Getting BF going after formula

[DEMum101]

I never got BF properly going with my first child after an EMCS with a general and problems in hospital. My milk didn't come in really and DD, now 7, was basically FF.

7 years on and i have had an ELCS. Did skin to skin and latched on withon two hours of birth. Was able to hand express small amounts of colostrum so thought baby might be ok. Sadly by the next day DS had low blood sugar and the hospital insisted on formula top ups. So far so history repeating itself.

Am now home on day 5 and am still only able to express 10/15 mls at a time whereas surely my milk should be in now? Also i have no engorged or heavy feeling in my boobs. Do i just not have enough milk or is there still time for it to come in and get DS off the formula?

Expressing is not as efficient as baby. Try lots of skin to skin time and let baby suckle as much as possible.

Remember their tummies are tiny at this age.

It sounds like your milk hasn't come in yet. Mine took 6 days on a natural birth and DS is fine.
I'd suggest keep doing what your doing .

Worth speaking to your midwife as well and get some breastfeeding support.

Mine had formula top ups in intensive care and I worried this too but he is still breastfeeding at two - a great hv and nurse in hospital helped us get going. Keep trying straight on the breast as savage is right, their tummies are tiny and expressing isn't as effective as bfing. Maybe contact your local le leche league. The fact you're producing milk is hugely positive so they'll help get your baby onto you. Congrats!

Drink loads and loads of water even when you are not thirsty keep drinking, and put baby on your boob as much as possible.

I'm 5 weeks in and very similar, never got that engorged/big/heavy boobs to feel supply coming in. Baby lost 10.8% so we were weight monitored, ended up doing formula top ups as he just wasn't getting enough from me.
Did loads of skin to skin, we were barely dressed for the first weeks!
Tried hospital grade pump to try boost supply, gave it my best shot pumping regularly throughout day and night but didn't help and actually got more from hand expressing.
Still only manage about 10ml per hand express from both boobs but am keeping that little supply up so baby gets boob as a starter and then formula as a main
Not what I wanted or planned but it's what we can do and baby still getting, even a little, breast milk.

We had similar in that hospital insisted on formula top ups due to low blood sugar.

My milk came in on day 4 and by then felt confident enough to keep going with just breastfeeding. Was told by midwife to ensure baby had at least 10 mins on each breast at least 8 times is in 24 hours including overnight.

I remember being stressed before those early weigh ins as DS was 4 weeks early but we got the hang of it and he's now 5 mths.