anyone managed to go back to exclusive bf?

[boardnbikemama]

advice, hope stories welcome?! esp from preemie mums as you'll know the score.
wee one 10 weeks prem but managed to exclusivly bf throughout neonatal intensive care for 2 months by expressing then slowly bf...3lb baby had little suck till 35 weeks. managed to keep a limited supply going till he got out of hospital. ebf became more difficult as baby has bad reflux...feed chuck up feed = no time to rest to replenish milk. 4lb baby also feeds really constantly as tummy so wee.

long story short...succumbed sadly and guiltily to mix feeding to get some help.

but now after 6 weeks of reflux pain, meds, v bloated tum am beginning to wonder if formula is part of the prob. going to seek more medical advice but also thinking to try and chuck the formula and attempt ebf. anyone succeeded? how? never had a massive supply though and baby bigger now...over 9lb even though over 4 months...
any empathy welcome as feeling back to square one. :(

You poor thing - you've been through such a lot and done amazingly well. Banish the guilty feelings immediately! I think you should talk to an expert - TikTok or a BFC might be along soon but I strongly recommend that you talk to a BF counsellor in RL. Numbers are:
National Breastfeeding Helpline
0300 100 0212
National Childbirth Trust
0300 330 0771
Breastfeeding Network
0300 100 0210
La Leche League
0845 1202918
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers 08444 122949

I've used a couple of the helplines and they've been brilliant. I'm sure they could talk you through your options and give information and advice about whether the reflux/meds etc might be part of the issue. Good luck with whatever your decision is.

thank you gruffalomama...any kind voice in this wilderness is a lifeline x

No experience of premmie but when DS2 was chucking up a lot (sometimes whole feeds) when tiny I just feed him again rather than use formula. It meant that I was constantly feeding for his whole awake time but it did stimulate the milk somewhat!

How many oz of formula are you using a day and how many breastfeeds?

Massive sympathies and well done for getting this far .

My DS2 was born at 31 weeks weighing 3lbs 10oz and I expressed for him to about 5 months, but never got him to actually breastfeed; was all EBM given via NG tube/bottle. So you have done 'better' than me already .

He had terrible reflux which caused him pain and large volume/long distance vomits until I introduced solids at 6 months of age (not corrected) when it stopped virtually overnight . He was on various meds, none of which made a significant difference. Also, when I started mix-feeding and then changed to FF altogether it made no difference. So do not beat yourself up too much.

If you want to introduce more BM with the aim of stopping FF top-ups altogether in short, the answer is frequents feeding. You may want to consider using a supplementer. IME LLL and NCT are a wonderful support, for advice and practical help. In extreme cases Domperidone can be used to increase milk-supply, but key is frequent milk removal to stimulate more milk production.

Is your LO still being followed up by paeds?

BTW, my DS2 is now 6 and the picture of health .

thank you PacificDogwood...much gratitude :) next paed clinic is oct :( but will have to try and push for more help. GP and HV nice people but.....(hmm) no use so far as he is 'growing'. will keep trying the helpline to see if I can get my local person in. thanks though, me and OH bit low really even though we are sooooooo lucky. NICU and SCBU's are total equalizers of all parents/babies...everyone quickly realises the wee ones are so special and so amazing, everyone's journey is unique and unmatchable...so really there is no 'better' just different, thanks hon for all the good advice! x

Have a look at this re lactation aid and maybe some of this (obviously your baby is not adopted but it covers some of the issues of increasing/initiating milk supply).
Dr Jack Newman is my BFing hero !

nwmum...gone from one feed of formula to top ups 4-5 times a day...now trying to bf at every waking moment, nor formula even if he is just comfort nursing...fenugreek tomorrow, alchemy, fingers crossed and trying to stay positive...in between reflux laundry duties! hoping he doesnt get too hungry/dehydrated.

No practical advice, but keep pushing 'til you get the help you need! Sounds like you really could do with real life support as well.

My lo was 6 weeks prem but we had a relatively easy ride compared to you. You've heard it before, but it bears repeating, you've done a fantastic job under very difficult circumstances.

Comfort nursing will help too but my sympathies on the frequent nursing, it's tough and must be so frustrating when it just gets chucked back again. Hang in there.

thanks guys, me n daddy feel like its a psychological battlefield trying to stay positive but we've done it before i guess!

i am guessing formula needs to be cut down gradually or baby will be hungry and you'll be exhausted? maybe aim to cut down top ups by 1oz (per day) at a time?

FWIW when DS2 had growth spurts spend 2 days feeding all day and by third / fourth day had stacks of milk. Can always pump as well? eg in morning I had loads if he drank it all he'd be sick...

sounds like you are doing really well

would like to cut down formula but lo has decided he wont touch it as of today?!!! (confused) fingers, toes...eyes...boobs whatever crossed milk supply increases.

just to say thanks and for anyone else in same boat things looking v hopeful re bf supply...calm baby, his bloated tummy gone, bf or expressing every 1-2 hrs min, even managed to freeze 50ml in the night while he slept. so fingers crossed things looking up, still windy still has reflux but happier and eating. phew! fenugreek next... :)

Hi. My story is slightly different but may give some comfort. Dd was born at 31 weeks, I gave her expressed milk for about 6 weeks, first through tube then bottle. She was about 37 weeks gestation by the time she could breast feed. By that time my supply was dwindling and I was eating into my frozen milk supply. When she started breast feeding my body just seemed to know what to do and the supply increased. So I'm sure that by putting your baby to the breast more your supply will catch up. All the best.

I had some good advice from lactation consultant to increase supply: take Fenugreek - the green top bottle (not Solgar) from holland and barratt - take 3-4 capsules 3 times a day rather than the stated 2 capsules, and express after every feed. very time consuming but in a week-ten days i've really noticed the difference. My boy has a poor latch so he feeds as much as he can manage then has bottles of EBM to top up. Good luck - it is so hard to get right but i've found things can suddenly pick up just as you are despairing!

thanks ellarees,
yep, been expressing, doing the fenugreek and also went back to a bf clinic...back to positioning and attachment and all of the above are helping...only doing wee top ups of ff or ebm, depending on whats available.
ta! :)

great story-great dedication!

ps the BF helplines usually require you to leave a message-don't be put off by it-they WILL call you back!

Well done boardnbike you are doing brilliantly! Go you!