Nipple Shields and Breastfeeding

[Michele]

Pediatric Associates of Dallas. Michael Brown is the only one of them that does the tongue clipping. He did it in office and it was a 2 minutes procedure. Russ walked to the back with her, held her, doc gripped her tongue with forceps and snipped the frenulum with scissors. He had to make a second cut bc she was tied to the tip. I didn't walk back there bc of my recent c-section.

There was no referral, no discussion. I called their office, said she was tied and I wanted it clipped ASAP and they schedule me for an appt the next day. I didn't stay with that pediatrician bc he wasn't taking new clients. But he was nice and I would've liked to stay with him. We used Dr Foster at that practice and I liked him. He was very laid back.

My LC (at Richardson Methodist) was super nice and helpful. Football was the only position Phe could nurse in while tied. She was 3 or 4 days old when she was clipped.

[Ravenclaw]

Not sure if you mentioned the paci/binky in this thread or another but just wanted to tell you my experience. I was worried about nipple confusion too so waited a few weeks and then DD didn't take to it. I also wanted to do 100% breastmilk. But she wanted to nurse every hour, including at night. Her first night at the hospital she nursed for 4 hours straight. I was completely miserable but was being a martyr. Her longest stretch of sleep in the beginning was 3 hours. We tried bottles of expressed milk (tried tons until we found one she would take) but she would just begrudgingly take them. I was a walking zombie for a year! I honestly didn't get to enjoy the first year as much as I could have if I wasn't SO sleep deprived. This time I'm fine with a bottle of formula once at night so I can get some sleep. And will give the pacifier the first night. I figure one bottle of formula once a day is not going to ruin the baby's life!

[SoonerTexan]

Good to hear about the paci Ravenclaw...were using it now, just sparingly, which was the original plan anyway.

BUT!!!!
Today we did the cranial sacral therapy with the chiro. N really liked it--it was like a very gentle back massage. At any rate when I nursed her tonight she dropped her jaw by herself in the middle of the feeding and latched correctly. Then I tried her on the other side without the shield and she latched and ate perfectly! I hope it continues tomorrow!

[ladymoreta]

Great news!!!

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Way to go, N!!

[Bittersweet]

Oh, yay! That's awesome.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Today we did the cranial sacral therapy with the chiro. N really liked it--it was like a very gentle back massage. At any rate when I nursed her tonight she dropped her jaw by herself in the middle of the feeding and latched correctly. Then I tried her on the other side without the shield and she latched and ate perfectly! I hope it continues tomorrow!

Great news! Chiros can be quacks but I had one in Boston who was a DREAM and really helped me with an ortho issue that the MD wanted to cut open...a few correct exercises and massages and I was good to go. I'm totally sold that a good one is very, very valuable! Sounds like you've found a great one, yay for N!!!

[lovelight]

Awesome news! Hope today is going well!

[SoonerTexan]

Well we had some good feedings last night and a few that required the shield. Depends a lot on her mood and I try to keep her from getting frustrated. Still progress is progress so I am happy.

Any chance she would not like the taste of nipple butter/lanolin? She was making faces.

[Deebs]

I always had to wipe it off with a baby wipe before nursing. Glad things seem to be improving. remember, the first few weeks are really about teaching mom and baby feeding. That's it. Oh, and doing it while you're sleep deprived and recovering from a human being coming out of your body. You're doing great!

[SoonerTexan]

Now we're using the nipple shield almost all the time because it's become obvious she is used to the giant silicone nipple and she has to be in a really good mood to find my own, which isn't often lately. We went to the ped today and she only gained 2.5 oz this week so we have to go back again next week. I don't know where the heck the milk is going...she's peeing and pooping like crazy. The ped told me to feed her every two hours and pump after each feeding. I'm so burned out. I don't know how I'm supposed to sleep or do anything if she is in the breast or I'm pumping effectively every hour. I feel like a bad mom for not wanting to.

[peggyfromwastate]

Hugs!! I know how frustrating this is. My dd didn't gain for a month. She was on the verge of a failure to thrive dx when she finally started gaining. They told me to nurse more often, etc, follow nursing with supplement, AND pump to increase my milk production. This was my 5th kid-- I'd nursed the rest with far fewer problems. It's just a process, and IMHO nursing during the first 6 weeks is soooo tough. More tough than "natural".

[Momo]

hang in there ST. ((((hugs))))) ITA w/Peggy. first baby+ breast feeding the first month& 1/2 to 2 months can be R.O.U.G.H. Hopefully you two will find a weight gaining/ nursing groove soon.

[Pollyanna]

Now we're using the nipple shield almost all the time because it's become obvious she is used to the giant silicone nipple and she has to be in a really good mood to find my own, which isn't often lately. We went to the ped today and she only gained 2.5 oz this week so we have to go back again next week. I don't know where the heck the milk is going...she's peeing and pooping like crazy. The ped told me to feed her every two hours and pump after each feeding. I'm so burned out. I don't know how I'm supposed to sleep or do anything if she is in the breast or I'm pumping effectively every hour. I feel like a bad mom for not wanting to.

You are NOT a bad mom. Asking you to pump after every two hour feeding is cruel IMHO. You doc does realize that you will have absolutely no sleep time with that plan correct? I know the focus is on baby but try to take care of you too. If you have some bottles ready then have your hubby take some night feedings with a bottle. Pump during the day but try to get as much sleep as possible at night. Don't worry about anything else, the house, the laundry, etc. those items are now to be taken care of by your dh. And I know people will slap me but it is also okay to supplement with formula if need be and still keep your supply up.

And I know people will slap me but it is also okay to supplement with formula if need be and still keep your supply up.

No slap here. I totally agree. The MOST important thing is to keep mama sane. A 2 hour feed + pumping is just not "doable" w/o turning you into a zombie. Perhaps you can nurse, pump after every 2nd or 3rd feed, and supplement w/formula if you need to?