please help

[Erin19]

i have tried to express all day, as i am expressing and bottlefeeding as my little one was born early, not able to latch on. But today i havent had much luck. only getting a few mls at a time. but this most recent time, not getting anything atall.
would it hurt to give baby formula until things start going again?

[ElspethFlashman]

If the alternative is the baby not feeding, of course not!

How would it hurt???

[sentia]

I hope you're ok, expressing can be so difficult.

I know several people who have successfully mix-fed (bf and ff) their babies when they were small as they struggled to put on weight and also latch when tiny, and also managed to then keep breastfeeding for months. So don't feel like a bit of formula now means the end of breastfeeding, if you want to keep bf. Just keep trying and see what works. How long ago did your milk come in?

Do you have someone who can help to advise you in real life? Usually the midwife team or health visiting team (depending on whether you've been discharged after the birth or not) will have contact details for breastfeeding helplines.

[Pipsicola]

It is totally ok to give formula.

Expressing can be difficult, it took me ages to get the hang of it and it was only when I learnt the importance of relaxing (if you are stressing about how little milk is there your milk struggles to come) and patience to wait for my let down (often 5 minutes!!) that I was able to get any decent amounts. But then I was only doing this for the odd feed that DH could do, not every feed as you do, which is hard work so well done for trying so far!

If you are keen to keep breastfeeding and/or bottle feed expressed milk, then having a short break giving formula (take the opportunity to rest yourself and eat/drink plenty) and restarting again isn't impossible. I'd echo Sentia though and seek out local support/breastfeeding helpline if you can.