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Infant feeding

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

Getting back to breastfeeding.

24 replies

Mammy2myboy · 31/08/2017 06:56

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to maybe get some feedback re your experiences or some advice.

My baby will be 6 weeks on Monday. When he was first born I expressed and topped him up with formula. (I haemorraged after the birth and found that I was so weak and therefore found everything really sensitive) by the time he was 6 days he had his last formula bottle and was exclusively breastfed. When he was 10 days told I had mastitis and was treated for sepsis. This meant 5 days in hospital but I exclusively breastfed throughout- I was determined to continue with bf and so glad that I did.
The day that he turned 4 weeks. He was admitted to hospital for 16 days and during the stay several issues arose (healthwise) and I had to express so that his intake could be monitored. Due to the nature of what was happening in Hospital (stress, scans etc and just wanting to lay and cuddle my boy!) there were times when I didn't express which meant that towards the end of the stay my stash of expressed milk was running low so he had around 4 feeds of aptamil in total given at every other feed on the last 2 days . We got home last night and I've found that he's really fussy when I've tried to put him to the breast and gets stressed. He won't stay latched on either. We're all exhausted so last night he had 3 aptamil feeds through the night but I'm wanting to get him back on the breast today. I spoke to my hv whilst in hospital and said that this would have been one of my concerns once we get home and she just said something like "we'll see".
Do you if you lovely mums netters have any advice? We've been through the mill but I desperately want to bf my baby again.

OP posts:

Changerofname987654321 · 31/08/2017 06:57

ContAct LLL.

Modestandatinybitsexy · 31/08/2017 09:00

Offer the breast before and/or after formula feeds. So he knows it's still available but neither of you will be stressed because it's the only option.

I did this after taking a week off bf because of painful latch and stress and it meant that both me and baby relaxed which helped with the latch.

DermotOLogical · 31/08/2017 09:05

Keep offering it, don't stress if he needs a bit of formula to keep going. The more you offer the more your supply will increase.

@tiktok will have better advice.

Might be worth moving this thread to infant feeding, I'll repot and ask mnhq.

Keep going, you are fabulous to have continued BF so far with so many obstacles. Things might feel awful now but it's worth persevering.

Cutesbabasmummy · 31/08/2017 09:09

I don't really have any advice as I struggled combination feeding and gave up breastfeeding after 4 weeks. But I didn't want to read and run as it sounds like you have had an absolutely awful time. Maybe try him on the breast today when you have all had some sleep xxx

MNHQ

LornaMumsnet · 31/08/2017 09:10

Hi there OP,

We'll send this over to infant feeding for you but if that's not okay, please do just give us a shout.

Really hope you get some good support here.

doleritedinosaur · 31/08/2017 09:16

He's fussing as the bottle is easier for him, but don't stress about that.

Keep doing skin to skin, get loads of support for your back & use a pillow for baby & keep offering breast.

Look for his hunger cues so he's not at crying stage, try hand expressing by squeezing in a c shape & getting milk on his lips & tongue so he's more interested in the breast & top
Up afterwards if you feel he's still hungry.

The more breast you offer him the more your supply will build up.

Make sure you up your water intake & keep eating.

Good luck & the kelly mom & La leche website are useful.
Are you able to get out to a local breastfeeding group as they are really helpful.

PolkaDotFlamingo · 31/08/2017 09:40

Lots of skin to skin! I'd be tempted to try a nipple shield too as it's a bit of a half way point for him. This comes with no official advice by the way, it's just something I'd instinctively try.

PolkaDotFlamingo · 31/08/2017 09:41

And well done, you've done brilliantly to even still be trying to get it back up

icclemunchy · 31/08/2017 09:47

Lots of skin to skin, you've both had a rough time how amazingly you've done to keep going! I second contacting la leche league. Either your local group or the 24/7 helpline they can support you reestablishing a full supply.

Iusedtobeafreeelf · 31/08/2017 09:52

You've done so well op to have fed through. After a difficult birth my ds was on formula for a week but I got my supply back. Every second that I was awake we did skim to skin but he wouldn't latch. He's five months now and ebf but will only latch with nipple shields. You have gone through so much to be where you are you can do it.

glorious · 31/08/2017 10:00

Goodness you have had a time of it

It sounds like there are two issues here: making sure you maintain your supply and encouraging the baby back to direct breastfeeding. Skin to skin as others have said is a great way of nudging babies towards feeding more. Sometimes taking a bath together can be a nice relaxing extension of that.

If you offer formula then expressing can help to maintain your supply. Then you could feed the expressed milk as well and that might enable you to reduce the formula.

