Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Low supply or needs a top up?

11 replies

teddytoo95 · 04/08/2023 19:31

After a very rocky start to breastfeeding, we had a 3 week break where baby went on formula and I was only pumping 3-4 times per day so this obviously dropped my supply. We went back to breastfeeding 2 weeks ago and I've been feeding/pumping and also formula but she's always offered breast first.
At first she would maybe only latch for a minute at best, but with lots of hard work she will now feed between 5-20 minutes each side.

Issue is she is breastfeeding but then still drinks a 5oz bottle. I've spoken to a lactation support worker today who has suggested that I just cut the formula completely and offer the breast. I've tried that and after 5 hours she was absolutely screaming her head off, even after lots of BF.

Is this telling me my supply is still low or is baby just used to a bottle?

I only ever manage to pump 1oz at most, and I'm also pumping in the night too.

OP posts:
Livingmagicallyagain · 04/08/2023 19:42

Sounds like you're doing amazingly! Congratulations on your baby, she's very lucky!

if you want to continue and you feel ok to (and you have support and time!) consider a supplemental nursing system. And make sure you have a hospital grade pump, the spectra is affordable (medela not great unless the super expensive hospital grade).

get your hands on a copy of Making More Milk by Marasco & West.

Offering formula at this stage is absolutely fine and doesn't mean you won't get back to 100% breastfeeding if you wish.

Im.speaking from experience by the way! My 36 weeker was on so much formula. Ended up a breast monster who wouldn't look at a bottle!

go easy on yourself then plan a breastfeeding holiday, you'll be fine!

Original poster
teddytoo95 · 04/08/2023 19:45

Livingmagicallyagain · 04/08/2023 19:42

Sounds like you're doing amazingly! Congratulations on your baby, she's very lucky!

if you want to continue and you feel ok to (and you have support and time!) consider a supplemental nursing system. And make sure you have a hospital grade pump, the spectra is affordable (medela not great unless the super expensive hospital grade).

get your hands on a copy of Making More Milk by Marasco & West.

Offering formula at this stage is absolutely fine and doesn't mean you won't get back to 100% breastfeeding if you wish.

Im.speaking from experience by the way! My 36 weeker was on so much formula. Ended up a breast monster who wouldn't look at a bottle!

go easy on yourself then plan a breastfeeding holiday, you'll be fine!

@Livingmagicallyagain
Aww thank you so much that's such a kind thing to say. I don't feel like no formula is working and I hate to see her so upset.

Wow that's amazing! Can I just ask what age your baby was when you got back to ebf? I would love to get to that point eventually, it just feels such an unrealistic goal at the moment 😪 xx

OP posts:
Livingmagicallyagain · 04/08/2023 19:55

It felt like ages to be honest! She just wasn't putting on weight, has tongue tie (which grew back after being cut). Plus my other kids needed me.

But we got there! The supplemental nursing system helped. I would say by 2 months latest she was EBF, I had thought it was great she would be so used to the bottle so my husband could feed her. But no! Little rascal!

LividHot · 04/08/2023 20:05

Listen to the support worker. My sister is one and I wouldn’t have been able to bf without her advice.

Small babies feed almost constantly, and that’s what gets your supply up. If she’s weeing and pooing and gaining weight, that’s enough.

Of course she wants formula, it’s faster!

My sister says don’t bother with herbs/potions/whatever. As long as she isn’t tongue tied, just keep feeding, even if she’s attached 24/7.

Fwiw, I could never get more than a dribble from a pump, ever, even the hospital grade one. I was terrified my baby wasn’t getting anything. But he was weeing, pooing, growing and we just kept on.

(He’s three now and still boob obsessed!!)

Original poster
teddytoo95 · 04/08/2023 20:11

Livingmagicallyagain · 04/08/2023 19:55

It felt like ages to be honest! She just wasn't putting on weight, has tongue tie (which grew back after being cut). Plus my other kids needed me.

But we got there! The supplemental nursing system helped. I would say by 2 months latest she was EBF, I had thought it was great she would be so used to the bottle so my husband could feed her. But no! Little rascal!

@Livingmagicallyagain aww well done you that's amazing!

OP posts:
Original poster
teddytoo95 · 04/08/2023 20:12

LividHot · 04/08/2023 20:05

Listen to the support worker. My sister is one and I wouldn’t have been able to bf without her advice.

Small babies feed almost constantly, and that’s what gets your supply up. If she’s weeing and pooing and gaining weight, that’s enough.

Of course she wants formula, it’s faster!

My sister says don’t bother with herbs/potions/whatever. As long as she isn’t tongue tied, just keep feeding, even if she’s attached 24/7.

Fwiw, I could never get more than a dribble from a pump, ever, even the hospital grade one. I was terrified my baby wasn’t getting anything. But he was weeing, pooing, growing and we just kept on.

(He’s three now and still boob obsessed!!)

She's 7 weeks now, should she still be feeding constantly?

I found earlier that she wouldn't even latch she got herself into such a state and then it gets me into a state aswell!

I will definitely keep an eye on her nappies too. I'm just so so worried that my supply is still low. Would you reccomend I still carry on pumping?

OP posts:
LividHot · 04/08/2023 20:14

Why pump and make life harder for yourself? Just get her attached to you for a day or two.

Readjust both of your expectations. Take to your bed like a Victorian lady or plonk in front of the telly and do nothing but boob for a good long while.

LividHot · 04/08/2023 20:15

Gross aside, but I have massive boobs and sometimes when it was hard and baby’s bead was smaller than my boob, I’d dangle over him and he’d feed from underneath as it was sometimes easier for him to latch.

LividHot · 04/08/2023 20:16

^head

Livingmagicallyagain · 04/08/2023 20:20

Yes to the PP and the “breastfeeding holiday”. Keep the baby in the kitchen! Sit in bed or on the couch for a few days and enjoy!

you may not need the SNS, I did as she had TT but it genuinely helped!

Original poster
teddytoo95 · 04/08/2023 20:25

LividHot · 04/08/2023 20:14

Why pump and make life harder for yourself? Just get her attached to you for a day or two.

Readjust both of your expectations. Take to your bed like a Victorian lady or plonk in front of the telly and do nothing but boob for a good long while.

@LividHot thing is we've already done the laying infront of the telly and just boob boob boob but she still never seems satisfied. We did the pumping as we were told by infant feeding team that was the only way to increase my supply. I'm just so confused by it all. I also have a 4 year old and have already kept him home for 2 weeks whilst we are figuring this feeding out. Xx

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread