We have no such thing as a nursing support group or a lactation consultant here. My doctor hasn’t even been able to offer a clue on my situation. So it has been a long journey of research, research and more research.

My daughter Dominique who is almost 6 months old was the happiest nursing baby until she hit 4 months.

Slowly she started wanting to nurse less. We went from only nursing 3 times a day and then all night, to only nursing at night, then only when she is sleepy, and then once a day if we’re lucky and now, for the last month, not nursing at all.

I pump faithfully.

At first I thought the problem was my low supply but she was just going through a growth spurt (this was at 3 months). Then I decided to start pumping and giving her bottles to up my supply. Also, she started latching on and crying, sometimes choking. At that time I blamed it all on my forceful letdown and the spraying.

My doctor was useless. He suggested I spoon feed her. Explaining to him that a baby who doesn’t nurse, effectively can’t, as trusty Kelly Mom says, was impossible. I gave her bottles.

I pumped myself into 6 ounces of nothing but fore milk. Just as that happened, she started having runny stools and refusing to nurse during the day.

I was miserable, devastated and hopeless – I still am.

Right now my supply leaves wishing for the better. I had to stop pumping for 2 weeks for it to stabilize but it dropped dramatically.

Now, with Dominique weighing in at 16 pounds at almost 6 months, and having 2 teeth, and having had my mother convince me that in fact, teeth were to blame and that I should keep pumping and bottle feeding and one day miraculously, she will nurse again – I found the culprit.

Shooting breast pain. Feeling run down after nursing. Everything but the itching.

Dominique’s white tongue, excessively I white tongue – I realized we have thrush. I’m at my wit’s end. I want to nurse my fussy, upset baby and feel like I’ve no one to turn to and no support to be found.

I started her on Nystatin this evening. Please, whatever advice you may have to offer, I’ll take it.

Tasha, aka Desperate to nurse again

Kait – I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’m now a firm believer that if you read all that you can on kellymom.com and take it to heart, you can accomplish anything!

RM – I am sorry you weren’t able to nurse, and that your older daughter had such troubles. To be sure, it is not an easy task for many women, it can be painful, and it can be extremely frustrating (then again, there are those like my mom who said “Oh, it all just came naturally to me.”). I can completely understand why so many do not breastfeed – there are many times that I wanted to give up. Hopefully I can be an example that things can work out even after such a rough start!

I hope that when my milk comes in, it will be a good supply. I’m worried that I have flat/inverted nipples, but my understanding (now) is that I shouldn’t worry too much about it, and that “preparing” the nipples isn’t really all that necessary.

I have learned how to express colostrum, so I’m hoping that if I become engorged, that will help relieve that.