Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Help baby not satisfied with my milk supply and OH wants to give formula

29 replies

gateacre1 · 19/02/2011 09:37

Please can anyone help
we have just had 2 really tough days
my new baby is not satisfied with how much milk I am producing last night
feed on left boob 15 mins
nappy change
back on left boob 25 mins
bath
screaming would not settle for 30 mins
Right boob 30 mins
screaming would not settle
back on right boob
still screaming
20 mins later gave her the expressed milk from the morning she gulped down 5 oz
she is only 6weeks 3 days

I winded her and changed her and soothed her
it took 4 hours to settle her to sleep last night
I pumped this morning and only got 1.5 oz out of my Right boob and its quite sure think I have a milk blister on my nipple

my OH wants to give formula, but I think this will reduce my supply????

OP posts:

Original poster

gateacre1 · 19/02/2011 09:37

sorry sure shouls read sore ( so so tired)

OP posts:

PavlovtheCat · 19/02/2011 09:42

sounds like she might have colic?

Have you looked at that option?

What do YOU want to do? It is your choice. If you wish to continue breastfeeding there is LOTS of support out there, and hopefully someone else will be able to come along and point you in the right direction for support, and some guidance about formula and BF supply.

But it will get easier without formula, if that is what you want to continue doing.

Beveridge · 19/02/2011 09:48

Could be a growth spurt? If you feed her whenever she cries she will increase your supply quite quickly. And if she's not actually hungry, it will comfort her.

Giving formula will reduce your supply as your body is having less demands made on it so less milk will be produced. So if you want to exclusively bf it's not recommended.

And how much you get out with a pump is NOT a good indicator of how much milk you are actually producing, babies are much better than pumps at getting it out!

doricpatter · 19/02/2011 09:50

Can't link as posting from phone but google kellymom growth spurt - she's probably having the dreaded 6 week growth spurt and as long as you let her feed as much as she wants it will pass in a day or two. It doesn't sound like colic - colic babies are usually defined by 3+ hours crying 3+ days a week for 3+ weeks. Give formula if you want but I reckon you'll find this passes in a day or two once she's upped your supply, if you can just ride that out.

doricpatter · 19/02/2011 09:52

that should read "if you want, but if you don't you should find" ie formula isn't necessary.

Beveridge · 19/02/2011 09:54

Like Pavlov says, it could also be colic/wind. DD started to get bad wind around this age too, always knew when it was time for the gripe water as she would be screaming at my boob.

HettyAmaretti · 19/02/2011 09:56

It sounds like a growth spurt to me to. both my DC used to feed more or less constantly in the evenings when they had them. It's totally normal.

The best thing you can do is settle down on the sofa with plenty of cushions and feed, feed, feed. You're DD will sort the milk supply on her own. Keep the remote, laptop. books, chocolate, cake and a big drink within easy reach.

Don't make yourself crazy trying to settle her when all she needs to do is feed.

It will pass.

Amount expressed is not an indication of supply.

Many BF babies will drink from a bottle even if full, it's much easier and they are programed to suck, suck, suck when they have a growth spurt (to boost supply). Taking the 5oz from the bottle is also probably not indicative of anything.

Sounds like you're doing a great job!

WoodysHat · 19/02/2011 09:59

Sounds like 6 week growth spurt. You just need to ride it out unfortunately and let her feed as often as she wants, I remember all of mine being permanently attached for a couple of days when they had their spurts. If you give formula then it will reduce your supply.

Plenty of tea and cake, take to bed or sofa and let DH wait on you

gaelicsheep · 19/02/2011 10:13

I'm going to be pedantic here. Giving formula will not automatically reduce your supply per se. What it will do is prevent your DD from increasing your supply to meet her needs. And remember there is a real risk that giving her formula will not actually settle her. She might just want to suck, and this could lead to overfeeding at night which WILL reduce your supply as she won't be as hungry in the daytime.

Before you give her formula and complicate matters, have you thought of trying her with a dummy? If she is being very sucky rather than hungry this may help give you a break. You would have to be very careful it doesn't stop her stimulating your milk supply enough, but IME if she is really hungry she will make that clear. Clearly this suggestion is also not ideal, but at least a dummy does not have the double whammy of stopping her sucking on you AND filling up her tummy.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 19/02/2011 10:21

I feel sure that this is just a growth spurt and she is satisfied, she is just building up your supply. Here is some information on growth spurts, does this sound like what is happening?

What happens if you leave her on the breast? Will she feed to sleep eventually?

The milk blister is a different thing though and think you might need some RL help with that. Are there any local Bfing Counsellors you could ring or have you called one of the Bfing Helplines? There is some good information on milk blisters on Kellymom too.

