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

1 2

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

Infant feeding

Formula top ups or more expressing?

39 replies

mininionsteve · 20/07/2016 21:04

My nearly 3 week old has not wanted to stop feeding today. We struggled with getting him to stay on when bf he spent his first couple of days in special care. I have been ebm for the past week as both of us were getting way to stressed out trying to get a decent feed and for him to put on weight.

Now it's so hot he doesn't seem to want to want to stop feeding, I pump every 2-3 hours but I'm just not making enough to satisfy him. Am I right to top him up with formula? Am I on the slippery slope to drying up? I really want to go as long as possible ebm even tho it's hard. Just need some advice.

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Threesoundslikealot · 28/07/2016 09:51

Go, baby!!! I am so pleased for you.

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mininionsteve · 28/07/2016 09:28

He just managed the whole of the bitch is back. Put him to sleep mind. I should add to the Elton john snippet that it is only Elton live in Las Vegas that he responds to!?!

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Threesoundslikealot · 28/07/2016 02:29

Yay! A great start. Some babies will never ever latch on, and you don't have one of those.

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mininionsteve · 27/07/2016 18:13

We managed 5 whole minutes of bona fide breast feeding. Then a complete meltdown. But it's progress!

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Threesoundslikealot · 27/07/2016 14:36

I like Elton John as lactation aid!

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mininionsteve · 27/07/2016 14:07

We had some success with a shield and Elton john in the background in the early days. But we only ever had 2 out of 8 feeds that had any resemblance of successful. Will give that another go as well.

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Threesoundslikealot · 27/07/2016 11:38

Not everyone leaks so that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Your milk is in and there is obviously let down as you are able to pump.

Have you tried a nipple shield, if your son will try sucking when you're clothed?

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DustOffYourHighestHopes · 27/07/2016 10:43

I topped up with formula. Yes, it can affect supply (but doesn't always).

But frankly neither my babies nor I were enjoying it at the end - so much struggle and heartache and crying and hunger.

Whatever you do, be at peace with your decision.

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mininionsteve · 27/07/2016 10:40

Weirdly 4pm seems to be my best milk making time. I would love to feed him while pumping the other side but he now freaks out at the sight of a bare Breast. Will suck at it if it's clothed though! I've noticed that I don't leak at all, so does that mean the let down reflex hasn't occurred? It seems the pressure just gets too much for both of us and we both get in a state. I'm going to try offering if he is asking for it and go from there rather than forcing the issues it's not a " give it 48hours and we'll come and see how your getting on" kind of thing with this boy!

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captainproton · 27/07/2016 03:24

You may also find this ungodly hour is better for yielding more milk than say the evening time. One of nature's cruel twists. (Not so good for my spelling, grammar or punctuation).

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captainproton · 27/07/2016 03:21

OP do you have a children's centre you can contact. They should know where you can get some support. If you came to my support group and be in contact with our infant feeding specialist. I would be keen to try and get your little one to learn how to relatch and also to up your supply.

For instance you can get a prescription for domperidone from the GP to up your supply but it's not something they do all the time.

EBF is very very hard and is not really recommended in a baby under 6 weeks as mums need to get an established supply. So I would definitely seek out local support. Badger the HV team I can't believe they fobbed you off!

But at the end of the day though it's important your baby gets enough to eat? If there becomes an issue with dehydration or poor weight gain please don't beat yourself up about using formula. It isn't the devil's milk, my eldest was combi fed, and we even got back on to BF with the help of domperidone and proper support.

Also do you think you could somehow let baby try to nurse on one breast whilst you pump from the other? There maybe enough stimulation to help promote milk production and also this may aid lent down on the breast you are pumping to help drain it.

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dollydaydream84 · 27/07/2016 03:01

My Dd had 3-5oz at 3 weeks and now has 4-5 at 5 weeks. Power pumping replicates cluster feeding and can't damage you, only help your milk supply.

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dollydaydream84 · 26/07/2016 22:57

You are doing amazingly! Expressing is exhausting! I think to up supply you can pump more often even if you get nothing more in the next day or two don't be disheartened but the boob knows you want more so will start to produce more so you should get more. That said...I'll reiterate expressing is exhausting!

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mininionsteve · 26/07/2016 22:42

Il give them a call. Thankyou all for the support. Just the your doing alright is really making a difference. Thankyou.

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Threesoundslikealot · 26/07/2016 22:16

Just read your second post and I'm horrified that your HV offered you so little help. Horrified.

I never exclusively pumped so I can't answer some of your questions but certainly Power Pumping is a thing, and will not damage your breasts.

We all respond differently to pumps so if you feel your TT is working for you, don't feel you're doing it wrong.

Great advice here and here in the meantime, but please call LLL.

kellymom.com/mother2mother/exclusive-pumping/

www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-WBD - don't let this one make you feel pressured but it points you in the direction of other advice.

