Epressed feed every other night - will this work?

[nickytwotimes]

SOrry, I have several threads on the go atm.
ds 2 has hellish silent reflux. He is 6, nearly 7 weeks and bfed.
I am completely exhausted as he can only sleep on me or dh's chest and at night that has meant me as I am bfign and i prefered that dh got some sleep so he could care for ds1 and house stuff.
Anyway, I totally lost it today and had to take ds to my mum's before I did something to myself or him.
dh is going to do an epressed bf tonight to let me sleep and the plan is he will do alternate night.
I am a bit worried that this will bugger up my supply. WIll it, or will my body cope with thie?
Thanks

Hi. I don't know the answer to your current question but lost track of your original thread when I, as others, suggested silent reflux as the cause of your baby's pain. Having had two DSs with reflux (one of each type), I would say that ultimately you have to do whatever you have to do to get you all through this incredibly difficult period in the life of your family. If this means that ultimately your supply drops and DS2 has to have some formula, then so be it.

I know it doesn't feel like it at the mo, but you will get through this and you will eventually get some sleep. I'm contemplating how we can get more recognition of reflux (and the trauma it causes) amongst the medical professionals we meet because it is so poorly understood. I know this won't necessarily help you, but will hopefully help others after us.

I also want to try and get a thread going with everybody's suggestions for tactics on helping DCs with reflux and then saving it to favourites as I'm regularly rewriting all the things we do for folks. (If I can suggest anything, I will do it again) Where have you got up to with the drugs? Keep going back to the GP.

thanks bethy.
yy, it is at the stage that if i had to supplement it would be worth it to get some rest as things are beyond it atm.
he has improved on ranitadine, but still very difficult to feed and to get to sleep. stil very uncomfortable poor thing.
I know my gp was uterly dismissive of silent reflux. There must be loads of little ones and their families suffering.

HI
Firstly give yourself a pat on the back as it is so early days and you are doing an amazing thing for your baby. I have four kids and all were breastfed and the one if any disadvantage is that they do learn to fall asleep on the breast. It can be very difficult and mine used to wake up just as I put them into their moses basket/crib..so frustrating! U need to get your rest as your energy is paramount for coping with everything and being mum to two. It wont mess up your supply for your hubby to do an expressed feed dont worry. Take care xx

I know this is the wrong place, but have you tried sleeping him on his side? DS2 has slept, propped, on his side since he was 24 hours old - even in hospital. If you make sure their underneath arm is well forward then they roll backwards not onto their fronts. You could also try putting a rolled muslin between their legs, but we found DS2 just kicked this away.

We also have DS2's cot on such a slope that it looks like he's on the titanic! We never got it high enough to help DS1 - it's supposed to be 30 degrees. They do sell things to stop babies falling down the cot but I feel we are too far along to need to try investing in one. It might just work for you and get you a few hours sleep. Have many more suggestions (sadly) if you need any but off to bed now.

thank you.
He likes to be on his front the best. Hospital said that if we want, put him down on his front for half an hour while we are watching, then when he is out cold put him on his back. Trouble is it is hard enough to get him into a light sleep at times... However atm he has fallen asleep ON HIS OWN with his dummy on his back, propped up a fair bit on his play mat. Amazing.
I am continuing to express frequently for alternate nights with dh and to keep good supply up.

Sounds like a positive moment (and I know how important they are!) I hope you have many more in the next few days.

If you haven't tried putting him on his side, I'd try doing it from when he's on his front. My Dss both wake/woke up within 10mins of being put on their back for at least an hour and a half after a feed. Nothing more soul destroying than thinking you're about to get into bed and then finding you are not!