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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Advice for friend who is introducing bottles because she 'doesn't have enough milk'.

56 replies

edam · 21/05/2006 09:51

Friend of mine has an eight-week old baby. Has been breastfeeding but thinks she doesn't have enough milk on the left side because baby struggles and squirms and cries when feeding from the left. She's now introduced three bottles a day (partly to help with sleep).

I know this is probably all wrong... She asked me for advice so what should I be telling her? Btw, suggested b/f counsellor but nothing in our town, would have to go to nearest city and it's a big hassle for a new mother.

OP posts:
moondog · 21/05/2006 09:55

She can ring any of the helplines.

Association for Breastfeeding Mothers

0870 401 7711

Equation is simple

The more the baby sucks,the more the breasts are stimulated to produce milk

The less the baby sucks,the less the breasts are stimulated to produce milk

As you can see,introducing formula reduces demand and milk production

What a shame,she's done the hardest part. Sad

When the baby goes through these 'fighting' periods,best thing to do is drop everything,stay calm,sit down (or lie down) with feet up and let baby take his/her time.

tiktok · 21/05/2006 10:26

Some women do have one side the baby doesn't care for, and it gets fed from less and produces less milk. It doesn't matter at all. The other side makes more to compensate because it gets fed from more...introducing 3 bottles a day at 8 weeks will almost certainly lead to her stopping breastfeeding, as the baby will feed from the breasts less often. It's way too soon for the milk supply to withstand that sort of impact.

She needs to know this, but a call to any of the helplines will explain it to her in a careful way.

moyasmum · 21/05/2006 10:34

Some babies (mine anyway) have a natural preference to one side over the other.If you are new and therefore sensitive to baby you might pick up and worry about this. if you give into this ( as I did) one breast gets much more stimulated and bigger(!) . I was lop sided .
Tell your friend to calm down ,drink fluids and good food herself, and talk to sensible people only (assoc bf mothers- nct- excellent). Why is it that you always meet people who are bad for you where you are vunerable-like a new mum . This is how the bottle-feeding brigade get a following.

Original poster
edam · 21/05/2006 10:36

Thanks. I know about more feeding = more milk but couldn't think what to say about baby fighting one side, since that never happened to me.

Thing is, she sees me as an experienced mother who will be able to give good advice, but I've forgotten many of the details, given it's three years since I had to worry about this!

I think part of it is that she has to go back to work in September, so wants to introduce bottles (thought about mentioning she doesn't need to do it yet, but don't want to go anywhere near criticising her - last thing you need as a new mother). The ironic thing is she's a junior doctor!

OP posts:
Original poster
edam · 21/05/2006 10:39

Btw, junior doc is why she has to go back in September – she needs to keep up her training. Docs in training don't get the same maternity leave rights as everyone else since they are not seen as directly employed by their hospital trusts - it's complicated but they are treated differently.

OP posts:
tiktok · 21/05/2006 10:46

Edam, she has a right to good information, just like any other mother. When we hold back from sharing good info, we restrict mothers' choices...it's simple, really. If she continues to give three bottles a day, she will stop breastfeeding sooner than she wanted to (as well as impacting on her baby's health).

She isn't going back to work for 3-4 months. It's way too soon to be preparing for that. Baby will be 6 mths then, and can have a cup or a bottle or depending on the hours mum is away, manage to keep fluids up with liquid-y solids and bf when baby and mum are together.

She needs to know all this!

harmonicacarrier · 21/05/2006 11:25

edam just to add that I fed on one side for aaaaaages as did two of my friends. it is perfectly possible to produce enough milk on one side
HC xx

Original poster
edam · 21/05/2006 11:32

Thanks Tiktok and HC will mention all this to her.

OP posts:
sparklemagic · 21/05/2006 11:35

tiktok, do you mean 'potentially impacting on her baby's health'???? Your way of putting it seems a little strong.....

Munz · 21/05/2006 12:02

edam - when Joey went thru this on my right side (had 2 infections so my supply wasn't as full coming thruso to speak) H/V advised than every feed I gave him 10 mins on one boobs so he could go like a bat out of hell at that side as it were, then switch to the 'bad' lesser side and feed calmer - seems to have worked as both boobs are now producing near enough equal amounts I feel - and Joey's happy to go on either side.

incidentally this w/e i've finally worked out all his thrashing/bobbing on and off/screaming on the pillow etc was cos he didn't like the hold any more - so we've gone back to across the tummy - bit sore for me after for 5 mins but Joey's a lot happier like that.

perhaps she has enough milk but baby can't get to it as easily?

tiktok · 21/05/2006 12:54

sparkle, we know the best health outcomes for babies are seen when breastfeeding has been exclusive for six months. That's a general rule - individual babies may need formula for different reasons, but the research shows that on the whole, babies do best if they're given nothing but breastmilk for six months.

Anything that means the baby is not given 'nothing but breastmilk for six months' is, has, as I say, a potential impact on her baby's health. This does not mean that her baby will be less healthy - this is a potential effect.

This is factual, and not at all 'strong' as far as I can see.

