Aug 28

“If It Hurts, You Are Doing It Wrong. Give Her A Bottle.”

“If it hurts, you are doing it wrong. Give her a bottle.” – Lactation Consultant to mother in the hospital who was having breastfeeding difficulties.

106 people dislike these words.

There are 31 comments to this post.

Rebecca had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 5:10 am (Quote)

If your leg hurts, we’ll just get you a prosthetic.
or
If you arm hurts, stop writing and dictate

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cathi had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 5:15 am (Quote)

You know, with LCs like this who needs enemies! Who pays that woman’s salary???
Hope the OP got real help and continued to bf…

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road2vba2c Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 9:50 am road2vba2c(Quote)

Similac.

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Jane had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 5:16 am (Quote)

“If in your position as a lactation consultant you say such ignorant things, you’re doing it wrong. Give the woman a real lactation consultant!”

1) Breastfeeding my hurt initially. It’s normal.

2) The reason the woman is talking to a lactation consultant is to be told how to do it right.

3) If the only options are “you’re doing it right and you don’t need my help” or “you’re doing it wrong so give her a bottle,” then your job is pointless.

4) Your job should be to figure out why it hurts, where the pain is coming from, and offer techniques to reduce the pain and improve breastfeeding. Or if there’s a medical problem, contact a doctor who can help with the problem.

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mom of 5 had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 5:30 am (Quote)

receiving under-the-table fringe benefits from Similac

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Christina had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 5:37 am (Quote)

This is mine. It was after the cesarean birth of my first daughter and my husband was deployed (the previous post was mine, too). I was in pain and everytime I nursed, I had horrible contractions and my nipples hurt so bad. I cried everytime I nursed and she fell asleep every time. She was about 3 1/2 weeks early and 5 lbs 13 oz, so everyone was giving me crap about her being too small and needing supplement and I continued to refuse. I asked to see the LC this was the only thing she said to me. I told her to get the F^@^ out. Luckily, there was an amazing nurse who came in and helped. She checked the latch and helped keep my daughter awake for the nursing sessions.

I wish I could have gone back and told her to shove it! I nursed my daughter for two and half years and I am currently nursing my 6 month old son!

Oh and to the question who is paying her salary…Everyone is…She worked at the military hospital and was paid by our taxes.

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Christina Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 6:10 am Christina(Quote)

Even worse was that I didn’t get to hold or nurse her until she was 3-4 hours old, because I couldn’t wiggle my toes…Not sure what toes have to do with nursing! The nurses wouldn’t help me hold her and the lactation consultant didn’t show up until I was already up and out of bed, almost 24 hours later.

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Dorothy Kernaghan-Baez Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 6:33 am Dorothy Kernaghan-Baez(Quote)

“I’m not going to let you hold your OWN baby until you wiggle your toes for me.”

Sheesh.

How ’bout you bring me my GD kid right now, or once I’m up and around, you’d better run.

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first time mommy Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 6:47 am first time mommy(Quote)

Because you hold your baby with your toes?
I still couldn’t feel/wiggle my toes two hours later when I was given my baby.
I’m still upset he was taken to the NICU for some unknown reason and was given formula for his first meal however, I am happy it was Daddy giving it to him skin to skin and not some random nurse

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Jade Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 7:34 am Jade(Quote)

so glad you told her where to go

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Jane Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 9:18 am Jane(Quote)

Gosh, what a nightmare for you. I’m so sorry.

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Kimberly Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 11:33 am Kimberly(Quote)

My LC at the military hospital wasn’t that great either. She didn’t say anything like that to me, but she man handled me and my daughter when I was simply asking for a little help latching so it was less painful for me. I hadn’t nursed in almost 5 years and the last time I did it, I only did it for three months. Luckily, I had some great nurses, LLL and a really supportive husband on my side.

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Billie Jo Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 4:39 pm Billie Jo(Quote)

It is stories like this that make me want to really work towards an IBCLC so I can work in the Military setting and be KIND about it.

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Brandy had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 5:53 am (Quote)

How is 5lbs 13 oz small? My babies were 5lbs 9oz and 4 lbs 14oz both 40 week babys that came on their own and I exclusivly breastfed. People need to realize 5 lb babies are not “to small to breastfeed” ugh

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Debra Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 3:00 pm Debra(Quote)

Just because it was apparently so easy for you doesn’t mean it was easy for everyone. OP said she was having problems in part because her baby was early and small. That’s not unusual for them to have problems latching or trouble sucking. It just means she needs more support and a knowledgeable LC.

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jaed Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 3:20 pm jaed(Quote)

Not quite. She said “everyone was giving me crap about [the baby] being too small and needing supplement”. In other words, the medical staff were assuming that the baby’s size was the problem. She also didn’t mention the baby having trouble latching or sucking.

The problem here seems to have been an unsupportive LC who apparently jumped to conclusions.

