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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Re-establishing supply?

50 replies

GroovyRach · 09/12/2011 01:12

Hi all, just looking for advice or to see if anyone has been in my position with a happy outcome!

I have a 10 wk old dd. breast feeding never went well from the start. I have very flat nipples so latching on was always a problem. After a wk or so I switched to expressing. Was going well and I was able to get 4oz each time. Dd went through a really fussy stage and I gave her formula to take strain off me (single parent). It was the easiest to do. Now, it's been probably 5 weeks since I properly pumped but I really really want to give it another go if it's not to late. I wish I hadn't have up so easy

So I done some reading online, spent today pumping for 5-10 mins in each side every hr or so. All I got was a drip. I tried putting dd back to see if her sucking would help but she wasnt interested, so it looks like it will be the pump doing the work!

My boobs are feeling slightly tender, could this be the milk? I last pumped around 7pm. Will try be up through night to give another go. Is it realistic to think I could build supply up again or am I wasting my time? Even if it was just one bottle of milk a day, I'd be so happy!!

Thanks in advance

OP posts:

TruthSweet · 12/12/2011 19:26

Great news on the healing. Sounds like a good plan on the bursts of pumping.

If you have time you could try block pumping - you pump for 10mins (both sides with a double if you've got one), then rest for ten (read a book, play with baby, do the dishes, watch tv, etc) then pump for 10, rest for 10, pump for 10. This mimics a baby cluster feeding and can help increase supply (you won't notice this will doing the block pumping so don't worry if there isn't much coming out for the 2nd/3rd pump session it's the nipple stimulation that counts). It doesn't have to be 10 mins exactly either just something to aim for, if baby needs a nappy change/door bell goes when you're 7 mins in to pumping it's fine to stop then.

This can also take the place of 2-3 pumping sessions so if you know you'll be unable to pump for a while and will miss a few sessions you could do a block pumping session either earlier in the day or later on.

Hope things go well for you tomorrow.

Original poster

GroovyRach · 12/12/2011 19:40

Thanks truthsweet, sounds good. Hoping to put dd to bed shortly so will have quiet evening to try the cluster pumping! Boobs do start to feel 'full' after a long stretch so I'm hoping they are starting to get the message!

Honestly, without the help of all you lovely people, I wouldn't have even gave all this a second chance!

OP posts:

cairnterrier · 12/12/2011 23:01

Hi GroovyRach glad to hear that things are going so well! 5ml sounds fantastic as well as starting to feel full. Has your DD had another go yet? Hope you have a lovely restful evening and a chance to try some cluster pumping!

Original poster

GroovyRach · 12/12/2011 23:42

Thank you cairnterrier

Yes I tried her again through the day but she wasnt interested at all. She screws up her face then just turns away! Not sure if it's the taste of the milk or texture of nipple that she is unsure of.. I'm not to worried though. If I can express I'm happy. Would be 100 times easier if she did feed from me, but hey, no one ever said life was easy eh?!

Managed a few cluster pumps but only few drops of milk. Hoping that the stimulation has helped. Will be a day of tablets and pumping 2mrw as we have no other plans. After all this, I hope she drinks the milk and doesn't refuse!!!!

OP posts:

rootietootie · 13/12/2011 00:04

Dont know if this is of any help but i had to re establish my milk supply (only started bf at 8 weeks) and at first i did all the usual (skin to skin, constant pumping etc) and they were not really effective. I then started taking fenugreek and I did notice a difference, but I had to keep taking them. I did stop for about 3 days and my milk just disappeared! Near the end i was taking 15 pills a day (3 x 5) and it was costing me more than formula. I went to my GP and after much persuasion he prescribed me domperidone, which worked wonders, and was free.

Original poster

GroovyRach · 13/12/2011 00:23

Oh thanks! I did look at the prescription but I wondered if my doctor would give it to me. Im starting then tablets tomorrow so will see how it goes then perhaps a trip to docs if all goes well. Did you find it worked?

How long did it take you to get baby onto breast? My dd is 10 wks so not much older. I'm finding she just turns away then cries!

OP posts:

rootietootie · 13/12/2011 00:36

I found that both fenugreek and domperidone worked. But Fenugreek was increasingly expensive, it was about £12 locally (could get them cheaper elsewhere but factoring in petrol and hassle of travelling it was't really) for 100 pills, but taking 15 a day meant that 100 wasn't even lasting a week. I asked my HV and breastfeeding consultant about prescription drugs and tbh neither had the first clue and told me just to ask my doctor. The first doctor i went to totally dismissed the idea with a oooooh prescription drugs and breastfeeding noooo sooo bad attitude (but it was alright for the breastfeeding consultant to recommend Fenugreek, a herbal drug with no research into it?!). Plucked up the courage and went to another doctor and really pleaded my case. He told me to come back with some information printed off the internet, which i did and i got domperidone on repeat prescription, (which in Scotland is free :)) I guess i was lucky as my son took to boobage really well. In fact that is why i struggled because he went completely off formula (flat out refused it) and would only take breastmilk, in bottle or boob, when initially i did not have enough milk to keep him going!

