Dissapointing Flow

[shadack]

Is there any way i can up my flow?

My DD is 8 weeks and to begin with i only used formula for 2 feeds a day as my flow has never been great but was coping well i started expressing using a hand pump which worked well for me.

I then started to use an electric pump which i get on with really well and managed to get down to only one formula feed, then DD suddenly upped her feeds but i managed over a few days to keep up again.

Then i was put on a restricted diet

I'm currently still on it and have been for over a month (I'm awaiting surgery for Gall bladder removal next month) since then my flow is rubbish i manage about 2oz from each side over the coarse of the day pumping for anything up to 4 hours (DD has 5oz a feed)

I'm desperate to keep going with EBF i don't mind having to top up with formula as i don't think i will ever keep up with my gutsy DD but really don't want to rely on it as heavily as i am right now

Is there anything i can take/do/eat/drink to help that wont break the bank?
Can't eat or drink
Dairy
Meat (Fish is ok)
Oils
Fats

Big unhealthy BBQ planned for after my surgery :)

Are you exclusively expressing?

No DD will BF once or twice a day as well and latches fine but its never enough for her and i end up topping up with formula as she screams the flat down as shes still really hungry

Hi shadack, sounds like you are working really hard to cope with a tricky situation. The diet sounds tough, here's some virtual for you as you can't have the real thing. Bet you are looking forward to that BBQ

I'm no expert, and you may have already tried this (apologies if that's the case) but I think breastfeeding directly might increase your supply more effectively than expressing. I expressed for my DS for about 8 weeks (because he wasn't feeding efficiently and wasn't gaining weight). I had to use formula for half the feeds because I couldn't express enough. However as he got bigger, stronger and more efficient we managed to get back to direct breastfeeding and now I only give one formula top up a day -- my supply seems to have increased quickly because the baby is more efficient at getting milk than the pump. Basically, once he was feeding directly, my supply shot up! I'm not saying you should drop the formula top ups, or stop expressing but perhaps if you could try to BF a few more times a day too it might help?

But as I say, I'm no expert, this is just my personal experience and might not apply to you. Can you get some real life advice from peer supporters, local infant feeding advisers or one of the breastfeeding helplines? Also have you spoken with your doctor/consultant about what impact (if any) your restricted diet is likely to have on breastfeeding?

She's at a growth spurt stage, and she could be needing to breastfeed more to increase your supply herself. It's a tough thing, having to juggle a hungry baby and increase supply, but the more she feeds, the more your supply will respond. Expressing is no real indicator of your supply - I have a tank of a baby, but somedays I can barely express anything. I find expressing first thing to be most effective.

I hope you can get as much energy as possible from your diet, it's not really about what you eat, but that you have the energy to do it! I really second the idea about talking to a breastfeeding expert - they may have a better idea about recommendations for you.

KateTheShrew and Callamia thank you I'll give the direct feeding a go, put her on me on every feed then top up if shes still hungry afterwards

Its the first time I've ever done this so haven't a clue so all advice is really appreciated, few people on either side of the family have kids as I'm one of the oldest

Sounds like a good idea. Good luck.

What helped increase my supply with my mixed fed ds was to use a supplemental nursing system to deliver the top-up formula. An infant feeding tube from a bottle if formula in the corner of his mouth as he's on the breast, like a straw.

Good luck with the surgery. Had my gall bladder removed a few years ago. Can't say I miss it.

I would have thought it would be better to offer breast before the formula as your baby will almost certainly not be hungry after the bottle!