Expert: ruth kraft - 11/13/2010

Question
I am the mother of a six week old who has not latched on to either breast since she was two weeks old. I try to nurse at every feeding, however I end up pumping for every feeding so that my baby will still get breast milk. I am having trouble with my right breast being engorged, and I wanted to know what I can do since my baby still does not latch on.

Answer
continue pumping. If you are going to continue pumping throughout the breastfeeding time, your breasts will adjust to that after a while. If it continually gets engorged, then pump only until it relieves some tension instead of "emptying" the breast. this will tell the breast you didn't need all the milk that was there so it will make less.

If it is hard to get a let down, use warm compresses and massage down towards your nipple to get it flowing.

I hope that helped!