Author: Breezy_Ann
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:19 am
First, this could have absolutely nothing to do with withdrawl, it is completely normal that some babies have a hard time breast feeding. Diary gave you some great advice, get a breast pump. I would have never got my son breast feeding without one. Your wife likely has little milk right now. It takes a few days to a week for it to come in and since he is not feeding well she is not getting enough stimulation to make more milk. The breast pump will cause her to make more milk, but you have to use it often. Women’s bodies make milk based on demand so the more stimulation, the more milk.
Also your son is likely very hungry which causes him to get upset, making it harder for him to latch on. I was not on any opiates during any of my pregnancies and had trouble breast feeding each time.
Babies can really feel the stress from their mom’s, so when she is on her own your wife is likely feeling stressed while trying to feed. Your baby feels this and gets stressed, making it difficult for him to feed. When she has the consultant your wife likely feels calmer about the process, which may be why your son does better.
I have 4 children and the 1st week I would supplement them with some formula and i would use the pump often until my milk supply really came in. Then I seemed to have a much easier time getting them to latch on. I am not suggesting you do this if your not comfortable with giving your son a little formula, if you are comfortable with it this may calm him down since he is likely hungry.
Don’t give up, he will get it. I really wish that it was standard practice to inform new moms that breast feeding is often difficult in the beginning. It would save a lot of us from feeling so guilty and like we are failing.
