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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Ways to increase my breast milk - please help me save my breastfeeding!

79 replies

lisalisa · 04/12/2005 10:25

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moondog · 04/12/2005 10:28

Lisa,I think you know the answer to the question.
It really is a case of sitting down and going with the flow which will do you good as well,especially if you have help with the house.

Atomicstockinghanger · 04/12/2005 10:35

Like moondoog says, the only way to up your milk supply is to go with it. Drop all formula top ups and feed baby on demand. Make sure he has as much as he wants rather than being stopped. You must be relaxed too, so the let down will work quicker and better. Does baby have a dummy? If he does then try to reduce how much he has it and let him suckle instead of using the dummy.
I know it is herd to B/F when you have other kids needing attention, but this is the only way really.

Good luck with it all, hun. I hope you manage it. If you want to do it bad enough, you'll crack it Good luck!!

foundintransleightion · 04/12/2005 10:39

How old are the other kids? Can (at least some of) bf time be quiet time where you read to them/you play a board game (if you have a hand free while bf)/they do crafts/you help them with homework etc.?
It will pay off, it will. As you probably know from experience, they do get a lot quicker at it!

Roobietherednosedreindeer · 04/12/2005 10:40

When you feed during the day could you perhaps top up with EBM rather than formula? It will of course mean expressing regularly but perhaps you could fit this in every so often by just leaving the pump out and having a go whenever you get a spare few minutes - build up a stock of EBM that you can draw upon.

Original poster

lisalisa · 04/12/2005 11:06

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NotQuiteCockney · 04/12/2005 11:43

I don't go in for homeopathy, so I probably can't help with that.

But as you successfully fed two kids (albeit a while back), you should have no problem building up your supply for the little one. I'd recommend:

cosleeping, if you're not already doing it. If you can sleep while breastfeeding, even better. You get rest, and the baby fills up.
Using a sling or similar during the day, so he can feed when he wants, and you can still move about etc.
Getting your 9 year-old (and maybe your 6-year-old) to help with the 2-year-old, as much as possible.

If you can do everything you can to let your DS breastfeed as much as possible (if he's reasonably chunky and well, I'd drop the bottle altogether, immediately. He'll feed more for a few days, and then it will sort itself out. Do make sure he's still weeing and pooing after you do this, though).

Original poster

lisalisa · 04/12/2005 11:44

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NotQuiteCockney · 04/12/2005 11:46

Sometimes they just like to fall asleep on the boob. Sometimes they just need to feed for ages. It's not necessarily a problem.

You could try to reduce the topping up, down to max of 3 oz per feed, then 2 etc. You could also try to replace some of it with EBM, but that's more work for you, really.

Original poster

lisalisa · 04/12/2005 11:46

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NotQuiteCockney · 04/12/2005 11:47

There's no such thing as an empty breast! The more he feeds, the more milk you will make. The emptier a breast is, the higher fat milk comes out.

And if his latch is good, sucking more won't hurt your nipples.

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 04/12/2005 11:49

Can you feed him "hands free" in a sling?

NotQuiteCockney · 04/12/2005 11:49

You have less milk now because he's having formula. Introducing formula before 6 weeks is likely to lead to you ending breastfeeding before you want to - as you've noticed is happening.

With some patience, perseverance and domestic help, you should be able to go back to exclusive breastfeeding, if you want to.

pupucelovesruDOuLaph · 04/12/2005 13:05

LisaLisa... read this : abm.me.uk/lactrescue.htm

spidermama · 04/12/2005 13:20

Could you get your 6 and your 9 year old helping out with cooking and cleaning or with entertaining the littler ones?

Perhaps you need to get in loads of art stuff, DVDs and books so that there's plenty to entertain the older ones while you're taking the time to get your supply built up. It's great that the baby forces you to sit down for a bit while you're feeding because otherwise it can be hard to stop - ever!

Having a lie down in the daytime really helps (though I know how hard that is with a two year old). I find sleeping with the baby works well because you can build up your supply at night with minimum effort for feeding.

Take any offers of help you can get for the next few weeks.

By the way, FIVE? Well done!
Congratulations and good luck.

spidermama · 04/12/2005 13:21

Lisalisa there's no such thing as 'an empty breast'. There's always something there and it's not bad to let them suck on it. It works by supply and demand so if you allow them to demand the milk, your body will oblige and supply it.

merrybelly · 04/12/2005 13:38

This advice from first time mum, so ignore if im just too green. I'd tuck him in a sling all day and leave him there to feed or sleep as he needs. I did this with mine after an ITU stay and late milk arrival combined with an early 1.5 hour feed cycle!

I just can't imagine anything else helping in your circs. But then my imaginatoin is quite limited in the face of 5! Whatever you manage is a miracle, you sound like you're doing amazingly. I would try not to worry quite as much, I think worry is the main thing that hinders BF all else being equal. When the worry starts, immediately think of the last three things you did well and why they were so good. Helps me.

Try this? for info and links starters?

pupucelovesruDOuLaph · 04/12/2005 13:45

lisalisa - I don't think you can just feed all day.... this is why I posted this article from a mother of a 5 week old doing (as you are) many top ups. She went on to fully BF.... it can be done but it's more work than some might think.

Original poster

lisalisa · 04/12/2005 14:43

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popsycalindisguise · 04/12/2005 14:45

get a sling get a sling get a sling

pupucelovesruDOuLaph · 04/12/2005 15:04

Double pump is ideal because it's super fast, can you not rent one for 3 weeks? It takes 10 mins to get loads !
You can also slow down the top up quantity and you could take fenel tea or fenugreek tablets. But it's a lot of stimulation (hence the pumping) which is the way to go.

Original poster

lisalisa · 04/12/2005 15:28

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foundintransleightion · 04/12/2005 15:33

Lisalisa, babies will often drink from a top-up bottle even if they're not actually hungry - mears or tiktok always compare it to dessert - like we'll squeeze in a slice of tiramisu even if our hunger has been satisfied by the main course.

hercules · 04/12/2005 15:36

It is possible to feed and walk in a sling!

chipmonksRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 04/12/2005 15:38

Lisalisa, I have often fed baby while walking around, especially with ds2 as I was usually walking around after ds1! With a bit of practice you can feed in a sling. I used /link{http://www.slingeasy.co.uk\the slingeasy}

chipmonksRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 04/12/2005 15:40

Sorry, the the slingeasy

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