taking supplements, but I think I'm just "running out". (I posted about this before and got some great advice about taking care of myself. I think it helped, but maybe I was too late?)
On top of that, this little guy is such a voracious nurser, he had injured me somehow. I can't tell what he did but it hurts like crazy when he nurses on my left side. It brings tears to my eyes.
I've tried giving him a bottle, but he wont take it. He'll drink from a cup or a sippy cup, but not when he's hungry. When he's hungry he just screams until I let him nurse.
He wont take solids hardly at all. I feel very guilty about this, but I have actually been mixing some formula and a tiny bit of baby cereal into vanilla icecream. It's the only thing he will eat! This is child #5 for me so you'd think I'd have this all figured out. He's really got me stumped.
My pediatrician wants me to take him to some clinic in Grand Rapids which is 90 minutes away.
I'm seeking advice, and prayers. It's very difficult to have a little one with needs that I, as a mother, am supposed to be able to meet. I feel like a failure.
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
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mathmama
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| Posted: June 14 2008 at 6:12am | IP Logged
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I hope someone has some good advice for you, but I just wanted to tell you that my dd#2 didn't start solids until about 11mos. Also, just because you don't get anything when you pump doesn't mean there is a problem with your supply. Good luck!
Beth
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Mary K
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Encourage him to nurse on your right side mostly, always offer that side first. Sounds like its time to rest, drink plenty of water as much as possible. Can someone come and help with the kids (if they're little and your dh isn't available)?
God bless,
Mary-NY
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guitarnan
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Have your other children offer him some of "their" food (mashed up if necessary) and see if he'll take it from them. Sometimes babies see Mom as the nursing station (or smell her) and can't focus on anything else when near her.
I will pray for you...nursing difficulties are hard, but you are NOT a failure!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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jdostalik
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Oh Becky, how hard! I am so sorry that you and your little one are having a rough time. I understand your worry about him not eating solids since you are struggling with your supply.
NONE of my babies have shown much interest in table food until close to a year. But, my 6th showed more interest than any of the others and what I did was to put him in a high chair at meal times and offer him mashed versions of what everyone else was eating. Of course, he was interested in eating solids...but this might indeed intrigue your little one enough to try a few more foods? Nancy is right--sometimes having an older sibling step in works wonders, too!
Your left breast hurting so badly doesn't sound right. Perhaps you can get a lactation consultant to come out and see what's going on? Could it be thrush, perhaps?
Just know that you will be in my prayers. You are doing a wonderful job with your little one...do not be discouraged.
Much love to you....
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Jennifer in TX
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monique
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| Posted: June 14 2008 at 9:44am | IP Logged
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Hi Becky,
Sounds like you are having a rough time. I'm so sorry. It must be frustrating since this is your fifth baby. How is your son doing otherwise? He is meeting his milestones? Does he look healthy? Maybe he started losing weight because he started crawling or walking?
To increase your supply you could try nursing more often rather then pumping. How often is he nursing right now? There are also herbs you can take to increase your supply.
A great book to read about babies and starting solids is My Child Won't Eat
Love and Prayers,
Monique
Raising Saints
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PDyer
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| Posted: June 14 2008 at 9:49am | IP Logged
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Becky Parker wrote:
| it hurts like crazy when he nurses on my left side. It brings tears to my eyes. |
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This sounds like thrush to me. I had it only once and I still remember that pain. I'd report this to the doctor.
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Patty
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sarahb
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Hi Becky, I dont post here much but I saw this and wanted to offer some thoughts. I have a lot of questions which you can think about and hopefully you'll find the answer to your problem.
1. No online help can substitute for a real life well trained Lactation consultant. the best ones are certified thru IBCLC. I see you have already talked to one and while her advice is not bad at ALL it may not be addressing the problem well enough for your dc.
2. How much does your child weigh? how much has he lost? is he being weighed on the exact same scale in the same type of clothing each time? Has he had any illness or pain which might make him less apt to nurse well? Are there any symptoms of thrush in his mouth?
3. Pumping is fine, but pumping isnt as effective as nursing your baby. He'll get milk out of you when no pump can.
4. Your breast injury needs to be addressed and treated. Is it a visible injury? If not thrush is a very likely culprit as someone else suggested. The gold standard is diflucan, which nursing moms certainly can take tho some docs refuse. Your child should be treated simultaneously. If you can, try to find a recipe for triple cream for your breast. www.kellymom.com has it I would think.
