Hi there. I have a 4-month-old baby girl. We are adopting and have had her for 6 weeks. I've been pumping, taking Dom, Fenugreek, etc, for 5 weeks and finally have milk (tho haven't felt the letdown) Am only pumping less than one tsp. per session. I feel it's sooooo close, my milk, but since she won't latch on, I can't let down. I'm trying the SNS and she doesn't like the tube so won't do much. Sh did latch on last night and gently sucked for about 20 mins, but she was 1/2 asleep and the sucking was very soft. Still, I was thrilled she finally did it!!! <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> Any ideas for getting her to latch on when hungry? My nipples are not very big and it seems she doesn't know they're there and gets frustrated.

Thanks, Kathy

Hi Kathy,
Congratulations on the adoption of your daughter...most babies seem to prefer the feel of the Lact-aid tubing vs. the SNS,,,the Lact-aid is also more like breast feeding and will stimulate your milk supply better than the SNS which flows by gravity. It is great that she has latched. We will be adopting an older baby internationally so I feel we may have to go through alot to get our baby to latch also.
Are you co-bathing, co-sleeping, carrying her in a sling etc?
Unless you have nursed before, I would also rec. seeing a Lactation Consultant to make sure she is latching well.
That is great to make a tsp of milk per pumping after only 5 weeks...the most important thing is to get the baby to nurse frequently, that will help your supply the most. You could pump the opposite breast while she nurses, and pump after feeds. Night time feeds/pumping will really boost your supply also. Make sure she uses you as a pacifier,,get rid of them.
Make sure you are using orthodonic nipples like Avent,,,this will keep her mouth open like what is needed for nursing.
Keep up the good work, let us know how it goes,,Cathy

Hi Cathy. The baby has only latched on once, last night, and I need ideas on how to get her to latch again! I tried several times today and no luck. I'm afraid since she's 4 mos. already that she may never really take to the breast. I sure hope she does cuz I am so sore and full!

kathy

Hi,
Try switching to the Lact-aid. Also, co-bathing,,,co-sleeping, carrying her in a sling where she can nurse frequently etc.
Also , switch to the orhodonic nipples to get her used to having her mouth open wider. Try to latch her when she is not ravenously hungry, or when she is a little sleepy.
You could squeeze some breast milk onto your nipple first, then she will get the idea that that is where the milk is.
On the ABRW website, there is a special section for getting older babies to nurse. There is a lady named Darrillyn that started nursing a one year old, and a lady named Karleen who started nursing a 3 year old...you may want to get some hints from them. Take care, Cathy

Hey there Kathy, and Cathy,

Two myths, let downs and nipples. It doesn't matter how big your nipples are. They are just an exit for the milk. Your baby needs to be latch on PAST the nipple and well and truly onto the breast in order to adequately drain your milk supply.

Lenore says "If I had a dollar for every woman who told me she didn't feel her let down, I'd be a millionaire by now, heck I didn't even feel my own let down". And there you have it. If the milk is coming out, it's letting down.

The most important thing for you to do right now is to go to www.iblce.org and click on either the US registry or the international registry depending on where you are located, and find yourself an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who is familiar with the use of the Lact-aid www.lact-aid.com Have her come to your home and show you how to properly latch your baby and use the Lact-aid. It doesn't matter how much milk you have if your baby isn't adequately latched.

The second most important thing to do is drain, drain, drain your breasts by either breastfeeding and/or pumping. A good pump is a necessity. Most of the moms on this site use the Medela Pump in Style. Nona found that if you put the petal insert from the Avent Isis pump into the phlanges of the Pump in Style, its helps to stimulate the milk supply.

Have a look at this page for latching help http://www.asklenore.info/breastfeeding/latching_diagrams.html

And you may want to check out the video clips here http://www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_video.html

I'm not a personal fan of the ABRW site but Darillyn may be able to help. Karleen doesn't have as much experience as Darrillyn and only really latched her own "baby" who was actually a 3 year old at the time.

Hang in there.

Esther