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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Mixed Advice

17 replies

Hecubasdaughter · 13/12/2011 17:18

DD is 11 days old. Started off ebf but due to tongue tie and supply problems we have ended up mixed feeding with me expressing. Went OK at first with a bit of wind and posseting. for about 24 hr now she has been bringing up significant amounts of formula feeds with forceful vomitting.

I'm working on trying to increase my milk supply but only minimal success so far. MIL has suggested changing formula in the mean time. Would this help and if so which should we use? Using aptamil atm.

OP posts:

Iggly · 13/12/2011 17:21

If formula is making her sick I'm not sure it's a good idea TBH. Most formulas are pretty much the same? Might be best to check she's either not overfeeding via the bottle or is not intolerant to formula?

What were the supply problems? Did you find she was feeding all the time and not satisfied? What problem was the tongue tie causing?

Original poster

Hecubasdaughter · 13/12/2011 17:28

She was inefficent at sucking and she would latch on then pull away screaming within seconds batting me away. Took me days of expressing to get any supply going. Managing about 6-8 ounces now and worling to increase that.

OP posts:

tiktok · 13/12/2011 17:55

What a difficult start.....if she has probs with formula then it makes it all the more important you get good help to resurrect bf, yes? If she has a tongue tie that's affected her bf then this can be snipped (I wonder if this is also effecting her bottle feeding?)

To protect your milk supply while this is being resolved you have to express many times day and night - 8 times in 24 hours minimum really and it has to ve effective. So you need a good pump, or hand express.

All formula is based on the same main ingredient (cows milk) and brands differ very little so an intolerance to one would prob mean an intolerance to all.

It sounds as if you need good real life help - is the midwife ok? Can she perhaps refer you for the tongue tie?

Hope you get things sorted.

Iggly · 13/12/2011 20:28

Have you spoken to the HV or MW about the tongue tie? They should be able to refer you for it to be snipped if necessary. My DD (11 days old) has a minor tie but not bad enough to need snipping - I've been working on her latch. She also exhibited behaviour like your DD (sucking, screaming etc) but that's calmed down - I think she couldn't get a good seal and would be frustrated.

In the meantime are you still BF or just usin bottles with expressed milk? Can you get in touch with a local BF counsellor to come and help you with latch etc - I did this with DS and they were excellent and have a lot more knowledge than the MWs etc.

Original poster

Hecubasdaughter · 13/12/2011 21:44

Been using bottles for ebm as she just won't stay on the breast to feed. Had her tongue tie snipped now but she doesn't seem to want to put in the effort, I keep offering her boob.

OP posts:

MigGril · 14/12/2011 11:59

You could try supplimenting using a syplimental nursing system (SNS). It's a small tube that you attach to the nipple, this way she'll get milk at the breast and stimulate your milk production at the same time.

You need reall life help with this, probably a BF counciler or a lactation consultant who's come accross these problems before.

Iggly · 14/12/2011 12:02

Yes def agree you need a BF counsellor over and speak to GP about reaction to formula too. The MW or HV should be able to point you in the right direction.

Original poster

Hecubasdaughter · 14/12/2011 12:06

Looking into bf support locally.

Went to GP this morning, he was pretty useless telling me that formula is more easily digested than bm . So he didn't inspire confidence.

OP posts:

organiccarrotcake · 14/12/2011 12:22

"Went to GP this morning, he was pretty useless telling me that formula is more easily digested than bm"

Gods that makes me FURIOUS. SO misinformed and So wrong.

organiccarrotcake · 14/12/2011 12:30

Not to mention so illogical.

MigGril · 14/12/2011 12:32

Lovely insstill's you great confidance in your GP when they say the excact opersit it what is true.

Can you see another GP at your practice at all?

Iggly · 14/12/2011 12:55

What a muppet GP. Can you see another one?

MigGril · 14/12/2011 13:01

Oh god sorry that reads back really badly.

loopydoo · 14/12/2011 13:18

OMG - the GP told you that???!!!!

No wonder so many mums have a lack of BF confidence when GP tell you studpid things like that!

Original poster

Hecubasdaughter · 14/12/2011 16:18

Have called breast feeding network and they are arranging for a peer supporter to come out and see me.

OP posts:

loopydoo · 14/12/2011 17:43

Are you sure it's not a supporter? Peer supporters with the BfN can't do home visits I don't think - unless it differs in different areas. No matter anyway - besides the point! Glad they're coming to help you anyway .

Beamae · 15/12/2011 08:24

To answer your original question, When I started mixed feeding my twins we started with Aptamil 1 and after about a week had the same reaction of forceful vomiting from one baby and hours of inconsolable crying from the other. We went on to try other brands... Cow & Gate, SMA, and Aptamil Comfort but all had the same effect apart from SMA from which we had even more extreme reactions. The vomiting on the Comfort was also really odd. Clear, rather than milky. IME they really are all the same product.

We have ended up on a prescription hypoallergenic formula called Neocate along with Gaviscon and a feed thickener, Carobel. It seems to be working but at this stage who knows which of the three products is the effective one.

What I will say is that while formula feeding has benefitted us in some ways, it is also a huge hassle. All of our bottles have to be made up fresh and I find it all very fiddly and difficult when out. With hindsight I wish I hadn't been convinced to start with the formula and had stuck to my guns with the breastfeeding.

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