Are My Nipples Going to Fall Off?

"Are my nipples going to fall off?"...and other pressing questions from a first-time breastfeeder. 

Before giving birth, I knew that breastfeeding wasn't going to be easy. Sure, it could be easy but many babies and moms struggle with it so I decided to equip myself as best I could by taking a breastfeeding course. 

Right after Julius was born, he had no interest in latching or eating whatsoever. He was content to just lay on my chest and relax. Fast forward two hours and he still had shown no signs of rooting around or wanting to eat despite the fact that I had held him skin to skin the entire time. The doctors and nurses were starting to get concerned and we had lots of nurses and lactation consultants come in and try to help us. Nothing seemed to get him interested in my breast. Finally, they got the sugar water drops and placed a couple on his mouth and on my nipple and he half-heartedly sucked for 5 minutes...and I was sobbing. There is no worse feeling than feeling like you're starving your newborn and you can't figure out how to get them to eat. *Shudder*

After four lactation consultants and an early interventionist, they told me that if he didn't start eating they would need to put him on a nose tube. I really didn't want that to happen so we tried a nipple shield and guess what? It worked! He finally latched and started eating! It's now been a month since he was born and he can successfully latch and eat without the shield! 

Here are some more questions I had as I started to venture into breastfeeding:

Are my nipples going to fall off?

Short answer, no. But however they may feel like it for the first month. My best tip is to let them air out after feeding (#toplessmama) and use Lanolin or coconut oil if they get really chapped and painful. Also, I know there's a lot of talk about 'nipple confusion' if you use a nipple shield but I used one for 3 weeks and was able to transition him to bare breast easily. So, rather than quitting, if your nipples are really sore try a shield. 

Why is latching so hard?

Every baby, breast, and nipple is different so latching can be difficult. For me, the consultants said that my nipples were fine (not inverted) but since Julius had some facial nerve damage, a short frenulum, and a recessed chin getting a proper latch would be difficult. They were right but I'm so glad I kept going because breastfeeding is my special bonding time with him. 

What do I wear to breastfeed?

For me, comfort was key. That meant that for the first two weeks I was basically topless the entire time :) That said, the only thing that felt remotely good on my raw nipples were the bras from Kindred Bravely. They sent me a few to try and I fell in love! They were buttery soft and fit breastpads easily. 

How do I know if I am producing enough milk?

Your body is amazing and will produce milk to keep up with your baby's demand. I feed on demand because it's what works for both Julius and I and it helps keep my supply matching his needs. If you drop feedings or stop, your body will think that your baby doesn't need that milk and will eventually slow production. If your baby is keeping up with their suggested diaper count and is happy (no fussing or upset) then they're doing fine. Your baby will let you know if they're not getting enough!

What do I do if my baby hasn't pooped? 

Okay maybe no one else has this question but 2 days after we came home from the hospital Julius stopped pooping. All the information I could find said he should be having at least four poopie diapers a day so I freaked out that he wasn't getting enough. His wet diaper count was fine (which meant he was hydrated) but not a single poop for four days! He wasn't exhibiting signs of gas or fussing so my mom said to just be patient and wait. Turns out, his digestive system was just holding onto all the nutrients from the milk and since breastmilk is so easily absorbed there wasn't a lot of poop. Also, the record for an exclusively breastfed baby not pooping is 31 days. Seriously. So, if your baby is the same as little J, check with your pediatrician and if everything seems fine, just relax. 

Why isn't my baby keeping up with their suggested diaper count?

Again, each baby is different and their needs are different so don't stress if their diaper count doesn't match exactly what the recommendation is. If it's off by more than two or three (meaning they should be having 6 messy diapers and they've only had 3-4), I would check in with your pediatrician. Lack of wet diapers can be a sign of dehydration so you don't want to let that go too long. However, it's super easy to stress at a new mom so take a deep breath and remember that especially at the beginning, baby's digestive system is still figuring itself out so there will be some ebb and flow. 

Why can't I get any milk when I pump?

I was getting so frustrated because when he ate, I felt like my letdown on the other side was huge (I would almost soak through a breastpad) but then when I went to pump I would get barely an ounce. My mom explained that a baby's suck is much different than a breastpump's pull so a lot of moms experience this. I've heard it helps to watch videos of your baby while you pump but for me the easiest solution has been to buy a Haakaa and suction it on to catch the letdown on the side he isn't eating. I'll get 1-2 ounces every time which is way more than I got pumping!