Milk coming in, but not breast feeding - advice please

[Sexonknackeredlegs]

Ladies, my dd2 is 3 days old, and we have opted straight away to bottle feed as last time around was just awful for for me and dd1.

Milk is starting to come in (or whatever the expression is) and boobs beginning to swell. I cannot remember what to do in terms of letting the milk supply dry up. Do I need to just let it happen naturally or am I supposed to express some or what?

Just cannot remember from 4 years ago.

Thank you v much

[tiktok]

SOKL - your midwife shd be able to suggest some comfort measures to you. Very, very gentle hand expression would be an option for you (save the milk and give it to your baby if you can) if you find the discomfort too much, but most women who opt not to breastfeed wear a close-fitting, supportive bra and nature does the rest.

Another option is to offer the breast to your baby occasionally, to relieve the milk. This does not commit you to anything (because to build up and maintain a milk supply you would need to do this a lot) and you can stop at any time. The plus point would be your baby would get some breastmilk - and even a little is good

However this would, like the expression of milk, tend to prolong milk production a little (only a little).

A further option would be to talk about changing your mind about bf with the midwife.

HTH

[iwouldgoouttonight]

I'm not sure how much help I am because I breast fed to begin with but I remember one of my friends said she was told to wear two(!) very supportive bras to stop your boobs wobbling up and down because that makes them produce more milk. I would express a bit if they get too painful but not too much or it will encourage them to produce more milk. Maybe someone else will come along with more useful advice!

[shanks313]

Hi,

I have been bottle feeding my LO from birth.
I was told to just leave them and not touch them so that after 6 days or so you stop sending messages to your boobs that you need to produce milk.
I was told to wear a supportive bra and if they got too sore to put cold cabbage leaves in my bra to relieve it.
It all worked for me

[Sexonknackeredlegs]

Thanks ladies. I have spoken to my midwife, and she has said similar. Not to touch them, wear a supportive bra and take nurofen. Cabbag leaves could be good too.

[divastrop]

hi-i have bottle fed my last 4 from birth.i was just told to leave my boobs alone and wear a supportive bra(though by day 5 i would have needed a j cup).i found they had gone soft again by day 6 or 7,and with baby 2,3+4 my milk had dried up completley by the time my bleeding stopped (about 2 or 3 weeks).this time though i still ahve milk afetr 6.5 weeks

its very painful but theres not alot you can do except warn everybody to keep well away from them,and distract yourself from the pain by gazing longingly at your newborn

[Nip]

Exactly as others have said here too! I bottle fed from day one and when the milk came in it was excruciating, however after a week it went - so just wear a good strong bra (or crop top type- which is what i did) and try to put it to the back of your mind.

[bozza]

I would have thought gazing at your newborn would have encouraged milk production?

[divastrop]

why?should you not look at your baby atall if you ff then?

[SoupDragon]

Only the baby feeding stimulates milk supply, just looking won't do it. It may make you leak but that's not the same.

I think

[tiktok]

????? bozza?????

[bozza]

Ah I see. It was always one of the things that was suggested for trying to express when I was struggling with that to encourage let down. That was all I meant.

[monkeymonkeymoomoo]

I'd heard that too Bozza A friend of mines' baby had to go straight to NICU after she was born and she was told to look at pictures of her newborn and the baby itself to encourage letdown.

[chipmonkey]

Yes, in video for the avent isis duo, the mum brings a photo of her baby with her to help her express. And in the backpack that comes with the medela pump-in-style there is even a little slot to put the photograph in, like you get in a wallet. Have to say, it never worked for me!
If ffing you are just supposed to leave your breasts alone, expressing will give relief but encourage milk production.

[tiktok]

But the OP doesn't want to encourage production, bozza!

[chipmonkey]

tiktok, bozza was replying to divastrop who was suggesting gazing at newborn!

[SoupDragon]

Gazing at a newborn will onlyu stimulate the let down though, not milk production...? Or have I misunderstood how bf-ing works?

[chipmonkey]

No soupy, I tHink you're right!

[tiktok]

Yes, soup, you're right - that was why I didn't understand.

If just looking at a baby made milk, we'd all be in a pickle.....

[divastrop]

i only meant it as a distraction from the pain of engorged breasts as well,just cos thats what i spent alot of time doing for the first few days.anyway,i spent alot loger gazing at dd2 than dd3,and my milk dried up in 2 weeks with dd2,so i dont think it affects production.