Exclusively pumping to build supply, then changing to direct nursing?

[MrsBonnie]

Hello fellow milk machines!

I am due number 2 after Christmas. With my 18 month old I only breastfed for 4 months as we encountered so many problems. When it comes down to it there were two issues - she wouldn't latch without a shield (even though my nipples are 'normal'), and my supply wasn't great.

I sometimes see mums with huge supply who have been forced into pumping right away because their babies are in NICU or other feeding issues have arisen. Whilst I wouldn't wish for that situation at all, and have so much sympathy for them, I wondered if going down that route would be good to build supply for the first few weeks?

So exclusively pumping for a few weeks, then latching baby and going from there. Is it a terrible idea? I'm just terrified of having rubbish supply again and want to do everything I can.

Any advice? Thanks!

With your first, there might have been an issue like undiagnosed tongue tie or something else that made it difficult for her to feed. If your baby is feeding effectively, feeding your baby on demand is far and away the best way to stimulate supply - much better than expressing. If there are feeding issues you might also need to express, but that should be in addition to breastfeeding and not instead of. It's especially important to feed the baby directly in the first few weeks to establish supply. If that can't happen for whatever reason then there are other things you can do, but that's the best and easiest way to do it.

www.laleche.org.uk/beginning-breastfeeding/

kellymom.com/hot-topics/milkproduction/

If you do have problems this time around, get support - contact the national breastfeeding helpline and/or a local breastfeeding support group. It is possible to overcome most issues with the right advice and support.

You’d still need to get baby latched ASAP. Usually within 30 mins of giving birth if all goes well. This is what starts stimulating milk production. Pop it into your birth plan that you’d like immediate skin to skin and help to bf baby as soon as they are born.

You absolutely can pump, but your baby is far better at stimulating milk than a pump is. If you want to up your milk supply the best way to do this is make sure you drinks masses - a pint of water minimum at every feed, eat lots of oat based foods and take fenugreek supplements.

And then put baby to breast as often as you can, with your top off. The first few days just stay in bed and feed, feed, feed. You also need to make sure you’re feeding a few times overnight, as tiring as it is! Because that’s when the hormone linked to milk production is at its highest.

Find a local bf consultant now, and give them a call in preparation for when baby arrives.

You might also find it helpful to read "the womanly art of breastfeeding" or "the food of love" by Kate Evans.

Congratulations on the expected new arrival! Sounds like you have a good understanding of latches etc. and I would say that all babies are different. You may find that it's easier this time to breast feed since you're body already knows what to do, and you may find your milk comes through much quicker.

You can restart breastfeeding at any time, but it can be more difficult once babies are used to a bottle, so try and bear that in mind. My first would take bottle or breast, my second wouldn't take a bottle, my third would only take a bottle.

If you're preparing to pump, get a decent pump and shields (I found shields were a life saver in the early days).

Pumping in between can stimulate milk supply and I found it really helped me get through mastitis.

If you are exclusively pumping, I'm not going to lie, it is really really hard. I spent most nights at the beginning pumping every 3 hours, even through the night to have milk ready for the next feed. 5 months later, I'm still having to get up and pump sometimes.

You may find that combination feeding is a great option for you if you're struggling with supply.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for your support and advice! I think you’ve made me think twice about EP from the start, and it’s probably best to latch him/her on right away.

With DD1 we tried everything we could think. I paid privately for a breastfeeding specialist and even she couldn’t work out why she had a rubbish latch, it was so shallow and always left me in pain and with a lipstick shaped nipple.

Hopefully this time I will get a better start at it. I’m also planning a home birth so I think the relaxed atmosphere will be perfect for non stressful skin to skin and first feed. Thanks so much!

Best of luck with everything! A home birth is lovely if you're able to have one - I did with DC2 and count myself lucky.

FWIW, DC1 had tongue tie and I was lucky to get it diagnosed - several people had missed it - and he fed much better after it was divided. When newborn DC2 had a bad latch (she chomped on my nipples and it was so painful!) I thought it might be TT again so I took her to a lactation consultant and TT specialist, who said that her tongue function was fine but she had some limited movement in her head/neck/jaw and that I should take her to an osteopath. She needed a few sessions with the osteo but she's feeding much better now (at 6 weeks).

Anyway I'm rambling but my point is that you may well have a different experience with DC2, and may have no issues, but if you do there will hopefully be solutions. I wish you all the best with it!