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Threesoundslikealot · 26/07/2016 22:06

Big hugs from me too. You are NOT stupid. Research suggests that women who want to breastfeed but can't are more likely to get PND because it is such an emotive subject.

If pumping is bearable and getting to six weeks (or who knows, beyond?) will help you feel that you achieved what you wanted, then absolutely do that. The LLL advise on all parts of breastfeeding and will certainly be able to offer advice on expressing.

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mininionsteve · 26/07/2016 22:05

I'm using the Tommy tippee pump. I hired a Medela symphony but within 24 hours my milk started dropping and it panicked me so went back to the old faithful. It's not ideal, it won't last but it's doing the job.

Questions I would like answers to:

If the baby wants to feed hourly do I pump hourly as well? Or do I stick to every 3 hours?

Is the power pumping thing I read about on a Pinterest an actual thing or will I damage my breasts.

How much should I be feeding the baby? He currently has 4oz per feed,

He was undiagnosed breech and had done a meconium poo in utero. was happy with the decision to get him out while he was happy and knowing now how he ended up so poorly I'm glad we did. You just mentally prepare for giving birth and I don't feel like I did rather than just lie back and think of England. I think that's why I've become stuck on breast feeding and now expressing. Just got to work through it and keep on swimming.

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dollydaydream84 · 26/07/2016 21:43

You are not an idiot! It's easy to feel as though your body's failing you etc etc but it's not. Breastfeeding is bloody bloody hard work for most people! Can I help you with expressing queries? I've been mixed expressing and breastfeeding for 5 weeks due to tongue tie x

Ps if babs was born by surprise and you feel guilty about him being poorly (you shouldn't by the way!) it might help to talk through your birth with supervisor of midwives at your hospital. I wish I had done that with my first Dd who was born by EMCS as I had so many questions which were only answered when I was pregnant with Dd2.

Big hugs sounds like you are doing amazing x which pump have you got x

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mininionsteve · 26/07/2016 21:24

Just an update. The boy is just not interested in breast feeding. He never was and that's fine. I don't need the pressure and he doesn't need the stress. I'm going to lee pumping and get him to 6 weeks. I don't know why I have that goal. I guess where he was born by complete surprise c section and then taken away poorly that night I feel guilty and just really wanted to do something my body was built for. I know that's stupid. There's nowt wrong with formula and we will move on to it. Just not ready to let it go. Guess I'm just a bit of an idiot. Would la leche be able to help with expressing? Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

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Threesoundslikealot · 26/07/2016 20:15

It breaks my heart that you're not getting more support. Did you try the La Leche League? Not that I think you need to keep doing something that is making you miserable but you need to feel that your decision was made for the right reasons.

Brilliant on birth weight! Something is going right.

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mininionsteve · 25/07/2016 22:57

Thanks ispy saw the health visitor today for a weigh in. Ds is past birth weight now. Left in tears though because I asked for advice on breast feeding again and felt like I was an idiot to have given up and that it was super easy. Now going to spend 48 hours trying to get it going if that's doesn't happen I guess we have an answer. No idea what to do for the best anymore!

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ispymincepie · 25/07/2016 15:12

I am exclusively pumping for dc4, 11wks who has never successfully latched. In the beginning I could get nowhere near enough to meet his demand and he was largely on formula while I worked in my supply. If that's the path you want to go down I'd suggest tiger milk, fenugreek and domperidone, as within a week I was able to catch him up and now even have a slight over supply. However, it is very hard and I totally relate to wishing we could just be like a normal mum and baby. I'm also south coast if you'd like any peer support just drop me a message

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mininionsteve · 21/07/2016 09:20

Thank you everyone. 29red you are right I was happy with the decision to pump exclusively and I don't really have a problem with topping up with formula. Just feel like I've broken in the last 24 hours. During the 4am pump nothing can't out of my right breast which having switched to a hospital pump it seems to have dwindled. Went back to my basic Tommy tippee and got better results. It just gets too much and not knowing wether to battle on or just quit completely, just end up feeling like a failure even though I know that's silly and there's no problem with just formula. Probably just tired and emotional. Thankyou all for listening and the advice, will give it all a look at properly once ds has gone back to sleep.

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mininionsteve · 21/07/2016 08:54

I'm on the south coast. I don't have any spare cash to afford a professional to come out. Wish we did. Hopefully nct can suggest something.

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Threesoundslikealot · 21/07/2016 08:39

Again I absolutely agree that formula is not the end of the world. But it's best to use it as a positive decision if possible. Women who want to breastfeed and then don't, for whatever reason, can really struggle. The best thing if possible is to have professional support in making the decision, and as I've said, any good breastfeeding specialist will help you make that decision. They wouldn't try to persuade you to continue if they could see it wasn't doing you any good. Bad breastfeeding support, which too many women have as their only experience, in post natal wards, can be like that, but a professional shouldn't be.