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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Where's my milk gone - DS refusing formula and my milk is getting less and less

52 replies

kittypower · 03/10/2007 21:46

I don't know what's happened but suddenly my milk is getting less and less, It started on Sunday when I found I was getting less (no change in the amount of feeding or anything) and so for the last three days I have been expressing every feed and then carrying on for a bit even though my boob is dry to to and encourage my boobs to make more, but i seem to getting less each day rather than more. I'm drinking lots of water, eating etc....What can be wrong? Also my DS is refusing to take formula unless I have mixed it with my milk.

XX

OP posts:
Elasticwoman · 03/10/2007 22:14

You don't need to eat or drink any more to make more milk. Are you expressing before, after or instead of ds latching on?

fishie · 03/10/2007 22:17

are you mix feeding? how much formula are you giving? how old your ds?

Original poster
kittypower · 03/10/2007 22:27

My DS is 7 weeks old.I'm giving him between 30 and 60 mls of formula, depending on how much milk I can express. I am expressing instead of latching him mostly but also latching him on sometimes and then I express after he has feed. i thought expressing would encourage me to make more.

OP posts:
BandofMutantMonsters · 03/10/2007 22:29

How do you know it is getting less if he is feeding the same??

It might be he is eating quicker and better, they do after a while.

BandofMutantMonsters · 03/10/2007 22:31

Expressing as well as feeding will encourage more milk, but expressing alone probably wont. You need to latch him as often as poss, is there a particular reason you aren't doing that, and why are you mixing it with formula???? If you mix it with formula he will eat less from you so your milk will be less, you need to sole feed if you can.

BandofMutantMonsters · 03/10/2007 22:32

I could never express once DD2 had fed from me, as she drained them, you could try expressing after about 1/2 hr.

Original poster
kittypower · 03/10/2007 22:33

I used to express in the morning once and the evening once and I noticed I wasn't getting as much milk on Sunday then even less on Monday etc so I started expressing nearly every feed to increase my supply

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 03/10/2007 22:34

Your baby's better at getting milk than a pump.

If I was you, I'd ditch the expressing and just breastfeed. Or are there other reasons you don't want to do this?

If you just express, especially if you're mixing with formula, you run the risk of your supply dwindling.

If you breastfeed him on demand, you should produce enough milk for him. Bugger about with expressing and formula and you may well not.

Is it just that your boobs weren't feeling as full as before? That's because your body's got used to making milk and your baby's got better at feeding.

BandofMutantMonsters · 03/10/2007 22:36

Hunker, isn't that what I just said, you are much more eloquent than I............I think I need to sleep, why oh why did I click on MN at this time of night???

Original poster
kittypower · 03/10/2007 22:37

I'm mixing it because the HV said he should be getting about 130 mls each feed and as he didn't put on any weight last week she said I need to make sure he is getting enough, so i expressing to know how much he is getting and also encourage my boobs to produce more. Why would expressing alone not increase my supply?

OP posts:
BandofMutantMonsters · 03/10/2007 22:40

Because he will drink more than you will express. I HATE when HV's push formula.
My DD1 got thrush at 3 weeks and fell off the bottom of the chart, I didn't give formula til the GP told me to at 12 weeks cos she had only gained one pound since birth.

Breast feed him, you will never express as much as he will suck out. Express after wards if you want to, even if you don't get much the action of it will still stimulate you and increase your supply but you NEED to l;atch him on and feed him..
He is very young to mess about with mix feeding and may get lazy and not take the breast,
If you really want to bf him then ignore the HV unless there is some pressing need to mixf feed.

He didn't LOSE weight, he's fine. He will probably growth spurt soon too and you need to be feeding him yourself.

BandofMutantMonsters · 03/10/2007 22:42

PLUS it is impossible to say how much he's getting, and you have to remember that those charts are made from information from FORMULA fed babies.
What percentile is he on?? I mean if he's 50 th or more or even 25th and just didn't gain any I wouldn't worry.
If he doesn't gain for like a mth then perhaps discuss it, but give him a chance.

spookthief · 03/10/2007 22:42

Kitty - just to illustrate that there is no relation between what you can get when you express and what's there...

