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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

panicked after birth but now regretting it

21 replies

fernie3 · 12/02/2009 20:14

hi
my baby was born saturday night so she is 4 days old now. I had a difficult time in hospital and she was induced after she was born I was in a state and panicked and decided to bottle feed.
now i regret it but since she is 4 days old is it too late to even try one or two feeds? is it pointless? She has been taking bottle really well and eats about 2 ozs of formula at each feed so part of me feels like it would just be uneccassary to switch over but then another part is really sad that i didnt even try.

does anyone have any advice?

sophie

OP posts:

CarGirl · 12/02/2009 20:17

there is info on here about relactating, just offer the breast every feed as a start I think the website called Kellymom????? hs the info.

It's def not too late

cmotdibbler · 12/02/2009 20:19

If you want to try, you have nothing to lose by giving it a go.

Try putting her to the breast, give her loads of opportunity to latch on, lots of skin to skin by going to bed, taking your top off and her clothes, and just let her suckle whenever she wants

AnarchyAuntSaysRomanceIsDead · 12/02/2009 20:20

Its not too late to try switching over if thats what you want - not at all

Has your milk come in at all? Whether it has or not, if you want to try BF the important thing is to get your DD feeding as much as possible to stimulate supply. Skin-to-skin, plenty of closeness - a babymoon if you are able to just go to bed with her and feed for a day, all these will help.

Kellymom has some good advice.

If you just want to try one or two feeds to see how you get on, thats great too - every drop of BM you can give her is well worth it.

giantkatestacks · 12/02/2009 20:20

its not too late though it is hard - theres lots of threads on here about it - have you got a pump? You need to be expressing every couplf of hours and at least once in the night as well.

tumtumtetum · 12/02/2009 20:20

Hi i'm no expert and sure people who know will be along, but I'd have thought it's definitely not to late.

Why not give her a few trys and see what happens? When she is rooting maybe?

charitygirl · 12/02/2009 20:21

You wouldn't even be relactating, as your milk won't have 'stopped' yet.

Do give it a go, I'm not an expert, but I think the theory is you must put the baby to the breat 8 times in 24 hours to get the supply up, as well as giving her the formula at first.

Don't be disheartened if you don't leak etc - I never have.

But yes, visit ww.kellymom.com and search things like 'starting late' and other likely terms.

There are a couple of ladies on these boards who are successfully taking up bf-ing after several weeks so you CAN do it.

Also look up the helpines like NCT and La Leche League. Cood luck!

RockinSockBunnies · 12/02/2009 20:24

It's only Day 4 - I'm sure it's not too late by any means. My milk didn't come in until day 6 so I'm sure you'll be able to feed your DD.

What happens when you put her to the breast? Have you tried latching her on? I'd recommend looking at some of the websites already mentioned on the thread, having as much skin to skin as possible and putting her to the breast as much as you can.

Also, see if you can get in touch with a breastfeeding counseller ASAP and perhaps get someone over to guide you through the basics?

AnarchyAuntSaysRomanceIsDead · 12/02/2009 20:24

Four days is absolutely not too late btw - there are societies where women do not feed their babies until their milk comes in and still successfully establish full BF. Not ideal but definitely possible.

Original poster

fernie3 · 12/02/2009 20:27

hi
I have not had any leaking at all until today yesterday they were quite sore and today I have had a bit of yellowy liquid leak out but not alot. Is that the milk coming?

sophie

OP posts:

RockinSockBunnies · 12/02/2009 20:28

Yes - sounds like your milk is coming in.

Have you tried putting your DD to your breast?

Original poster

fernie3 · 12/02/2009 20:29

edited to add: just had a look and if i touch my nipple it leaks out quite alot. I am going to look for some info on how to get her to take it since she has not had to before I am not sure how she will know what to do after having bottles!

sophie

OP posts:

AnarchyAuntSaysRomanceIsDead · 12/02/2009 20:30

Yes, sounds like it If you can get her feeding it will encourage more milk to be produced and so on.

Good luck!

charitygirl · 12/02/2009 20:31

Sounds like its come in - put your dd to the breast. You may have problems latching her on first (most of us do) and it may be painful on your nipples. Neither of these (necessarily) mean you're doing it wrong!

And you may see no milk...which could be because your DD isn't wasting a drop.

giantkatestacks · 12/02/2009 20:31

thats great news fernie - you need to sit somwhere nice and comfy and dim and strip down to your waist and just gently try to latch her on. Dont try anything when shes starving hungry though as she will just get cross.

AnarchyAuntSaysRomanceIsDead · 12/02/2009 20:33

If you squeeze a few drops of milk onto your nipple it will encourage her to feed - look for videos online of correct positioning and attatchment as it is hard to explain!

Take it slow, and don't try when she is starving and frantic. Wait until she is calm and snuggly.

tumtumtetum · 12/02/2009 20:37

Wow that's brilliant news - definitely not too late then!

Did you do the classes etc at ante-natal - do you have a rough idea of how to go about it?

How I was told was, sort of brush top of baby's mouth with nipple and when baby opens mouth really wide stuff your boob in - not just your nipple - and take it from there. I found looking at videos of women BF on the net a real help to see how much boon goes into mouth, angle etc.

tumtumtetum · 12/02/2009 20:37

boob not boon!

fishie · 12/02/2009 20:40

have a bath with her.

dancingonmice · 12/02/2009 20:41

Good luck!

(LOL @ Boon!)

stardazzle · 12/02/2009 20:44

is your midwife coming in the morning? she should be able to help you latch the baby on, although have a go tonight. If not phone her and ask her to come.

Good luck.

callmeovercautious · 12/02/2009 20:54

So sorry the Birth experience made you panic about BFing.

Try laying down slightly propped up. Then put DD (naked) on your bare front with her mouth near your nipple. Hopefully she will turn towards it and "mouth". If she does that then just move her a bit and support her head so she can reach your nipple. It might take time for her to get the hang of feeding properly but she still has the natural instinct to suckle so given a chance she should do well

You can try this in a warm bath (the fluid is supposed to calm them).

You could always express a little bit as well in the mean time to stimulate your supply. Not essential though if DD can get the hang of it soon.

Congratulations on your new arrival - and Good Luck X

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