5. Could you possibly be pregnant? this would affect your supply to some extent. Mother's Milk tea and fenugreek are helpful to some women who find their supply isnt keeping up. There is nothing wrong with supplementing. At 11 months he is in the process of weaning. Some kids take a longer time to wean- I have one who took 5 years. ;) Any good healthy calories you can get into him other than milk are important and they are not cheating in the least!!
6. I would do as the ped recommends and see the specialist if he continues to lose ground. Weight loss isnt expected due to weaning from breast to food- especially not when you are handling it carefully as you are doing!
the site I mentioned above is truly a wonderful source of info for breastfeeding moms- www.kellymom.com You may want to see what they suggest for increaseing yoru supply. Staying hydrated and reasonably well rested are great starts. It SOunds like you are doing everything right. Prayers for your son's good health and for you and you mother him thru this latest challenge.
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12stars
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I second Sarahs advice.
Don't feel bad, maybe when he latches on you tense up and he feels the anxiety and that affects your let downs. You are doing a great job by reaching out, don't let a unsupportive ped let you feel bad about this.
Prayers to you mama and your little one!! 
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Claudia in Southern California
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Mom to DD 14, DD 10, DD 7, DS 4, DS 2, 1 in heaven, and now due 5/11.
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JodieLyn
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If as Claudia says, you're tending to tense up.. a beer might be helpful.. the hops and such in it are good for milk production.. as is the relaxation it can give.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: June 14 2008 at 7:37pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for your helpful advice everyone. I'm going to have to read through it slowly when I get a minute. I'm just wondering about the thrush though. Wouldn't my baby show symptoms if that was it? and wouldn't it be present in both breasts?
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Becky
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PDyer
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Becky Parker wrote:
| Thanks for your helpful advice everyone. I'm going to have to read through it slowly when I get a minute. I'm just wondering about the thrush though. Wouldn't my baby show symptoms if that was it? and wouldn't it be present in both breasts? |
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I remember having it only on the left (her favored side). The baby may have patches of white in his mouth, but not always. Kellymom has an article here, (pictures of mouth and diaper area included, FYI). She does say supply can be negatively impacted by thrush, so if you do have thrush it may also explain your reduction in supply.
I do really think you need to consult a doctor who can see you and your baby and make an accurate diagnosis.
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Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
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PDyer
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Becky Parker wrote:
| Thanks for your helpful advice everyone. I'm going to have to read through it slowly when I get a minute. I'm just wondering about the thrush though. Wouldn't my baby show symptoms if that was it? and wouldn't it be present in both breasts? |
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The baby won't necessarily show symtoms, and I recall having the pain only on my left (her favored) side.
Kellymom has a good article here. If you do have thrush kellymom says it may impact your supply, which would explain what you're experiencing with supply as well.
I do think it's important that you see a doctor who can look at you your baby and make an accurate diagnosis.
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Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
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myblessings
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I don't have any advice, just wanted to lend my support. I struggled with breastfeeding my first baby for our first three months and it was such a difficult and heartbreaking time. I hope you figure out soon what you difficulty is.
My third child wasn't interested in solids until 18 months. I would offer, but he would just play with it. Then he just started eating like a big boy one day.
Hugs, Mama.
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time4tea
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BEcky,
Two things:
1) nurse him on the right side. I know it's lopsided, but it doesn't matter as long as the little guy is feeding;
2) Get what is called the Medela Supplementary Nursing System. It looks like a bottle type device that you wear around your neck with a tube that attaches to one or both nipple. You can fill the bottle with breast milk, formula, or a combination of both. Your ds will nurse, as usual, and get as much milk as he needs/wants. This is available through the La Leche League catalog, or, here:
http://www.selfexpressions.com/supnursys.html
Let me know if this link does not work!
My dd is 10 months old and also does not eat a lot of solids, btw. We are hard pressed to get her to eat any solids at times. My last three babies were like this, none of them really eating solids to any great degree until well into their 2nd year. One more thing - as babies get older, sometimes moms don't pay as close attention to how they latch on as when they were newborns and the nursing relationship was getting established. Make sure your ds's mouth is wide open and that you bring him straight onto the breast to latch on, with his tummy facing yours. Use a Boppy or other support if you need to. Nurse him often, just like when he was a newborn, every 2-3 hours. Use a little Lansinoh for soreness, if need be. Make nursing your only priority right now. And DO look into the Medela Supplementary nursing system. Adoptive mothers have even successfully used this system to induce lactation so that they could breastfeed their adopted babies.
