Christina, have you tried getting him to latch with a nipple shield? That really turned things around with August. I was definately hesitant to try it at first, but I'm sure glad I did!

Duh, I will try that tomorrow ... lately he has cried even when I lift my shirt! It's making me really sad!

try finger feeding him with the lact-aid. Do your best to NOT use a bottle at all. If he sees it he will want it. Its become to familiar to him. I would finger feed only and cup feed. I know thats hard to do. But its important to get him away from that bottle. You also might try when he is sleepy. I know you said he won't latch. But if you squeeze milk out on his lips he might take it. See if that works. Also if your a SAHM. Try going around without your shirt. Play with him and let him explore you. Hes going to have to get used to it all again. Its not over!

Thanks Nona and Amy ... well ... tried the nipple shield and I've never seen him cry so hard ... it made me feel bad ... like I'm forcing something on him that he doesn't want. I've also tried finger feeding and he refused my finger quite a few times and cried just as much. As for going around topless, we have so many activities that we are doing that it is hard to do that right now ... perhaps that is the reason for the strike ... we are always one the go... it has been hard for me to sit home because he gets so restless ... and in the begining .. these activities were a big part of my nursing support ... ie. I saw a correlation of his latching and going to these activities. Anyway, I will keep trying with the finger feeding, nipple shield and go topless when possible ... maybe right now before I put him down.

Thanks again!

XOXO
C

Hi Christina,

Have you arranged for a home visit by an IBCLC? You can find one near you here: www.iblce.org Just click on the "About IBLCE" button and the US registry pops up.

The IBCLC can help you with strategies to get your little one back to the breast. I had the same problem with Ethan a few months back but with the help of my fellow LC's we got him going again. It's a pretty common thing. Sometimes getting into the bath with your baby can help to get them on the right track. Lots of skin to skin is very important.

Fondly,

Thanks, Lenore. I have been going to weekly breastfeeding class that my IBLC offers, and she tells me that she does not think another session will help. Perhaps I should find another? Yikes. I have been bathing with him ... always have. I will try sleeping with my shirt off again ... burr.

Thanks so much ... I'm sticking to my guns .. I am getting a kick out of how some people around me think I should give up already! Oi! Gonna go pump.

Hi Christina,

Please find another IBCLC who knows what she's doing. It's very unusual for an IBCLC to just give up like that. Also, please avoid the Playtex nursers. They have short stubby nipples that are more similar looking to the breast at rest. In reality your breast tissue elongates in baby's mouth to form a teat. Those Playtex nipples are far too short...fastest way off the breast. The AVENT nipples have a wide base and long nipple which makes it easier to get baby from bottle to breast.

Did you try the Medela Newborn Small Nipple Shield?

Fondly,

Playtex has redesigned the nipple on their nursers. They're now called "Naturalatch". I remember the ones you're talking about, Lenore. My poor son tried and tried and tried and never could get a hold of that thing. That was years ago before I knew of abf!

Jill

Hi Lenore and Jill and Everyone,

Okay, I thought I needed to go to a different IBLC but have been through so many, just didn't want to change again. However, I know the one I will go to and I will ask if she will do a house call. Do you think it matters whether the appt is in my home or her office?

As for the Playtex nurser, Lenore, what do you think of Jill's comment ... I vaguely remember the old ones, but the new ones are almost identical to the Avent, but they are much softer and supple like a breast.

Yes, I tried the Medela newborn nipple shield .. I will try it again. I also tried holding the Playtex nipple to my nipple and Henry went for it for about 2 seconds then stopped because he couldn't get any milk out.

Mahalo for your care and concern ... I will get going on the new IBLC.

Hi Christina,

That's great about being able to find another IBCLC. As for the Playtex Nursers, I'm really not happy with them but if it works for you, great!

Fondly,

Thanks, Lenore. Whatever will help Henry get latched is the bottle for me. A new friend that was a milk donor is going to send me her Evenflow bottles .. she said they helped her when her daughter went on a brief strike.

