Transition from formula to combi feeding - any advice?

[Newbyboobs]

Hello,

Due to me being on strong meds immediately after DD was born, we formula fed her for the first four weeks. I am now off the meds and trying to introduce breast feeding; I don't think we will ever get to 100% breastfeeding but I would like to do as much as I can.

I am on Domperidone to help up my milk supply and bfeeding until DD stops then moving onto a bottle for each feed.

Can anyone help me by answering a few questions - sorry if these seem really daft

1. If DD is still suckling, does that mean she is still getting milk from me? I am assuming that she'll keep going until I run out if milk and then stop, is that right? I hope she wouldn't spend too much time sucking if she wasn't getting anything.

1. Has anyone else used Domperidone to help with combination feeding? If so, do you have any advice?

1. Should I expect DD to lose weight as she moves onto more breastfeeding and less formula? My Health Visitor put the fear of God into me about DD losing weight and she is only tiny anyway so I don't know whether I am doing the right thing by trying to introduce more breastmilk ... but my GP was much more supportive.

Any other advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated and thank you for reading,

Newby - even if DD isn't getting anything while she is suckling, the very act of her suckling will tell your body to make milk (or more milk if she is getting some) which is a GOOD thing.

Has anyone suggested trying a supplementary nursing system (aka an SNS or Lactaid) - this is a bottle with a tube taped to your nipple so as baby suckles they get milk (formula/expressed breast milk) from the tube as well as from the breast. This can help increase supply as baby spends more time suckling at the breast (more suckling = more milk production) and is still able to receive supplemental milk without bottles needing to be used.

Dr Jack Newman (Canadian bfing guru) has some good videos on how to tell if baby is feeding well and also of mums using SNS while bfing here (it's called a 'Lactation Aid not SNS on his website). He also has lots of information on domperidone usage.

Are you getting any support from a breastfeeding counsellor or a lactation consultant while you switch?

I can only help you with your first point really but I just wanted to let you know that breasts are never completely empty so if she is still suckling she will most likely still be getting something but also, suckling is the best way to increase your supply so if she is happy to continue to do so then be really happy as she is working hard to get your supply up. I don't know if you've already discovered it but www.kellymom.com is an absolutely wonderful website to find out about anything you might need help or information on to do with regarding bf such as information on how to deal with low milk supply As much skin to skin as possible will also help and also read up about breast compressions (search on YouTube for how to do these) Anyway HTH and good luck with everything.

Thank you both for your posts, really helpful and thanks for the links.

Truth I have tried to get some support - called MWs, breastfeeding advisors from the hosp where I gave birth, my GP etc etc and nobody seems that interested. I had to go to private to get the Domperidone as everyone else just said low milk supply doesn't exist and I just need to try harder with the breast pump. Despite the fact the drugs I was on that meant I couldn't bfeed are linked to low milk supply and of course not bfeeding for the first four months meant my body didn't know what was going on so didn't get into gear.

The private Dr said he had seen loads of women with genuine low milk supply who hadn't been able to get help so really reassured me it wasn't all in my mind and the domperidone has definitely helped.

I was thinking of contacting a lactation consultant - do you think it's worthwhile? I could really do with all the help possible!

You can call any one of the bfing helplines (blue box on the right hand side) and get help for free (well the cost of a phonecall!) - you may even find that they are local (if you call from a landline they put you through to the nearest on-call bfc) or know who is and you can get face to face support. Also try La Leche League, ABM, NCT or BfN to see if there is a local group to you.

IBCLC is the standard you want for a lactation consultant (it's not a protected profession so anyone can call themselves an LC even if they have never even seen a bfing mother/baby!) - list of IBCLCs in practice here.

You sound like you have had every stumbling block put in your path and yet you are still going - well done you!

Thank you! I will check out those links and suggestions and fingers crossed I can get some more pointers. I did feel quite let down by the various people who were meant to be helping me so I do really appreciate the advice!

X

You were let down most terribly and it's such a shame that the people who could have helped you weren't helpful but obstructive - the least any of them could have done was direct you to one of the bfing helplines if they didn't want/couldn't help you.

What ever happens with your milk supply one of the biggest hurdles is already overcome if your DD is happy to suckle at the breast. Often the biggest challenge mothers face when relactating is a reluctant/non-cooperative baby who has no interest in bfing.

Making the most of her interest and doing lots of skin to skin and offering a bf when she seems receptive will help increase supply especially if she can be encouraged to suckle 8 or so times a day (if you can co-sleep that will help even more as early morning feeds release more pro-lactin than any other time of the day [more pro-lactin = more milk production]).

If you are pumping as well (even if the yield is minimal) try to aim for having breast stimulation 8+ times a day both sides (pumping/bfing directly) or as much as you can manage. The more you do, the quicker & more supply will increase by. Try to keep the gaps between short too - one 4 hour gap is fine but aiming for more frequent the rest of the time again will increase pro-lactin levels.

All the very best to you and your DD.