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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

should i give up breast feeding?

61 replies

ghostspirit · 06/09/2015 16:48

my baby is 20 weeks i have fully breast fed him since birth. But he does not seem to be happy with what hes getting. its said that breast milk does not run out. but if i squeeze my breast at start of a feed milk will come out, he will feed for a while then he becomes frustrated i check again and i cant get any milk out at all.i move him to my other breast but thats not enough either. during the day hes on the breast pretting much all day. then when it gets to early evening he will sleep for about 4 hours then he wakes and takes a really good feed where hes feeding really fast and gulping...then from about 2.30/3am he wakes about every 45-1hr until about 6.30 am.

if i could find away of pruducing more breast milk so baby is happy then i would..

i bought bottles and formula today and i felt like crying.

weight wise hes on 25th centile. which hv seems ok about and im not worried.

i just need sleep. i have other children so cant sleep when he does.

i have tried expessing but i cant.

OP posts:

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 06/09/2015 16:49

Time to start weaning?

Original poster

ghostspirit · 06/09/2015 16:54

lunch forgot to say im already doing that

OP posts:

MamaLazarou · 06/09/2015 16:55

I think there are supplements you can take in order to increase milk production. Why don't you ring la Leche League or the NCT breastfeeding helpline for advice? Is there a drop-in centre or children's centre near you? Good luck, and please don't beat yourself up about switching to formula if you have to. X

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 06/09/2015 16:56

Oh right sorry! Increase the solids then the aim of weaning is to get them off the milk and eating regularly so increase what he's eating.

Offer water when he wakes

GloGirl · 06/09/2015 16:57

If you want to stop - do. Don't feel guilty.

If you'd like to carry on, you're very close to weaning soon and can feed lots of high fat calorific foods, lots of dairy products to support your breast milk.

You could try taking fenugreek and drinking milk to increase supply?

willthiseverbloodystop · 06/09/2015 16:59

i went through this. you've done bloody well 20 weeks is ages. The first month is what really matters and after that it's a sliding scale. So you'll be doing your little one no harm at all to stop now and probably a lot of good in having a more contented and full baby and a much happier mum. Please don't sweat it. In 6 months time you'll wonder why you worried about this (because you'll be worrying about something else). Seriously, breast feeding for 5 months is epic. It'll change your life giving it up - you'll feel so much better and that makes it easier to parent.

MamaLazarou · 06/09/2015 17:01

^ this, in spades.

GloGirl · 06/09/2015 17:01

What weaning are you doing? Lots of fruit and veg whilst great for flavour fill you up temporarily without giving him the rich milk that he needs at the moment to grow. Meaning he's feeding more and night.

Try and increase your daytime feeds. Feed before weaning meals. Try and encourage yoghurt, cheese, avocado that kind of thing.

Eminybob · 06/09/2015 17:07

lunch did you read the part of the OP where she said her baby is 20 weeks old?

I'm not going to get into a debate about early weaning, but at this age the aim is deco a not to get them off milk. Milk should be the main source of nutrition until 1 year old.

OP, if you feel you are not producing enough milk, perhaps consider topping up with formula? Otherwise, please don't feel that there is anything wrong with fully switching to formula at this stage. 20 weeks is fantastic. Do whatever it takes for a healthy baby.

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 06/09/2015 17:08

Yes I did. 5 months isn't early weaning

Eminybob · 06/09/2015 17:08

Sorry that should say definitely not

Thelushinthepub · 06/09/2015 17:11

The problem with weaning is the baby isn't likely to drop feeds for a while. Has your feeding always been like this or has it changed recently?

Eminybob · 06/09/2015 17:17

My point would still stand if the baby were 6 months old. The aim is not to get them off milk until 1.

Original poster

ghostspirit · 06/09/2015 17:20

lush its always been this way.

i do give him a small amout of solids. just a bit of mashed up carrot/sweet potatoe/ baby breakfast. just one small meal a day. but it does not make much difference at all.

i dont want to formula feed at all really

OP posts:

Thelushinthepub · 06/09/2015 17:21

Actually thinking more about it I wouldn't give up bf I'd just introduce a formula feed or two?