Also, how much you can express is not indicatin at all of how much milk you are producing. She will be far more efficient at getting the milk out. I've had 2DC and hardly ever managed to express a drop but they were obviously getting it out by themselves.

Hopefully someone trained or with more experience will be along soon, but I think it is all perfectly normal and will get better soon.

Please do get in touch with a Bfing Counsellor though, even if its only to sort out your milk blister.

gaelicsheep · 19/02/2011 10:28

I have just re-read your OP and realised you're not actually talking about night time. You are describing evening cluster feeding which is totally totally normal. So I'm going to revise what I said and suggest that you settle down on the sofa with a drink, snacks, a good book or a DVD and ride it out for a few days. How is she at night?

Zimm · 19/02/2011 10:54

Hi OP,

Her behaviours sounds like totally normal 6 week growth spurt behaviour to me, the constant feeeding and fussing! The best thing you can do is just feed, feeed, feeed, if she is anything like my DD she'll crash soon and have sleepy day :-)

tiktok · 19/02/2011 10:59

gateacre1 - this sounds like a normal baby experiencing normal feeding and behavioural patterns and showing you by this behaviour she does not want to settle away from you....she wants to suck and to be on or near your breast and not to sleep or lie down alone.

It can often be easier to accept that the baby is like this and not to worry about changing her needs - her needs are normal!

Going with the flow and accepting your baby is happiest when in your arms builds up her confidence and trust in you and the world.

This stage does not last forever.

I think all of this is more likely than colic or a growth spurt, to be honest :)

Original poster

gateacre1 · 19/02/2011 18:31

Dear all
thank you so much for your replies
today the feeding has been really erratic again, every hour and half this morning and then she fell asleep and I had to wake her to feed her
My mum came over today to help with my toddler as my OH was at work all day so that helped.

RE the Colic, I took her to my osteopath this week and she said that she had some restrictions in her left side and that her tummy was quite irritated

I have ordered some infant probiotics to see if it helps

my nipple is so sore especially after pumping and feeding feels like burning inside
I have my 6 week check up this week so will check with Dr if anything I can do with the blister.

Think it probably is the 6 week growth spurt and I feel really tearful too ( have cried a fair bit the last two days, it just really upsets me when dd2 cries)
thanks everyone x

OP posts:

japhrimel · 19/02/2011 22:51

Sounds totally normal to me, as everyone has said. Just go with it - they grow out of stages so fast at that age!

Burning pain after feeds/pumping and milk blisters makes me think you should consider whether you might have thrush. I had it and it's bloody awful!

bedlambeast · 20/02/2011 00:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

gaelicsheep · 20/02/2011 13:09

Totally agree. My DD suffered really badly from reflux. I found it very helpful knowing that her constant feeding was partly down to her finding breastmilk soothing, it being a natural antacid.

Breastmilk is totally amazing, and if you are intending to continue fully breastfeeding I would really advise against introducing anything else artificial which will just undermine the good you are doing.

petisa · 20/02/2011 13:25

Just another one to add it sounds like a normal 6 week old to me! At that age mine was on the boob for 5/6 hours at a time some evenings and would have screamed if you tried to get her to do anything else! At your stage it's just feed feed endless feeding. I have heard of babies who do 20 mins each side at that age every 2 2/3 - 3 hours but I've never met one!

gaelicsheep · 20/02/2011 13:45

It's a myth petisa. Same as sleeping through at this age. Anyone who tells you these things is lying (IMO).

JiltedJohnsJulie · 20/02/2011 13:50

To be fair gaelic DD was like that until 3 months when she thought she might like to try cluster feeding and co-sleeping and decided she loved both.

gaelicsheep · 20/02/2011 14:16

No you're right, I'm sure they do exist JJJ. I'm just probably.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 20/02/2011 15:17

Yeah but once she tried cluster feeding and co-sleeping she REALLY liked them. DH used to take her out in the pram in the evenings and walk the school run as it was the only way I could have an hour without being pinned to the settee.

gaelicsheep · 20/02/2011 15:38

Oh yes. Once I tried co-sleeping with my DD out of necessity she never went in her cot again! Not a bad thing though, it makes night times soo much easier. I guess DD knows better than me what she needs.

PenguinArmy · 20/02/2011 16:53

I found the six week growth spurt soul destroying and had to seek lots of BF mums in RL to get through it. I see you been given advice already, but just another voice to say it's hard but also normal.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/02/2011 06:37

Penguin, that's a really good point. I don't think i would have coped feeding DS who was a constant feeder without the support I got from my local nct group.

Flip

1 2