Original poster

GroovyRach · 13/12/2011 11:44

So glad to hear it work for you and dc . So do you take the pills everyday until u decide to stop feeding or is it a case of taking them till supply is adequate then stopping? I'm in Scotland do it would Obv work out cheaper for me too. I paid £8.50 for 100 on the fenugreek.

Will perhaps make app with doctor for later in the week. Thanks again

OP posts:

rootietootie · 13/12/2011 20:01

yeah i have to take them on a daily basis, 2 tablets 3 times a day. If i stop taking them my milk will dry up instantly.

Original poster

GroovyRach · 14/12/2011 11:57

Well since Sunday, iv managed to express a whole 10ml. Not sure if that's to be expected.. Just gave it to dd before he bottle of ff and it was gone in seconds!! Did make me tho that it was my milk, even if it wasn't much. Yesterday was my first full day of the fenugreek tablets. Took 3 3x a day.

I am noticing there is more milk. Still coming out in drips rather than flowing but I guess that will come in time.

OP posts:

rootietootie · 14/12/2011 14:01

Aww that's promising then. It took a few days for the fenugreek to kick in if I remember right.

TruthSweet · 14/12/2011 14:27

This page has the dosage details and more info on when to expect an increase in yield. It looks like it may take 24-72 hours for there to be an effect or even as long as 2 weeks (though to be fair I don't think I would keep taking them for a long time if they did nothing as they can have side effects).

Keeping up with removing milk and you should see an increase - it might be a gradual building up of supply or you might see a big increase in a relatively short space of time. How ever it happens and whether or not you get her back to bfing, if it makes you feel happier keep going!

Original poster

GroovyRach · 14/12/2011 14:38

Thanks, I will keep at it for a few weeks and if it's looking like its not gonna be worth if then I'll stop. Just wanted to give it one more go!

OP posts:

TruthSweet · 14/12/2011 15:02

It may well take more than a few weeks to see a substantial increase with or without the fenugreek, but if the fenugreek doesn't work there are other options (fenugreek doesn't work for everyone unfortunately).

This website might give you some insight into how it might play out. Do check out any tips with reputable sources as some might not be great (e.g. one woman listed drinking more water as a way to increase supply when the advice is drink to thirst ad that drinking excessively may even decrease supply [by excess they mean forcing down litre after litre hen you aren't thirsty] ).

Original poster

GroovyRach · 14/12/2011 15:49

Thanks will check it out! Was in bath there n decided to express since I was feeling relaxed. Got a few squirts! Lol. Hopfully is going the right way. If she would latch I think she would drain milk much btr than I am managing but she just isn't interested. Is it possible to re-train so to speak an almost 11 wk baby who has had a bottle almost from the start? Never really been one for getting my boobs out to a stranger (was even funny in the hospital with the midwife trying to correct her). Always had major issues with my boobs so wanted to just try it all myself. Now I'm thinking that maybe I should ask for help with latching if it's possible

OP posts:

MoTeaVate · 14/12/2011 16:10

Well done . I just wanted to add that even v small amounts will be beneficial for your baby. It will contain antibodies and all those other 'living' things that they can't put in formula. also having her near your nipple from time to time, even if she only screws up her face may actually help to stimulate your supply. It can take a long time for some babies to transition to suckling, and La Leche League's Breastfeeding Answer Book lists the stages that babies sometimes go through on their way to feeding properly:

The baby aggressively fights the breast.
The baby cries more while being held than when he's put down.
The baby is willing to be held in some positions, even if not in a cradle hold.
The baby tolerates being held in the cradle hold.
The baby will attempt to root.
The baby will lick at the milk on the nipple.
The baby will attempt to suck, using and in-and-out movement.
The baby will take milk at the breast.
The baby nurses well, even before the let-down occurs.

Good luck and well done

Original poster

GroovyRach · 15/12/2011 11:30

Well I expressed this morning and managed just under 10mls in one go!! These tablets are working!!

OP posts:

TruthSweet · 15/12/2011 13:21

Original poster

GroovyRach · 15/12/2011 14:16

It's just finding the time to express that is getting to me! That was about 10am after I had got dd changed and fed. She sat quietly for a bit while I done that but then it was a crazy few hrs as I got ready and both of us out the door by 1.45. Won't be home not till after 7 prob and not so keep to pump/hand express/twiddle nipples in public just yet . Hopfully I will get the same, if not more) by tonight.

Thanks again to everyone! X

OP posts:

cairnterrier · 15/12/2011 21:59

Well done you, and yes, you may be right about not nipple twiddling in public

Sounds like things are going great for you, hope tonight goes well too x

Original poster

GroovyRach · 17/12/2011 22:02

Just managed 3/4 oz in one go!

OP posts:

TruthSweet · 17/12/2011 22:22

Whoo!! Well done you. Have a and some

Original poster

GroovyRach · 17/12/2011 22:25

Having a glass of vino .

Thank you!!

OP posts:

cairnterrier · 18/12/2011 20:11

Brilliant, well done you!

flamegirl77 · 20/12/2011 06:38

Good on you for sticking with it, hope it works out for you. However you feed your baby she has a lovely mum!

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