Can I successfully mix-feed?

[alux]

Yesterday seemed like the straw that broke the camel's back.

I had an emotionally difficult pg, pre-eclampsia and a traumatic delivery. Baby then had jaundice and I high bp so we were in hospital for 8 days together. During this time I began to bf successfully though baby screamed constantly while under the lights.

We came home a week ago and I promptly came down with the flu.

Yesterday, the HV weighed baby and she has lost 8 oz. (Born 7lb, 4oz on 19/4) She is not yet worried about her weight but I was told to supplement feed with formula as I am not eating properly due to the flu and my milk production must be down. Baby has been very demanding and seemed insatiable so it is possible. Saw my GP the same day who said to do the same.

I am still giving baby the breast as it is comforting for me and her and then she sucks down a load of formula wheb I give her the bottle afterwards. I can't say how strongly I feel about bf, but because it started well, I was only wondering how I would make it work when I go back to work.

Its not that I am anti-formula that I am still crying over this though I know that breast is best and I wanted to do the right thing. It is partly because nothing as been easy for me in this entire experience. Just when I think I am at the last hurdle, something else kicks up. I am now very very weary of being strong again and have been crying all of yesterday and in fits and starts today.

Any ideas?

Thanks everyone again. I don't know how I can express how grateful I am that so many of you have been so keen to see me succeed. Mummy Power.

She has been feeding maniac all day today and I have been feeling really smug on the couch. My BF counsellor told me to forget these growth charts and like you all have said, Just look for wet and pooey nappies. DD LOVES being on the breast. I have to pry her off when she drops off to sleep. For cheap thrills DH tickles her ear to watch her start sucking again.

Will try to get in a 2 or 3 am feed everynight too. Managed to do so last night with my eyelids propped open by toothpicks. My little one is a loud swallower but only when she just gets on. then she just wants to nibble and snack the rest of the time away.

I am working on my supply.... I was really paranoid that soft breasts meant that I wasn't replacing my supply hence my little one was starving.

That's really good news, alux. It sounds like you've got good in-person support now, too.

I think everyone here is eager to see you succeed because you clearly want it to work, and are ready to do what's necessary.

My DS1 would spend ages on the breast, I think some of the time he was comfort-sucking, but he was a skinny baby, so I left him to it. If your DD turns out to be like that, there are slings that will let you carry her and feed at the same time, so you're not pinned down. (I used a Kelty Kangaroo carrier, I think it was - looks like a Baby Bjorn, but I could feed in it ... friends with more impressive, er, racks, haven't been able to in this model, though)

Yay! Agree wtih NQC that we are all keen to see you succeed because you are so keen to do it - and it is lovely when it works well.
Soft breasts are very, very normal - as I understand it, very little milk is actually stored in the breast itself, so don't worry about that.

Alux, how's it going?

Still going well, purely on the breast. I am really pleased that it is going well for both of us. All I do is feed, feed, feed whenever she wants it. Gotta go now as duty calls. She's 21 days old now.

Thats great Alux, enjoy!

the h/v makes a re-appearance tomorrow with the dreaded scales. Never thought I'd be so afraid of scales! My BF counsellor says not to worry about weight gain. She may be like me and always be a petite thing so she may always be on the small side of normal. And the rational side of my brain agrees but that irrational side is still all panicky.

You don't have to see the HV. I barely see mine with DS2.

And I'm really happy to hear you've got BF working well now. Trust your BF counsellor, she sounds very sensible.

Alux, how did you get on with the HV?

she did not show up. i am wondering if in the middle of all my tears last week, i got the date wrong that she said she'd visit again. or if i scared her off sobbing like a crazy woman.

will update when i see her again.

i went to declutter my paperwork and found that the hv is to come by today at 4 pm. hmmmm.

huuurrraayyyy! the h/v weighed Maya and she weighs 7 lb 7 oz. 8 dys ago she weighed 6 lb 12 oz.

i can hardly believe the difference myself and its all down to b/f.

thanks to all the b/f enthusiasts here who supported me in doing what we thought was best.

Fab

Of course your HV and your GP have apologised to you for distressing you, telling you a whole load of rubbish about your diet and the flu, and telling you to supplement with formula.

No?

Oh. Now, there's a funny thing.

Seriously, the fact you have done this is an education for your HV as well a good thing for your baby!

Hooray! So very pleased for you and for Maya. Well done both of you

Tiktok, your post makes me smile. Now I have to join you and aloha, et al in encouraging other mums when they hit problems too.

I didn't do this deliberately but as Maya hates having her clothes removed, she was screaming after being weighed and measured so I shut her up the way I habitually do, stuck breast nipple in her mouth. I said, 'that always works' and grinned. Poor h/v must have thought I was trying to make a point.

what a great story alux! Hope you continue to enjoy the sofa breast fedding snugglies

eek, that should be breastfeeding

Oh, alux, I'm so glad things are working better for you. It's always great when things work out how people want them to.

There are so many breastfeeding-related news stories and events these days ... we might be going to a fun day tomorrow, with the BBC wanting to film women breastfeeding. Too strange.