Formula top ups or more expressing?

[mininionsteve]

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.

[mininionsteve]

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

[dollydaydream84]

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!

[dollydaydream84]

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.

[captainproton]

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.

[captainproton]

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).

[mininionsteve]

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!

[DustOffYourHighestHopes]

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.

[Threesoundslikealot]

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?

[mininionsteve]

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.

[Threesoundslikealot]

I like Elton John as lactation aid!

[mininionsteve]

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

[Threesoundslikealot]

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

[mininionsteve]

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!?!

[Threesoundslikealot]

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