In the meantime, I'll start using the Avent.

Mahalo.

Christina,
How is Henry doing? How did you like the Evenflo bottles? Will Henry take the Avent bottles? Levi won't...he won't take the Playtex silicone nipple, either, only the brown one. Talk about picky!

Jill

Hi Jill,

Haven't received the Evenflo bottles yet, and he still takes the Avent bottle ... he's a very flexible baby except when it comes to nursing! I notice the brown Playtex nipples are softer than the silicone ... more pliable I guess is the key description. Henry likes both the brown and the clear silicone Playtex Premier nipples

Anyway, the new IBLC gave me some homework and I admit I have not been a good student .. inlaws just arrived today to visit and I have a nasty cold and have just felt a bit defeated lately. I've got to get my ch`i back in order here. I'm still not giving up ... but since you asked a status .. that's what it is today! I guess every day is not rosy in the nursing department here. Other than nursing woes, Henry is doing great. He is such a happy baby .. I am very blessed. He is 22 pounds by the way ... 7 months old!

Thanks for asking, Jill.

Aloha,

Hi Christina,

We're in the same boat. Ethan went on a nursing strike this week. He's teething and even had trouble taking a bottle. Now if I wasn't an LC I would have thought that perhaps he was weaning himself but we know that's not the case. So got my pump out and rescued my milk supply which was rapidly going south. And today he latched again. He only took one side and konked out but it's a start.

My point is not to give up. Try again when you're feeling better and when Henry is sleepy. It's easier to get a sleepy baby back to the breast.

Fondly,

Whew! Glad to hear Ethan is back on and you rescued your supply. My supply is shaky right now too .. I found the decongestant affected it and I should have known better!

Got the Evenflo bottles today and tried one tonight and Henry refused it ... I take that as a good sign as perhaps that means it is more like the breast. Anyway, will try some more in the morning and all day tomorrow and so on. Anyway, off to bed to get some rest and get on the mend.

Thanks for the encouranging words, Lenore.

Well, I've not been on the boards in a while .. thought you all would like to know that I have pretty much accepted that Henry did wean himself quite early ... about 6 months old. He is nine months tomorrow .. hard to believe. I tried the Adiri nurser too. I am still pumping and plan to until he is 12 months old.

Many thanks for your support and suggestions. It really means a lot to know that so many people care.

Aloha,
Christina

Hi Christina,

You can still continue to offer your breast. Henry may surprise you and take it. Ethan's nursing stike lasted a little over a week. Now, every time he sees me he makes a beeline for me and tries to lift my shirt!!

I really thought it was over when Ethan went on strike but it turned out that he was only teething. He's since had another episode like that one that only lasted a couple of days.

He's starting to truly wean now and so he only nurses three times a day and is moving onto a cup. He's almost 14 months old. This is a fairly normal pattern of behaviour for a baby this age. I'm taking it very slow because this is my last baby (I'm 45 and so the shop is closed) and I really want to relish my time with him as a breastfeeding mother-baby duo.

If it's any consolation, I had a heck of a time with Adam in the beginning. And he went through several breast refusals. In the end we made it to 8 months and then I had to stop so that I could jump back on the infertility treadmill.

I had a bit of a hard time in the beginning with Ethan because of his oral anatomy. Breastfeeding really hurt for the first month until his mouth grew a little larger and I became more capable....see even lactation consultants can have a hard time when it's their own baby. I'm very happy that I stuck it out and made it to this point but it was rough, especially when he was not sleeping through the night....he didn't sleep through the night until he was a year old!!! And now Adam is waking up at 3 am to crawl into bed with me because he's at the age when they get night terrors.

Anyway, I just wanted to share with you so that you would know that you're not alone honey.

Fondly,

Hi Lenore (and the whole board!),

Thanks so much for your encouragement. I love hearing yours and everyone's stories. Actually, I do still hope he'll change his mind and still do offer the breast once in a while. As a matter of fact, he is teething right now ... the top left tooth just cut through today.

