rene--hopefully my experience will offer you hope

[Guest guest]

and I'll answer your post with my experiences as I come to them. I may not

have practical advice, but hopefully this will help you continue to pump and

keep trying to get him latched. The other ladies will likely be great for

practical advice.

I have since given birth to my 4th son, Dean, who is now 11 days old. He

was born at 36 weeks and is still in the NICU recovering from respiratory

distress syndrome and jaundice. >>

First off congrats on your newest son. My son was born 2 weeks early and

suffered from the same exact thing and was in the hospital for 7 days--he is

now 3 months and a great bfer**HOPE**

<<The problem? But now I find myself refusing to make attempts at the

hospital, despite some of the nurses offering to help me directly or even to

give me the opportunity to breastfeed.>>

First off, is there a lactation consultant on staff? Secondy, after a

couple unsuccessful, embaressing attempts myself, I too refused to continue

to try and nurse him in the hospital unless I had access to the nursing

room, even then I only tried once because I found the hospital environment,

especially under NICU circumstances to be too stressful and it was making

bfing very undesirable because of it. So I waited until we got home to try

again--a week later btw.

I'm soooooooooooo worried that after 5 days of bottle nipples, I'll never

get him to the breast. Hell, I'm still waiting to take him home!! :-( >>

My son had it not only in the hospital, but for a whole month before he

finally just latched on one day--it can happen. I know I " m not the only one

with a baby to latch many days after thier birth AGAIN**HOPE***

<<I'm also worried about my milk supply and how that whole thing works.....I

know its the perpetual " supply and demand " thing but pumping can only do so

much, right? Doesn't the baby have to actually be with me to make this

whole breastfeeding experience a success story?>>

No, no, no. Of course, the pump is not as efficient as the baby, but when

it's all you have, it is imperative to keep up your supply that you

continue to pump and to pump so that you mimic how your baby would eat at

this stage(every 2 or 3 hours). If it's any hope for you, I built my whole

supply on pumping alone.Even after my son was fed, I built a whole shelful

in my freezer of ebm in that first month and I know by the time he latched I

could pump from 30-40oz a day-PLENTY MILK. And there are those who pump for

many many months if baby doesn't latch on so you certainly can establish and

keep a supply. Not everyone can, but you don't know unless you try right?

Is there anything that I can do while he's in the hospital to increase my

milk supply? What do I need to do when he comes home to get him

exclusively on the breast? HELP!!!>>

This is where I'll defer to the others. I've found that frequent night

pumping and some herbal concoctions can help like Fenugreek, Mother's Milk

Tea, Beer(non alcoholic) or Brewer's Yeast Tablets, and plain old Oatmeal;-)

To get him on breast, keep trying to latch him. You don't have to do it at

every feed or everyday if it's too much for you, but keep trying. Like I

said my son finally latched at 1 month old and I hadn't tried to latch him

in a few days at that point.

Hang in there sweetie. I know just how hard it is in your situation. Please

email me privately if you just need a cheerleader to keep going.