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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Building supply

12 replies

moodyMiMi · 11/12/2021 08:42

Hi all,

My baby is now 1 week old and trying my best with BF. It's going well so far (I hope). She was weighed on Wed and had lost 7% which is within limits.
She's feeding frequently and seems satisfied. I feel anxious about the next weigh in on Mon- if she's lost more weight I'll have to start formula I suppose- that's what happened with my first but I really want to persevere. Problem is I don't think I'm producing enough. At the start of the week I managed to express 5oz over the course of a day, I'm not getting anywhere near that now. My breasts don't feel as full as they were. I don't think I'm getting enough time between her feeds to replenish.
Does anyone have any tips or advice please? Thank you

OP posts:

PanicBuyingSprouts · 11/12/2021 08:53

Congratulations on your new LO!

I can understand you being concerned after your experience with your first but a 7% dip is perfectly normal, and she's learning a new skill so it may take a little tike to get there.

I wouldn't worry about how much you can express either, it's not an indicator of how much you are producing as she will be far more efficient than any pump at getting your milk out.

If she's still not gaining on the next weigh in, it doesn't mean an automatic jump to formula either, unless that's what you want to do. She could be investigated for Tongue Tie and you could ask a BFC to observe a feed. Also topping up with BM should be the first call, not formula.

You seem to be doing everything right. I'd maybe call one of the BFing Helplines this morning to talk about your concerns.

One last thing, if you are expressing, try putting a sock over the bottle. Apparently being able to see how much you are pumping can cause stress which in turn can reduce your milk flow. If you can't see how much is going into the bottle, you may produce more.

daniellemumof2 · 11/12/2021 08:54

Putting your baby on the boob as often as they want feeding is best for building your supply and is much more effective than expressing. How much you manage to express isn't always an indication of how much you're actually producing. Try not to worry and just breastfeed as often as baby wants to. Baby will probably start cluster feeding if they haven't already which will do wonders for your supply. Good luck and hope all goes well on Monday with weigh in

PanicBuyingSprouts · 11/12/2021 08:56

Agree with danielle

Forgot to post this video. Is this how it looks when she feeds?

Original poster

moodyMiMi · 11/12/2021 09:38

Hey, thanks for your replies.

From the video I'd say I need to try different positions. She seems to take less of my surrounding nipple area in to her mouth when she's feeding. Also, sometimes she has a weird few minutes when it takes her ages to latch on.

I'll definitely try the sock over the bottle when I'm expressing. All I do is sit there and stare at how much is coming out which probably isn't helping me!

OP posts:

PanicBuyingSprouts · 11/12/2021 09:52

I think it's pretty normal for them to take a while to latch on, you're both still learning and it will get easier for both of you.

This video might help with getting a good latch. Have a google of laid back nursing as well.

Yeah, abs staring at how much you're producing definitely won't help! Stick a sock over the bottle and put something you like on Netflix and eat some chocolate. The chocolate probably won't help with how much you can express but it's a nice distraction

PanicBuyingSprouts · 12/12/2021 08:22

How are you both getting on now @moodyMiMi? Was yesterday any better?

firstimemamma · 12/12/2021 08:32

Is there a reason you're expressing? If it's purely because you think it could help with supply then honestly I'd just stop and put the baby directly onto the breast as much as possible.

I breastfed very successfully for nearly a year and a half yet could never express much at all (it always ended in tears / a few drops of milk) so it's not always a reliable indicator of supply and could be causing you unnecessary worry / stress.

Well done, the early weeks are tough

PanicBuyingSprouts · 12/12/2021 08:40

I was the same with DC1 firsttimemama. I tried expressing because I thought I had to but barely ever got any out. Was so much happier when I decided it wasn't BFing making me miserable it was trying to express land just put the pump away.

Original poster

moodyMiMi · 12/12/2021 10:38

Hey,
I'm expressing because my partner wants to be involved in feeding, also I did naively think it would build up my supply.
I have to say, the sock really works, I managed to express 1.5oz this morning in about 10 mins which is good for me!
Thank you

OP posts:

PanicBuyingSprouts · 12/12/2021 10:55

Can you DP wait a little to get involved with the feeding and bond over things like bathing the baby? He can do things like change LO after a feed, put them in a sling and go out for an hour together. There are some tips for him here too.

Nothing you've said so far suggests a problem with your supply either

Samanabanana · 12/12/2021 10:59

That you can express so much one week post partum suggests you have a brilliant supply tbh. As long as baby is satisfied after feeds and you're getting plenty of wet and dirty nappies, you're bossing it. Don't introduce a bottle too soon though to avoid nipple confusion and used a paced feeding technique!

PanicBuyingSprouts · 12/12/2021 11:51

Also agree with Samanabanana. You don't want to risk nipple confusion.

If your DP really does want to feed LO, try one of these methods to reduce the risk

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