Can I convince DD2 back to breast?!!

[snowydrops]

DD2 is 3 wks old and is rejecting the breast in favour of expressed milk in bottle. We had to use a bottle a bit as she was (undiagnosed) tongue tie and ripped my nipples to shreds.

Expressing is ok but I'm struggling to keep up. She's only actually breastfed once today, I've tried at every feed and she gets very stressed, Wong latch and screams so we feed from the bottle.

Any tips for weaning her back on or do I just express now? If so how can I increase supply?

I know I have slow let down which I guess is annoying her. I've tried expressing a bit with the pump before to get it glowing but she's not interested!

Today ive managed to nurse her pretty much constantly from 7.30 - 11am (she slept for 2 x 30 mins during this) the rest of the time she was at the breast but not always nursing properly. Anyway she then screamed for a while until we've given her a bottle of expressed milk (she's now happy)

I have expressed both times during the 'break' and got 40ml each time so I know she's not emptying the breast. What the hell is happening?! It's driving me mad and making me so upset that I can't just feed her. I don't want to give up but I can't express nearly enough to keep up but she won't nurse / is completely unsatisfied by what she's getting. What's worse is that in the morning is usually when I have the most milk so I now know this afternoon she will be more unhappy.

I am starting to absolutely hate BF, it's just problem after problem and I can't give any attention to DD1 (3) as I've just been attached to baby or pump all morning.

Hop into bed lie her ontop of you tummy to tummy, skin to skin, no top on and she will eventually give a shot of bashing off your boob until she tries to latch. I had a very similar experience with DS. I had to use shields which helped with both issues latch and nipples but I would only recommend them if she does not latch without them. DS could latch without shields but the pain was huge.

There's no pain anymore and I know she can latch and get milk as it sometimes dribbles when she comes off but she gets bored. I think I have slow let down and when I express only see 2-3 'Jets' of milk from the nipple. She feeds for approx 60-90 mins (that's two breasts) and from a bottle she takes 5-10 mins to take 110ml!!! I basically think she can't be bothered to sit at the breast which I totally understand but it's so frustrating that I now can't even express enough to satisfy. I'll try skin to skin again today and maybes bath and see if that at least stimulates my supply if nothing else.

The 2 to 3 jets expressing was normal for me. It may be that she is not actively feeding for 90 minutes. Look up active feeding on Dr Jack Newman or Kellymom. There is proper swallowing going on at all times. She may be enjoying comfort sucking which though unproductive has its own benefits. We got dS back on at this stage and continued for 2.5 years so it was worth pursuing. My other 2 did not make it through this stage because I got so frustrated trying to figure it all out.

Not unproductive rather less productive

www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=videos

Dr Jack

Thanks for that link it's really useful!

Have you done anything about the tongue-tie?

I was about to come and have a self-pitying rant about the length of time DS with TT takes to feed ( I may still do this!!) and we've been having similar problems. I would second the advice about skin-to-skin and spending time in bed with him. This seems to help with DS.

I'm impressed with you keeping up the expressing and BF only. I've also been giving formula to keep his weight up.

When she gets 'bored' could you try switching sides? It can make it easier for the baby to get another let down. You can switch sides multiple times (it's also good for your supply). Another thing you might want to look into is breast compressions.

Yes the tongue tie has been snipped about 10 days ago.

We swap sides a lot (probably every 5 or so mins) It's the only way I can keep her interested / awake really and I am doing the compressions.

I think she's basically a big eater! Just had a successful afternoon feed (45 mins or so) I think she wanted more but dropped to sleep so hopefully when she goes back on there will be some more!

It is also possible that you are slap bang in the middle of a growth spurt and in 2 days this will have assed.

Gah assed clearly I meant passed.

Yes I had thought that about growth spurt...really hoping its that! She's being weighed on Thursday so I'll know then at least