Yet another lactation consultant told me she thinks I'm nuts for still trying and that I should give up pumping too (given that I have donated milk). I told her even though I'm only producing 2-3 ounces per day ... it's fresh .. and that is so much better for him than frozen. She responded by saying that she thought it was more important that I just focus on him and enjoy him. I then responded by saying that I am more than enjoying him and pumping is only about a half hour out of my day and that it is well worth it to me. Then I went on to tell her there is a benefit to me to pump until 12 months as my father had breast cancer and lactating until 12 months+ significantly reduces ones risk of premenopausal breast cancer. That kept her quiet.

Oi! I know she meant well, but if I didn't have you all, I would sure feel lonely out there!

Mahalo and Happy Holidays!

Just want to say hi to everyone ... I've not been on the boards in a while. Still pumping ... my goal is to make it to one year. Also, I've started a very slow weaning process on the dom ... interesting that I am down to 40 mg/day and I am still producing the same amount of milk ... some days more!

Aloha,
Christina

Hi Christina, Keep it up. You are doing a great thing by continuing to hang in there with the pump. I sometimes shake my head at the medical community and the ignorant advice they give. I am so glad we all have each other here for encouragement and support.

Hi Lalle,
Thanks for your support! It means so much! Thanks to everyone for your support!

Aloha,
Christina

Glad to *see* you, Christina...we've missed you!

Hey Christina,

You're doing GREAT! Keep up the good work! You're an inspiration to us all.

Warmest regards,

Hello everyone,
I've missed you! Just wanted to give you a little update. I'm *still* pumping though I have been progressively weaning myself off the dom, very s-l-o-w-l-y. I am down to 10 mg every other day and only have about 10 pills left. I am pumping once every 48 - 60 hours and getting 1.5 - 2 ounces. It is amazing, in the last two weeks, my chi chi's have really gone down quite a bit in size and I'm actually fitting into my bras from before the little one came! I hardly have any discomfort from the less frequent pumping anymore. So, most likely I'll be completely finished in the next month, give or take. The main thing is I made it to my goal of 12 months, with a four month bonus ... thanks to so many of you for all your support. I couldn't have done it without this website, thanks to Lenore! Inducing breastfeeding has been such a wonderful experience, especially seeing I could not experience pregnancy, because it gave so many benefits to my little one health-wise, and because it will help reduce my chance of premenopausal breast cancer.

Speaking of cancer, my sister-in-law found out yesterday that she has advanced tongue cancer and the prognosis was six months to live. Please keep her in your prayers, I do believe in the power of prayer.

I will still check in now in then. Hope you are all doing well!

Mahalo and Aloha,
Christina <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Christina, Good for you. What an incredible accomplishment, not too mention the people I am sure you have educated along the way. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Prayers for your sister-in-law and all involved.

Thanks, Lalle!!

How are you doing?

I am doing great. Our little surprise blessing is 2.5 and still nursing. I am seriously thinking of offering to pump for a friend who just adopted from China, Her little girl is 10 months and having reactions to nearly everything she feeds her. DH and I keep hoping to suddenly be PG again but I am also thinking seriously about China adoption.

Wow, that is great! Would love to hear an update. You may not get pregnant if you are still pumping for your friend. You should have your friend contact Nona for milk, too.

As for my pumping, I made it to 18 months and still had milk for another six weeks or so after. I think it is pretty much all gone now. I'm back to wearing bra's from two years ago ... what a concept! It was sad to put the pump away, but holding onto it for now in case we decide to try to have a brother or sister for Henry.

Miss you all ... life can sure get busy. I'll try to check in more often.

Hugs,
Christina

Friend decided she would just do the elimination thing. I even talked to her about Nona but unfortunately she wasn't interested. They had so many things going on I think she felt overwhelmed. Dad was deplayed when she went to CHina fo rtheir daughter and still away so she was dealing with 5 children and an upcoming move.