me again

[gorge2003]

despite various weeks of pumping 2-3 hourly and taking fenugreeka dn domperidone it doesnt seem to be helping (for those of you who dont know, have 18 week old dd and been trying to re-start my supply for about 14 weeks now, about 3 weeks with domperidone, stopped bf-ing as she wouldnt take it anymore) so what now...do i give up now? as nothing seems to be helping!

am bit sad but i dont know what else i can do tbh! managed to get her to kinda latch on last night, she more bit it and held it but more than she hasd been doing!

Awww honey. I haven't seen any of your previous threads. But my first little girl was a struggle to feed and my milk supply was rubbish. Tried Fenugreek, Guinness Stout etc. I ended up alternating, doing one bottle formula and at the next feed me etc etc. Of course this didn't help my milk supply as it should've all been me etc.

I finally gave up, feeling horribly guilty at 4 months in. As she was sucking in more air than milk and getting tummy ache and pulling off shouting etc.

My second baby (a boy) didn't like bottles at all and refused them, no matter how many different brands I tried, so it was all me, I lived off chocolate, flap jacks and pints and pints of water. After 6 months of it all being me, that cured me of any guilt from my first child, as I longed for my hubby to be able to do a feed instead. And realised there is no perfect baby/ situation out there!

Have you tried calling La Leche League or an NCT breast feeding counsellor? Have you spoken to your health visitor by phone? All of these people would have some great advice. I don't know what I was waiting for with my first baby (my boob to fall off?) but I never called any of them for help silly really...

But if all else fails hon, don't feel guilty. You've tried your hardest at the end of the day and your bubba will be fine on formula if necessary. Big hugs x

She is my second, have ds who is nearly 4, he was tiny 5lb 11oz and found it hard to latch I expressed for two weeks with him, this time I managed 1 month of bf exclusively, I really wanted to do it for at least 6 months this time but didn't manage it again, wish I had not started her on formula when she wouldn't take breast anymore! I'm gonna give it one more week and if it doesn't improve then will give up cos I can't personally see it improving unless there is a miracle....my other thread is called 'think it's time to give up' might be a few pages back now!

I'm going to resist anymore advice and ideas I have. As I suspect one of the experts out there or your HV will have better ones.

But I know where you're coming from. As I wished with my DD, I'd never gone there on bottles with her, as she preferred them over me after a while...

Really sorry to hear things aren't working out. I honestly think you've done more than anyone could imagine, and I've been in a similar spot so I know what I'm talking about. The expressing at least is giving her as much breastmilk as possible, and that's a great gift.

she isnt having expressed milk cos there is only a drop or two when i express so she isnt even getting that, she is on aptamil.

It got to the point with my little girl when she preferred the bottle to me, that I expressed everything I had for her but over time it dried up. With only being expressed from me. So that was really the reason I gave up at 4 months as I simply had dried up, as well as her not liking taking it from me anymore.

You've done everything you can and gone above and beyond what most people would. Don't feel guilty. Aptamil is a good formula.

We could suggest more things to try - but I would say give yourself a break lady!!! You're a great mum.

Big hug x

gorge - you tried something enormously difficult, to retrieve a milk supply that had not been used for months. You have earned the right to say when to stop! You can still cuddle your daughter when you bottle feed, skin to skin, and just enjoy the almost-feeding she does for as long as you both want to.

thanks ladies, i dont wanna give up but i think its time to, she doesnt want to bf anymore, well she kinda latched in the bath the other night but wasnt sucking or anything. one more week and if there is nothing, thats it!

your determination is extraordinary - really it is!

you should feel damn proud of yourself

Oh gorge I'm so very that this isn't working out for you. You have shown such courage and determination. You should be really proud of yourself you know xx