discussion title:
Please help...feeling guilty, but (more)
message #:
11140.7 in response to 11140.1
Erica DON'T feel one bit guilty, you absolutely needed to supplement in your situation........more
By my calculations your baby dropped 15% from birth weight, the criteria I use for starting supplements is 10%. When a baby loses that much weight it is often difficult for them to even have the energy to bf and so sometimes the very thing to get them to the breast again is to supplement for a while until they are gaining ok while you work on the breastfeeding problems. Supplementation has gotten a "bad rap" so to speak b/c it is often offered too soon and when other more "bf friendly" interventions could have been used, but in your case it was absolutely the correct choice.
Getting an ounce with a pump is an excellent output for you in your situation. Don't worry about the amounts just keep pumping to make sure you have a supply. If you don't have one already I would suggest getting a hospital grade electric rental pump with a double kit to maximize your pumping. Give the baby whatever you have as breast milk but if you don't have enough use formula. Both will put the ounces on the baby and get her back on track.
I frequently work with babies who need supplements of formula and/or breast milk and they eventually are able to breastfeed. The fact that your baby had supplements via bottle doesn't mean she will not be able to breastfeed. There is no reason to think the supplement won't just be a temporary thing as you had hoped.
The most important thing you can do to reach your goal of breastfeeding is to have a lactation consultant come to your home. Ask your visiting nurse if that is a benefit covered by your insurance. I work with visiting nurses, they refer patients with bf problems to me and the vast majority are covered if the agency asks in the correct way. Sometimes they get it covered as a "skilled nursing visit" rather than a lactation visit but can send me out since I am also a nurse. I then do a nursing visit with the focus on breastfeeding issues. If they send someone out make sure you are getting a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) If they can't provide that service here is a link for information on how to find an LC:
http://boards2.parentsplace.com/messages/get/ppbreastfeeding176/11/1/1.html
There are so many possibilities of how to help you latch the baby that your LC may use they would be too numerous to list them all but here is a link to a post about basic position and latch to give you some background until you can see the LC.
http://boards.parentsplace.com/messages/get/ppbreastfeeding77/45/1.html
Sometimes I find that if the baby is not taking the breast it is helpful to give the baby some of the supplement first, about 1/2 to 1 oz and then try at the breast again. IMO it is important not to allow the baby to get upset with the breastfeeding attempts or the baby will start to associate this struggle with the breast and become adverse to it. Here is something I wrote about breast aversion that may fit your situation too and give you some ideas to try.
http://boards2.parentsplace.com/messages/get/ppbreastfeeding231/2/3.html
Also, there is no research that I know of that shows conclusively that one type of supplemental device (bottles, cups, finger feeding, breast supplementer, etc.) is better than others to help ensure breastfeeding will not be negatively impacted. So when people tell you that other supplementation devices are better than bottles it is their opinion not fact. When I was a new LC I was terrified of my moms using bottles but luckily for me most of them had their own minds and many wanted to use bottles, b/c they were familiar, when supplementation was necessary. B/c of this experience I became very comfortable and experienced at helping moms back to breastfeeding after the use of bottles and I'm not convinced the bottles are the culprit when moms need to supplement and have a tough time returning to breastfeeding. I think the biggest thing that inhibits their ability to breastfeed is the lack of quality help that knows how to support them through this and work toward bf. So yes if your baby were taking the breast, supplementation at the breast would probably be best but don't worry about the bottles that is a hurdle that can be overcome. Having a baby who is drastically nutritionally compromised is a much bigger deterent to successful breastfeeding than using bottles.
You can still breastfeed if you want to with the right help. Please keep us updated we are all here for you. Again, I really want to stress you did the right thing to supplement in this situation. You are a wonderful mommy, I'm sorry you are having such a rough start.
Warmly,
Kathy
