Advised to top up with formula.

[Mrspopper]

Baby is 8 days.
Was 9lb 7. Has lost 12%
Had tongue tie snipped on Saturday. Have noticed an improvement in her feeding. Wet/dirt nappies.
Has slight jaundice.
Am feeding every three hours, maybe more, pumping (not getting much out)midwives want me to top up every feed with formula but I think this will massively interfere with supply. I mixed fed my first baby from birth but hoped to EBF for a while this time.
Any advice gratefully received, feel a bit down and stressed. Have direct day in bed doing skin to skin and lots of feeding.

Still hard to see what might be going on here. 30 to 40 mls at every feed is a lot for a newborn. The weights are still not clear - 10g difference is very hard to be sure about as scales may not be accurate to that level. Without interim weights we can't be sure in what direction her weight is going ( one reason I think all babies should be weighed on day 3 to 4. It's daft getting to day six or later and then hitting the panic button).

What colour are her poos? When did they change colour?

After her weighing today would it be possible to get a review from a BF midwife or equivalent?

Hope you get good news today!

Poos are yellow. Changed to that from meconium. Yes I think I would like further advice if today doesn't go well. It seems detrimental to Brest feeding to top up every feed with so much formula but that is the standard advice.

Lost more weight is back off to hospital.

So sorry to hear that, Mrs. I had to do that twice with DS and once with DD. It's shit, and upsetting, and demoralising.

My advice to you now - for what it's worth - would be to feed your baby and start getting milk into them. If that's formula then it's formula. You can get back to ebf later, lots of people do. It's very possible!

Thanks running good to hear something positive xx

Seconded, I have supported many mums to get back to full bfing when formula had been necessary for some reason. Insist on seeing someone knowledgeable about bf if you can. Best wishes.

I had a similar situation with my DD. She lost 15%. We were advised to top up. I did until her weight was on the way up again (probably about 5 days?) then return to exclusively breastfeeding until she was around 6 months. (She wasn't actually latching properly although everyone seemed to think she was - I used nipple shields which seemed to solve the problem. I used them for a couple of months, by which time she'd got the hang of it).

Good luck!

Interesting to hear. How would I go about going back to exclusive breast feeding after she had gained?
I pumped when I got here, 30 ml so that's not enough for such a big baby, so I think the plan is top up every feed with 30ml formula. I'm worried she's going to refuse the breast or my supply is going to be screwed. Can I help keep/increase supply by pumping after each feed while she is having the formula? Sorry just feeling bit lost!

Yes you can. You can also avoid nipple confusion by giving top ups by cup, if you decide to use bottles look up paced bottle feeding and wait for the wide gape to keep her in good habits. Also keep going with skin to skin when you can. Offer the breast a lot, any time she stirs, and don't be afraid to switch back and forth so she gets 3 or 4 ' sides ' if she's wanting to cluster feed. Also breast sandwich where you offer boob again after top up. Is she weeing, pooing and alert?

Once she's gaining you can gradually cut down on top ups, dropping one every few days to allow your supply to catch up. Often mums drop the morning one first because that's when they feel 'fullest '.if you can find a group to go to they'll support you through it.

One day at a time though. Hopefully she will be gaining soon.

Pumping after every feed will help your supply, bust the best thing is to have her on the breast as much as possible. I know you said you LLL only meet ones a month but their helpline is 24/7 and if you contact your meet often the leader will be happy to come see you at home/the hospital

I can't advise if you should /shouldn't top up as obv I can't see you/your baby but what I would say is often he Drs/midwives get obsessed with the picture now and go for a gaining weight as quickly as possible at all costs approach. If you want to BF you may need to be very clear about this with every one you come across

Both my 2 dd lost over 10% body weight despite no problems with the latch. I topped up with formula on midwife and paediatrician advice. I carried on with mixed feeding for months. The most important thing to me was that dd was thriving. I don't think it matters that I didn't exclusively breastfeed.

It might not matter to you Xmas but it did to me and it clearly does to the op.

Weight gain is only one part of the whole picture.

I also had big babies - 9 15 and 8 9. I just didn't have enough milk and despite a lot of advice and help, nothing worked to increase my milk supply. It worked for me doing mixed feeding - the only problem is nobody has knowledge about it!

From speaking to women of my mum's generation, mixed feeding used to be a lot more common. Certainly both DH and I were mix fed. Perhaps there was less pressure on women in the 70s/80s and breastfeeding wasn't seen as "all or nothing"? I don't know.

But OP - yes, pumping is the way to increase your supply. I did it by hiring a hospital grade double pump and pumping every 3 hours, including through the night. So I'd bf first, too up with formula/ebf if I had it, then express, then wash/sterilise, then almost 3 hours would be up and the process would start again. It was bloody exhausting. Hence why I only managed it with DC1, I think.

When DC2 had the same feeding issues, I tried my best to express as I had with her big brother, but it didn't work. I wonder if it's because I was simply too exhausted with such a ridiculously tough feeding regime, a newborn and a toddler. Hence why DD is now ff.

Do cut yourself some slack, OP. Ultimately, the most important thing is that your baby is fed, and you're healthy and sane. Breastmilk, formula, a bit of both - all are good, nutritious ways to feed babies.

Been sent home.
Have it give 60ml of formula or expressed milk every three hours. I am then allowed to put her to the breast but not before, that's what's upset me going against all my instincts. She will be weighed again Friday if she has gained 40/50g I am allowed to offer the breast first.
We were only allowed to come home if I promised to follow the advice if not it could be seen as neglect?!
I'm making OH do the bottle feeds then I'll give skin to skin and offer breast afterward.
Horrible horrible horrible. But at least homeward bound.

Oh Mrs that's tough. Poor you, glad you are heading home though. Who did the plan come from? Have you seen anyone who's a specialist in bf? I would try to get hold of someone if you can, most places have a specialist mw or infant feeding coordinator.

You can offer the top up each three hours, but there's nothing to stop you doing what you like in between. Keep her skin to skin when you can. How are the nappies and does she wake for feeds?

Op if you seriously want to BF please call the LLL helpline. If your not fussed it's fine but giving the formula first is going to affect your milk supply. Was it a dr or a BF specialist who gave you that advice? In fact if you'd like to pm me I'll put you in direct contact with my fabulous LLL leader

Sorry to hear that you're having such a tough time. I know how difficult it is when you just want to breast feed them, but they're loosing weight .

To answer your question about going back to ebf, I simply phased out the bottles gradually and my milk supply adjusted. I would talk to a breast feeding counsellor if you can. Good luck (and don't forget to enjoy your LO and the newborn snuggles - it can be easy to get so caught up in the worry that you don't pause to just enjoy her)

Thank you. Good advice to enjoy her as I'm getting swept up in the stress x

How are you doing OP? Been wondering about you. The weight gain battles with my DC have been some of the darkest times I've had as a mother. I need to get my DS weighed this week and am dreading it, even though he's visibly fattening up. The pressure makes you doubt everything you are doing.

Hi OP
Hope you and the newborn are doing ok after the weekend and she is fattening up a little. The main thing is that she doesn't become unwell and that you and your family can enjoy time together with her as a newborn, and not spend 100% of your time in stressed anxious mode.
I had all the same issues with both my girls. In the end both of them were mix fed from birth though the amounts varied from time to time. In the end both of them rejected bottles at the point they were weaning onto food which created a whole new level of stress just when I was going back to work !! They are 3&5 now and I am so cross with myself that I allowed myself to become so anxious about achieving ebf perfection. It totally ruined both maternity leaves and the early weeks with my children.

Do what works for you and your family and be happy.

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