Am I too late for breastfeeding?

[45redballoons]

Hello,

I have a 1 week old daughter and my milk is still not in to fully satisfy her on breastmilk alone for a single feed.

In the hospital I tried feeding her but it was never enough and straightaway went to adding formula. Everytime she needs fed I put her on the breast first and she drinks but for the past day she doesn't drink for long before falling asleep.

I had a hand held pump for expressing but found it no good at this stage so ordered an electric one which only just arrived on day 6. I'm getting around 20ml.

I'd love to be able to breastfeed exclusively for most feeds but I'm worried it has been too long now and my milk won't come in. I'm in awe that anyone had a satisfied baby on breastmilk so quickly, it just never happened for me and she constantly screams and chews her hands if I don't give formula too.

What do you think?

Thanks

I would start with Kelly mom - so much info on there. Just keep feeding all the time and offer even when baby is not actively seeking milk. Lots of skin to skin. All this will really build supply.

The nappies will tell you that enough is going in

Definitely not too late

kellymom.com/ages/newborn/nb-challenges/decrease-formula/

nappy guide here is useful - if you see this all os well www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/nappies-and-poo/newborn-baby-poo-nappies-what-expect

I’m not a healthcare professional just a bf mum of two. No expert knowledge.

the bf helplines are really good for support

something to remember is studies have proved the amount you can express has no relevance to how much milk you make. Some people just can’t express as much as others. With my second baby I had so much milk I had oversupply even, but could hardly express anything at all!

It’s great that you want to have a go at Building up the amount you are feeding. When you say your milk wasn’t enough, I wonder if you mean baby just kept wanting more and switching sides? That’s completely normal and doesn’t mean you don’t have enough milk

Hi,

Thank you, I will read those resources.

Miss Haversham, when I was in the hospital I was feeding with the midwife helping and she still didn't seem to be getting enough.

Her nappies are fine, she is getting enough but this includes formula.

Are her nappies ok without formula?

The more she feeds, the more you produce and the amount you get out expressing bears no relation to what she will get out of you

I should think 1 week will be absolutely fine. Remember, the only indication of whether or not baby has fed enough is nappy output and weight. Fussiness, frequent feeding, sleeping on the breast etc are all normal bf behaviours. You need to feed feed feed - get your baby on the breast as much as possible with lots of skin to skin. I've ebf 3 chubby babies successfully and could never express so that's no indication of supply issues, to reassure you. Once you start feeling like a dairy cow you're on the right track! To keep baby awake while feeding, tickle her feet and hands, change her between sides, take her off and lift her up / wake her, then put her back on. Babies love a good sleepy feed and will feed, snooze, feed, snooze etc for hours if you let them!

Definitely normal for them to constantly feed at that age ☺️ just keep at it and your supply should increase the more you feed.
There is some advice not to expressing so early as it can disrupt the supply and demand.
Another thing to consider could be a tongue tie meaning she can't latch properly and get enough milk and it makes feeding more tiring for them to feed.
Hope all goes well for you 🌸

Keep us posted op - we can all support you as you bf more

Not too late.I breastfed I the hospital for couple of days but had to stop and give formula for almost a week.My daughter refused to nurse afterwards (I think I used wrong bottles ) but I successfully pumped...she is 6 months and I'm still pumping.So milk will come in

It's supply and demand so feed, feed, feed to encourage more milk! It's absolutely normal for them to fall asleep on the breast. Just feed again the next time she's hungry. Remember cluster feeding too, she may end up feeding on you for hours, this is entirely normal.

I had this, was giving formula top ups after being discharged from hospital. I didn't get on with expressing - was getting virtually nothing.

I was prescribed domperidone - can't say whether or not it helped.

I did eventually stop expressing and formula and was making enough milk. Is there a breastfeeding counsellor you could ring?

One advised me to take the baby to bed with me for 24 hours and feed her every time she woke up.

thebreastfeedingcompanion.com/

You can definitely do it, it's not too late. I was in your situation once - a new Mum with midwives telling me my baby wasn't getting enough, to supplement with formula, start pumping etc. I had no idea what to do and looking back, it was quite traumatic really because I was made to feel like I didn't have the option of breastfeeding anymore. I'm not going to lie, and I'm not an advocate for ignoring healthcare professionals, but I did. I listened to Mumsnet haha and my own Mum's advice instead and I’m SO glad I did. As previous posters have said, feed feed feed! I spent days snuggled with my baby, top off, skin to skin all day and just let her latch on and off whenever she wanted. It's supply & demand so the more she is at your breast the more milk you will produce. I’m still breastfeeding now at a year post partum. We both love it and I don't see us stopping anytime soon. Keep us posted with how you get on!

