Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

i think its time to give up

108 replies

gorge2003 · 05/12/2009 13:10

Have been trying to re-start my supply for 8 weeks after my dd refused to feed from 4 weeks (12 weeks now) have tried to get my supply going again...have tried everything..latching her on 6+ times a day...nothing

tried expressing 6+ times a day...nothing

tried fenugreek on top of this...nothing

last ditch attempt is to beg my doc for domperidone on tuesday (they wouldnt give it to me last time at 8 weeks)

but im thinking its time to give up!

OP posts:
tiktok · 05/12/2009 13:12

gorge....you have been through a lot

Restarting a milk supply is a really hard job.

6 x a day latching and 6 x a day expressing is probably not enough for most women - this is what makes it so very, very time consuming.

Original poster
gorge2003 · 05/12/2009 13:30

so would u suggest trying to latch/expressing more than 6+ times a day now?

just feel i have done everything now and its been a long time and its time i faced reality and gave up! I dont want to give up and would love for her to be fully bf'd again but i dont think its gonna happen, she still latches ok but gets stressy cos there is nothing there, i can express for 20 mins+ and get one drop out!

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 05/12/2009 13:32

gorge, have you looked into supplemental nursing systems? that might help your baby stay latched on (cos she'll get some milk) whilst also stimulating the breasts

Original poster
gorge2003 · 05/12/2009 13:50

i hadn't though about them tbh, how do you use them?

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 05/12/2009 14:00

i haven't used one myself, but as i understand it it's basically a container for the milk which has 1 or 2 thin tubes attached that run down to the breast.
not sure if you latch baby onto the tube and breast at the same time, or get baby latched on and then feed the tube into their mouth, but either way baby is suckling on the breast but gets the milk from the container (as well as anything from boob itself)

that's prob not a very good description, tiktok may know more about them than me!

thisisyesterday · 05/12/2009 14:01

here you go

tiktok · 05/12/2009 15:14

gorge - check your pump. Pumps are not designed to last forever, and things go wrong with them after continued heavy use. Motor, diaphragm, valves....all weaken.

Expressing to maintain milk supply: 8-10 times a day inc at night is the recommended frequency but you may not have to do this forever.

Sorry - it's not easy.

Picante · 05/12/2009 15:52

Am assuming you have a decent double pump? You're not going to be able to do it with a single one.

Original poster
gorge2003 · 06/12/2009 22:16

i dont have a double pump, i dont even have an electric one, tbh i cant afford to spend that sorta money! i have two hand pumps one avent isis one and one tommee tippee closer to nature, tommee tippee one has barely been used!

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 06/12/2009 22:18

you can hire pumps from the nct, might be owrth contacting them?

Original poster
gorge2003 · 06/12/2009 22:23

does their website have them for hire?

OP posts:
Original poster
gorge2003 · 06/12/2009 22:27

just found them but still cant manage that amount! Im a little bit skint lol!

OP posts:
JetLiHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 06/12/2009 23:32

Hi gorge - not sure if this is any help but our local childrens centre hire out lactaline breast pumps for nowt. Would it be worth you talking to your local children's centre maybe? >
Also I'm pretty sure I've seen someone link an online chemist on here - you don't actually need a prescription for Domperidone - you can just buy it. I'll see if I can find the website or the post again.

JetLiHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 06/12/2009 23:39

Ouch - could be expensive depending on what the dose needs to be. Here are a couple of links:

motilium

motilium

Picante · 07/12/2009 07:32

Some hospitals lend them out - might be worth contacting them. I could lend you a single electric medela pump if that would help? Your supply really won't be enough on a hand pump alone.

Jackaroo · 07/12/2009 08:06

I wouldn't give up til you've given the motilium a go. It has been used widely in teh US for adoptive mothers to start lactating, including those past menopause, so it's pretty impressive.

It is baffling that your gp won't prescribe, given that it has been used for this purpose for almost 30 years.

Maybe he/she woudl be interested in seeing some stuff printed off from teh internet. Maybe you could see a different doctor in the practice?

good luck, I admire your tenacity, keep going if you can.

PS This is maybe hte most concise article I've found on it so far. HIH

www.breastfeeding.org/articles/domperidone.html

Original poster
gorge2003 · 07/12/2009 09:20

Thanks everyone I'm seeing a different doc tomorow, my one that is a woman and has a child herself so fingers crossed!

I would be interested in borrowing your pump picante, going to see hv tomorrow so can find out if hospital lends them out etc, if not u are a life saver lol!

I'm really hoping I get domperidone tomorrow!

OP posts:
Picante · 07/12/2009 09:38

Ok I'll watch this thread- let me know. I bought a new one as that one is REALLY noisy but it does the job.

Original poster
gorge2003 · 07/12/2009 10:20

Ah well a bit of noise never hurt anyone lol! Will let u know after I have seen hv tomorrow!

OP posts:
Original poster
gorge2003 · 08/12/2009 17:11

just saw doctor and she said 'i would prescribe domperidone if i thought it would help, but i think its been too long'....

if that bloody doctor had given it to me 5 weeks ago it probably would have helped....Im so annoyed cos he said it doesnt work and now my doc says it does but its been too long!

also been told thats the end of the road

OP posts:
Winterbaby · 08/12/2009 17:29

Have you contacted your local LLL for advise? My friend re-lactated when her ds was 3 months old after only BF him for a few days after birth. She was exclusively BF within a month using a SNS and domperidone.

Hate to say this, but your doc is wrong!!

It really depends how much you want to do this. If you really want to re-lactate then fight for it. If you are ok stopping now, then that is really up to you. But it is still possible to re-lactate if you want to.

Original poster
gorge2003 · 08/12/2009 17:36

well none of my docs are willing to give me the domperidone...so i dont know what my options are now, fenugreek did nothing and nor did latching/expressing 6+ times a day...

Picante if your about could i take you up on your offer of borrowing your pump?

OP posts:
Original poster
gorge2003 · 08/12/2009 17:37

will look up my Local LLL now!

OP posts:
JetLiHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 08/12/2009 17:40

Can I buy you a couple of packets of domperidone and send them to you gorge? This is heartbreaking

Winterbaby · 08/12/2009 17:43

Try adding oatmeal to your diet. That really helps with milk production.Also see if you can get a hold of mothers milk tea.

Are you producing any milk at the moment?

Swipe left for the next trending thread