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Christina Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 3:43 pm Christina(Quote)

Correct. She would latch and fall asleep. When awake, she sucked fine. The staff kept hounding me, because she would only nurse for 3-5 minutes at a time and according to them, she was too small and breastmilk wasn’t going to be enough. It hurt because my nipples were not used to that kind of friction. Plus, I was not able to experience any contractions and the ones brought on by nursing were miserable. I did not experience any of those issues with my son, but my daughter had only weaned about 6 months before he was born and I labored for almost 12 hours including over 4.5 hours of pushing before having a section.

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Jade Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 7:44 pm Jade(Quote)

My son was far bigger than either of your babies (6lb 9oz), he was allegedly 37 +5 (although I doubt this) and had horrendous trouble feeding, his mouth was too small to latch onto my rockmelons, his tongue was clicky, he fell asleep before even latching on, he got covered from head to toe in milk, if he did manage to latch on he got so much he choked/gagged/coughed/spluttered. Not everyone finds it so easy, at 10 days PP my husband woke up at 2am to the baby screaming, me crying, milk EVERYWHERE, nobody getting any food or sleep. Hubby went and bought formula.

Each mother is different and so is each baby (feeding my daughter could not have been easier)

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Sheva had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 6:12 am (Quote)

Oy… Bogus info and bogus ‘help’ all in one sentence.
Personally, it hurt with all my kids for a week or two, whether they latched right or not. And the contractions will hurt whether or not you breastfeed – nothing to do with doing it wrong, right, or not at all.
Sorry you had this “LC” and glad that nurse came and helped you!

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Kathryn had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 6:34 am (Quote)

wow way to do your job! I didn’t think being a lactation consultant meant being discouraging!

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first time mommy had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 6:42 am (Quote)

argh. why don’t you just quit your job and go work for Similac/Enfamil/Nestle? I’m sure you’d get a fatter paycheck if you actually WORKED for them instead of just the commission you get when you push their products on new, insecure mothers!

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Lindsey had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 7:20 am (Quote)

I can’t believe how often this is said. My son is 8 weeks old and we have had problems since day 1. He has a recessed jaw and I have issues with oversupply and together something isn’t working right. “Just give him a bottle” is what 98% of people tell me when they find out I’m having issues, even knowing that I’ve nursed my other 2 children for 4 years and I’m training to become an IBCLC. Idiots.

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Cameron had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 8:55 am (Quote)

I have been breastfeeding for almost two years now, and it still hurts, every time. We’re not “doing it wrong,” I have Raynaud’s disease of the nipples. It took over eight months to have it diagnosed, mostly because of dumb people like this. I hate this LC on your behalf.

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lisa Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 10:53 am lisa(Quote)

My breasts bow to your persistence!

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Christina Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 3:44 pm Christina(Quote)

Mine, too!!

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sara r. Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 10:48 am sara r.(Quote)

I was worried about getting that, because I have raynaud’s in my feet and hands sometimes, but fortunately did not experience it in the nursing relationship. I learned about the possibility before my daughter was born, though, so diagnosis wouldn’t have taken so long. Kudos to you for sticking it out!

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Stacey had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 4:28 pm (Quote)

OP – I’m sorry. I also didn’t get to see my DD for 4 hours after my c/s and couldn’t see her until I was able to wiggle my toes as well. By the time I got to see her, I was close to hysterical. I’m due with my 2nd in 6.5 months and the fear of something like that happening again is a huge part of why I’ve hired a Doula this time around. That and I’m hoping for a VBAC. For what it’s worth, mine was 7lb10oz and also had a hard time staying awake to BF. I’m sure my c/s and the delay had something to do with it.

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jill Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 1:45 am jill(Quote)

i also didnt get to see my bubs till i could wiggle my toes and that was 4hrs after, she was ready in my room when i got back from recovery staving, i was 20 first baby no idea how to breast feed left in a room when i couldnt even walk they left my baby in her crib to far away from my bed so i couldnt even reach her she was balling her eyes out i couldnt reach the nurses button, finally my oh came back and called a nurse who goes you shove her on your nipple and thats it walked off. my oh got her and they finally showed me how to latch her after nearlly 8hrs

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The Deranged Housewife had this to say, Aug 28, 2011 @ 6:25 pm (Quote)

Wow, in this post they’re too small; in the next one, too big. Just what *is* the perfect, magic happy number? I’m curious. No one seems to know…

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Jill had this to say, Aug 29, 2011 @ 1:40 am (Quote)

My baby was born 5lbs 10, she was fine latching on her problem was falling asleep also, her blood sugers kept dropping very low, the midwives kept telling me to give her formula and i would tell them no im breast feeding she will be fine once my mik comes in!! one midwife came in at 330am in the morning and said ‘are you going to give that baby formula or are you going to starve her to death! they gave her 10mls and surprise surprise the next day my milk came in and she was feeding constanly! at her 1 week check up she had only lost 40grams of her birth weight:)!!

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