Collecting breast milk

[AmyJayne98]

Hiya, I'm just looking for some reassurance and advice really. I'm still feeling extremely guilty about not breastfeeding :(

So my baby is 10 weeks old now. I had a wonderful birth, it was lovely and calm. I tried my baby on the breast he latched pretty quickly and he stayed there for about 30mins, it was amazing. Then I had a really bad PPH and ended up in theatre. I lost around 2 litres of blood and had a transfusion. When I got back I was stuck in the bed as I had a spinal block so couldn't do a lot with my baby. He was screaming for a feed but I was so exhausted and out of it I gave him a bottle. Then he fell poorly so we had a long weeks stay on antibiotics. I decided to keep giving him formula whilst in hospital because I wanted to make sure he was getting what he needed.

I came home and kept trying on the breast but my supply was just barely there 😭 I kept trying and pumping as well but it would come in drips and drabs I was so disheartened.

I've kept stimulating my breast and I'm now hand expressing into syringes (the ones you buy for colostrum harvesting) Again theres only tiny amounts. Is there any benefits on giving my baby these small amounts of breast milk?

Obviously because hes been on bottles for so long he just cant latch to my breast anymore. I'm just not ready for my milk to disappear and want to give him some, even if there is only tiny amounts. But I cant help to feel silly? Urgh my mum brain just will not shut off 😅

In a teaspoon of breast milk there are antibodies and nutrients that help your baby.

However, it is possible to relactate in most cases. It'll be really hard work, and involve a lot of skin to skin time with your baby in bed or on the sofa with all day access to boobs in a non-pressured way. You can also use an at-breast supplemental nursing system where baby drinks the formula from a thin tube taped near your nipple while breastfeeding. This could help baby to more willingly want to latch because milk is flowing, the stimulation will help with supply and as that increases you can decrease the top ups. You may need a supplement or even a medication like domperidone which is often helpful for relactating.

You will have a far better chance of success if you see an IBCLC. Is this something you can afford? Even one or two consultations could be worth their weight in gold.

If you do decide to continue formula feeding you are not a failure. I've been there, I know how hard it is. I'd be lying if I said it still doesn't hurt now, but it hurts a hell of a lot less. You are more to your baby than milk.

Oh bless you!

There's definitely benefit from any of the breast milk you do give for sure! I collected colostrum from 38 weeks and you get more and more mils as the days go on. First of all only half a syringe, then a whole one, then two.. and on it goes. I would keep offering your breast as well - you may end up getting on track and then have a little one that breast feeds and takes a bottle of expressed milk + formula too ! Perfect!
Any milk you get you'll get the same plus more tomorrow - keep at it and well done x

Also if you keep offering your breast the baby will find it so comforting just to be so close to you and your chest area and the rhythm of your breathing

Don’t feel silly, there’s so much good stuff in just a tiny amount of breast milk!
For what it’s worth, my ds was born prematurely and was tube fed for several weeks so I managed to get an ok-ish supply of breast milk going, considering he wasn’t with me when I was expressing I was quite impressed with myself. I couldn’t express enough eventually (which I get terrible about at the time!) so it was supplemented with formula too, and by the time we left hospital we still hadn’t managed to achieve him latching on as his sucking reflex wasn’t all that great so I made the decision to express until that dried up and continued formula feeding after that. A fed baby is a happy baby and a happy baby equals a happy mum, so it really doesn’t matter at all, and it’s lovely you are still trying!

Do skin to skin and keep offering the boob

Just popping on to suggest nipple shields in addition to the above, if you do want to give bf another go. My LO found it an easier transition from bottles to the shields and eventually went onto bare breast (at 8 weeks, so not so far ahead).

You've had a rough time, well done for keeping up this far, that is tough going.

Well done you!! Any supply left is down to your hard work! You've been through a lot.

I was told to get my supply up I had to pump 8x a day, you can really only do that if you have someone helping you to hold baby while you pump and clean the pumping parts for you while you hold baby and do skin to skin. If you can't do that, just pump when you can when looking at or being near baby. As pp said even a table spoon a day of breastmilk is good form your baby.

Eat and drink and rest as much as possible.

You can also look into local breastmilk donations.

Also look up online about correct flange size on the pump and get a bra thing to do both boobs at same time if you don't have one yet saves so much time

That post reminded me, if you do want to pump loads of times to boost supply - don't be scared to waste some milk.

Little and often is better than wrecking your nipples for long spells. A haaka at the kettle/by your side might be more practical.
I remember all the cleaning/sterilising bottles and the pump set, expressing, making formula and looking after a new baby... It's hell on earth.
Express a little bit, dump the milk and save yourself some washing up. The purpose is to boost supply at this point. It is stressful enough.

Ask your HV for a referral to a bf consultant right away, they can help with this too. Don't feel you have to try everything yourself first, they will support you. I waited and had more weeks of pain and heartache for going it alone! Also ask HV about bf groups, it's a nice way to get out the house and see other mums too.

As pp said, fed is best, truly. Only you can decide where your line is for giving bf/bm.

This! I felt awful getting rid of the tiniest bit of milk. This made me feel so much better about it. Its seriously hard work 😅 having an easy content baby helps massively so I'm counting my blessings 🥳

Thank you for all the replies! I feel much better about it this morning. I think I was just having a bad day yesterday. It doesn't help I dont have any mum friends really. I have one but shes a fair distance from me and has 2 children so I rarely see her 😂 Lots of family support though which I'm very lucky to have. I've bought a haaka manual breast pump as it was one of the better cheaper alternatives. I'll update you on how we're getting on!