supply question (sorry me AGAIN :()

[starlover]

yes, it's me again.
I am beginning to despair of ever feeding DS again myself. And it makes me so sad.
I am SO angry at myself because I was exclusively b/f him, and I only started mixed feeding because the thrush was so bad that I couldn't bear to feed him myself.
I should have just done it anyway. I should have taken the pain, because now it's all gone wrong.

3 weeks of expressing and I am STILL only getting around 40ml a go.
I am expressing every 2 hours with an avent isis hand pump. My medela mini electric doesn't seem to help either. And I tried hand expressing but didn't get on very well with it.

Surely my supply should have increased by now???

DS takes around 150ml a feed, so I am nowhere near making enough for him.

I have tried getting him to feed but he point blank refuses. He might suck for maybe 2/3 minutes on each side and then he just screams because there isn't enough. So I end up giving him formula.

I don't know what to do. I do not want to bottle feed him, and I don't want to mixed feed forever because I can't do with all this expressing.
I want to breastfeed him again SO very badly, but just can't see it happening.
I am taking fenugreek too, but that doesn't seem to be helping.

Is there something really obvious that I am doing wrong?
Am thinking about hiring a big hospital pump to see if that makes a difference....

please tell me this will get better????????

Has that big industrial pump arrived yet?

sl,still would like to know if you have had some face to face input from a b/f counsellor.
So sorry you're having a rough time. Believe me,so many of us have been there and understand!

not yet, nct woman is icredibly difficult to get hold of!
wondering now if there is any point. He just screams when I put breast anywhere near him!

haven't had any face-to-face help. i don't think there is anything they can do now really

Well,have you tried ABM or La Leche league? Rung your hospital/talked to your m/wife/HV to demand some help?

I'm sure one of those supplementary feeding things (thin tube attached to your nipple so that the baby gets milk from two sources) would help if you are really committed.

You've made all this effort top express-if you really want to,it would be worth a face to face.

Another thought...any drop in b/feeding places near you? They list them in the ABM magazine/website.

So feel for you hun..

Depending on the area you live in, the Breastfeeding Network may be better than the NCT.

I think the official line on dealing with this sort of problem involves a lot of skin-to-skin. Not trying to latch him on, just get both of you as nude as possible and get him lots of skin contact, and see if he takes an interest. I think babies do best if they are the ones who do the latching on, if you see what I mean.

yeah, there is a babycafe not too far away.
But is it worth forcing him to have it from boob? he refuses totally pointblank. won't even open his mouth and try!

he did this when he was first born but I eventually got him on the boob and he was exclusively b/f til about 3 weeks ago.
has been on bottle since then, and now seems not to want to come off (no surprise there)
have truied boob when he is hungry, between feeds, waking him, trying while he is asleep.... nothing works!

Not sure whether to persevere in the hope that he will finally take it or not. As I say, there was plenty of milk there this morning... i squi=rted it in his mouth but he wouldn't actally suck!

Starlover Get the hospital pump!! Here is the number where you can hire one and it's next day delivery by courier. Its 45 pounds for 30 days then 25 pounds every month thereafter. The best thing I did as its quick, painless and easy!!

ameda is the company
number is 01823 336362

Good luck!!

This is going to sound so nasty
Could you leave ds to cry while you were expressing, my milk used to leak out all over the place when dd was cryin...

Umm.I'm veering into unknown territory here,but i'm sure the forcing isn't the way to go-will be incredibly upsetting for both of you. Have you tried dabbing your nipples with ebm,and as nqc suggests,just having him near you?

Is the babycafe just a meet up from b/feeding mothers or will someone properly qualified be there?

Not surprising in many ways,that he prefers the bottle-so much easier. It still mazes me the strength of ds's suck when he is feeding!!

Gaaah!!!!!

well, you've got nothing to lose by going to the baby cafe. You sound more resigned to not breastfeeding so if they come up with a trick that works to get him back on the breast, fantastic, and if not, well, you tried and he's happy and he's had a good 'dose' of breastmilk including colostrum. If I were you I'd go in the spirit of 'why not?' and because you'd like it if it was possible to breastfeed, and if it doesn't work, well, it takes two to tango and if junior really will not cooperate, then it might have to be bottles.

i've been before and they have b/f counsellors from la leche there.
I tried just squeezing some milk out and dabbing it at his mouth but he just purses his lips and won't let it in!
tried tricking him and sticking it in when he opens hsi mouth!

not sure why he won't take it when there is milk literally dripping out though... very odd.

Do you think I should keep trying though? Do you honestly think that he might go back on the boob? If so then I will keep trying.

It's been done. Hey! lots of things have been done! Women who've adopted have breastfed!!
Go along and have a word with the b/f counsellor.Talk to her about someone coming to see you at home too.
You need some RL help as well as MN help, kiddo!!!
XXX

yes... i was thinking about this when reading the depressed people thread
I feel like I depend on mn too much for b/f help... so it isn't just the feeling depressed threads!!!

you're right.. it CAN be done. I have done it before. DS was bottle-fed until he was about 10 days old and finally accepted the boob.
I think I am just being tired and emotional, and I feel myself getting cross with him when he won't feed.

MUST
CALM
DOWN

Yes,try and stay calm. Wow! Didn't realise he went for the boob after all that time! You are doing a super job sl. Now get out there and find some 8real* people (unlike me hah hah hah!!)

Direst your considerable energy and willpower into getting some help.

Let us know how it goes.

The Breastfeeding Network is on 0870 900 8787. All our local bf people are with them, and they're fab. That number, if called from a land line, will hook you up with your nearest bf supporter.

Yeah, the midwife and HV couldn't believe it when I said he was finally being b/f LOL.

I have a rather odd phone phobia which is why I haven't rang any of the helplines yet

Babycafe is on a monday so will have to wait until next week... but maybe will try and pluck the courage up to phone someone... eek

Starlover, I have one of those "phone phobias" too. I find it helps if you write down what you want to say and leave it on a piece of paper in front of you while you make the call.

starlover, my DH is a bit like that - any chance your DH could make the call?

Oh, or this link will find you a local support centre, if there is one? No phoning then.

And there are lots of links to other bf support groups.