The Leakies with Shari Criso, MSN,RN, CNM, IBCLC
This post made possible by the support of EvenFlo Feeding
We’ve asked Shari Criso to share her answers to Leakies questions about feeding their babies. If you have any questions you’d like to ask Shari, leave a comment!
Dear Shari,
I started breastfeeding my son when he was first born but we had a lot of difficulties and ended up switching to formula. He’s 2 months old now and I don’t think I have any breastmilk left but I’m really sad about stopping. Is there any way I can get him back on the breast and get my supply up for him? Is that possible or should I just accept that I screwed up?
Sad but hopeful
I am so sorry that you had so much difficulty. This is unfortunately not uncommon and there are so many moms that face the same challenges having them stop breastfeeding way before they want to. You DID NOT screw up! You did the best that you could with the information and support that you had. This is not your fault although I know how disappointing it is. There are two questions you are asking here…One, is it possible after 2 months to get your baby back on the breast from the bottle, and two, can I increase my supply to go back to exclusive or partial breastfeeding? The answer to both of these questions is YES…but it will take some work and the right support. If you have been pumping and feeding your baby a combination of breast milk and formula, increasing your supply back up to exclusive breast milk is very doable. It will require frequent pumping and/or feeding (possibly with a supplemental nursing system) and also supplements that can help to increase your supply. If you have not been pumping at all, re-establishing your supply or “relactation” is possible but will also require work with pumping, feeding and supplements for you. Getting your bottle fed baby back on the breast after 2 months is possible although not always. I highly recommend that you seek out an experienced IBCLC that has worked with moms in this situation before and get the proper counseling and support. This is not something to do on your own, as time is really of the essence if you want to have the best chance at success. Lastly, there are lots of moms that exclusively pump and are still able to feed their babies breast milk even though they are not nursing at the breast. Of course your baby will greatly benefit from this for as long as you are able to do it and for as much or as little as you are able to provide. This is a third option to consider.
For those moms that are trying to make that final transition back to exclusive breastfeeding, here is a great video clip from my WebTV Show on “Weaning off formula back to exclusive breastfeeding”
Dear Shari,
I was hoping you could tell me what could be causing me to feel nauseous when I nurse? It’s really bad at night, but always there when she nurses?! Is this normal? Will it go away? It is really putting a damper on breastfeeding because I feel sick every time.
Please help!
Feeling sick to my stomach
Hi…I know this feeling that you are describing since I had it myself when both of my babies nursed! It is amazing how everyone feels different when they breastfeed. Very often moms will have some sort of sensation or reaction to their milk letting-down. It can feel different in different moms, and if you don’t feel anything it does not mean that you are not getting a let down…don’t go there! This can be felt as nausea, which is usually caused by the hormones that are released when your baby begins to suckle. Moms may feel something like nausea, slight dizziness, lightheaded, tingling, etc… at the onset of the feeding and then it will subside as the baby continues to feed. As I said this is not the same for everyone and it sounds like you may be feeling it the whole time. There is not much that you can really do about this since it is hormonal. You may want to try a hard candy, closing your eyes and relaxing with the feeding, or maybe some fresh air or a fan, etc… Also, make sure that you are not hungry or that your blood sugar is not low, which will also cause you to feel nauseous, just as it can during pregnancy! I wish that I had more to offer except that this is quite normal AND it may not last. Your body (and your baby) is changing every day. What you are experiencing one day may be completely different the next. Hope it resolves and you can enjoy the experience a bit more.
Here is a video about relieving nausea (or morning sickness) in pregnancy…although the hormones that are causing it are different, the conversation about hypoglycemia may be helpful and especially for all the pregnant mamas out there.
Dear Shari,
I am 12 weeks pregnant with my second babe. With my son I wasn’t able to breastfeed, my supply never came in. I tried oatmeal, mother’s milk tea, and lots of water. But nothing helped. I really want to breastfeed with this one. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions that could help this time around? Anything I can do beforehand to make sure my supply comes in?
Thank you so much for your help.
Concerned but hopeful in the midwest.
Hi…It is great that you are asking these questions NOW in preparation for your baby’s arrival. Way too often, moms will wait until their baby is born to educate themselves or try to find the support that they need. This can be difficult when you have just given birth, trying to breastfeed and care for a newborn! To answer this question it is important to identify what actually happened last time, identify any underlying medical issues, and also be cautious in comparing one experience with the next. So yes there are real situations that can cause your milk to not either be delayed in coming in, have a decrease in supply, or not come in at all. You need to discuss this with your doctor or midwife (and also consult with an IBCLC) to make sure that underlying causes are identified and addressed if they exist such as a hypothyroid, or IGT for example. Sometimes the birth itself can be a cause for a delayed or insufficient supply…large blood loss, retained placental fragments, etc…can cause this among other things. Lastly, it is important to remember that while it is very possible to have a real situation with insufficient milk supply, my experience is that MOST issues are either perceived or created from the concern and then the unnecessary supplementation. It is SO important to understand that your milk will take days to come in, that the drops of colostrum that you are producing is all your baby will need, and that babies are not really supposed to eat large volumes of milk in the first few days and are supposed to lose weight! This misinformation and misunderstanding, mostly in the medical community, is what creates fear and doubt for moms and causes unnecessary supplementation, decreased feedings at the breast, and can cause the exact issue you are trying to cure. Most importantly, get the information you need and really understand what is happening and what is not. Yes the teas and the supplements can be helpful, but without the knowledge it will not make much of a difference. One of the best ways to prepare yourself for success is to watch my online breastfeeding class “Simply Breastfeeding” where I go over this discussion on milk supply in the first week as well as so much more!
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Hi Shari, I have a .almost 3 day old. Who is latching and nursing very well. My concern is wet diapers. He has one about every 12 hours. He has soiled diapers 3-4 times a day. My questions should I supplement with those few wet diapers.
Thank you
Eleni