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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

milk supply

33 replies

alex7715 · 07/02/2009 17:32

hi all , my s is 8 weeks i have bee bf since 2 days and have had a few probs with it but over all ok my s feeds all day and when i can i expres 2 a day but only realy get between 1 ounce and 2 , is thst normal or should it be more also if i expres more times i.e once in the night will i produce more or is my feeding establihed now or can i get more ometimes i feel he need more he was 6 11 born and hes 8 . 1 now many thanks in advance . xxxx

OP posts:

hercules1 · 07/02/2009 17:38

Expressing is absolutely no indication of how much milk you have. Why are you expressing? There is no need. Your baby is far more efficient at getting milk out and stimulating more milk to be produced.

Original poster

alex7715 · 07/02/2009 17:47

m mw said if you express aswell as feed you will get more and will produce more

OP posts:

hercules1 · 07/02/2009 17:48

alex- there is no need to express a normal bf baby, really there isnt. Just feed the baby. All that faff of sterilising etc for not a lot.

tiktok · 07/02/2009 18:02

Herc is right - what a faff! You don't need to express, the amount you get is not an indication of how much you make or how much the baby gets. Some women have to express because they or their baby have problems, but doing it routinely when everything is clearly just fine is a waste of time, it really is

Original poster

alex7715 · 07/02/2009 18:05

but he m w still wants me to give him a f feed at night and i try and replace that with a bf expressed . and i worry bout his weight
he has only ever gained bout 4 ounces a week some weeks no gain .

OP posts:

Original poster

alex7715 · 07/02/2009 18:07

but he m w still wants me to give him a f feed at night and i try and replace that with a bf expressed . and i worry bout his weight
he has only ever gained bout 4 ounces a week some weeks no gain . so i think hes not getting enough
xxxx

OP posts:

tiktok · 07/02/2009 18:09

The midwife wants you to give a formula feed at night...why?

If you feel your baby needs to gain weight more quickly, then you have the milk already, in your breasts Offer the breast more often, feed from both breasts every time, going back to breast one and then two again if your baby would like more. Gotta be easier than expressing!

Giving formula makes you make less milk, and giving expressed instead of feeding has the same effect, unless you express again at the time of giving the expressed bottle...and that's a bit pointless You might just as well feed

Original poster

alex7715 · 07/02/2009 18:10

wow is there anyway i can make more milk

OP posts:

hercules1 · 07/02/2009 18:25

Yes, breastfeed!

tiktok · 07/02/2009 18:27

alex, the only surefire way of making more milk is to remove milk effectively...and a baby who is breastfeeding well is probably better at this than any pump. The more often milk is removed, the more quickly it is made, which results in a greater quantity of milk over any period of time.

This is how mothers of twins and mothers of triplets can make enough milk - twice the frequency of milk removal (or thrice ) equals twice (or thrice) the quantity.

So to make more milk, feed your baby more often, using both breasts (at least) at every session.

You gotta wonder why your midwife did not explain this to you, and instead told you to use formula....

Original poster

alex7715 · 07/02/2009 18:30

ok thanks herc so i just feed feed feed feed like i am doing and will be fine , if there is not a grat weight gain whens hes weighed what do i say she shouts at me nd says i cant just cut out f but i dnt want to do it im so proud of my self this time and its just upsets me as espeicaly my oh thinks my milk aint good enough hes a realy c and g man , but i love feeding .

OP posts:

tiktok · 07/02/2009 18:50

You deserve support and a big medal, not criticism and shouting

If the weight gain is not what you're looking for, just tell the midwife 'because you are concerned, I plan to offer more breastfeeding'.

Your partner doesn't understand bf if he thinks there is ever an issue with quality - the quality of breastmilk is always high, no matter what the mum's state of health or nutrition. Nature looks after the next generation by making sure of it

Good for you, enjoying feeding! It's fab!

Original poster

alex7715 · 07/02/2009 19:04

thanks huns for advice .

OP posts:

hercules1 · 08/02/2009 08:43

whispers - you know you don't have to go to see hvs and mws.

Original poster

alex7715 · 08/02/2009 10:08

lol thank you hercules1 i have now not give my son ff for 3 days hes doing great and im confident in my own milk and i know my sons fine thank you . xxxx

OP posts:

Original poster

alex7715 · 08/02/2009 10:09

just needed some strong advice . xxxx thanl you

OP posts:

hercules1 · 08/02/2009 10:09

Hurrah!

lowrib · 09/02/2009 01:29

alex the MW is talking total nonsense! Her advice goes against the NHS and WHO guidelines.

Also she should not shout at you! You have a right ask for a new midwife. If it was me, I'd contact the senior midwife and say I won't see that particular MW anymore but I'm happy for a new one. I'd be honest about the reasons.

Have you heard of La Leche League? They're brilliant - they provide support and advice on breastfeeding, they have a helpline (0845 120 2918), and they will even send a BFing counselor to your home FOR FREE if needs be.

They will be able to advise on ways to increase your milk, but also if you need some support with standing up the MW, I expect they will be able help.

Original poster

alex7715 · 11/02/2009 17:51

my clever baby has put on 11 ozs and yet they were still not pleased am so confused !!!! . xxxx

OP posts:

tiktok · 11/02/2009 18:11

Is this in a week?

I don't understand why this would be seen as a problem.

Babies don't usually gain any more than this - in fact 11 oz is right up there at the end of the spectrum!

What did she say to you?

Original poster

alex7715 · 11/02/2009 21:22

in two weeks she said i shoulnt just cut out the f . xxxx

OP posts:

tiktok · 11/02/2009 21:59

11 oz in 2 weeks is well within normal limits, alex....perhaps the midwife doesn't understand that you haven't just 'cut out' the formula, you have been consciously replacing it with more bf.

I am always a bit hesitant to disparage what midwives and others say in case they are seeing something or assessing something - but in this case, you do deserve an explnation of why she is saying this to you.

notperfectmum · 11/02/2009 22:23

I had hv suggest I supplement bf with f when my ds was tiny as he was not gaining weigt sufficently. I resisted and took to my bed with him so that her could feed for 48 hours on demand (thanfully have v supportive husband who looked after DD). DS is now a strapping 11 mth old and has just stopped bf! Your body produces what you need. Good luck!

Unbuffy · 12/02/2009 11:23

2 ways I've tries to make more milk:

eat more protein

drink MASSES. A pint each feed (water) plus milk, juice etc.

I'm not sure yet about the 1st one but the 2nd is brilliant... just watch them inflate...

tiktok · 12/02/2009 11:41

Unbuffy - great you found something that worked for you but 1 pint of liquid for every feed is not necessary and could cause discomfort

www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-calories-fluids.html

It's not something that generally would be advised.

The protein thing is not relevant to milk production either, sorry

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