breastfeeding after blood transfusion

[ALittleLemonTwist]

Hi

I had to have a blood transfusion after having my DS 9 days ago. I really want to bf and have been doing so but I don't have much milk at all. I think I do recall the doctor saying there may be a delay in my milk coming in properly which is typical after a transfusion, but to be honest it's all a bit of a blur.

Now I find myself in a vicious circle as the little milk I have isn't enough to satisfy DS so I have been putting him on the breast then topping him up with formula if needs be. But I guess the more forumla I give him, the less milk I will produce.

Can anyone give any advice?? Would also love to hear of other people successfully BF'ing after having a transfusion and when their milk came in.

I hate to think that I may not be able to BF properly :(

[Bert2e]

Congratulations! You need to find out where your local bf clinic is and go and see them asap, you are right, the more formula you give the less milk you will have. There are ways of giving formula at the breast - via a supplementer - which will protect your supply AND make sure your baby has enough milk. They will be able to make sure that you have him latched on properly and formulate a plan to reduce the top ups plus look into medication to increase you supply if needed - although this will be a last resort.

[Carikube]

I would second going to a local bf clinic asap to get some assistance in this. I can't offer much other advice, though I can tell you that after having a blood transfusion after the birth of DD2 I went on to bf her for 12 months (which was no mean feat for me as bf had been a disaster with DD1!) so it is possible, though I fortunately didn't have any issues wrt milk coming in.
Good luck

[ALittleLemonTwist]

Thanks for your replies - have looked up nearest bf clinics and looks like sessions are Weds or Thurs mornings so I will have to wait until next week which is frustrating :(

[crikeybadger]

I would ring one of the bfing helplines then LemonTwist, or ring the hospital and see if you can speak to the infant feeding specialist.

When you offer the breast, are you offering one side, then the other before the formula top up. Switch nursing is also a good way of building up supply- you offer 'multiple sides', so feed on one side, then the other, then swap back and so on.

You might also like to try breast compressions.(see Dr Jack Newman for good videos) and lots of skin to skin.

hth and good luck

[ALittleLemonTwist]

Thanks crikeybadger. Yes, I;ve been offering one side then the other before the formula top up. I will look up breast compressions later - I've not heard of that before. Good idea to call helpline aswell. Will try anything!!

[crikeybadger]

No probs,

Here are the breastfeeding numbers.

and is the compression clip to save you searching for it.

[violetwellies]

I pumped and fed that, so bf, both sides then pump, (hire the best electric one you can - I bought mine as the hand one took soo long, & only used it six weeks).
Top up with formua for that feed, the next feed you feed top up with last times expressed milk, pump as often as you can, I didn't always pump as exhausted following hysterectomy &transfusion.
We fed the expressed milk in a cup whenever we could so ds didnt get too fond of the bottle. Started dropping top ups asap but kept pumping so have milk in freezer for emergency, we have been off the formula since week six, baby doing fine :)

[JBrd]

I also needed a transfusion after losing a lot of blood when DS was born by emergency CS, and my milk never came in properly. I have been doing mixed feeding since the start, DS is now almost 15weeks old. Don't be disheartened, this is very common, it's just that no one tells you about it!

As long as you give him the breast first at every feed before the formula, I don't think that your milk supply will stop

Have you tried pumping to stimulate the milk supply? You can also try massaging your breasts before the feeds to encourage let-down, and doing skin-to-skin can also help to stimulate milk. I've also heard that taking fenugreek helps increasing the amount of milk (I am about to start taking it).

Do speak with a breastfeeding counsellor, they have given me lots of good advice!