How best to start combination feeding?

[katiecubs]

Hi All,

I was planning to exclusively BF my 9 day old but due to badly cracked and bleeding nipples i have so far been stuck expressing and bottle feeding him every 3 hours.

The midwives thought this would give me chance to heal but the expressing is hurting almost as much and my nipples are still bleeding when i do it.

I've tried everything to get him back on the boob (Lansinoh, nipple shields etc) but it's just so excruciatingly painful and i'm exhausted from the constant sterilising, expressing, feeding cycle that i'm considering combined feeding - so perhaps expressing every 6 hours instead of 3 and then FF in between.

I have no idea how i go about this though and the best way to ensure my milk does not dry up - i really want to keep him getting at least some breast milk. I know it's best to wait until 4-6 weeks to do this but i just don't think i can hold out that long. Am feeling like a big failure as a mum and crying all the time :(

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Katie x

Hey Katie

YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE........ you're a great new mum trying to do your best.

My neice combined fed her son for the same reason and it worked a treat. She let her partner do the evening feeds and she did the rest with a combination of bottle and breast.
She managed to juggle them and he didn't seem to notice at all. Make up lots of bottles at one go. Then, if you are too sore, a bottle will always be ready. Express or breast feed when and if you can.
Although breast IS best, the most important thing for your little chap is to have a happy mummy.

Thank you Nanny two times!

Do you know if it's best to express to schedule?

It's the night times i find hardest at the moment as expressing and feeding time is incredibly time consuming and i'm so tired it hurts.

Not quite sure what is best to do to ensure my milk supply doesn't dwindle too much.

hi katiecubs, not quite same situ but i combo fed too due to prem baby...if you get little used to both boob and bottle early on it can be a godsend....however make sure any bottle teat is the slowest flow you can find or s/he will lose the suck strength needed for booby...its not really nipple confusion its just human...we all take the path of least resistance to sustenance! a wee trick my mv gave me which helped me is to wet your poor nipples with your milk and get them out in the air to dry off, that means blinds down and top off or very happy window cleaners.

but no-one is a failure....look at you women! expressing, trying diff things, getting online to seek help even though youre going thru hell...thats a coping survivor mummy if ever i heard one!!! you go girl! :o

btw forgot to say, yes i expressed min of 8 time in 24hrs roughly every 3-4 hours, regardless of amount managed and tried to empty boobs to ensure i got the hind milk...
just miss out any wee one bfeeds instead

to be honest to make it easier hire a medela symphony double pump (not in sales just an honest preemie mum, go to the web site it works out about £10 a week)...i tried all sorts the hospital special care unit had kicking about and that was by far the best, quietest and in the middle of night fastest!!! do double pump...it really does increase supply 3-4 times as much, i didnt believe it at first! excuse all typos i am left hand typing while bf good luck hope any of this helps?

Not much to add to these last messages. Neice couldn't bear expressing so fed, my daughter was opposite.

The double pump sounds a wiz.

Best wishes. Lucky baby.

Thank you so much for all your help! I have been feeling pretty ill over the last few days and my boobs have been extra painful so i went to the doctor and i have infectious mastisis which helps explain why i have been so in pain and why my nipples haven't healed - glad to have an answer and have antibiotics to help sort it out now :)

Planning to keep expressing and topping up with FF (not getting enough breast milk alone to satisfy DS) and then if he will permit it try and get him back on the boob when i have healed up. If not though i won't beat myself up about it though i promise. You have made me realise i am not alone! Thanks again xxx