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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Relactation. Help and advice needed.

106 replies

Haribosmum · 21/02/2007 19:30

When I was pregnant with DS2 I was determined to b/f for at least 6 months. Things started off well but at 2 weeks he started to refuse breastmilk (off the breast and expressed in a bottle). My Health visitor at the time was not very helpful and just told me to put him on formula which i reluctantly did. However I have just moved house and got a new Health Visitor who has been VERY supportive of me trying to re-establish b/f. (Buy this time I was feeling very guilty about giving up and felt I had let ds2 down and still I do - I'm really depressed about it). I still have a little milk but not enough it seems for my son to want to latch on for any period of time. I also have 2 Medela Mini-Electric pumps (don't ask!) but they are not powerful enough to express what is there and so my milk supply is not increasing at all after 2 weeks. I have decided to rent an Medela Symphony pump and see if that works any better but I was just wondering if anyone else has been through this and had any advice? Thanks.

OP posts:

yellowrose · 24/02/2007 18:01

It's ok I have boobs too, not a perv lurking on a bf thread talking about boob shaped pompoms

haribo - go girl !!!!

Olihan · 24/02/2007 18:01

I'm watching your progress in awe, Haribo, you sound like you're doing fantasically.

yellowrose · 24/02/2007 18:03

Excellent photos califrau ! Love the dress, I used to live in Vienna many years ago, my mum had a beautiful dark green one !

Original poster

Haribosmum · 25/02/2007 16:41

The Domperidone has officially kicked in! Expressed 0.5oz. I know it's not a huge amount but both boobs were squirting. Now ds2 has decided he doesn't want to latch on though! I told him 'you WILL breastfeed'! The amount of bloody trouble I'm going through! I'll speak to my HV tomorrow. She's really helpful.

OP posts:

determination · 25/02/2007 17:54

Great news Haribo,

Are you eating the oats as well? They definately work too..

yellowrose · 25/02/2007 18:01

Determination - do you have shares in Quaker Oats ???? (just kidding !!)

Podmog · 25/02/2007 18:09

Message withdrawn

determination · 25/02/2007 18:19

Personally, i just used tescos own brand!

From experience i went from supplementing with formula after 4th spout of Mastitis - as breast was badly affected - to donating 50 - 70oz per week to local SCBU "just because of OATS!" and loads of breast stimulation of course.

I keep going ON AND ON AND ON AND ON about oats because most mums are unaware of them being a galactagogue and of the ptential they have of increasing supply VERY quickly.

yellowrose · 25/02/2007 18:26

I know determination, I was just pulling your leg. In fact I thnk I am going to start eating porridge every morning again. Dh is eating loads of oats as it reduces colestrol, so it is a great all round health food

shonaspurtle · 25/02/2007 18:28

Determination - I think your enthusiasm for sharing your good experiences is fantastic btw.

Original poster

Haribosmum · 25/02/2007 21:18

No I haven't tried oats yet. Got to say I'm not a huge fan. Then again I'm not a huge fan of brekkie fullstop. But I'm tempted to try them.

I didn't know you could donate milk to scbu. What a fabulous idea. If I ever get to produce that much milk again I might just enquire about it. Suprised some idiot hasn't compained about it giving the babies bugs though. Can't do anything these days without it being bad for someone....not saying bm is full of bugs, just you know what some people are like.

OP posts:

yellowrose · 25/02/2007 22:05

haribo - i wish i had known about donating milk too when ds was a baby - now it's too late - he is a toddler and i produce very little

I think they only allow donations from mums with babies under 6 months old. Mature milk is no good to a prem. baby.

DO donate what a great help to sick babies

tiktok · 25/02/2007 23:08

Haribo, donated milk is always pasteurised. There is no risk of passing on anything

shonaspurtle · 25/02/2007 23:25

About milk banking if anyone wants more info.

It's a great thing to do. I did think about it but we've never really got bf secure enough for me to consider anyone else sadly.

determination · 26/02/2007 00:53

I donated until dd was 14 months so breastmilk is still very good for preemies regardless of how mature it is!!

yellowrose · 26/02/2007 06:53

That is interesting determination, I would be the last person on earth to say that mature milk is no good at all (my ds is 2.8 yo and we still bf and he never gets sick), but I did read somewhere that they only take milk from a mum in the first 6 months as it has the HIGHEST concentration of antibodies and nutrients, etc in the first 6 months. Bloody excellent after 6 months, of course !

May be different milk banks have different policies then ?

tiktok, you would know this ?

also tiktok, do they test the mother for HIV ?

yellowrose · 26/02/2007 06:55

thanks for the link shona

determination · 26/02/2007 08:48

They contact your Gp to check your Medical Files and should also take a blood sample to test for Hepetitis, HIV and any other disease/infection which can be passed on thru the milk.

Your child HAS to be under 6 months when you start to donate - but they will accept the milk for as long after 6 months as you wish to donate.

something interesting...

I found it strange as i had a bad PPH and received 3 units of blood.. Which means i can no longer donate blood, however i could donate milk for preemie babies???- this was my way of paying back the blood i couldn't pay back! The reason behind this is that CJD can be passed on thru the blood but not thru the milk..

yellowrose · 26/02/2007 09:02

That's interesting determination.

Ds is an only child, how terrible I feel that I didn't donate when it was the right time

mears · 26/02/2007 09:09

I donated till just over a year. The milk is 'pooled' from multiple donors for babies that need it. It is so precious any age will do! I think that it is recognised that you don't express such large quantities after 6 months and that is why the selection of mothers is best before 6 months.

yellowrose · 26/02/2007 09:14

I have tried expressing past 18 months to put into ds eyes when he had red eyes and I thought it was infected - I got drops
DS is 2.8, I bf 2 - 3 times a day. I know he gets a lot more through sucking than I do expressing.

I would express even now if I knew I could get more than a few drops.

Original poster

Haribosmum · 26/02/2007 19:40

Well breastfeeding is sort of established now. DS2 has breastfed all day. Still taking a bit of formula but I'm hoping by the weekend he'll be exclusively bf. How amazing my body has been able to do this?

Determination - with regards to oats does it have to be plain old boring oats or does golden syrup oats so simple count?!

Anyway thanks for all your support.

OP posts:

determination · 26/02/2007 19:44

Haribo,

Plain old boring original oats is the only option here! but you could add some jam, honey or chocolate - whatever you fancy?

Califrau · 26/02/2007 19:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

determination · 26/02/2007 19:47

Meant to say... your story is one to inspire, WELL DONE.

Bet, your really proud of yourself. Are you dying to go back to that stupid GP and squirt her with your well earned milk?! Then ask her to justify what she meant by your 'flogging a dead horse' !!! Stupid waste of space eh?

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