Very limited breast milk supply

[Everlore]

I Gave birth to our perfect baby girl by c-section ten days ago. I was hoping to exclusively breast-feed her but, despite regular pumping and baby managing to latch quite well, my supply remains minimal. I have large nipples and baby is struggling to fit the whole area in her mouth, though she will happily suckle on the end of the nipple for a good time. I only get at most five to ten ml each time I pump so I assume that baby is not getting much either, though I think she's getting something out of it due to the prolonged length of her feeding, the milky residue on her mouth after latching and the fact she seems very content while suckling.
We have been feeding her with formula since the beginning due to my poor milk supply and she happily alternates between bottle and breast, no confusion apparent there, and has a hearty appetite.
I feel so much guilt due to my inability to exclusively breast-feed her, as I am aware how much more beneficial breast milk is than formula. However, I don't see that I have a choice as, if I were to attempt to exclusively nurse her, she would quickly become malnourished.
I had excellent support from the infant feeding team in hospital and am reasonably sure I'm trying everything I can. Our midwife has said not to stress about it, that topping her up with even small amounts of breast milk on top of her formula will be beneficial, but I can't stop googling the increased infection risks for formula fed babies and feeling terrible guilt that my body cannot provide our baby with something as basic as food. I would just like reassurance from mums on here who have been through similar experiences an how you made peace with needing to wholly or partially formula feed.

A few things to unpick there :)

When you say you gave formula at the beginning, due to supply, what day was this and what made you think you had low supply?

Ime large nipples and minimal amount of pumped milk isn't an indication dc isn't getting enough milk from the breast. Ask for more support from a professional.. It is easy to second guess everything about breastfeeding!

I never managed to pump more than a couple of mm each time but successfully breastfed two babies.

10ml or so very normal for a pumping session & doesn't mean baby isn't getting enough. Babies can remove milk much better than pumps! As long as baby is happy & healthy, it's fine. Keep baby on your chest as much as possible whether feeding or not xx

We're not cows. We only produce a tablespoon or something at first.

Your babies only job ATM is to feed. You don't need to pump. Just get comfy with everything to hand and nurse. That's it. Pumps are crap at gauging supply.

You don't go by ounces, you go by nappies in breastfed babies.

If you want a visual then formula is probably better for you. You'll just get stressed otherwise.

Just like @Iwontlethtesungodownonme I was unable to pump at all, but breastfed for a couple of years.

Do you have access to an infant feeding team or a lactation consultant?
They were very helpful when I had latch issues at the start.

Some IBCLCs have instagram accounts and they are very active with their support online.

Pumps are shit.

Is baby having wet and dirty nappies? Are they gaining weight? Those are the two indicators you need to focus on.

I would highly recommended calling the NBH. They are open 24:7 and can go through it all with you. Then see trained bf support in your area. Ask to seethe hospitals infant feeding team.

It’s rare to have inherent low supply. There are things that can cause it though- retained placenta, baby not feeding effectively, not feeding or pumping regularly enough including at night, formula, tongue tie, etc etc etc

It’s probably worth your time going through it all properly.

www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk

A different perspective - I tried to breastfeed to the detriment of my baby’s health and my mental health following some of the advice of just keep going / formula reduces your supply / get the help of experts / skin to skin / etc.

She didn’t gain weight for a month. I then introduced way more formula than the little top ups we’d been doing.

When I finally thought we were doing better at feeding so reduced the formula she started losing weight again.

now she’s primarily a formula baby but I still breastfeed through the day, for comfort if nothing else and to keep my supply up.

I’m sure my experience won’t be yours but just keep an open mind on what works for the two of you.

I had a similar issue - my baby had jaundice and had lost a lot of his brith weight, he was put on a strict feeding programme in hospital from 2 days old (when my milk hadn’t come through yet), so we had no choice but to use formula.
When he was finally out of hospital my supply was too low to exclusively breast feed. So I offered breast first for each feed and he’d get as much as he could, and then if he needed it (usually about 30 mins later, but sometimes immediatly when he hadn’t got any breast milk) he’d get a formula top up.
I found it really stressful at first, but in the end he has been roughly 50/50 breast milk to formula and at 6mo his immune system is great! He’s always the first to fight off a cold while me and my partner are ill for days.

I really wouldn’t worry too much about not being exclusively breastfed, and just take the pressure off yourself.
Enjoy your lovely new baby x

I breastfed 2 children, dc1 would get a bottle of ebm most days once feeding was established. Dc2 never had a bottle and I never successfully expressed a drop.

Expressing is different (and harder) don't worry about expressing too much if your baby is feeding successfully from breasts regularly.

Watch your baby as they feed, are they swallowing milk, do they settle milk drunk most of the time? Monitor the nappy output. They will tell you of your supply is good, the more you request, the more you get!

If however you decide breastfeeding isn't for you, guilt is a wasted emotion!!!

I agree with posters above I tried to pump with dd1 and got nothing ( even after successfully ebm for 9 months)

The formula however may become a problem as it could interfere with increasing supply/ cluster feeding. At a few days old a babies stomach is tiny so they really don't need much can you try and drop some of the formula and offer the breast instead, keep an eye on wet nappies.

Babies are much mure successful than pumps in getting milk OP, don’t be guided by that.
Formula feeding may be reducing supply.
Lots of breastfeeding will increase it.

If she has wet nappies and is putting on weight she’s fine.

Is she producing wet and dirty nappies? Is she not losing much weight? (It's fine if she's not up to birth weight at 10 days)

Stop expressing. Not long ago the advice was not to express until supply was established- often that meant not til 6 weeks. Just feed her on demand. It sounds as if you're doing fine.

Just take any guilt and rip it up and throw it out. It’s pointless.

I agree with everyone about the pumping - it’s not an indicator of what your supply is. Adding formula top ups early on (and I’m not saying that wasn’t necessary) but it does put you on a bit of a back foot with the supply. Because the baby stimulates your supply. I’d definitely try to trouble shoot the latch and supply issues with the support helpline.

I never felt I had a great milk supply but breastfed five children with varying degrees of success (some were topped up with formula).

One BIG thing I learned is that you need LOTS of rest/sleep, food and drink, especially initially when you're building up your supply.

Why are you pumping OP?
It’s usually not necessary unless you’re going to be away from baby for a while, unusual at 10 days.
I never pumped at all for my youngest and bf until he was 3. Always found pumping difficult tbh. Breastfeeding itself was fine.

One BIG thing I learned is that you need LOTS of rest/sleep, food and drink, especially initially when you're building up your supply.

Yes, I found I was very thirsty at the start.

I would ignore the pump completely - they can be a real source of stress and anxiety.

Is your baby gaining weight, and having plenty of wet and dirty nappies? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then you are producing enough milk and you have nothing to worry about. The amount you pump is no indication of your supply. Babies are much more efficient than a pump for getting milk out, and most women only produce what they need (rather than huge amounts extra).

Why are you pumping?

I have issues with oversupply and even I honestly don't get enormous amounts from a pump. Plus it takes ages and it hurts. Baby is a lot more efficient.