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Infant feeding

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

Had enough, almost wanting to give up bf, can't decide what to do next! Help!

34 replies

Onestonetogo · 24/06/2008 17:37

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tiktok · 24/06/2008 17:47

Hope we can help.

You don't say what you understand by a 'full feed' and how you know your baby was not having one, how you know your supply was poor, what your baby's weight has been like....giving ebm in a bottle and expressing and breastfeeding direct is the most exhausting way to feed, and no wonder you are fed up

Can you give a bit more info?

tiktok · 24/06/2008 17:48

Just seen you have said he is growing well...so I don't see why you thought you had a problem with his feeding??

Romy7 · 24/06/2008 17:57

i gave up feeding dd2 after the ebm/ bottlefeeding route - she was tube fed to start with though. Expressing and feeding with other young children is an exhausting process, I understand how you feel.
i'm not sure why you are concerned with his feeding on the breast though, if he is gaining weight and happy?
ds1 was a 'little and often' feeder (including through the night lol), whereas dd1 was a bruiser who always wanted two full breasts...
so, he fed from the breast as much as he wanted, (and you say you had milk left), and then you offered him ebm and he drank it? why does he not go back onto the breast at that point instead off topping up with bottle?

Onestonetogo · 24/06/2008 17:59

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Romy7 · 24/06/2008 18:05

oh, ok - so it's a latching/ sucking issue rather than milk production etc...
i'll leave it to the experts then - that's why i had to tube feed and then ebm - dd2 was born with no suck so impossible to latch!
(wasn't criticising btw - just trying to establish which 'bit' was the issue ie milk supply, baby not interested, etc etc...)

Onestonetogo · 24/06/2008 18:08

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Romy7 · 24/06/2008 18:09

i was just going to say you needed to get the thrush sorted lol - has he got it too or have you managed to avoid that?

Onestonetogo · 24/06/2008 18:13

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Onestonetogo · 24/06/2008 18:15

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Romy7 · 24/06/2008 18:17

do you express on the other side whilst he is feeding? just wondered if that might make it 'easier' for him - you've probably tried that...

Onestonetogo · 24/06/2008 18:23

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Romy7 · 24/06/2008 18:36

the only other thing i did was to snuggle them in close, and use a (gulp) dummy, and when they were sucking on that, do the magic switch to get them back on the boob...

not recommended by the bottle/nipple confusion brigade, obv...

if it is a weak suck - we had the option of using a gadget called (i think) a supplementer, which still means expressing, but at least you are still bf...

the expressing is a killer tho - i gave up at exactly your stage for my own sanity.

did manage to get dd2 latched on once tho - for about 20 seconds - we were both unbelievably surprised. if she'd been dc1 i probably would have been prepared to fight a bit harder, but it is difficult with others who need you too.

hopefully you'll get some more helpful advice! good luck! fingers crossed you manage to find a way to keep on.

turtle23 · 24/06/2008 19:14

Can I just add that we had recurrent thrush and now have taken fluconazole tablets and killed it off. Am still continuing treating him and me with cream and drops, but if you still have thrush maybe it's wise to step up treatment? See breastfeeding network for helpful info. HTH

MsDemeanor · 24/06/2008 19:19

So you don't have thrush? I have to say all mine had a white coating on their tongues, especially after a feed. Who told you he had thrush? (again, not criticising!)
10% in first four days is 100% normal you know. That's why they are born with fat on board - they are designed to lose weight at first. It's totally normal not to have any milk at all to give them for four days, just colostrum. IT is still very, very early days for you. Babies have to learn to feed just as you do, and, barring things like tongue tie, they do normally get the hang of it if you persevere and as they grow.

smallwhitecat · 24/06/2008 19:25

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Onestonetogo · 24/06/2008 19:59

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Onestonetogo · 24/06/2008 22:39

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laundrylover · 24/06/2008 23:06

That nipple sensitivity really does sound like thrush. Do a search on here for lots of thrush advice - as you are using bottles and teats you need to use Milton as a steriliser until the thrush clears -boiling/steaming will not kill Candida and you will be continually reinfecting.

I agree with TikTok that the expressing route is knackering and would say to really hit the thrush and then try to get him off the bottle and back on to 100% bfeeds....thrush is awful but bfing can be lovely again.

MsDemeanor · 25/06/2008 10:49

What treatment have you tried for thrush? Are you taking Diflucan? Your gp can prescribe it to save you money.
This doesn't sound like a supply issue to me. If he has got thrush then he might well be finding it uncomfortable to feed, hence the pulling away.

laundrylover · 25/06/2008 11:50

The drug name is Fluconazole but you may have difficulty getting it prescribed as it is unlicensed for bfing mothers.

Good luck.

Place · 25/06/2008 12:10

Definately sounds like thrush. So hope you are both being treated topically (usual prescription is Daktarin cream for nipples after feeds, and either daktarin oral gel or nystatin drops for baby after most feeds, if it becomes severe i.e. shooting/stabbing/hot needles in breast then the next step would probably be fluconazole).

Large nipples can 'somteimes' have an effect but not usually at this age, if positioning is good.

If you feed your baby on a pillow rather than reclining back and holding him, then it's quite likely that he's 'sliding' on the pillow and pulling you nipple longer.

A baby with thrush has a tongue that hurts, so it's a bit like you swallowing with a sort thoat - you know you want to eat but can't, which 'could' be a reason why he's 'nipple' rather than 'breast' feeding.

I wouldn't be inclined to take much notice of the pre and post feed wieghing, most scales aren't that accurate to pick up an extra ounce or two, and at this age a bae only needs about 3 ounces of breastmilk at a feed - and of course it might have been a 'snack' or his lunch rather than his big meal!

Do you switch him to the other breast when he comes off the first side? it's always advisable to offer the second side in case they want it.

It's impossible to 'empty' a breast, you can only take 78% of milk that from a breast, there will always be some left (it might be difficult to get hold of but still there). If you express after a feed you would get less than a baby would who is feeding effectively, as a pump can only 'suck' whereas a baby sucks but also milks with his tongue. Pumping after a feed for 5 to 10 minutes will help to increase milk production.

HTH

Place · 25/06/2008 12:12

p.s. phone one of the breastfeeding organisations and talk it through (ABM 08444 122 949)

turtle23 · 25/06/2008 12:34

just a note...daktarin is now not "allowed" for babies under 4 months...but you can still buy it.

scorpio1 · 25/06/2008 12:41

turtle - did you get it?

Place · 25/06/2008 12:53

Yes turtle - they was a cuffufle a couple of weeks ago about it, it seems that the mum wasn't given correct application instruction and just blobbed a dollop into tha babes mouth instead of wiping it around inside of mouth, so precautions were sent out. I beleive that doctors are still able to prescribe it though.