MIX FEEDING, WANT TO BREASTFEED MORE BUT BABY NOT GAINING A LOT OF WEIGHT

[Dalrymps]

the story so far...
I almost gave up bf cause it was painfull, I stopped for 5 days then realised it wasn't what I wanted so got in touch with a bf councillor and tried agian, since then I used an elecric pump to get my supply up and after a few weeks was getting 4 oz a day, I then began to try and bf him again just giving it a go once or twice a day. I am now at the stage where I am bf him three times a day with a formula top up after each bf (1-2oz) and he is getting 2 ff in between the bf's of 4-5oz, so 5 feeds a day, sleeps 8hrs through the night. Anyway, for the last 5 weeks his weight gain has slowed, used to be about 6-9oz a week, in the 3 weeks over xmas he gained 8oz, week after half an oz and last week 1 and a half oz. The people at the clinic said to try fitting in another feed but he refuses any more if I try yo give it him. I want to bf him mpre of the time but don't want to mess with his feding if he's not gaining enought weight? Just spoke to bf councillor and she said to bf him more, try to fit in 2 more feeds a day if poss and not to top his feeds up in the evening and to just keep bf him on demand in the evening... any advice? I'm a bit confused as to what to do, basically I want him to gain a good amount of weight and I want to BF him more!

yeah i think it's the old chat in his red boo

Can't for the life of me find my peer supporter file (suspect dh has "tidied" it), so can't remember her official title, but she's employed by sure start and co-ordinates the bf peer supporting, and is a peer supporter herself (and like all peer supporters a mum who ahs bfed). She's based in Berwick and organises the berwick drop in, which is what made me think of her. I just wondered if she'd be able to provide some answers/support until Carolyn gets back from holidays.

oh right, yeah i've heard of the drop in, might go to it but i think it's on a mon so missed this weeks. think i'm just gonna try bf more, if possible until the next weigh in and see what happens... athough thats what i said last week and he put nothing on?!

I'd increase BFs as much as you can and let him feed on demand when he likes- that will increase your supply too.

He may be confused by Breast and bottle (not necessarily but possibly) and is therefore pushing out the teat but could be hungry so is taking a bit but not as much as he should be.

Did you say how old he is?

3 months old, he really guzzles it from the bottle, just stops when he's had enough, i don't think he's confused cause he's been mix fed since 3 weeks old. yeah i'm increasing the bf's but i can't realy fit many more bf into the day unless i stop eating or something?!

Sorry Dalrymps - I didn't read about being mix fed from 3 weeks.

Perhaps he's just not needing to put any weight on at the moment. I remember my DS either gaining an ounce or not gaining at all sometimes. Then he'd drink for England as he was obviously having a spurt.

no need to appologise, i'm just grumpy cause i'm sick of the hv. i'm not overly concerned but this slow weight gain has been going on since before xmas and i'm getting more concerned as the weeks go on, the most he's put on in a week is 5oz but most weeks it's between 1/2 an oz and 2oz, then this week he lost an oz . just wish he'd have a few good weeks...

Try not to get too worried Darlymps, I honestly think you should take all the weights that werent done with the same variables with a pinch of salt, you've said yourself if it wasn't for the weighing you'd be happy with the way he is doing.

yeah, thanks VS i'm just gonna carry on as i am, decided to breast feed him before he has each of his 2 bottles too, that way, even if i can't drop the bottles yet at least i'll be stimmulated to make more milk

My sympathies - I know exactly what you are going through. I stopped feeding twice because of a severe thrush infection and have managed to get back to full BFing using the guide on reducing supplements at www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/decrease-formula.html

It took a while and I occasionally had to stop reducing the amount for a bit but we got there.

In the end I stopped taking him to be weighed very often as it was stressing me out if he hadn't put on the magic amount decreed by the HVs. You know if your baby is OK so trust your instinct.

Thanks for the info, especially helpfull today as ds very unsettled with teething pains and has been refusing to bf did bf first thing but since then screams and cries every time i put him to the breast but takes a bottle fine don't know why but very upsetting, sometimes been fussy in the past but never this bad. So, he's only had one bf today and i've had to keep expressing with my pump to keep supply up, really don't know what to do, hope he's just having a bad day, if it carries on like this i'll be really upset, stuggled to bf him for 14 weeks, don't want to give up now . Any other advice out there?

bump

anyone?

anyone?

I haven't read the whole thread. I thought maybe if he is hungry and used to getting milk more quickly from the bottle, he is frustrated and impatient at the breast?
I'm only guessing and hopefully someone will come along with advice.
But maybe try to feed before he cries from hunger? I'll read the thread and see if I can think of any other ideas.

okay I've had a quick look and I get the impression that you are a first time mum and just unsure of yourself.
I looked at your pictures and your baby is so cute, you are gorgeous and you are doing brilliantly.

I've breast fed four babies, I'm by no means an expert but I know it takes alot of time just sitting about reading or mumsnetting and feeding. and resting and eating and drinking and generally wallowing in the whole thing. They can still put on plenty of weight with bf. I don't think it matters as long as they put on something and keep feeding and filling nappies. Some weeks they grow more than others.

Keep going, it is so rewarding and your confidence will build.
If I were you I would just breastfeed as much as possible and see how it goes.

But you are doing well, be kind to yourself, try and relax more if you can.

Dalrymps - hope today is better. Holding him, using the sling, having happy times and cuddles with him, so you can respond easily and gently to feeding cues (without a big deal of worrying in case he is going to make a fuss, worrying how long he stays on, worrying about expressing... ) might help a lot.

thanks, will try to relax more, just hard when he's not crying then i get my boob out and he starts , has bf twice today without crying at me so hopefully will be better