I was out last night and dh gave ds his bedtime feed. I expressed when I got in as I didn't want to feel too full in the morning and thought I might as well put a feed in the freezer. After 30mins expressing both sides I had 4 sodding oz!! This is from the former queen of expressing btw.

I have been bf for 10 months and definitely have an excellent supply but just am a bit shit at expressing at the moment.

Please try just feeding direct again. More feeds direct from the breast rather than expressed will do far more for your supply and the amount of milk your ds gets.

at you hv for not giving you advice more suited to a bf mother.

hunkermunker · 03/10/2007 22:44

Your HV is a bit bonkers, I think. 130mls a feed for a bf baby? Where on earth did she get that figure from?

Expressing's not as good at building and maintaining supply as letting your baby feed when they want to because your baby is more effective at getting milk than a pump is.

How often are you expressing? Do you do it at night?

What are your baby's nappies like? Heavy with wee? How often does he poo?

BOMM Yes, I guess it was the same - I hadn't really read what you posted properly - sorry!

BandofMutantMonsters · 03/10/2007 22:45

Sorry to rant, I don't want to scare you, but really. Don't panic and start measuring everything. He is doing fine. If his weight gain til now is ok then relax. Don't get stressed about it, cos that will not help. They tend to spurt at 6 weeks ish so he may have done that and then stopped, so not had as much, you see???? Hence no gain this week.

I really HATE when HV's first suggestion is FF

puffylovett · 03/10/2007 22:45

the way i understand it,it is the latch itself and the suckling action that makes the body produce the hormones that increase the milk supply ?

or maybe i'm talking out of my behind as i'm vvv sleep deprived.

i would ditch the formula and express, take baby to bed and feed feed feed. they have that big growth spurt at 4-6 weeks don't forget, so maybe your body is just playing catch up.

also has he put on weight in the previous 6 weeks ? if it's just a one week blip then i personally would just carry on feeding as you had been. i wouldn't muck about with expressing and formula at this stage. better to make sure his latch is correct. good luck..

hunkermunker · 03/10/2007 22:45

BOMM, the charts aren't based on ffed babies. Honest. Mixture of babies fed all sorts of ways.

BandofMutantMonsters · 03/10/2007 22:47

Are they ?? OK then. But still, like Hunker said, if he is weeing and pooing frequently, and likes to feed, then let him. When ever he wants, or every 3 hrs. If you wake him to feed every 3 hrs your milk will increase too, if he is leavuing longer between.

KristinaM · 03/10/2007 23:01

i am just a mum and not a Bf expert.....but i think your Hv is a silly cow. how can she or anyone else possibely knwo how much milk a Bf baby is getting? Its not the input you measure, its the output . Happy contented baby feeding regularly and wet and dirty nappies. Weight gain from one week to another is not very accurate anyway.

you have enough to do with a tiny baby than start faffing about with expressing. i am feeding a hulking great toddler so i assume i have plenty milk but i woudl get very little if i expressed as my body is used to the baby, not a machine.

just ignore teh sily moo and feed your baby more often. as long as he is latched ok and is actually swallowing you will be ok

in teh time that you woudl have been expressing, put your feet up and relax with a coffee and a magazine. and chocolate of course, thats very good for building up your milk supply

moondog · 03/10/2007 23:03

Uh oh,another idiot HV on the loose.
I swear, one day I will round the feckers up and shoot them all.

KristinaM · 03/10/2007 23:06

LOL moondog

but coudl you add your voice of reason to teh discussion please???

Nb I said "reason"

moondog · 03/10/2007 23:07

She is talking through her arse.
Just breastfeed the baby.
Simple as that.

Original poster
kittypower · 03/10/2007 23:11

right, so I should just go back to latching him on all the time instead then. I will go back to this tomorrow and see how it goes again. I really don't like giving him formula so would like him to just BF. I'll try to stop worrying about how much he is getting and ignore the HV 130mls quota.

OP posts:
moondog · 03/10/2007 23:14

Yes.
Just lots of boob.
Pure and simple.
That is what it is there for.

KristinaM · 03/10/2007 23:20

yes but dont forget the relaxation, choccies , magazines etc. thats the most important part