Too late to start pumping at 6 weeks?

[Stressedmum12345]

Baby is almost 6 weeks old, breastfed for the first week I think it was, baby struggled to latch consistently and was constantly hungry - and in fresh post c-section fog I ended up not persevering (I’d wanted to exclusively breastfeed). Regretting it now very much, and want to at least supplement baby’s formula feeds with breast milk. I’ve been hand expressing, I was using an electric pump but struggled to get on with it as had to hold/press into breast to get it to work and found that with a fussy baby it was really impractical to be holding a pump when I could just hand express. Pump is an Amazon cheapie but seemed to do ok.

Since then I’ve stopped using electric pump through just swapping to expressing with my hands and a haka (think that’s what they’re called?) type thing. But only once or twice a day so getting very little, just enough to pour into the end of a formula bottle (like 2-3oz for ages pumping).

Feeling horrible that I didn’t stay on top of it when my breasts were leaking constantly, now I would do anything to get that back as didn’t realise how much I’d regret not giving as much breast milk as I’d hoped 🥲

can I get a good supply back at this point (6weeks post partum)? Have I missed my chance, has anyone got any experience with this? Accepted I’ll have to hand express probably, I have a wearable pump in my Amazon basket (not branded) and tempted to order thinking it’ll mean I can ‘get on with life’ and pump but worried it won’t be the miracle solution and just demoralise me and waste money. Any help appreciated!!

I didn't want to read and run... As far as I know, your body responds to your 'feeding schedule' (or in this case expression) so the more you pump/feed, the more milk that's produced. I would assume, although I certainly have no real idea, that if you upped the pumping sessions, your body would respond and make more milk. Have you spoke to HV as they'll probably have a better idea.

I have an Elvie (had it since my first) and do like the hands-free element. However, it won't magically mean you'll be getting a lot more oz of milk. I think you'll need to be committed to expressing every couple of hours to really see if it'll make a difference.

Have you tried feeding baby directly from the breast or do they get really frustrated? I know this can be a problem after they're used to feeding more easily from a bottle. I think, if I were you, I'd try nursing every two hours or so, and then express for an additional 20mins.

I was going to say this. I don't know but I was told that the baby is more efficient than any pump. Worth a try ? I couldn't get on with an electric pump but found this one worked for me...

https://www.buysbest.co.uk/product/philips-avent-manual-breast-pump-and-120ml-bottle-with-0m-nipple-kit-white/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhfipBhCqARIsAH9msbn79Sro5M68lE86RUIfPD5Y5d3G-bWcQIMWvrxVBX7f_yfi40pi2NEaAm61EALw_wcB

You can - but it’ll be hard work at this point; and hands free pumps aren’t great for maintaining supply when you do have one, so I can’t imagine they’d be recommended for re-establishing. I bought an Elvie so I could “carry on with life”, and was furious to find out they aren’t designed to fully empty you. Some of the wall pumps are, but your baby will absolutely be the most efficient, followed by a wall pump.

It absolutely is possible but it’s a bit of a mission so call on all the help you can get; and prepare yourself. the first ten weeks or so of breastfeeding are really hard work, but you can get back on the horse x

It is possible, but it’s bloody hard work.

I didn’t completely stop pumping but directly feeding my ds didn’t work so I was pumping for him and gave up a few times so my supply plummeted.

I worked with the author of this book to rebuild my supply, I ended up successfully feeding him for 3 years and was really glad I did it. However it was a massive pain in the bum and left me with lots of complicated feelings about how difficult his newborn days were.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Relactation-Guide-Rebuilding-Your-Supply/dp/1946665444

Hello, here's a guide to relactation. Tout absolutely need a hospitals grade pump. Wearables are great but when your supply is established, but at this point I would use only occasionally.
https://exclusivepumping.com/relactation-pumping-schedules/

