problem with breastfeeding

[newmumireland]

Hello I have been breastfeeding my baby for the first seven weeks. All was going fine until last week she became unsettled and was not feeding very well. I had given her the odd bottle and this may have contributed to it . As a result she lost 3 ounces and the health visitor advised me to express and feed her with a bottle. As I couldn't express enough I also supplemented with formula. As a result I am no longer able to get her to breastfeed. Her weight is now back up and I want her to go back onto the breast. She now will not feed from me and fusses after a few minutes. I would like some advice as to how to get her back to a routine. Thanks a new mum

Really don't want to give her another bottle as I really want to feed her but I'm really stuck in a rut here need advice quick!

Have you got a breastfeeding clinic local to you? These groups are worth their weight in gold to go and have an actual face to face conversation about these things. Also, the [http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/back-to-breast/ Kellymom]] website is worth a look.

Oh ffs. I'll try that again. Kellymom

I am not trained in bf advice but having heard others at a bf group with similar problems the advice is usually do as much skin to skin as possible and keep offering the breast. Bottles are easy work for babies as they don't have to suck like they do at the breast. Try to resist giving a bottle if you can. I hope things get back on track soon.

The support groups isn't for a week I don't want to give anymore bottles but now when I give her the breast she gets herself into such a state she can't feed!

Maybe try hand expressing a little onto the nipple before trying to get baby to latch, it will help make the association with breast and milk again.
Also agree with what PP said about going to a local bf clinic, RL advice and support can make a massive difference.

I've been trying that it's not working!

Will she drink from a cup? Or another alternative method
kellymom lists some here

We ended up mix feeding with an alternative method that suited us. Top-ups don't have to mean bottles.

I really want to breastfeed her! So think I'm just gonna have to bite through the crying.. has anyone been through this already?

No experience, but La Leche League, breastfeeding network and I think some others have help lines. Also try your health visitor and midwife unit to find a lactation specialist.

In my area, breastfeeding groups are held at children's centres and are spread out so there's one every day of the week. You might need to travel, but worth looking to find out if there's one tomorrow a bit further away?

0300 330 0771 (8am - 10pm, 7 days a week)

NCT helpline

La Leche League Great Britain www.laleche.org.uk 0845 120 2918 (24 hour line)

Breastfeeding Networks Supporterline 0844 412 4664 (9.30am - 9.30pm)

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers 0844 412 2949 (9.30am - 10.30pm)

National Breastfeeding Helpline 0844 20 909 20

[copied from the NCT website. I'll keep looking but I think that's the main ones]

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/breastfeeding-help-support.aspx#close

NHS support

www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk

babymoon. Take your baby to bed for a few days.

Use a pump to get your letdown. 3 short pumps and then a pause like babies do so she doesn't have to work to let down her feed.

You do get unsettled periods.. they have growth spurts which means lots of feeding and unsettled times.. or even something you had eaten (mine was oranges in the early days)

It doesn't mean that you don't have enough milk. This is one of the reasons I wouldn't go to those bloody clinics for weighing.

Lots of wet/dirty nappies.. a good alert time during the day and they really aren't needed these clinics.