Problems with breast feeding: Is it possible to get Breast feeding milk supply back when it’s started to go?

[Dennisreynoldsduster]

Had a bit of a tricky journey with breast feeding.
Couldn’t get the latch right initially, then despite feeding all the time he didn’t put on enough weight so went to formula top ups.
Around week 3 he started getting symptoms of reflux which made feeding times more stressful as he got so red, grunting and squirmy in pain with wind and reflux every single time.
I’ve noticed a pattern where this is worse after breast feeding - and I think it’s because he has a mild tongue tie (nobody seems interested in referring us as it’s so mild apparently) and he’s not feeding or sucking correctly as he gets so frustrated on the boob, tending and grunting and tugging frantically at the nipple, coming off then frantically going back on again. I don’t think he’s getting enough and possibly taking in more air or something.
Anyway he’s so much more settled on formula that I couldn’t bring myself to bf him for a day or two - I’ve been expressing but I can’t get much out so not enough to feed him just on that.
He’s eating well on the formula but still roots at the boob which I find heartbreaking and tonight I’ve realised I really don’t want to give up breast feeding but I don’t know what to do.
I’ve contacted LLL they told me to give up dairy for his reflux - but he’s better on the formula so to me that doesn’t make sense - and to get his tongue tie sorted but I can’t get a referral - midwives tell me he doesn’t have one even though two doctors have said he has.
They won’t refer him though as it’s mild.

My issue is I can already tell my supply has dropped and I don’t know whether that means the choice has been taken away from me now even if I do work out what the problem is with the actual feeding...

Feeling low and really gutted at the moment. I just can’t bear feeding him and seeing him in such discomfort.

You have had a difficult start. Pumping even though you don't get much out will boost supply so will skin to skin. Can you have the tongue tie assessed privately?

Thanks Bluebell I’ll keep at it, it just takes so long and is hard to fit in regularly around feeding him etc I don’t know if we can afford it privately :(

Do you have any local breastfeeding support OP? They may be able to look at latch and give some advice.

I think all you can really do is continue to offer the breast regularly, if you can get baby to drain it fully then that will tell your body to make more. If you then need to give formula afterwards for the sake of quantity it doesn't matter- mixed feeding will still allow him to get a lot of the benefits of breastfeeding.

Also just to say that plenty of babies go through growth spurt periods where they are fussy at the breast etc and it's their way of telling your body to increase supply, I'm not saying there aren't other issues that may need addressing but just to reassure you that even where there are no breastfeeding issues babies can still fuss/pull away/relatch etc.

Try not to worry about it too much - I find it so much harder to express when stressed. My little one is 11 months now and have been gradually reducing breastfeeds since we started weaning at 6 months but there's been times where she wants far more breast milk, growth spurts and teething mainly, and after a day or so my supply will increase naturally with the demand. Just offer feeds often and even if it's a 2 minute suckle of 5 minutes of fussiness, it will help tell your body to make more milk.

Expressing is a pain but does help. Have you tried expressing at night as that will boost your supply more? I know it's hard to stay up to try and pump the tiniest dribble of milk but night feeds/expressing really help increase your supply.

Also, my little one had problems latching for the first few weeks and was very fussy and I found sort of pinching my boob with my thumb above and forefinger below the nipple to make a mouthful-sized area for her to latch onto really helped as it was too big for her otherwise (I'm a DD). Also made it a bit easier for her to find the nipple and get a deep latch, though it took us a few weeks to get it right. Trying different feeding positions can make a huge difference too. I thought she had a mild tongue tie at the time but she just wasnt latching properly.

I hope this helps. Breast feeding support groups are brilliant too. Best of luck to you!

Fenugreek capsules help boost your milk supply. You can buy these in Holland and Barrett

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/nature-s-garden-fenugreek-610mg-100-capsules-60018981?skuid=018981&utmcampaign=shopping&utmmmedium=cpc&utmsource=google&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpOilpMy05wIVTbTtCh0myQJiEAQYASABEgL9VVD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

@Dennisreynoldsduster as pps have said keep expressingto build up, you're doing great!

If it helps I exclusively expressed for 6 months (ds and I just couldn't get on with bf) I also manually expressed to the times listed below would be considerable shorter for an electric pump I believe. I will also add that from brith he also had a bottle of formula a day to top up.

When he was tiny I would bottle feed him skin to skin, so I would be in my bra with a cardie wrapped round us (obviously this meant I didn't leave the house often or was at family/friends houses most days) and then I would express 15 minutes on each breast. I did that until he was about 3 months old.
From 3 months I would express for 20 minutes each breast every 4 hours Inc night. He started sleeping pretty early on through so I eventually dropped the 2 night expresses.
Months 4-6 I dropped it to 4 sessions a day half hour each side, when I woke up for his early morning feed (4am) 5 or 6 hours later (I stretched it out the closer to 6 months I got) repeat, and then before I went to bed.
I didn't realise that to stop all I needed to to was just express to relieve myself, so I just started to cut sessions out and cut time, so cut down to just morning and night for like 3 weeks at 15 mins either side and then read online that all I needed to do was stop and just relieve myself.

Whatever you do in the end, your baby will be perfect.

Something similar happened to me - it was unbelievably emotional and stressful but I managed to get supply back and then breastfed for another 18 months.
I took fenugreek and expressed from both sides after every feed day and night.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/galactablog.com/2018/11/15/guest-post-supporting-women-through-relactation-by-lucy-ruddle-ibclc/amp/

See your GP, there is a drug that can help, called Domperidone.
Good Luck