It can make people feel uncomfortable, I know, because the mainstream view is that it doesn't really matter if a baby has formula. There is a view that we should try to protect women who give formula from the fact that what you feed a baby in the first months does matter, and can make a difference to health. But I think it's better to be honest. Yes, we should be sensitive to people's feelings, but not to the extent that we perpetuate a misconception.

Hope that explains it :)

popsycal · 21/05/2006 12:59

ds2 didnt like my left side - as it drips rather than gushes

sparklemagic · 21/05/2006 16:05

tiktok, you didn't say potential impact! That's what I'm saying, there is a POTENTIAL impact! In your post, you said "as well as impacting on her baby's health".

pupuce · 21/05/2006 16:11

Sparkle.... what you can say (whether you feel it is health related or not is up to you) is the minute you introduce something else in a baby's gut than breastmilk you change the gut forever. This is one of the reason that on the whole it's ideal to stick to breastmilk for 6 months.
Newborn babies' intestines are sterile, and the first contact the baby has with bacteria is via the mother when it passes along the birth canal.
Breastmilk is loaded with probiotics.
It is important, if at all possible that the mother breast feed the baby for at least six months (and this isn't always possible for a variety of reasons). In these ideal conditions the harmful bacteria which cause the conditions mentioned below, will not be able to thrive in the gut. If these friendly bacteria were not present in the gut in sufficient quantity, then unfriendly bacteria, fungi and viruses would be allowed to grow and populate the intestines. This would cause a variety of conditions such as candida, lowered immune function, diarrhoea, stomach ulcers,...

tiktok · 21/05/2006 16:49

I see....yes, well, insert the word 'potential' if you prefer it that way! I think all babies are affected health-wise by what goes into their systems, in fact, and it's daft to assume some are not. I suppose to be truly accurate it would better to say a 'potentially serious effect', but there is some effect on all of them....yes, each and every single one.

laluje · 21/05/2006 17:12

Hi edam, I had real trouble with bf with my ds. Right side was def prefered to the left. I introduced a botle because we were both really frustrated (plus babe caught a cold and seemed like he was suffocating trying to feed!) I really regret giving the bottle so soon and would be more determined next time. Anyway, have since been advised that it's really common for lo to prefer one side and to offer that side last then start on that side on the next feed. Bottles def decrease your supply as already mentioned so you've got to persevere even more. Has she tried a different position on the dodgey side? HTH. Whoops, sorry that was a long one!

motherinferior · 21/05/2006 17:16

One of my norks was definitely more productive/popular (and has shrunk a touch in consequence).

UglySister · 21/05/2006 20:09

Just for anybody who is not bfing exclusively for 6 months... I know this is what is thought to be best for baby in the UK but this is not always advised elsewhere!

moondog · 21/05/2006 20:10

Tell us more US....

Original poster
edam · 21/05/2006 20:12

It's not just the UK, it's the World Health Organisation. So it's advice for every nation.

OP posts:
UglySister · 21/05/2006 20:20

Interesting.. WHO.. (who as an aside and contrary to all other organisations claim the Chernobyl disaster has had relatively little impact on life and limb in Ukraine and other affected areas)

My DDs paediatrician told me to get DD on solids when she had just turned 4 months. As an expert and experienced children´s doctor, I can only presume she knows what she´s doing.

I do think this 6 month rule is probably sensible for all babies, but personally don´t think it´s critical in the west. Weaning pre-6 months may increase risks of x, y and z but so do a hundred other criteria, surely?

tiktok · 21/05/2006 20:33

Most paediatricians are not well-trained or even very experienced in these matters, US. You're right, that where solid foods are easily available and easily prepared, such as in the UK, most babies will not suffer if given solids at 4 mths rather than 6 mths. But health benefits are increased if you extend exclusive milk feeding to 6 mths, preparing solids for a young baby and feeding them is a hassle (6mth old babies don't need them pureed, and can start to feed themselves), and as waiting to 6 mths is a relatively easy thing to do, why make life harder than you need to?

I would be very uncomfortable with a paed who 'told' me to give my baby solids at 4 mths, unless there was a clear medical reason.

tiktok · 21/05/2006 20:34

I can't think of any country where the guidance is not now 6 mths, by the way....but maybe you do??

TLM2 · 21/05/2006 20:38

When I had my son I had a nightmare breastfeeding and I found that La Leche were amazing. A lovely woman came out for a small fee of £35 and spent the whole afternoon / evening with me while I fed and she gave me loads of advice.

One of the things you can do for the breast that appears to have less mmilk is express a little (say 10 mins) every day and that might help.

Otherwise there is always the possibility that there is a blockage - I had a blockage but it does become painful quite quickly so if your friend does have one she will know soon enough. If she does then expressing is good for that as well. Smile

UglySister · 21/05/2006 20:41

Hi Tiktok, I was in Austria. And I agree that it´s def easier to delay weaning ! I guess what was saying before is that depending on your own circumstances and the views of your doctor, the 6 month rule is not really fixed. Who knows what "they" will advise in another few years!