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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

please help im really regreting it now that i have given up bf is it to late to try again?

32 replies

feelingreallysad · 28/09/2008 14:16

My baby is 3 weeks old i had bf problems from the start he never latched on so i expressed, i then got mastitis so gave up a week ago i have not expressed since
now that it is getting better i cant move on and i really regret giving up.
When i squezze i can still get milk out is it to late to bf now and should i just except its to late?
or is it pos to build up my supply again and how long would it take for my supply to meet my babys needs?
Also ive still got a few days of antibs to take is it ok to take them and breast feed i told my doc i wasnt bf at the time they are flucoxacillin 250mg i will ring and ask doc tomorrow but just wondered if anyone has had them and still bf?

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 28/09/2008 14:19

I took flucoxacillin and breastfed. You can absolutely start again. It is hard work I gather but possible. Have you tried searching the archives. Some MNers have done this- restarted that is.

Be kind to yourself. Have had mastitis. It is hellish.

lulumama · 28/09/2008 14:19

no, it is not too late... i think the ABs are ok,but i would get some proper help with relactating, getting baby back to the breast as much as possible and getting the supply going again. good info and helpline numbers here

misdee · 28/09/2008 14:19

its not too late. i dont know much about it, but some people on here do.

not sure about the AB's either.

soremummy · 28/09/2008 14:24

I had same ab when I got mastitis and fed through it

Original poster
feelingreallysad · 28/09/2008 14:42

Thanks everyone.

I am going to bf him on his next feed, my nipple sheild is in the sterliser
Should i offer a bottle after both breasts? i dont want to starve him

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 28/09/2008 19:10

Gosh it's quiet on here, so bumping for you.

What happened with the feed?

Bluebutterfly · 28/09/2008 19:15

bump

yeahyeah · 28/09/2008 19:20

You can start again...just keep at it...constantly, and make sure you are getting sleep (whenever you can snatch any) and eating enough! Take care of yourself, relax and keep at it...don't worry if you are topping up, just keep doing it as often as possible.

Original poster
feelingreallysad · 28/09/2008 22:02

He latched on straight away with the nipple sheild on but didnt seem to get any milk and then got all fussy and angry so i gave him the bottle same thing happend at the next feed it looks like he cant get a good grip on the sheild iykwim,i cant get him to latch on without it i dont have much nipple for him to get hold of.

OP posts:
Pannacotta · 28/09/2008 22:07

You could express for now (by hand or with a pump) and mix whatever milk you get with his formula.
I think you would probably need to express every 2 hours or so to get your supply going but the best thing to do is to get some proper help and try to get a breastfeeding councillor to come and see you and help with the latch.
Good luck and keep posting for advice/support, there are some v experienced folk on here.

Pannacotta · 28/09/2008 22:08

Oh and it might be worth expressing before each feed so your milk is already flowing when you put your baby to the breast, this might make it easier for him.

PortAndLemon · 28/09/2008 22:09

Here's the kellymom page on relactation -- some useful information.

Nezzi · 29/09/2008 12:05

Hi

I know exactly how you feel, my DS is 4 weeks old and he has never latched on either.
I have listened to the advice on here and on other sites like kellymom etc and I am expressing milk and giving it to him along with his formula. I don't get much because I don't get to do it very often (certainly not every 2 hours) but he gets some EBM every day and I take heart knowing that the little he gets is good for him. I got 60mls last night so it can be done.
Keep up the good work and try not to feel too sad, you've still got time for it to work out. One poster told me that she got her son to latch at 4 months, hoorah!

Original poster
feelingreallysad · 02/10/2008 11:21

ok ds2 is now latching on without the sheild
ive just got a few questions

1)when he is feeding he isnt really sucking it looks like he is chomping iykwim is this wrong should he be sucking?

2)my nipples are not hurting they just feel abit sensitive like when they get cold does this mean the latch is wrong?

  1. I am still giving him a bottle after both breasts and he is still drinking all 4oz so do you think he is getting any milk? i know my supply wont be much at the moment but i seem to hand exspress lots out after he has fed.

I am seeing hv tomorrow so i will talk to her, can she refer me to a bfc? there is a drop in place on mondays so i will go there to.

OP posts:
Original poster
feelingreallysad · 02/10/2008 11:42

Also does fenugreek really work i will get some if it does?

OP posts:
Original poster
feelingreallysad · 02/10/2008 12:28

Anyone?

