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Infant feeding

Low supply?

8 replies

BettyOBarley · 17/10/2016 20:37

I had a previous thread which was massively helpful about the problems I've had breastfeeding 3 week old DS who had a tongue tie (now snipped) and lip tie.

I really feel like I might have a problem with low supply now and have had to topping him up after every feed with expressed milk (occasionally formula) but want to get back to just breastfeeding.

I know people say just feed feed feed to increase supply but it doesn't seem to be working. DS has been spending 3+ hours at the breast swapping from side to side (this is before and after his tongue tie has been cut), after 20 mins or so of sucking and swallowing he will spend another 2 hours of rapid sucking, no swallowing, punching my breast, crying and latching on and off my (poor) nipples like he's absolutely starving/very angry!

I'm already:
Taking fenugreek
Eating porridge
Offering as much time at the breast as my nipples can bear / he can bear before becoming hysterical
Expressing 3 x 1 hour per day / every time he's having a bottle
Had support to work on latch etc.
Trying to reduce top ups

Is there anything else I can do?
(Sorry that was long!!)

OP posts:
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CatsCantFlyFast · 17/10/2016 20:42

Are you sure it's supply and not wind? These are the fact symptoms my bf baby shows when she has tummy ache and needs winding...

Anyway. Switch nursing and/or pumping after feeds would be my first steps, consistently for about a week and it should increase your supply

Have you read this?

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IrisBlue15 · 17/10/2016 20:47

Have you tried a dummy? (He's using you as one...)
If his weight is rising nicely and he's feeding for a solid 20 minutes every 2-3 hours then it might be worth a try?
Because quite frankly if you can express 3 bottles on top of feeding him then your milk is definitely there!

Flowers though because it's bloody exhausting guessing if you're getting it right.

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CelticPromise · 17/10/2016 20:49

Skin to skin. I would aim to lose one top up at a time and do it really slowly, and I would go to as many groups /get as much face to face support as possible. It can be a long process and it's good to have knowledgeable support on the way.

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Thirtyrock39 · 17/10/2016 20:59

Are your nipples recovering from trauma due to the tongue tie or due to such long feeds? They shouldn't be hurting otherwise when feeding...who is helping you with positioning and attachment ? Make sure whoever it is watches a full feed to check p and a is good for the whole of it . I'm sure you will have already researched this but it's really important that baby comes on at a nose to nipple angle with a really wide mouth , chin going into breast to ensure your nipple extends back to the soft palette in your baby's mouth, if your baby comes at your nipple centrally or is sucking like on a straw your nipple is banging on the hard palette and it will hurt.
Have you tried different positions? Google 'laid back breastfeeding' it can really help to get into a position that naturally suits your baby.
An hour would usually be the maximum length on one side for a young baby. Could you be engorged or having blocked ducts?
Keep asking your health visitor for help and support see if there are trained breastfeeding volunteers locally

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BettyOBarley · 17/10/2016 23:10

Ah...wind...Yes he has been grunting terribly recently which I think is trapped wind, he's very difficult to wind. I never thought of it being that.

Also strangely never considered that if I can express then the supply can't be that low. It's amazing how you doubt yourself! I can usually express 3-6oz between both breasts. Will read that kellymom article thanks.

We've tried a dummy the last couple of nights but he won't take one unfortunately!

I'll try more skin to skin and new positions. My breasts are very large which doesn't help either. The pain is left from tongue tie and poor positioning but it is getting better. I've been going back to see the feeding consultant who did his tongue tie for help help on positioning but it's easy to forget when you're back home I find!

Thank you for all your suggestions

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GashleyCrumbTiny · 20/10/2016 20:21

My five week old often behaves the way you describe after a feed. Pretty sure it's wind and things getting better since we started using Infacol - she's much easier to burp now! I've never expressed and topped up and the squawking/wriggling/beaking for food tends to stop after little while. (Can sometimes be hard to wait it out when she's apparently hungry, but when I do just carry on putting her to the breast she tends to projectile vomit!) It may be worth exploring if treating it as wind helps!

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FlyingCat · 20/10/2016 20:25

Agree the possibility (likelihood) of wind. Also he may be cluster feeding in advance of a developmental leap and sucking to up supply accordingly (even though you are giving more than enough milk via top ups!)

Final thought, Are you expressing long enough before a feed is due? Fussiness can be when the milk is flowing more slowly and the baby wanted a rapid drink?

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somefarawaydream · 20/10/2016 20:29

At 3 weeks he's probably still building up your supply. I know cluster feeding is utterly exhausting but give him until 6 weeks and see how he's doing then. If you're desperate for a break give him some expressed/ get someone else to give to him preferably! But try your best to roll with it, it won't last forever

Congratulations!

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