Need help getting 8 week old back on the breast

[nomoremagnolia]

DS is 8 weeks and we've had trouble getting BFing established. He's currently having EBM at every feed and I'm pumping 4 times a day. I really want to get him feeding direct from the breast if at all possible as expressing is becoming too much of a slog and I really want him to have BM. How do I teach him BFing? The reason we're feeding EBM is because he wasn't feeding from me at first, just comfort sucking, and he lost loads of weight but now he's feeding well from the bottle I want to try the breast again.

[TruthSweet]

Are you managing to express all the milk DS needs in just 4 pumping sessions? Wow! I had a DD who had mainly bottles (mostly ffeeds too) until 8 weeks when she got back to bfing and I was pumping 12 times a day as a minimum (though I did have low supply, I think).

I would suggest you look at biological nurturing if you haven't already seen it.

Could you lots of skin to skin contact, may be try co-bathing, all very low key and let your son have as much time as he likes to try to feed. You could try hand expressing a small amount of milk and put it around your nipple so that DS can smell the milk just before starting skin to skin so it's already 'there' IYSWIM.

IS there a bfing group or clinic nearby that you can get face to face help from for latching and positioning? If you let me know the area I might be bale to find you a group to go to.

[TruthSweet]

bale = be able

[nomoremagnolia]

Ican express pretty much all the milk he needs, I get between 4 and 6 oz from each side per pumping session and he feeds 4-5 oz 7 times a day.
We do co-bath, he loves it and I feel much safer han trying to hold him whilst leaning over the edge of the bath anyway. Did do lots of skin-to-skin when he was small but haven't done so recently, I will try to start that again too.
i went to a BF support group when we were having trouble at first but it was really just a bunch of BFing friends who ignored me :(

[nomoremagnolia]

I'm in N Wilts, sorry forgot that bit earlier. I've just been sat here pumping and bottle feeding at the same time and it's so frustrating to think how quick and easy it would be if he'd feed straight from the breast

[thefatladyscreams]

Watching this with interest as I'm in the same position with my 10 week old and was wondering whether it was too late to try and get back on the breast? Nice to hear of a kindred spirit nomoremagnolia.

[TruthSweet]

I've found these groups in Wiltshire:-

www.westwiltsbreastfeeding.co.uk/

Breastfeeding Support Group, Redland Children's Centre, Brook Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 0HW Every Monday 11:30am - 1:00 01249 448422

Devizes Community Children's Centre, Southbroom Infants School, The Green, Devizes, Wiltshire , SN10 5AA, 01380 738691,
Bosom Buddies

Breast of Friends, Baptist Church, Station Hill, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1EG Every Wednesday 10:00am - 12:00 01249 456434

Breastmates,
Sure Start Children's Centre Pinehurst & Penhill, Everleigh Road, Pinehurst, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 5HB Every Friday from 9.30 to 11.30 am 01793 705091

Breastfeeding support group, Wessex Family Centre, St Martins Centre, St Martins Church Street, Salisbury,, Wiltshire,, SP1 2HY Wednesday 10.00 - 11.00

Bumps and Babes, Bradford on Avon Children's Centre, Fitzmaurice School Site, Frome Road, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1LE Every Monday between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. 01225 867184

Mother Know Breast - Community Hall, Tidworth Leisure Centre, Nadder Road, Tidworth, Wiltshire, SP9 7QN every Friday during term time from 12:20 - 14:20. Annette, tel. 01980 842 546

Breastfeeding support group, Tisbury Children's Centre, Weaveland Road, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6HJ Wednesdays 9.30am - 11.30am

White Horse Childrens Centre, Eden Vale Road, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 3NY Meets every Friday from 10.30am to 11.30am (except Public Holidays)


There is a database of bfing support groups here (I'm not local to you so don't know which would be closest to you).

Hopefully there is one close to you that will actually help you not ignore you.

[nomoremagnolia]

Thank you so much TruthSweet :)
I decided to just go for it with putting DS to the breast and he seems to have taken to it without a problem. The proof will be when I get him weighed next week but I'm feeling positive.
How are you doing thefatladyscreams? Have you tried to put your baby to the breast? How was it?

[TruthSweet]

That's great news! Go Little Magnolia .

Keep an eye on wet nappies in the mean time (you are looking for about 6 wet nappies a day with clear/light coloured urine). Not to discourage you but it may be very encouraging if you can see he's weeing loads.

Have a look at these videos for footage of good feeding in bf babies so you can compare/contrast with DS. I particularly recommend 'Nibbling' (what you don't want to see - means latch is v shallow), 'Really Good Drinking' and 'Good Drinking'. Hopefully DS will be doing 'Good Drinking' and that will provide reassurance

[nomoremagnolia]

He's definitely pooing loads, I can't tell the colour of his wee as he's in washables which are coloured. Looking at those videos I think he was 'nibbling' before when he wasn't feeding and lost the weight. He's feeding much better now, sometimes he gets too much milk and it overflows out of his mouth, other times he sicks up a bit of milk so I'm fairly sure there's milk going in. And my breasts are definitely hard/engorged before feeding and then 'slack' afterwards.
The proof of the pudding will be when I get him weighed this coming week as he's been totally BF since last Sunday.

[TruthSweet]

Sounds like you and DS are doing fantastic!

Fingers crossed for next week and try not to aim too high IYKWIM - I've gone in to baby clinics thinking if she'll have put on Xg at least only to find she's put on Yg and been really disappointed (Yg would have been a good reasonable weigh gain but not the multiple %ile jumping weight gain Xg would have been). Now I go in with the attitude that any gain is good even if it is only a little bit and then get pleasantly surprised (mainly DD3 is still a little bit of a baby at 14m).

Don't be frightened though if in the coming weeks/months you don't get the full then soft feeling as your breast will learn how much milk to make and not make too much extra. The full feeling is the 'extra' milk your body makes when it isn't sure how much baby will take. When your supply gets more regulated it doesn't make the 'extra' as it doesn't make biological sense to put all those vitamins/minerals/fats/sugars into making bm for it to be leaked out and not drunk by baby.

[nomoremagnolia]

Thanks so much for your help, DS was weighed today and had gained 7oz in a week and is exactly where he should be on his percentile curve. I've spent the day looking like this :o

[organiccarrotcake]

Just wanted to say

'tis all :)

[TruthSweet]

A from me too congrats and long may you have trouble free bfing (as long as you want too that is )