Shiningdew · 06/09/2015 17:21

I agree with Eminy

pointythings · 06/09/2015 17:24

There's no guarantee that formula will give you more sleep, or even that this is just about hunger. Your baby is at a point where there is a huge amount of development doing on - learning to sit up, grabbing their toes, awareness of the world around them - all those changes could be contributing to the lack of sleep alongside everything else. The first signs of teething may also be having an effect. This is a really tough period, which is why a lot of people wean (I did) and stop bf (I didn't).

But ultimately you need to do what is right for both of you. At this point there would be no issue with mix feeding, nipple confusion is unlikely. What you might get though is bottle refusal - formula tastes very different from bm.

FWIW I found my DDs got much, much better from 26 weeks onwards - until they were 8 months, when they started crawling, which is another tough time. Just go with your instincts.

GayByrne · 06/09/2015 17:25

Get thee to the doctors, ask for domperidone, and enjoy your massive milk filled hooters. 9 pills a day. Totally worth it.

CultureSucksDownWords · 06/09/2015 17:26

The amount you can hand express at the end of the feed is definitely not indicative of how much milk you've got. Some women can't express anything at all but can feed their babies with no issues.

Switch feeding as you've described is probably a good idea, as is trying to feed more in the day to try and reduce the night feeding. There's also no issue with giving a formula feed if you want to. It might be better to give one whole feed of formula at a specific time rather than "top up" after each feed. If you did an evening formula feed (can a DP/DH do it for you?) then you can at least rest even if you can't sleep.

Original poster

ghostspirit · 06/09/2015 17:29

gaybyrne
Domperidone is used to treat: nausea and vomiting. complaints of the stomach, which occur with delayed emptying of the stomach. This can result in symptoms such as feeling full (during or just after eating), bloating, belching, nausea, heartburn and stomach ache.....why would i want that

OP posts:

Shiningdew · 06/09/2015 17:33

It's a possible solution ghost - if it's not for you I am sure gaybyrne won't insist you do

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 06/09/2015 17:33

Even one bf a day still passes on those antibodies and other good things, so you certainly don't need to stop completely (unless you want to, if you do of course that's totally fine, but I don't think you do want to stop?)

As pps have said, feed more during the day to try to reduce the feeds at night. Always feed before offering solids. Would you think about maybe introducing one bottle, maybe in the evening?

Finally, honestly, what you can squeeze out of your breast bears no relation to the amount of milk in there. I couldn't express at all - even with a pump, you are talking one or two drops - but my supply was fine. If baby is growing, plenty nappies and tracking a centile fairly consistently, then it's all fine, honest.

Thelushinthepub · 06/09/2015 17:41

Whilst expressing is no indication of supply feeding all day And most of the night at 5months isn't normal.

I suspect you are producing enough milk- don't see you would've got to this stage if not- but something is going to on. Have you tried calling your hv or going to BFclinic?

drinkscabinet · 06/09/2015 17:44

I'd assume growth spurt or a developmental spurt that means he's too interested in the world around to want to spend too long feeding once his initial cravings are satisfied. Basically he's just snacking the whole time which is great for him but not so great for you. At this stage your breasts won't feel full in the way they do with a tiny baby so don't take it as a sign that you don't have enough milk, he's obviously growing well so you are feeding him enough, it's just his feeding pattern that is exhausting for you.

It's your choice what you do about this. If you don't want to FF then don't, things could be different again in a couple of weeks. If you think it might help introduce a single bottle and see if it makes a difference, you can easily mix feed now if that would suit you. But TBH there is no guarantee it will help.

Original poster

ghostspirit · 06/09/2015 17:50

lush this was what i was thinking to it does not seem right at 5 months. im feeding on demand practically all day. again its near impossible to get any house stuff done. i defo cant cook dinner. of course i have to find ways but its madness.

i really dont want to forumla feed. im to lazy to sterlize and i dont want to be taking bottles out

OP posts:

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