Thank you so much for the replies I will reply properly later today. Think I just feel a bit depressed about the whole thing because I saw a girl on Facebook I know asking for help getting her baby to take a bottle of breast milk because he only breastfeeds and got a stupid pang of jealousy. Formula was the right thing at the time and probably still is, just feel like I failed. The first week or so I’d fill a haka just by sitting with it on me, why didn’t I freeze any of it or try harder? Baby will only bf when he’s super sleepy or not hungry, and gets upset if he can’t latch straight away. We didn’t have the easiest time of it when in the hospital even. Id never be able to exclusively bf anyway as even if I can increase my supply there ain’t no way my body is giving my boy 9 ounces 3ish times a day (don’t even ask, midwives and health visitors say he’s just a hungry baby)

Hi OP. I had to reply as we sound really similar, although my baby is a few weeks older than yours now. She wouldn't latch at all. I was also in a total post section fog and just couldn't get myself on board with it all and felt so miserable. Formula absolutely saved my sanity at the time and she was fully formula fed by the end of week 1 (although realistically even prior to then had only had a few half bottles of pumped milk). Around 6 weeks, I felt massively guilty and upset about it all and used to feel really left out and down when other mums in my antenatal group were talking about feeding their little ones. I tried to re-latch DD a few times but she ended up upset and confused. I'd actually given away my pump but did try to hand express a bit of milk. However, after some soul searching I decided we were managing perfectly fine with formula, DD was gaining weight and very settled. I realised I only wanted to breastfeed because I had some lingering guilt and that that guilt was completely misplaced - I gave feeding a good shot and was recovering from a tricky birth. Formula is a perfectly good substitute. Blame the lack of breastfeeding education in this country and support in hospital post-natally all you want but certainly don't blame yourself. You tried your best and made the right decision at the time. There is plenty of information out there if you do want to relactate but I just wanted to say that you should make that decision because it's best for you and your LO, not because you have feelings of misplaced guilt over how things worked out.

You haven't failed. It's hard, please be kind to yourself. I didn't start pumping until my baby was about 3 months old but I had (with difficulty) managed to establish breastfeeding so I had a regular milk supply already it was then a case of increasing supply slightly as he was feeding fine by then. I had signed up to donate milk to my local hospital but there was a waiting list & I then had to wait for blood tests etc hence the delay to start pumping. Took a few days (maybe a week?) to get pumping properly established and if I was too tired or stressed I'd produce less milk. Bottles are easier for baby then bf, you did what was right for you both don't beat yourself up.

@Stressedmum12345 At 6 weeks, I was SO close to quitting breastfeeding. I had stuck it out that far through sheer pig-headedness. I dreaded every feed because it hurt so much. We went round in circles with lactation consultants and help, then finally got referred to have his tongue rechecked incase he had tongue tie, and he was 12 hours too old for my hospital to offer it anymore and we'd need a private assessment and cut, if he needed it. We couldn't afford the £400-odd and I was worried about reports that private providers 'find' a tongue tie to charge you to cut it... We were already having to do formula top ups after every feed.

At his 6-week check, the doctor told me to give up breastfeeding and put him totally on formula. He told me not to put pressure on myself, we'd both be happier, he'd gain more weight, it was a very middle-class thing to be so obsessed with wanting to breastfeed. I cried, a lot. DH was baffled. A lovely nurse got me a tissue but told me the doctor was right.

By 10 weeks, the pain had disappeared, and he seemed to get more milk. He stopped being interested in the bottle after me. After that, we had a pretty good run. He never really cluster-fed, he's never bitten me, we've had some lovely moments. He's now nearly two, and other than never sleeping through and still waking up a few times to feed every night, it's been good. We're thinking about weaning now and the idea breaks my heart.

Anyway - my point is that I still feel guilty. Some of it is just mum guilt, I think. I might always carry that - and acknowledging that makes it a bit easier to bear, now. Looking back, I have no idea how I lasted that first 10 weeks. About four consultants saw my nipples and said they were the worst they'd ever seen. They looked destroyed. I'm amazed that they haven't scarred...

If you want to relactate, you can. And you might be surprised with how much he can get, when he gets bigger and can control his mouth more - I'm sure that's what made the difference for us. But don't feel guilty. Every motherhood decision comes with its cross to bear, honestly.

Best of luck to you, whatever you try. You haven't failed. You've got a happy, healthy six-week-old. You're smashing it out of the park.