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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Can I get my milk back?

108 replies

alfiemama · 17/01/2011 14:09

Lo is coming up to 10 weeks old.
I bf until she was 4 weeks old but then got an infection, was very poorly, and well just couldn't manage it. Throughout all this time, I have pumped once in the evening to keep my milk going (ha ha daft I know), but it has dwindled. I am lucky if I get 1oz a day.

Lo has now been diagnosed with reflux and is struggling on ff, I now have got into my head that she was much better when bf and want to put her back on bm. Hubby is supportive and I have explained it will be a long haul, he is happy as long as we give ebm, as we had weight issues when she was first born, but I know A) I still have to put her to the breast and B) He will come round to my way of thinking Wink

Lo is happy to latch on and I have been putting her on as much as I can and supplementing her with formula, but my milk is still not increasing? How long should it be before I would see my yield increase?
Is there any tips or supplements I can take?

Ps I don't even seem to have any let down at the minute.

OP posts:
japhrimel · 17/01/2011 14:12

There's info on kellymom.com about relactation. If adoptive mums can feed you certainly should be able to. :) Good luck!

Original poster
alfiemama · 17/01/2011 14:44

thanks japhrimel.
I'm quite hopeful, as surely if milk is there it can be worked on.
Just been reading about Redbush Tea, so asked hubby to pop into Asda.

OP posts:
tiktok · 17/01/2011 15:21

Good luck with this, alfiemama :)

Main thing would be to express many, many times in 24 hours - at least 8-10, using both breasts. Any herbs, teas or whatever are secondary to this fundamental!

Give your baby lots of upclose cuddling inc skin to skin, and it's great she is happy to latch on so go for it as often as she is willing :)

MoonUnitAlpha · 17/01/2011 15:24

Have you tried calling the NCT helpline? They might be able to advise.

I think I saw another poster mention that she relactated, narmada maybe? Could message her too.

Original poster
alfiemama · 17/01/2011 15:50

Thanks Tiktok. Ive been expressing, getting less than a 1oz each go, but I know its going to take time.

Can I ask do I keep pumping when the milk has stopped? I've googled but getting different opinions on this. Also would you give her ff first then offer breast, as she is getting frustrated?

I haven't yet Moonunit. I will do a name search and see if I can find any of her posts, thanks for the heads up.

I have definitely noticed a difference in the amount of mucus she is bringing up and she is not as rattly, probably because milk is thinner.

Thanks for your support ladies.

OP posts:
tiktok · 17/01/2011 15:54

Opinions do differ - main thing is not to upset your baby, so if she needs formula first, she should have it...judge when to switch to breast. Sometimes babies bf well when sleepy, though. Your call.

When pumping and milk has stopped, switch to the other side. Then repeat when that side stops. Then repeat again if it's worthwhile - again your judgement.

There is also the nursing supplementer gadget, but they are a bit fiddly :(

Original poster
alfiemama · 17/01/2011 16:07

Ah good thats what I have been doing, thanks tiktok.

Well I have just bf her a little and she is staying on more, and I can hear her getting some milk, and see the slow gulps they do, so she must be getting more than I think.

Yes, they do look fiddly, want to give expressing a good go first. Also going to have lots of oats, and get some fenugreek from the health shop.

OP posts:
Original poster
alfiemama · 25/01/2011 11:21

Just thought I would give a little update from me, have to admit I am quite proud Smile

I have gone from pumping under 1oz to over 4oz. This is what I have done differently

Porridge for breakfast and lunch with fennel seeds.
drinking more water and redbush tea
taking milk thistle (still to get fenugreek)
pumping every 2hours for min 20 Min's each breast and some days power pumping.
putting lo to breast as much as possible.

I have noticed that lo will only be sick and get the reflux pain (apart from usual possett (sp!!) when I top up with formula. I am convinced the thick milk and mucus is making it worse

So I have decided today to go cold turkey and just bf (I have a reserve of bm in fridge just in case) I can only try and will help increase supply

When I have bf, do I then pump to ensure they are empty? Or keep offering her breast say every 1.5 - 2 hours

Any advice appreciated

OP posts:
tiktok · 25/01/2011 11:40

Sounds good, alfiemama :)

It's a judgement call, exactly what you do now.

I'd be tempted just to bf direct and see what happens - you can always go back to pumping after a bf if you think you still need to.

If your baby seems to need feeding again after a short gap, stick him on again :)

Original poster
alfiemama · 25/01/2011 11:44

ah that's good tiktok, that's what I am doing.

