My milk has dried up my accident. Help!

[NurseRosie]

So I spent Monday through to Tuesday night away from my 15 week old. He is ebf and was given my freezer stash of breastmilk. I had major issues while away as i forgot my breast pump and couldnt find one to buy. I attempted hand expressing but by the time i got home my boobs were hard, sore and massive. I expressed 12oz in one go last night. Baby slept through so first feed was this morning and seemed to go ok. He had another feed late morning too. He then started fussing and latching on for a minute and pulling off so i gave him a bottle. I was determined tonight and was realy trying to give breast as i thought it was nipple confusion but it was no good, hadmore breast milk by bottle. I thought id better try to express as boobs not really full considering the amount of time. Literally only able to express a few drops. Ive broken my boobs. Poor lo was fussing because ive dried up. I feel like a terrible mummy. Im so sad. Really not ready to end our journey. What can i do?

Eat loads of porridge oats and put the baby to the breast as often as possible. I've heard fenugreek can be useful too but not tried it. It's only Wednesday, this is fixable. As much skin to skin as you can.

Come come. I'm sure you haven't broken them. I think a baby can get more out than you can express. Could you keep letting him try. I'm sure it'll soon be flowing again xx

I can keep trying him but he gets so frustrated and upset. I'll get going with the oats, i love porridge. I'm going to have to give formula inbetween. I have no idea.

Just keep offering the breast to baby as often as you can. They'll only feed for a short time but offering every time they act hungry offer again, if there is supply there you'll build it back up quite soon.

Just let him feed as often as he wants, in a couple of days it'll be back to normal.

Can you just get into bed or in the sofa with him for a day and feed on demand as much as possible - I use ear dry Jordan's muesli or granola as I hate porridge :) oat cakes or flap jacks and foods rich in iron are good

Feed feed feed and feed some more. Lots of skin to skin. Boobs work on supply and demand. It's much harder to express milk yourself than it is for babies to get milk out. Really not uncommon for mothers to struggle to express but baby to get plenty.

Make sure he has plenty of wet nappies. You may find he wants to feed little and often to get your supply back up, be led by him.

If you find yourself engorged an want to express a little, it can be easier to try whilst in a warm shower. Plenty of useful videos available offering pointers on successful hand expressing.

I'm sure it will settle, sounds like you're doing great

What do i do now? He won't latch on at all!

Can you try hand expressing a few drops so he gets the taste if it?

Into bed with him, skin to skin, try relax. Hopefully he'll latch, it's the key to building your supply again. You could also take lecithin tablets from the pharmacy, they will help keep your supply flowing (in the literal sense)

Get in touch with one of the breastfeeding helplines, or go to the next breastfeeding group you can find. Supply isn't as fragile as we are always told so it's absolutely going to be possible to get this back, but you'll need help with it in real life, not Internet advice.

Formula is ok in the interim. Fed is important. You'll be able to fix this!

It's easier to get milk from a bottle than a boob. Don't give anymore bottles, just keep feeding as often as you can. He will latch on again if he has to and you will have enough milk. Good luck and remember you're not alone - gather a heap of snacks and drinks, get comfy and keep at it.

Ive managed to do some combi feeding. Think lo is getting a small amount from me now so just need to build up the supply. Ive had some oats and we are doing skin to skin. Thanks for all of the advice x

This happened to me too, even though i'd been expressing.

She'd just got used to the milk being there instantly from the bottle, and didn't want to have to work to get milk from the breast.

Ditch the bottle, express a little before feeding to get the milk flowing. But you have to persist, the more bottle you give the more he'll resist the breast.

If you have to give more bottles, look up 'paced feeding' or maybe try cup feeding.

Your milk will be there, it will just be harder work for baby to get it compared to the bottle. I wouldn't think baby will only be getting a small amount-so long as baby is feeding, your body is making milk. The milk won't run out or stop.

The quickest way to fix will be to stop the bottles completely.

Good luck.

Things are prodressing well now. Baby seems satisfied although feeding more frequently. Im go glad i managed to pull it back. Thankyou all for the advice x

Well done. Brace yourself for next time (there's always a next time!) and just feed & feed until supply catches up again.

Hot bath, and I'm very old so I'm allowed to say we were told to drink stout, e.g. Guinness , to produce more milk.

Don't worry, keep feeding and you will be back to normal in a couple of days

We are doing really well but cant knock an evening feed. He gets so worked up. He screamed for 2 hours last night and wouldnt latch on despite feeding all day. Gave a bottle at the last resort and he settled straight away. I think I'll try and express for that feed. I am worried he isn't getting enough and thats why he is so stressed by bedtime. Any thoughts?

Sounds like you're doing really well. If you can express for that feed, that would be great.

It is really common for them to go through fussy phases and/or be fussy in the evening so him feeding frequently, etc may have nothing to do with you going away.

Are you doing paced feeding with the bottle?

If you did want to drop the bottle, you could try letting him have a small amount and then put him on the boob, if he will let you!
Skin to skin may help him feeed from you when he is fussy.

Don't worry he's not getting enough-as long as he is feeding, he will be getting milk from you.