Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Help please! no milk fo hungry baby!

32 replies

ahhyesiseeyouvepooedonsanta · 19/12/2011 19:05

Always had no problem breast feeding DD (14 weeks) and really enjoyed it but I was poorly over the weekend so DH fed her all my expressed milk (she's happily swapped between breast and bottle before) all weekend, but now I don't seem to have very much any milk, they feel really empty and when I try to feed her she just thrashes her head from side to side and cries.

She's been screaming all day and DH keeps saying he should just go buy some formula but it makes me so sad thinking about, but she just won't stop screaming - help?

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 19/12/2011 19:09

hmm, did you express over the weekend?
it's possible that having had a bottle for the whole weekend she has just figured out that it comes out faster and thus prefers that to the breast,

do you have a local breastfeeding counsellor you could talk to about it?

you could try expressing a bit off until you get a letdown and then feeding her so the milk is there instatntly?
or giving her a bottle to take the edge off her hunger and then offering the breast?

Teaandchristmascakeplease · 19/12/2011 19:11

Sometimes milk can drop if you've been poorly. No doubt someone like TikTok will be along soon. I just didn't want to leave your post unanswered. Try not to worry, things will return to normal again. I would try and drink lots of fluids, rest and feed on demand for now as you try and up your supply again.

She may have wind which maybe causing discomfort? Or yes she maybe frustrated as the breastmilk doesn't come out as fast as a bottle perhaps? I would keep persisting and stay calm and all will return to normal very soon x

Original poster
ahhyesiseeyouvepooedonsanta · 19/12/2011 19:12

I don't have any expressed milk left Sad I could go to the la leche drop in tomorrow, i just don't know what to do now to stop her screaming. When I try to express with the pump nothing comes out, just a few tiny drops

OP posts:
HappyCamel · 19/12/2011 19:15

The suggestions above are good. You'll get a better let down if you're calm. Make a nest in your bed with lots of pillows, low lighting and visualise the milk pouring out.

It sounds weird but visualising really helped me when I first started to bf and let down hurt. Make sure you are warm enough and have had plenty to drink. Other than, just keep going, you might have a rough 24 hours but you can come out the other side, milk production is demand led so your DD trying to feed will stimulate more milk production, it just takes a bit of time. At 14 weeks she's big enough to cope, just keep her close and keep trying to feed.

Teaandchristmascakeplease · 19/12/2011 19:17

I have to say a lot of the time I didn't manage to get much from expressing, unless first thing in the morning, also as my breasts became more efficient, it didn't "feel" like there was much there, but there was iyswim?

I used to find this webpage so helpful.

thisisyesterday · 19/12/2011 19:20

def go to your LLL group tomorrow

for tonight, if she absolutely will NOT feed then give her formula.
she NEEDS milk and if you cannot get her on the breast then you must offer an alternative.

go to your LLL group and formulate a plan for getting her back on the breast, but don't beat yourself up about using an alternative until that happens.

You will need to keep expressing every 2-3 hours though to keep your supply up

Original poster
ahhyesiseeyouvepooedonsanta · 19/12/2011 19:21

Thank you everyone, its just so frustrating when she wrenches her head away and screams then tries to arch away from me, I don't know whether to hold her into me or let her go and then bring her back

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 19/12/2011 19:21

good idea about going to bed, warm and cosy. take DD with you and just keep her on you, plenty of skin to skin and just let her find her way if she wants to. offer the breast but if she is upset then don't insist

TheProvincialLady · 19/12/2011 19:21

Don't give formula. Just get into bed with your dd for 24h and let her feed as often as she will, for as long as she will, with no pressure and no show of upset (from you!). She won't starve in that time and your milk supply will almost certainly recover quickly. You can express when she's not feeding if you like. How much you express doesn't mean anything - it's the stimulation that is useful. Try not to worry.

thisisyesterday · 19/12/2011 19:24

I disagree about supply certainly being fine and baby not needing an alternative

she is only 14 weeks and has not fed from the breast for 3 days and is getting very upset when it is offered.
the OP most certainly should not just leave her to go hungry :(

thisisyesterday · 19/12/2011 19:26

op- could you confirm whether or not you've been expressing for the last 3 days while she has been bottle-fed?