I will keep you and your little one in my prayers!
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~Tea
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monique
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I just wanted to throw in there that if it is thrush, make sure they treat you and the baby. Some docs don't treat both and then mother and baby just end up passing it back and forth and they don't get rid of it.
Thrush can also have no symptoms so just because your ds isn't showing any signs doesn't mean that it isn't thrush.
Monique
mom to 5
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time4tea
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Becky,
Here is one more thing to try - a recipe for infant formula made from evaporated milk:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_formula_hhg.Htm
Scroll down to "Can I Make My Own Formula". At 11 months old, your ds will be technically able to drink cow's milk very soon (beg at 1 yr.). My mother is an RN and my dad an M.D., and both of them swear by this evaporated milk formula for babies who are tough to feed - like I was! You could add this to the Supplementary Nursing System, or try a cup or bottle.
Please let us know how it goes! Again, you will be both be in my prayers!
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: June 16 2008 at 1:07pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much for all your help! You ladies are wonderful. And how did I ever nurse 5 babies (not at one time!) without knowing that the kellymom site existed?! What a wealth of information!
I stayed up way too late last night reading. This morning, I called the lactation consultant. She told me to try taking acidophilis and use Nystatin ointment. We had the Nystatin because the pediatrician said I should use it when I was giving ds an antibiotic about 3 weeks ago. I had no clue what the Nystatin was for except that the antibiotic was giving him diarhea and a diaper rash. I guess she assumed he would develop thrush but she never told me. Anyway, I think that is where this all started.
The Lactation consultant also told me I should talk to my doctor if it doesn't clear up soon. It could be more than the Nystatin can take care of. I have a feeling it is. It feels like it hurts all the way back to my ribs when he nurses.
I have tried to keep from nursing on the side that is painful, but nursing on one side doesn't satisfy ds. I will try to pump but the thought of it sends chills down my spine. I have a good pump - Medella - but I still think it's going to really hurt.
Anyway, I guess I need to keep trying to feed him as much as possible and worry about getting this thrush cleared up. Then I can go back to worrying about his weight!  Thanks for the recipe for formula. I think I will give it a try. I bought some Similac and he will drink little sips of it from a cup, but I don't like all the junk that is probably in there. He also loves icecream and peanut butter. I know, I know, peanuts are a no-no, but none of my other kids had an allergic reaction to them so dh gave him a little on a spoon last night. He loved it and seemed to have no problem.
So I will keep on keeping on and continue to pray my way through feedings! You'd think #5 wouldn't be such a challenge, but I guess they are all different. I told dh that if we have 5 more I'll really be an expert!! 
Thanks again ladies. You are all such a blessing!
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
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Becky Parker
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One more question - will it make my baby ill to nurse on the side that has thrush? I assume we both have it anyway but I'm wondering if the advice about not nursing on that side is due to the fact that he could get sick from the "spores" or whatever might be present in the milk. I checked Kellymom but didn't find anything in that regard.
Thanks again!
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Becky
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time4tea
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Becky,
I'm not sure about the thrush and nursing on that side. You can always pump and dump from the left side. Since the suction of a pump is somewhat less to begin with, it may be more comfortable until it starts to clear up?? Also, a manual pump might be more comfortable than an electric (not sire what kind you are using, but I have always had good luck with the Avent Isis).
I don't think peanut butter should necessarily be a no-no. I fed our oldest ds peanut butter as an infant, at 4 months of age as a matter of fact, mixed with some soy formula and mashed silken tofu. It was one the first things he ate. He is now 15, and back then, the Dr's recommended solids earlier and this particular dc wanted them. He is the only dc we have had who wanted solid food before 1 year of age. How about yogurt? Our dd likes blueberry (with the big berries strained out, of course!), and she will also eat tiny pieces of buttered whole wheat toast. Just really small little squares that I put on her high chair tray a couple at a time.
Btw, 1-800-la-leche used to be a great number to call to get breastfeeding help when you can't reach anyone else. You can also find a LLL leader close to home, too, who could help you.
Let us know how it goes!
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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Topic: Desperate - nursing problems
