*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*Gingeme*\/*\/*\/*\/*\/*

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Hi, Hi,

I didnt want to hijack the bottlefeeding support thread. I noticed your question about how to implement bottlefeeding either one feed at a time or cold turkey.

I think I read that your DS was 3 weeks? From that question, I am wondering if you are b/feeding on demand? This is what is needed to build up your supply to ensure weight gain in a baby. A baby normally loses weight the days following its birth, and at around 14 days is back to its birthweight again. In breastfed babies this often takes a little longer due to the requirement to build up supply. This is completely natural. Although it is right that you and your HV/MW keep a close eye on this.

I'm not out to change your mind if your choice is to bottlefeed then that is great. But if you are choosing to bottlefeed because you think you aren't capable - well that may well not be true. So, I hope you dont think that I am not treading on your toes as such.

I think easiest for you, if you are going to bottle feed is to add one bottlefeed in at a time and express milk yourself at that feed. Do this for a couple of days and introduce another one, but still express. The reason I say this is that you may change your mind in a week or two about bottlefeeding and the expressing will make it so that you can change back more easily. (This has happened before to a few MNers and, even without expressing they have succesfully relactated anyway). If in a couple of weeks you and your baby are comfortable with the bottle you can stop expressing with every bottle feed and slowly withdraw from it - then your boobs wont get sore.

I have also noted the thing about sterilising - if you have already got a steriliser then its a moot point, however, it has been put forward by microbiologists that there is no need to sterilise bottles/teats etc. You only need to wash in hot soapy water (or in the dishwasher if you have one) and then leave to air dry. This is completely safe. This is what is done for bottlefed babies in Neonatal units apparently. Please do google though if you would like reassurance.

Anyway, I hope it goes well for you.

well done you!

If you really want to breastfeed then yes, perservere. Feed on demand etc.

NQC, it is right that b/fed babies gain slower at first (because it can take up to 5 days for milk to come in, so they get colustrum up till then), whereas bottlefed babies get more in quantity at first. But then b/fed babies catch up and often take over? Im not sure if I have remembered it 100% correctly.

He he thanks vvv. I think I gave up much too early on them as far as bf goes. Still the older 2 werent bought up with mumsnet. My 3rd one had to be bottle fed cause I had appendicitis and my body didnt produce enough milk cause of the infection. But they all did perfectly alright on it.
So when do I stop having to wear a bra to bed hate it.....

Dont be sad! You did what you felt was best. Not alot you can do about having appendicitis, is there?

As for bra's in bed, I am still wearing a sleep bra, to secure breast pads to, because DS at 19mths is still b/feeding - on waking in the morning and before he goes to bed, but I always leaked a bit more than most! I think he is finally starting to become disinterested in it though. But basically, I dont really notice anymore. In fact it will feel strange when I dont have to wear one I think.

I have heard varied things about that VVQV - I've heard that some BF babies put on much faster at first, and then slow down. BF babies do tend to be lighter than bottlefed, long term.

It's really good that you're trying out a different way to do things. You've done your best by each bab, with the knowledge and tools you had at the time - nobody can do any better!

I kept wearing bras in bed for ages, but I wore those bravado ones, which are very soft and not constricting at all. (I'm not large-norked, though, which probably helped ...)

I use the mothercare sleep nursing bras. Same ones I used when DD was born....

I know that my DD and DS were both Whoppers!

DD was 9lb 13oz and DS was 8lb 12oz. DD didnt lose any weight and DS did a bit but was back to birthweight at 10 days.

DD was 99th centile for 12 months and DS 75th.

Both are now exactly centre - DD slightly under actually.