Go to the Breastfeeding Network website! This is on there:

Call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212

You may not need to venture beyond your front door to get breastfeeding support. BfN Registered Breastfeeding Supporters are trained to give support and information by telephone.

Chat Online

You can also use our online chat to talk to us direct, although please note this service is only available at certain times.

Your milk will be enough for her, just keep swapping sides and keep feeding. Bottle feeding is easier for them as they get the milk quicker but that doesn't mean your brrast milk isn't enough. The more you feed, the more milk you'll make.

I exclusively pumped with my daughter because I could breastfeed. A lot of women struggle with getting decent amounts of milk pumping because they don’t have the correct flange size for their nipples. Without the correct size it can be really painful and not very productive!

Thank you all so much, you have made me feel much better. You're such a lovely lot. I sat for 3 hours with her boob-sleep-wakeup-boob repeat. Hopefully it gets easier.

I'll look at everything you have all suggested.

You're doing a great job OP. The more you feed, the more you make, so keep going. Can you make a cosy nest on the sofa or in bed with snacks and water for you, box sets etc? Try lots of skin to skin with your bubba and maybe look at laid back breastfeeding (also known as biological nurturing) www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/feeding/early-days/laid-back-breastfeeding-benefits-and-uses

It absolutely does get easier! Make life as easy as possible for yourself now - easy snacks, bottles of water handy and a boxset of Netflix on the couch. I miss the early days of constant boobing in a way because it was a license to sit around all day 😅

Echo previous posters. Lots of skin to skin, lots of feeding (especially at night). Drink more fluid than you think possible. Don’t move from the sofa much, box sets on tv are your friend!

Still really early days! I would agree that speaking to a breastfeeding advisor (either via midwife/ health visitor or the breastfeeding advice lines) and having follow up with them will really help too.

Another day has passed and I am really getting downhearted. By the time I feed her, usually I guve it an hour swapping sides throughout, the give her the formula, which I have to do as she is so upset, then I try to pump, its time to feed her again. I got a teaspoon from expressing tonight which was a precious half an hour I could have slept. Then I'm sure I was dry by the tine she came to latch on. I certainly couldn't get anything else out myself.

I just wonder if I should give up.

You can ask the midwife team to come and help you. Services are often stretched so there just aren't as many routine visits in many places but they will usually either visit or advise you how to access support. You could also ask to see a breastfeeding counsellor ( IBCLC if possible) or contact the la lèche League for support. If you ring the health visitor they will be able to tell you if there is a breastfeeding clinic in the area. You need help to make sure that your baby has a good latch and to rule out difficulties, such as tongue tie. It's also a good idea to see your GP to make sure there is nothing else going on that needs intervention ( eg.thyroid). It's awful when you feel so exhausted, but it would be sad if you give up now, when perhaps with some more support you will go on to successfully feed. It really is very early days.
If you were to use a supplementary nursing system, rather than bottle feeding, then your breasts would still be stimulated by the baby while you give formula, which will help build supply. Look online for videos by Dr Jack Newman, particularly about latch and breast compressions.
You might find using time to rest rather than pumping will help with supply. It can be exhausting trying to fit in pumping as well.
Don't get dispondant and give up ( unless you really want to). It's a new skill for you and your baby and it can take time to get the technique sorted.

It's not too late but you shouldn't try to do it all on your own. You need real life support not just people cheerleading you on a website.

Can you call the hospital and ask for a midwife to come out and help you with feeding? Or ask to see the infant feeding specialist if there is one.

Once you see somebody you need to ask them to help you put a feeding plan in place. That's a plan of several things to do over several days, rather than just the on the spot help you've had so far. A feeding plan should help you start to see some progress.

Another option if you have the money is to look at private help via an IBCLC. That is also someone who can help you set up a feeding plan and should support you to contribute with it.

It's also not a bad idea to look for any free support around you such as breastfeeding peer support groups, NCT, Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, Baby Café or La Lecher League. If you Google any of these plus your area you may be able to find something locally.

Stop expressing! The lactation consultant told me not for about a month until my supply was established. As other posters have said, just feed, lots of skin to skin, lots of water and good quality protein. It will feel like you’re constantly feeding but that’s the nature of the beast. Tomorrow’s volume of breastmilk is produced by how often your baby is on the boob today, think of it as putting an order in. Also even if you think you’re dry your baby will be getting something, babies are far more efficient than pumps at getting milk out.

I won’t lie, it took a good couple of weeks for me to feel like things were settling down. It’s hard work OP but you’ve absolutely got this. It’s normal to feel the way you’re feeling, don’t forget you have lots of postpartum stuff and broken sleep going on too. Even when it’s going well you’ll still worry she’s not getting enough and then it’s important to remember that the nappies will tell you everything you need to know.

If you have the means then get a private consultant, if not then there’s plenty of free help but you have to ask for it so be proactive.