Hi Hello,

Now that the delivery is over and I am almost healed , Shashank has started to give his share of concerns. I am almost nursing him the whole day. IT is only when he sleeps that I am able to relax...else he is always hungry and wants to suckle... 2 days back he was so hungry that he just would' nt settle. I was also physically and emotionally drained so gave him his first formula feed. I was so suprised to see him literally gulp down the milk. It was so heartening to see your baby perpetually hungry all the time. Though folks at home tell that my milk supply is not enough, the doctor and ped refuse to say so. According to them ,the baby will need a minimum of 30 days to adjust and so will the mother. I am totally confused and dont know hat to do. Sometimes, I force him to take my feed but then when he is too cranky, looks like I have no other option but to feed him formula.

Second time moms and other moms pls share ur inputs on how to manage such conditions. What to do when the baby refuses to take your milk and is cranky for a long time?

Regards,
AVB nila replied. dear AVB

i think almost every new mom face this problem. i had the same situation for my first and for my second one since i am more confident i am managing. for my first one i thought i did not have enough and so first 2 weeks i gave formula in the night and then from 3rd week i started bf exclusively. so hang in there. even with my second one when he nurses often i get my doubts but now i know. if the baby is gaining weight and the docs are okay then u definitely hv enough. God gives all moms enough to feed our babies. our relatives and even our moms often shatter our confidence but pl dont heed to their words. trust ur instinct. the first month is hard since babies have strong urge to suck. this is called cluster feeding.

hello, AVB! pl refer to kellymom site and also talk to LLL leader.
good luck. but above all enjoy the time with ur little ones and dont feel bad for feeding formula.

hello replied. Nishta' s birth story is so similar to Shashank' s.Only diff being induction and epidural.Even mine was a failed vaccum and a forceps delivery with 4th degree tear.
Im doing the sitz bath and the ice pack daily and that' s helping me a lot.My pain is almost gone now,but for some discomfort during certain positions.
My stitches are also falling off and I' ve started some floor excercises and walking around our block.
Now to the baby issue....Im still struggling with bf.I met up with the lactation consultant at the hospital and she gave me a plan.Honestly,its so difficult to follow.My whole day I spend doing bf,ff and pump.Ahh..
I dont see any increase in my milk supply despite all the effort.And Ive had some bad latches and my n1pples are so sore now that even the thought of bf brings tears to my eyes.My saga of bf woes continues and I see no end in sight.
On the other hand ,my husband and my mom tell me that I feed her whatever I have and supplement the rest with formula.
I' ve now resigned to the fact that I tried my best to get her exclusively bfed ,but if I can' t ,then I' m going to let it go.Im going to get her latched and if she still seems unsatisfied,Im ready to give her the bottle.
So that' s the story from my side.
If you can manage to get hold of a lactation consultant ,try to get help.
Also rent a hospital grade pump and pump after every feed.This is what the consulatant suggested me.See if it can help upping your supply.
Good luck and keep posted.I hope it works for you.
My love and hugs to shashank.