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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Returning to breastfeeding

20 replies

Whiffle77 · 22/12/2020 08:58

Just seeing if anyone has any advice. I have an almost four week old who was breastfed for the first two weeks of his life. We had a few medical problems and he then wasn't gaining weight fast enough so the midwives put us on expredsed bottle fed schedule so that we can monitor how much he has. He has been thriving since this, so im now keen to get back to breastfeeding - the midwives have signed us off weight wise.

All his bottles have been expressed milk, so I have the supply - he just refuses the breast now. I've tried the last two days at most day time feeds and he just screams. I saw our local feeding team and they weren't that helpful, we are doing skin to skin etc.

Any other tips or things to try? All of this has impacted my mental health significantly over the past few weeks, so I cannot cope with continuing to make him scream at the breast when he happily takes a bottle. But exclusively expressing is not sustainable for me long term.

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 22/12/2020 09:03

What you want to do is called relactation, so you'll find more resources if you Google that :)

I would recommend seeking the support of someone experienced with more than just the newborn stage, which probably rules it your infant feeding team. Look up ABM, NCT or LLL near you to see if they have supporters. Or look at the IBCLC website to locate a lactation consultant, although be aware most are private and you will need to pay.

BertieBotts · 22/12/2020 09:08

Some options you have in addition to skin to skin will be taking medications or herbs to increase milk supply, using a supplemental nursing system. As well as looking into the reasons why feeding was tricky in the first place.

cautiouscovidity · 22/12/2020 09:15

Was he taking milk from the breast successfully before? Just wondering if there's a tongue tie or something that's causing issues.
If that's all clear, then he's probably just preferring the bottle because it's easier. Have you tried feeding him when he's not especially hungry to avoid frustration? Spend a day in bed together with him in just a nappy and you with a bare chest so he's got easy access.

Original poster

Whiffle77 · 22/12/2020 09:18

Thanks, I dont think there is an issue with my supply as such given he gets all of his feeds expressed; and we were breastfeeding before with some success. As far as I know there is no tongue tie issue.
Thats what I thought, he gets it so quickly and instantly from the bottle. That's the plan for the next few days but I'm just finding it incredibly upsetting when he refuses, when I've tried so hard to keep my supply going whilst he has been on bottles

OP posts:

Qcumber · 22/12/2020 09:54

Hi OP. I had this problem, I fed expressed milk for 6 weeks and then used a nipple shield. I think the shield helped baby transition from bottle to breast. I would massage the breast into the shield so there was a little bit of milk in there (baby was impatient after having instant milk from a bottle).
After a few weeks using the shield I tried breastfeeding without and it took a few goes but we got there eventually!
Good luck!

BertieBotts · 22/12/2020 10:58

You may also want to look into paced feeding and consider this approach for the bottles he's having. This can help lessen the easier /better aspects of bottle for him and help reset a preference.

MrsFluffyMuff · 22/12/2020 11:32

What you want to do is called relactation, so you'll find more resources if you Google that

Relactation is where you stopped producing milk and want to start again, the OP is still producing milk and expressing. I second the nipple shield idea, it feels just like the teat of the bottle so baby may accept it. I would try when the baby isn't starving and screaming, maybe try when he's already had a small amount from the bottle so won't be getting frustrated. Good luck OP!

Original poster

Whiffle77 · 23/12/2020 08:13

Thanks @MrsFluffyMuff and @Qcumber he fed off both boobs using a nipple shield this morning - took it first time with no complaints! Cant really believe it.

If this works as more the just a one off, I would like to Aim to try and do some bottles at night for DH to feed, how this will work in practice (e.g. expressed or formula) im not sure. That way i can still get some guaranteed sleep which has saved me the last week or so

OP posts:

Qcumber · 23/12/2020 08:55

That's great news!! Well done. I'd keep going with breastfeeding as much as you can for now, and expressing rather than formula for bottles just to keep your supply up in these early weeks.
It is so hard and SO exhausting for the first few months but, once you get the hang of it, it's much easier than formula imo!
Really pleased the shield worked for you both. I'll keep watching this thread, please come back if you need to!

Qcumber · 23/12/2020 08:59

For some sleep, I used to express a bottle and go to sleep very early with the baby. Dad would do the first feed in the night so I'd have 8pm-11pm as a block of sleep. Missing any more feeds ended up with milky sheets!
Also if you wake up to do the feed, then hand over to DP to settle baby back down so you can go straight back to sleep may help.

gamerchick · 23/12/2020 09:02

Could you maybe try and get the let down before latching him so he doesn't have to?

It might help with the instant thing but really he needs to relearn how to do it himself.

Original poster

Whiffle77 · 23/12/2020 09:12

Thanks @Qcumber that's exactly what we are doing at the minute with the bottle feeds - I go to bed very early and DH hands him over to me at around 1am. Which means I always get some sleep every night, even if he is fussy after 1am. Really keen to continue that somehow, not sure how to keep integrating the pumping with feeding though.

I'm sure we will work it out over the next few weeks somehow! Assuming the latching wasn't a one off of course!

OP posts:

Qcumber · 23/12/2020 09:23

Do you have an electric pump? When you wake to feed after the missed feed, you could try latching baby onto one boob, and pumping from the other at the same time?
It is just so hard when they're so tiny and need you alllll the time, but it will pass. (unless you're me and have a 4.5 year old who can't sleep through! At least she doesn't bf anymore!) It sounds like you're doing everything right so keep going!

DerbyshireMama · 23/12/2020 09:32

Well done! I used nipple shields until my baby was 4-5 months old. I dont know if it was just a case of waiting until her mouth was bigger so she could latch but eventually she'd latch at night without the shield and then I phased them out in the day. They can be brilliant little tools in your breastfeeding arsenal 😊 happy breastfeeding! You'll find in a few weeks that it gets ridiculously easy.

Original poster

Whiffle77 · 23/12/2020 09:47

Yes im using a double electric @Qcumber, not sure i would be able to manage pumping and feeding at the same time without making a massive mess 😂 i will see though!

Thanks @DerbyshireMama, it would be great if it does get really easy! 🤞 im also a Derbyshire girl

OP posts:

MrsFluffyMuff · 23/12/2020 09:49

Oh that's great news, so pleased you managed to feed using the shields!

ablisha · 24/12/2020 04:47

@Whiffle77 have you tried feeding in the bath together? Was a game charger for DSs latch. Look up rebirthing

Original poster

Whiffle77 · 29/12/2020 17:09

Been feeding successfully with the shields since my last message, with DH feeding an expressed bottle or two whilst I sleep for the first bit of the night.

He seems happy, and we were weighed today and he is putting on weight at the same great pace he was before we stopped back to boob 🙌

So im very pleased. Will try and get him off the shields at some point but they work for us for now

Thanks everyone for the help!

OP posts:

MrsFluffyMuff · 29/12/2020 17:19

Over the moon for you OP

TJ17 · 29/12/2020 17:25

@Whiffle77 just seen your update re nipple shields.
This is exactly what I came on here to suggest.
I used nipple shields full time with both of mine. DS lasted 3.5 months but DD is 4 months and still going strong. To be honest I probably could've weaned her off with a bit of work but I don't have an issue with continuing with the shields as they are working and she's gaining well. (She has other medical issues that can affect weight therefore I don't want to rock the boat by trying to wean her off them)

I don't really know anybody else who used them full time and there are things online to suggest they shouldn't be used long term but they work great for me.

Good luck and well done for the work and effort you've put in to continue breastfeeding after everything as it's not at all easy!

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