Can I still breastfeed after 3 day break?

[Dinosaurhat]

DS is 12 weeks old, I had been exclusively breastfeeding with one bottle of EBM or formula per day.

On monday I got really ill, I think food poisoning. I couldn't face feeding so DH gave DS formula. I very occasionally expressed using my haaka and also managed maybe 2 feeds per day. I had been toying with giving up breastfeeding anyway so I wasn't too upset and to be honest I was too ill to think straight.

Now I'm feeling better and to be honest I'm gutted. My supply has massively decreased, I've fed DS a couple of times and he seemed ok but I had to follow with formula as I don't want him to starve. I have a manual pump but can't get much out, I can get more if I hand express.

What should I do? Is it realistic to resume feeding and get my supply back up, is it safe or will he go hungry? I also have a DD aged 4 so realistically I'm not able to spend all day in bed feeding. Formula feeding wouldn't be the end of the world but it seems a shame.

Anyone?

Hey, I don't have any advice for you but I didn't want you to feel like nobody cares. Could you ask your HV what they think?

I second that, I don’t have any personal advice but would definitely contact Health Visitor x

You can keep b/f, if you want to. You'd said you were toying with giving up? So have a think what would suit you - there's no right or wrong.

If you do want to continue, you'll need to work on increasing supply, and that will mean doing mire feeding, which you say might be hard with your 4yo DD.

You'll especially need to focus on feeding between 1 & 3 am which is when prolactin levels are highest and this will increase supply. I wouldn't offer formula, just keeping b/fing. Only offer formula if you really think he's hungry.

In a few days supply will be improved but it might be a hard slog.

Don't feel pressure - do what you want to do yourself.

I expressed for about 5 months. I think it is possible if you keep expressing and breastfeeding and a health visitor will tell you this. But I was also getting up through the night to express (without the baby!). I would not recommend that to anyone now including myself. You have done amazingly! Life is hard at the moment. See how it goes with zero pressure. If your supply dries up then so be it. It was meant to be. You were ill for Pete's sake. If you can increase it then great. If not then just enjoy your baby. If I could go back to myself at 3am listening to the express machine (I can still hear it now...) I would say "WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU LOON???"

No pressure just see how it goes. No regrets. No guilt. 12 weeks is brilliant.

Yes you absolutely can resume breastfeeding. The body takes between 2-3 days to respond to a change in supply demand so don't be surprised if it takes a couple of days to be back to where you want to be but yes, totally possible to go straight back now. Your milk will not have totally dried up (even if you try expressing and get none out, don't worry as baby's latch has a far stronger and more efficient draw on the milk)

For the next 3-5 days always put baby to breast first (unless they are so worked up with hunger that they are frustrated and won't latch properly) then offer them a top up fees after they've breast fed.
At the end of this period your supply should be sufficient

I found this which may also help you decide (there's a bit on restarting breastfeeding if that's the route you go down it might be useful)

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/combining-breast-and-bottle/

It's very feasible to bring your supply back up. It will take a few days and you'll need to express or feed every hour or two during the day and maybe twice at night, but it will work. Or you can just combi feed. Don't stress though honestly just snuggle with your baby and treasure this time, whatever you feed them.

Thank you for the advice everyone. I'm going to give it a go and see if I can get my supply back. I am going to give it until Sunday, but if I haven't seen an improvement by then I'll give up. DH is worried about me and thinks I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself given things are already so crazy looking after the two kids during lockdown and I think he has a point! So I'm going to set a time limit and give myself permission to give up if it is not working out by then (or at least starting to).

I've been feeding him as much as possible and got up to express at 2am last night (!) I'm also just trying to remove as much milk as possible whenever I can so if I'm at the sink, I'll quickly hand express some milk down the drain.

My boobs don't feel full anymore like they used to which is very unnerving but when I hand express I do get some decent spurts of milk which is hopefully a good sign?

We had been thinking about switching to bottles as I was struggling being the only person feeding DS. But he seemed a lot more unsettled on bottles. Very windy! I'm sure he would get used to it over time if we do end up needing to go that route but it made me think perhaps it's not the best solution.

Oh and I am giving formula top ups, but trying to keep them to when he really seems to need them. And keeping an eagle eye on nappy output.

If you get up in the middle of the night, feed rather than expressing. Much better at stimulating prolactin which will get your supply up. Between 1 & 3 is the best time.

You are right to balance it with your well-being. There's no right or wrong to your decision here. Good luck!

You definitely can - lots of info on La Leche League website or Kelly Mom website.

Or call the National Breastfeeding Helpline - they’re will be very helpful.

It’s all old wives tale but oats are meant to great for stimulating supply, drink plenty of water. As others have said look at LLL/Kellymom/milk meg fir advice about relactation. A lot of it is just letting baby feed.

I mixed fed for 11 months included a work trip away at 9 months with minimal pumping. My pal re established BF after being on very strong painkillers and managing only minimal pumping and dumping for a week or so.

Do want work’s for you take it one day at a time

Yes you can!! Feed feed feed, (baby and yourself), and your supply will soon catch back up to the new demand. Use the bank holiday weekend to baby to the breast at every opportunity. Does baby have a dummy? If so, try to reduce to usage, and put him to the breast if he's looking for comfort. That comfort sucking they do on a dummy, is a great tool for stimulating supply. Also, your breasts may feel "empty" but they won't be. Around the three month mark is when your milk supply really settles into a supply and demand, and alot of women suddenly feel like they don't have much milk there, pumping can become less responsive, and baby can seem more unsettled. These are all completely normal things that can happen at this time. Baby may seem ravenous for days, when he's really just trying to increase the milk supply ahead of a growth spurt. Also don't forget your fluid intake. Try and get the recommended 2 litres of water a day, as keeping hydrated is very important when trying to boost supply. Good luck Op!

Take fenugreek if you can get it. I introduced a bottle for my dd2 and my supply dropped off overnight. I found fenugreek amazing for helping bring it back up.

As others said, you can get it back but it will be lots of feeding for a few days to restart it.

Glad you're feeling better, mind yourself x

Drink plenty as dehydration is one of the biggest killers of milk supply. At your babies age, even if you had twins solely breastfeeding you'd have lost a lot of the weight in your breasts as supply has settled.

If you're expressing to try and boost supply you have to make sure you stimulate letdown and then express for a good min at least after that, as this sends the demand signal to your brain

At your baby's age, it's when breastfeeding moves from being tough to being amazing. Baby will start to go 3-4 hours between feeds which gives you more freedom and will go longer in night. Baby is more efficient at drawing milk and your breasts are better at supplying as they get used to the demand level. Honestly you're at a great time to give it another shot.

Also with the warmer weather coming up, there are lots of benefits for baby to breastfeeding such as your body automatically adjusts the temperature of the milk and the water content to match the temperature outside so baby gets perfect temp drink and more water content in hot weather. Amazing

Equally, if it doesn't work out, you should feel proud you've done the right thing for your family

I found Boobix lactation cookies and Neuners nursing tea (you can get the tea on Amazon) really helpful in building up my supply after a slow start to breastfeeding.