Original poster
ahhyesiseeyouvepooedonsanta · 19/12/2011 19:33

no haven't been expressing, lost a crucial bit for my beast pump Blush but hand expressed some in the bath but not muc. The more I try to feed her the more worked up she gets Sad and now I can't stop crying which doesn't help [pathetic smiley] DH thinks Im bonkers and we should just get some formula

OP posts:
Original poster
ahhyesiseeyouvepooedonsanta · 19/12/2011 19:39

Have found crucial bit now btw (in the steraliser, doh) so the pump is working again

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 19/12/2011 19:41

this can be fixed, but I do think that you need to feed her something.

has she fed at all today?

Original poster
ahhyesiseeyouvepooedonsanta · 19/12/2011 19:43

a few minutes heres and there, one decent-ish one at 6:30am but thats it

OP posts:
ScaryFairy28 · 19/12/2011 19:43

Maybe give her some formula to curb her hunger then swap her over.

Original poster
ahhyesiseeyouvepooedonsanta · 19/12/2011 19:47

will it be possible to give her just a couple of formula feeds then go back to ebf when/if I get my supply back up?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 19/12/2011 19:49

I agree with TIY - keep trying skin to skin, perhaps get in the bath with her? But definitely give her some formula tonight if you really can't get her to feed.

Even if your milk supply has dropped dramatically, all will not be lost - people manage to relactate after much longer gaps, it will be fine, but you will need specialist support so seek this ASAP. The group tomorrow sounds perfect and they may be able to offer ongoing support or point you in the direction of someone who does. Please don't worry, if you do have to give formula, it does not have to mean the end of breastfeeding.

It might be worth phoning the LLL helpline too - it's the only one which is 24 hours. 0845 120 2918 - but don't leave it too late if possible because volunteers answer the calls in their own homes.

canyou · 19/12/2011 19:50

Would giving her an ounce or so of formula to calm her down [not ideal but ...] and then put her to the breast help?
Just make sure she is not dehydrated [if she is def give formula or whatever you can express] and persevere with it until you get in touch with a professional tomorrow.
If she refuses completely do try to express
As the others have said it will improve

And tell your DP to calm down he is not helping I have been there

BertieBotts · 19/12/2011 19:51

I don't know how it works - it might be a case of a couple of feeds, it might be a case of FF tonight and then mixed feeding for a while until your supply catches up. Phone the helpline, and go to the group tomorrow, they will be able to support you in this.

ScaryFairy28 · 19/12/2011 19:51

Id try giving her a bit of formula to get her calm but not full then breast feed and maybe she'll have more patience. Try having a look at kellymom for ideas too. I'm sure there's something about oats increasing supply.

Teaandchristmascakeplease · 19/12/2011 20:02

This is the better place to link to on kellymom. Near the bottom it discusses Oatmeal.

Agree with TIY posts whilst I've been away putting the children to bed Smile

bettyboo83 · 19/12/2011 20:43

I just came on to write a very similar post so I'm watching with interest. My DS has been increasingly fussy when feeding the last few days then tonight just wouldn't feed from me at all. I had 3oz expressed milk in the fridge which he wolfed down in about 2 mins so he's obviously hungry but still wouldn't feed from me. I've just expressed and only managed to get 2oz so am really worried that he won't feed during the night and I won't have anything to give him. Sorry for the thread hijack.

BertieBotts · 20/12/2011 00:19

Betty, probably best to start a new thread as sounds like a completely different situation, but definitely have a look at the kellymom link as I think it will also be relevant for you.

flamegirl77 · 20/12/2011 06:08

Did you have a bug and could she have picked it up from you? I ask because my 15 week old daughter was screaming when I tried to feed her a couple of nights in a row, then she started coughing and sneezing and I think she was coming down with something and finding it hard to breathe. So I tried a slightly different position and it helped. Good luck!