{"id":2215,"date":"2014-07-10T18:29:50","date_gmt":"2014-07-10T18:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebadassbreastfeeder.com\/?p=2215"},"modified":"2019-06-27T02:27:56","modified_gmt":"2019-06-27T02:27:56","slug":"ask-an-expert-keep-calm-and-latch-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebadassbreastfeeder.com\/?p=2215","title":{"rendered":"Ask an Expert: Keep Calm and Latch On"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Wendy Wisner, IBCLC<\/p>\n

Fan Question :<\/p>\n

“My baby is three weeks old. I have struggled to get her to latch. She was born three weeks ago by c-section. I have been trying to protect my supply by pumping (as much as I can) but I can’t keep up with her and have to supplement with formula. Is it too late for her to learn how to latch? Will I ever make more milk? I hear about women stock piling in the freezer and I can’t even keep up with my newborn.”<\/p>\n

Hi Mama.\u00a0 It sounds like you\u2019ve had a rough start!\u00a0 You are absolutely doing the right thing by pumping to keep up your supply until your baby can latch.\u00a0 If you aren\u2019t using a hospital grade pump, go out and get one.\u00a0 Almost all mothers find that they are able to pump more milk with a hospital grade pump.\u00a0 Even just renting one for a month or two can work wonders.\u00a0 Ameda<\/a>, Medela<\/a>, and Hygeia<\/a> are three companies that make these pumps.\u00a0 You can call the companies to find out about local rentals (they are too expensive to purchase).\u00a0 Also make sure that your pump flange is fitting you correctly (here<\/a> is a good explanation of how to know this).\u00a0 An ill-fitting flange can decrease the amount of milk that is produced.\u00a0 Finally, make sure that you are emptying your breasts frequently \u2013 the more frequently you empty them, the more milk you will make.\u00a0 Aiming for 10 pumps per 24 hours would be ideal, but 8 or 9 pumps per 24 hours is good too.\u00a0 Do your best, take the pumping day by day, and be gentle with yourself.\u00a0 It\u2019s not an easy task to take care of a baby and pump.\u00a0 For more milk supply tips, I highly recommend the book (available in electronic form as well) Making More Milk<\/a>, by Diana West and Linda Marasco.\u00a0 There is also great info in that book on herbs and foods suitable for increasing milk supply.<\/p>\n

In answer to your question about latching, it is never too late!\u00a0 Babies are born with natural reflexes and instincts to breastfeed.\u00a0 It takes many months (and perhaps years) for these instincts to go away.\u00a0 Your baby wants to breastfeed!<\/p>\n

This article<\/a> has some detailed tips on how to tap into these instincts.\u00a0 But in a nutshell, try latching your baby when she is in a calm state, not too hungry, not too full.\u00a0 Strip her down to her diaper, and hold her skin-to-skin and belly-to-belly with you.\u00a0 In this state, where your bodies are touching, and she is smelling you and your milk, she is very likely to begin to look for the breast.\u00a0 She might bob her head around, searching.\u00a0 You can gently guide her, or let her do it herself.\u00a0 Do whatever feels right.\u00a0 And give it time.\u00a0 It could take three minutes or thirty minutes.\u00a0 As long as she is content, let her be there, and help her figure it out.<\/p>\n

Even beyond these latching attempts, spend a lot of time skin-to-skin with her.\u00a0 Let her sleep on you, wake up on you.\u00a0 Ditch the pacifiers, if you are using them, and see if she will suckle at your breast for comfort.\u00a0 Comfort sucking is one of the first ways that non-latching babies come back to the breast.\u00a0 If you are using bottles to feed her, make sure you are using the slowest flow nipple, and try to find a wide-base one that requires your baby to open wide while she sucks.\u00a0 Keep the flow slow by holding the bottle horizontally, and give the baby lots of breaks while you bottle feed her.\u00a0 These tips will help make bottle feeding a bit more like breastfeeding so that your baby won\u2019t begin to prefer the bottle.<\/p>\n

If you need further help, call a lactation consultant (IBCLC) and set up a meeting!\u00a0 In-person help would be invaluable in a case like this!<\/p>\n

\"unnamed\"<\/a>Wendy Wisner is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), writer, and mother of two amazing boys.\u00a0 In addition to her work with breastfeeding moms, she has published two books of poems, and a handful of articles about mothering and breastfeeding.\u00a0 She blogs at www.nursememama.com<\/a>.
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