It sounds like some more in depth in person support would be useful. Some HVs are great and others only have limited breastfeeding knowledge. Are there any local NCT, LLL, ABM or BfN groups?

Original poster

Mammy2myboy · 31/08/2017 10:06

Thank you so much guys. I really do feel much more positive after your responses. I had started to feel that the advice I was getting from professionals wasn't really encouraging me to get through this and that using a dummy... bottles etc was going to really hinder bf.
Thank you for getting the post moved Dermotological. I'm new to mumsnet and just put the post where I could... also i don't know how to tag all your lovely lots names in my reply!
My bf support group is on a Wednesday so will definitely be going next week. I will also contact lll this afternoon.
I had felt a bit defeated as some of the nurses had suggested he may not latch on after the bottle but as before, I'm determined! I'm a first time mum so I'm really appreciative of any advice 're bf.
I actually have nipple shields from when I first left hospital the first time so will give them a go too.
He's due his next feed around 11 so wish me luck guys. Xxx

OP posts:

icclemunchy · 31/08/2017 10:14

One of the best tips I had when we were trying to establish bf in NICU was every time she makes a sound/stirs/wakes up offer the breast. Sometimes she only latched for a second, sometimes she fed when I wasn't expecting it, but as well as helping my supply it helped me learn her feeding cues and stopped me worrying about how often she was feeding (my first was formula fed so I was used to three hourly feeds. Bf babies tend not to work like that!)

Iusedtobeafreeelf · 31/08/2017 20:31

How are you doing op? Breastfeeding is the hardest thing I have ever done. You've done so well coming through everything that you've been through.

DermotOLogical · 31/08/2017 20:35

Just coming to see how you are?

Don't worry at all about the sections, there's so many on here. Mnhq have moved it to infant feeding so you might get more specific help.

You sound like you are doing all the right things. Keep offering that boob. Have you been checked for tongue tie?

I found skin to skin great too, one day I got into bed with my boy, and we spent the day skin to skin. Get a day of no visitors and enjoy your gorgeous newborn.

Keep going, sounds like you have a fighter! BF is so worth it in the end.

NurseP · 31/08/2017 20:48

I would also suggest nipple shields. It's the only way my baby can get my milk as it a bit more t get hold of! She is 10 weeks and does have a bottle at night with Daddy but manages very well with the shields. Good luck!

Original poster

Mammy2myboy · 31/08/2017 22:56

Hi guys!
Thanks again for all your support! It has genuinely motivated me.
I have bf throughout the day. At each feed his latch has been better. His feeding is all over the place but I think that's likely to be because he's used to the flow of the bottle and maybe my milk supply isn't what it was previously- although I'm confident it will go up with him feeding regular as well as expressing.
Im say feeding just now and although he's thrashing about like mad- there's no tears! I will definitely be going to my local bf group next week.
Xxx

OP posts:

Original poster

Mammy2myboy · 31/08/2017 22:57

Also my boy was checked for tongue when he was born and once again since then. They said he does have a tongue tie but he's able to push his tongue out. X

OP posts:

Original poster

Mammy2myboy · 01/09/2017 18:13

Well i bf all day today (no formula yet). He's been feeding really frequently and I guess that will be because my supply has dropped a little. He has been quite fretful and frustrated but I think it's because he's not getting what he needs. Hopefully my milk will increase after a few days. I'm considering giving a formula feed for his 10/11 pm feed and I'll express whilst dh feeds. X

OP posts:

Callamia · 01/09/2017 18:25

You are made out of steel! You're seriously impressive to get here.

Some fussiness is also pretty normal - regardless of supply. Is he a windy baby? (while his latch skill is developing, he might take in a bit more air, which might make him more gassy). I'm also currently sitting through the usual evening fussy period with my five week old.

Your supply should increase fairly quickly, and i hope things continue to progress like this.

Original poster

Mammy2myboy · 01/09/2017 18:53

Thank you! He's not normally windy but I think you're right - we're relearning the latch so that might make him windy... I'm hoping this time next week we'll be back to where we were before the last hospital stay! X

OP posts:

Callamia · 01/09/2017 21:42

You're incredible
I had a late start to feeding my first thanks to an initial stay in NICU, and I thought that was hard work - you've dealt with far more, and you're coming out winning.

Iusedtobeafreeelf · 02/09/2017 20:16

It sounds really positive. Well done op

Original poster

Mammy2myboy · 07/09/2017 18:00

Thanks everyone. So far so good... I did introduce that formula feed at his last feed which has really helped. (Slightly longer stretch and dh does it!) Also have taken fenugreek which has helped my supply. He seems a lot more settled since yesterday (he just seemed so sad before! ) I think it's partly from the 6 week hitch and him getting used to being at home x

OP posts:

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