OP posts:
CantSleepWontSleep · 02/10/2008 12:44
  1. He should be sucking. Can you hear/see him swallowing at all?
  1. No, it doesn't mean the latch is wrong. Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt.
  1. Hard to say. How often are you offering the breasts? Are you offering them at night too, as that's the most important time to stimulate your supply in the early weeks.

Sadly a lot of the NHS bfcs aren't great. I would phone one from lll, NCT or ABM. Numbers on the RHS on here.

iwantasecondone · 02/10/2008 12:52

I stopped and started again. Is very possible! Fenugreek does work, so do oats so have porridge or flapjacks. My advice is to give up all plans for next few days and lie in bed with baby, skin to skin and just feed and feed!

onebatmother · 02/10/2008 12:53

It does look a bit like chomping, though, doesn't it? Second CSWS advising away from NHS bfcs and towards La leche etc.

ShowOfHands · 02/10/2008 21:46

They do chomp as well as sucking. That's a good description. Like massaging the breast with their gums I suppose.

My dd is 17mo and bfed and my nipples really hurt when it's cold. My nipples are more sensitive now but it doesn't hurt to feed at all.

Have you watched his ears and throat as he's latched on? You can see the motion of swallowing. Also, the fact that he'll drink milk from a bottle afterwards doesn't mean he isn't getting bm. It's just a different action for him.

Please chase up a decent bfc.

Brilliant news that he's latching on btw. And anything you express you can give in a cup if you'd rather keep him away from bottles as much as possible while you're weaning him back onto bm.

elvisgirl · 03/10/2008 02:22

Chomping is good for stimulation of the breasts even when he is not getting milk.
I would recommend getting an electric pump, preferably a double one to halve pumping time, as it would make pumping so much easier. You might be able to hire one or borrow one if you ask around mother's groups etc Sometimes they are on ebay. They are quite expensive but if you keep breastfeeding for a while they are worth it as you can use it for getting milk for others to feed baby eventually, if you want some time off, etc One with a soft cup insert is good for stimulating the breast more. Keep pumping even if you are not getting much at all. You do not have to sterilize pump parts if you are only using it for your use & baby was not premmie or ill, which will save time & hassle.
Lots of good advice here already: oats good, ground linseeds/flaxseeds or the oil mixed in smoothies or poridge too. Keep up fluids. Lots of skin to skin as already mentioned too & forget about outside world as much as possible!
Babies often drink whatever is presented to them in a bottle as it is there & easy to get so it doesn't necessarily mean he is not getting anything from you. Try to pace out the bottle feeds a bit to get him used to making an effort to get his drink, & swap sides, use same hold, etc When he is at the breast & seems to have finished one side, put him back to the same side to see if he can get any more before swapping to the other side.
Try a warm, not hot, wheatpack above the breats before feeding/expressing.
Good on you for trying. Probably the most important thing is personal commitment! Women that adopt babies can even breastfeed them so you already have a head start!
The Australian BF-ing Association has a good forum with a section on re-lactating here: www.lrc.asn.au/forum/viewforum.php?f=13&sid=65290831a0170d02210282bb1ef41548

lollyheart · 03/10/2008 11:25

Hi thanks for all the great advise

I am feelingreallysad but have changed back to my normal name as i keep forgeting to change back again.

my milk supply is really crap ive just expressed half an ounce from each boob i used to get 6oz

If i keep pumping will it increse? or am im fighting a losing battle and call it aday and just ff?

elvisgirl · 03/10/2008 12:42

I've been bfing for 6mths, pumping nearly every day for most of that & I usually only get about 2oz!
If you can stand to keep going for a bit longer it would be worth keeping trying...
Some people do feed a combo of formula & breast milk and their supply levels out to meet this.
I'm not sure how long it would take for your supply to get up to a reasonable level. Especially in the first two months or so baby's needs are all over the place, but your body should still respond to the demand. My supply went almost non-existent when my periods returned & I had 2-3 nightmare days of trying to get it back up (fortunately backed up with frozen expressed milk) so I can only imagine how much effort it would be with such a young babe. But the best advice is keep on pumping & giving babe every opportunity to try feeding. Good luck!

lollyheart · 03/10/2008 16:38

Can i ask a silly question if i was to ring a bf help line does anyone come out to my house to help me because i dont think there is much someone can do over the phone, also if they do come out are there services free i willing to pay but just wondered?

lollyheart · 03/10/2008 18:27

Ok now i have blood coming out of my left nipple when expressing and is mixing with the milk is it ok to use?