Can I just ask, why would they fidget when bf? Lo, sometimes turns head to under my arm when still latched on, and fusses a bit, would this be due to supply?

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Original poster
alfiemama · 25/01/2011 11:45

thanks again tiktok

OP posts:
MoonUnitAlpha · 25/01/2011 12:13

If she's become used to the faster flow from a bottle it could just be a bit of frustration at the breast rather than a supply problem? Though saying that my ds has always been very fidgetty and now at almost 6 months is constantly wriggling about and trying to sit up and look around.

lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 25/01/2011 12:17

yes its possible. I was in hospital when dd2 was 3 weeks old, and spent 3 weeks in there. Because of the drugs I was on she could stay with me or have my expressed milk. I tried to express as much as I could but sometimes it was only x2 a day :(
Once I got home, i got into bed, did loads of skin to skin and feed her when ever she wanted it.
I was planning to mix feed but my GP (I know I was shocked too!) who saw me day 2 of being home said, just keep feeding her whenever she wants it, it will come back within a day or two, dont bother mixing. And I did and she breast feed till she was nearly 2!

crikeybadger · 25/01/2011 12:21

Great stuff alfiemamma- you deserve to be proud of yourself....

bet you're sick of poridge though! Grin

Original poster
alfiemama · 25/01/2011 12:32

Thanks crikeybadger. Its quite good with fennel seeds luckily Grin. My mum has just got me some nettle tea, any one heard of that being good? Lady in health shop looked it up. [smie] I'm lucky, I have a very supportive family.

Thanks lisa, glad its possible and good on your doctor for being supportive. I asked mine if there was a tablet to increase milk, knowing full well there is, and he said no Hmm

Moonunit, I think she does get distracted, don't think its flow as she is on newborn size 1 with a thick milk, anything else and the full bottle comes back up.

Just fed her again and no sick Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
alfiemama · 25/01/2011 15:29

OK I panicked after she was screaming and gave her some ebm, which she proceeded to throw up the whole bottle.Sad which was even more gut wrenching, as I worked so hard to get it.

Are there some baby's who are always sick of a bottle? We are currently using Mams, but tried most brands.

I try and take her off to burp her on the ebm but she panics and screams, funny she doesn't do this on formula. Its like she is worried she is going to have it taken off her, could this be because I unlatch her sometimes to burp and if her latch slips?

OP posts:
tiktok · 25/01/2011 16:00

No, at 10 weeks old she wont have worked out anything as complex as that, alfiemama.

Why do you want to stop her bottle feeding to burp her?

Sounds to me like your confidence is a bit wobbly still......:(

containher · 25/01/2011 16:08

Not read all the responses. I re-lacteated when my baby was 6 months old- after 2 months of not feeding her. I hired an industrial breast pump from the NCT and pumped away every spare second for 5 days and then my milk arrived! luckily DD hadn't forgotton what to do- but she was much older than yours.

Original poster
alfiemama · 25/01/2011 19:08

I think your right tiktok, I'm worried I'm starving her, and she will lose weight again, not sure if you remember but you helped me right at the start of our bf journey, as she lost a lot of weight.

Thanks containher, thats an amazing achievement you must be so proud. Luckily my lo is a star at bf, she seems a natural, its just me and getting more milk.

OP posts:
Original poster
alfiemama · 25/01/2011 19:12

sorry tiktok, just realised I haven't answered your question.

I want to burp her so that she doesn't get uncomfortable and throw up, rather than her have a full belly then burp her, which always results in the full bottle coming back.

I hasten to add, that I burp her very gently, no patting, just stroking and keep her upright over my shoulder or on my knee.

OP posts:
tiktok · 25/01/2011 19:20

Well....I dunno.

If she gets upset when you take it away to burp her, it would make sense to stop taking it away. Babies don't feed well when upset. Maybe just risk the throwing up if you think this is connected!

Original poster
alfiemama · 25/01/2011 19:29

She only does it with ebm, which is just recent, but as she is bf I can now risk her throwing up

OP posts:
tiktok · 25/01/2011 19:29

Go for it, alfiemama :)

Sunflowergirl2011 · 25/01/2011 19:33

I don't really have anything useful to say except well done! Don't have any experience of getting milk back but know how hard bf can be (and reflux) and just wated to say fab i think it is you are doing all this for your baby. :)

Original poster
alfiemama · 25/01/2011 19:53

Aw that's really nice of you Sunflower, thank you

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