Not breastfeed properly in 3 days is it too late to still BF?( I seem to be drying up)

[Louisexox]

Since Friday until now I've only breastfeed DD about 7times, I thought I was ready to give up breastfeeding but now I realise it's worth the sleepless nights( she'll sleep 9 hours on fourmula and a maximum of 3 on BF) She never seems to get confused between bottle and breast( despite being 5 weeks 3 days old) and does prefer BF.

Will my milk supply get back to normal? if I BF her on demand again( It will be difficult shes been on me since half 9 this morning and it's now 1o'clock). I'm getting worried as my milk filled G's now seem to of gone back done to my Pre pregnancy size of E and when I usually express I could get about 100ml in 20 odd minutes now only a drop will come out. Have I more or less dryed up?.

Sorry forthe long question I'm getting quite worried please help.

Louise.x

Hi Louise and sorry you are having a tough time. If you have been breastfeeding for 5 weeks and have had a good supply then it is very unlikely that your milk has "gone" especially if you have fed her several times over the last few days. However, it is likely to take a few days for your breasts to respond to feeding her on demand again so she may well be on you a lot. I would not be guided by how much you can express, particularly if she is feeding a lot. If you continue to feed her on demand, with plenty of skin to skin contact, your supply should respond within a couple of days. Some people find that taking a herbal supplement of fenugreek or fennel seems to help their supply.

Take care and keep posting

Bf-ing is definitely worth it I think so good on you for giving it another go. But it is very worrying indeed when you think there are supply issues but the best thing to do is to try to be relaxed. Keep her on you as much as poss, just suckling if not feeding, massage the breast whilst she is there, keep trying expressing when you can for the stimulation, carry her around in a sling pref skin to skin, get warmth onto the breasts from a shower or warm (not hot) heat pack. Drink lots, relax, sleep as much as poss, don't do anything very physical, confine yourself to home if poss, get anyone available to help you forget about everything else until it is sorted which may take a day or two more. Oats are also said to be good for supply. Women can lactate that have not had babies if they adopt for example, so seeing as you have been successful up until now it should only be a matter of time until all is well again.

You should be fine, you'll probably find she feeds more often than before to start with, but it will settle down as your boobs catch up with the demand! Go for it, it's so much nicer than bottle feeding!