Couple of queries from a beginner who spent first week expressing as baby was in NICU...

[Haylebop12]

So, DS was born last monday (23rd sept, ill give a bit of back story as it may help, hes dc2 but dc1 was not BF) normal, albeit a quite quick, vaginal delivery. I had skin to skin for around an hour before getting him dressed. He didnt seem bothered about feeding and I was told by the midwives he would show signs within 12 hours, but more than likely between 6 and 8 hours.

However, at 4am his temp dropped and by 6am he was in neonatal, not having any chance to latch on. Diagnoses was pneumonia and a small air leak in his lung. He was being tube fed. On wednesday I was allowed to put him to the breast and he latched on and fed for around 25 minutes. After that it was sunday night before I was allowed to put him to the breast again. He did ok but he struggled to stay latched and so the nurse told me to use a nipple shield. It worked and ds was able to latch on and feed quite efficiently. Whenever I fed him monday I used the shield (think I fed him 3 times?) and when I wasnt there he was being tube/cup fed. So yesterday He was discharged and because I was there until he was discharged I did all his feeds (still using the shield as he makes first latch ok but doesnt keep it.)

sorry this is long I just wanted to get all the info in that may be relevent.

During his stay in neonatal I have been expressing at home and producing to what seems quite a lot for a newborn. I was expressing every 3-4 hours doing both breasts each time.

Right the problem, if they are problems?

1. when ds is feeding from one side the other side leaks considerably to the point where my bra is soaked and so is the leg of his babygro. is this normal? Im thinking all the expressing has caused an over supply and I have far too much milk for him.

1. I feel really full and ds is nowhere near emptying my breast. It can be uncomfortable but Its not too bad yet.

1. As I'm using a shield as hes feeding or possibly when he unlatches the sheild leaks and I end up with the other side wet too. I have been placing a muslin under the breast hes feeding from though to help this but just wondered if this is normal?

so, what to do about it? Im thinking its an over supply issue. Should I express the other breast? He's still quite sleepy as hes still a little jaundice which doesnt help with my own gut feeling that I let him feed from both breasts for one feed. (The midwives told me one side per feed)

Thank you :) and sorry again its long!

BTW he was a term baby (37+1) weighing 7lb 6oz...

Bump

I don't know much about breastfeeding except for what I know from feeding my baby (DS is 8 months, still BF).
I recommend the Lansinoh pads in your bra day and night. I still leak from the other breast when feeding but these stop the mess.
Maybe you could express and freeze the milk if you are uncomfortable but leave it if you're not and wait for the supply to reduce and match demand?

And congratulations!

Hi, I'm no expert but it def sounds like oversupply, yourboobs make what baby needs. As you've been expressing every few hours (well done!!) your boobs think you have a tbrethree month old to feed probably!!

Only advice I can def give is leakage normal with nipple shields, and, buy breast pads as you haven't mentioned that.

I think also you can express the excess after a feed, and to relieve the dull feeling. My sister recommended a hot bath and a bit of self expressing into the bath water, just enough to be comfortable.
Also one side per feed is to do with the foremilk hind milk thing. If you switch before one side is empty or the baby is finished, the theory goes that they have only the foremilk from both sides and none of the good stuff. That's me reading the NHS advice. I don't seem to produce enough and end up emptying both sides each feed, and then using ff to top up.

full not dull. Doh.

Thank you :-)

I have got pads on but whilst I'm feeding him the other is leaking so much. Will have a chat with HV about it tomorrow but apart from that I'm not overly worried and hope my body will match his demand soon, which isn't a lot tbh.

I will leave expressing until I've asked HV. It would be handy now and again as I'd like dh to be Able to help out.

Hi there. I was in a similar situation to you. My ds was tube fed for 2 weeks & I expressed every 3 hours until I could start to bf. I had an oversupply & very leaky boobs. But it did settle itself over a few weeks while bf was establishing. My ds is 13 weeks now & I don't wear pads anymore. If you can cope with the full feeling and getting through lots of pads, I would try to wait it out & not express anymore. That might just stimulate more milk & increase supply.

Thank you. I'm new to this but my instinct was that I've told my body my breasts will be emptied every 3 hours which isn't the case as he's not emptying them!

Spoke to the mw today and she agrees that if I can cope with the discomfort (and leakiness which I've kinda mastered by putting a muslin down my bra the opposite side whilst ds is feeding!) then it will settle down.

Congratulations!

You can get breast shells which collect leaking milk, which I found really helpful in the early days when I leaked a lot. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_15?k=milk+collection+shells&sprefix=milk+collection

It's not necessarily oversupply at this early stage imo as your supply is just establishing but I'm no expert.

I also think that the advice to feed from one breast is outdated. I can't find the good link I've seen on this but basically you don't make two types of milk, it's a very gradual transition. And feeding from both sides won't mean your baby gets less fatty milk, it all evens out over the course of a day. Your baby may not want both anyway so it may not make much difference

How about calling one of the helplines who can give you personalised advice? They could also talk to you about getting your baby latched directly if you want to ditch the shields in time. www.thebabycafe.org/breastfeeding-help/2-helpline-numbers.html

Thank you glorious the shields are fine ATM as I tend to feed him at home. I've not ventured bf in public yet and figure it could be rather awkward!

My first thought was supply because of how much expressing I was doing. Ds is still a little jaundice and sleepy . I called my bf support lady earlier but had to leave a message.

Thankfully I'm not too concerned as its not painful just that uncomfortably full feeling.

Glad it's not too bad