Thankyou ladies for the re asurance. Im off to collect ds3 from nursery now but I will pop back soon. Thanks for thinking of me. I shall persevere a bit longer with the bf and see how it goes xx

Hi its me again. lo sleeping and ds3 in bed so thought Id pop back. VVV you say you still wear a bra to bed. I realise thats a good idea at the mo for me because of breast pads but do you stop leaking when a routine is established with the bf and no more night feeds etc or will I be wearing a bra forever? You know when some days you just want to take it all off and let it all hang out

Most people stop leaking after a couple of months. I've only really stopped leaking the last 2 months really. Although in the morning, I still leak on one side whilst DS feeds on the other. Which is why i still wear the sleep bra. I am unusual though, i think.

VVV is indeed unusual, in more ways than her leaky norks

Gingeme, I stopped wearing breastpads with both DSs when they were about 4mo. DS2 is 9mo and I don't bfeed all day on a Tuesday and a Thursday, nor do I express in that time (from morning to bedtime feed), because I'm at work and I can't be arsed, and I don't leak then either.

I have no qualms about how much milk I produce either - buckets of the stuff. But I can't go braless because I am too hefty of nork to think of it (though I do in bed).

I kept wearing pads, and a bra in bed, with my first DS for months. But I found I stopped leaking really fast with my second (despite having a much better supply). So it varies a lot.

He he sneakymouse at 'norks'. Oh right. Think Ill have to invest in a couple of night time ones then. Can you recomend good nursing bras? I got some from Marks and Spencer last week with some vouchers Id won and they are so uncomfortable. Glad I didnt actualy pay for them. I have 3 others which I got from Matalan and though comfortable not very supportive. In fact 2 of them are quite soft so it looks like Ive got TB(Tits on the belly!)

I think it depends on your size and shape. I found Emma ones ok (available at John Lewis), and I liked the Bravado ones for nighttime. But I'm not very norktastic.

I don't know if Bravissimo (that's their name, right?) do nursing bras ...

[waves to Gingeme] I'd have "expected" (quotation marks to indicate foolishness of being too certain of anything where babies are concerned) a breastfed three-week-old to be feeding more like every two hours than every four hours during the day, to be honest. Part of the reason is that you need to build up your supply and the frequent feeding helps to do that. A bit later on, when your supply is stabilised, you don't need to feed any more often than you would with formula (given that you're going for a routine), but in the early weeks your body needs that kick-start.

Yeah alot of people have said the Emma ones. Im quite big though so Im going to need some good support. Where would I get the Bravado ones? I think there is a John Lewis near where my Mothercare is Ill have a look on Saturday.

(Waves back to lemonaid) Ok thanks. Hes asleep at the mo cause we just been on a bit of a treck to the shops so the cold air has worn him out! But Ill wake him soon and change his bum and give him a feed as his last feed was about 11ish.

If you're big, Bravado might not suit. They're just a big elastic bit around your ribs, and two triangles of fabric. Definately an only-at-night option for you, I think, if at all.

I know mothercare do some bf bras, but I don't know what they're like.

I think John Lewis is a good place to start ...

Right will try there then though you would have thought Mothervare would be the best place wouldnt you? That used to be one of the few shops you could get bf bras now theyre everywhere!!!!Theyll be selling them at Anne Summers next

I think lo heard me hes woken now and is searching for some grub. Dont they look like little chics when they do the open mouth searching bit? Ill be off then to get this little guy up to a porker by Christmas[smile[. Bye for now. xx

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn

I knew that there was a good use for nipple tassles millie

Well, as far as my leaky norks are concerned, I can only say that I'm obviously bursting with goodness

I've always used Mothercare bras - they are 'adequate'.

Ditto VVV re Mothercare bras.

Have 38-J norks whilst bfing and found ebay good also, partic US suppliers (see other thread re big norks and bfing!).

Hi Im back. Have fed lo twice since last being on here and feel much more relaxed about it now. Hes happily sleeping in his chair now. Ill try to find the Emma ones if not Ill look at Mothercare. Im currently 40 DD which my dh thinks is brill. Shame hes not going anywhere near them for a fare while though eh? The woman in M&S measured me sort of last week and recomended 40D and they kill! They end up on my shoulder blades by the end of the day too. Useless woman. Might get measured in Mothercare.