Breastfeeding question

[firsttimemamaa]

I'm really disappointed I never tried breastfeeding to begin with.

Does anybody know if I can start even though my milk has dried up? Is it similar to restarting after a break?

I've tried researching online but I can only find advice for those who have just taken a break from breastfeeding.

Thanks in advance X

*get a

If you’ve got lumps or sore patches on the hard boob, try gently combing from the base towards the nipple in a hot shower using a tangle teaser or wide-tooth comb. Seems to unblock stuff for me, anyway.

Mastitis will be a wedge of red, sore boob and if left will give you a fever and make you feel flu-ish, in my experience.

It sounds like you’re doing a great job.

The sore hard boob can be a sign that your milk is really coming in, b ut look out for any redness.

Normally I'm wary about advising the use of nipple shields as it can slow milk transfer and confuse the baby. However, I think in a case like this, nipple shields might be a reallygood idea. Do you have any/ can you get hold of some? If the baby has been used to a plastic teat, then it can con them onto the boob, and you can take it from there. You're doing just great. If pumping is sore then I wonder if the flange size is correct? Your LC will be able to help with all of this.

Thank you @chequeplease. At first I was quite enthusiastic, I didn't realise how much it would hurt, then I tried slowing it right down and not pumping fully but it was still quite painful. I've found a good rhythm now I think.

There's a La Leche meeting on the other side of town to me, quite easy to get to. From the description it sounds like support for normal (for the lack of a better word) issues. I'm going to send an email and see if she thinks it would be worth me going along. What happens at these sorts of meetings?

I've got lumps but no redness and full of a cold/cough but no fever. The boob always feels better after I've pumped so hopefully it's just my milk coming in. Will continue to massage and going to do warm compresses when I'm home 

@CardinalCat where I am at the minute doesn't have shops where I can get shields from but I'm going home tonight so can always pick some up at the weekend. I'm thinking of using MAM ones, she only takes their dummy's and the shape of the shield looks similar from what I've seen online.

I was trying to get as much boob as possible in the flange but after looking on YouTube I've stopped that and it seems to have better results. I'm such a novice!

Thank you @chequeplease. At first I was quite enthusiastic, I didn't realise how much it would hurt, then I tried slowing it right down and not pumping fully but it was still quite painful. I've found a good rhythm now I think.

There's a La Leche meeting on the other side of town to me, quite easy to get to. From the description it sounds like support for normal (for the lack of a better word) issues. I'm going to send an email and see if she thinks it would be worth me going along. What happens at these sorts of meetings?

I've got lumps but no redness and full of a cold/cough but no fever. The boob always feels better after I've pumped so hopefully it's just my milk coming in. Will continue to massage and going to do warm compresses when I'm home 

@CardinalCat where I am at the minute doesn't have shops where I can get shields from but I'm going home tonight so can always pick some up at the weekend. I'm thinking of using MAM ones, she only takes their dummy's and the shape of the shield looks similar from what I've seen online.

I was trying to get as much boob as possible in the flange but after looking on YouTube I've stopped that and it seems to have better results. I'm such a novice!

Thank you @chequeplease. At first I was quite enthusiastic, I didn't realise how much it would hurt, then I tried slowing it right down and not pumping fully but it was still quite painful. I've found a good rhythm now I think.

There's a La Leche meeting on the other side of town to me, quite easy to get to. From the description it sounds like support for normal (for the lack of a better word) issues. I'm going to send an email and see if she thinks it would be worth me going along. What happens at these sorts of meetings?

I've got lumps but no redness and full of a cold/cough but no fever. The boob always feels better after I've pumped so hopefully it's just my milk coming in. Will continue to massage and going to do warm compresses when I'm home 

@CardinalCat where I am at the minute doesn't have shops where I can get shields from but I'm going home tonight so can always pick some up at the weekend. I'm thinking of using MAM ones, she only takes their dummy's and the shape of the shield looks similar from what I've seen online.

I was trying to get as much boob as possible in the flange but after looking on YouTube I've stopped that and it seems to have better results. I'm such a novice!

Bless you, up at 4am! You're do so well!

Warm compresses are a good plan - I’ve got a cherry stone pillow you can microwave which is great as it really shapes itself to your boob (also great for period pains, and because it’s a bit heavy was fab on my lower back in early labour)

Hi OP. I haven't RTFT. Good luck to you it sounds like you're doing a good job so far . There are plenty of women who have successfully relactated. Some women can get a full supply within a month.

My situation is completely different. I tried to relactate. I was definitely making progress but I had had a nasty breast abscess when baby was 6 weeks old (blocked duct which I didn't clear and developed in to mastitis which I didn't treat quickly enough). I had incision and drainage procedure on breast and I was given Cabergoline to dry up my milk. A month later I was gutted about not breastfeeding. So I started to google relactation and I also contacted la Leche league via phone. I tried for three weeks. I went from nothing to about 10ml per day. I don't respond well to a pump (never did). This is normal for a lot of women. Pump output is no indication of your supply. Baby is much better at stimulating and removing milk from the breast.
My baby wouldn't latch for long. As soon as he realised not much was coming out he didn't want to know. So bit of a catch 22 situation. I do think if I'd continued pumping I could have relactated enough to combi feed. I tried an at the breast supplemental nursing system (medela do one but it is expensive. I made my own using thin NG tube I bought from eBay). This was great and would definitely increase your supply. Baby is feeding at the breast and getting formula from the tube inserted in his mouth so keeps suckling and stimulating the breast. However it is hard work as tubes need washed and sterilised. I was exhausted and had little family support. I estimated that it would probably take me three months to get an adequate supply. So I gave up at this stage and decided I that if I am lucky enough to have another baby I will research BF and give it the best shot I can.

My top tips for you (given to me by la Leche advisor and from fb group BF in NI):

•Tell your family. Support is vital. It's very difficult to look after baby plus house plus pumping. You really need to pump 8-12 times per day and at least once over night when prolactin levels are highest.

•Contact La Leche league and try to find a good support group. Don't be embarrassed. Every mother there will understand your want/need to breastfeed your baby and will admire you for it.

•Read read read. Lots of success stories online. Kellymom is an excellent resource.

•you need a double pump, preferably a hospital grade hired one if possible. I didn't hire one. I used an Ardo calypso I already own. If I was to buy again I would go for a spectra S1.

•Google "hands on pumping". Massaging, pumping, hand expressing at each session to maximise stimulation and output.

• Get a double pumping bra. Game changer. Buy cheap one from amazon or eBay.

•Careful with the supplements. I think fenugreek reduced my supply. GPs are reluctant to prescribe domperidone here due to side effect concerns in recent years. You can always ask though. Maybe they will want a letter from lactating consultant or infant feeding co ordinator. I'm not sure.

• Get as much skin to skin as possible. My baby latched on again for the first time when we were in the bath.

•look after yourself. Eat well, drink plenty. Eat plenty of porridge etc.

•Try an at the breast supplemental Nursing System. You can try this with nipple shield also.

I can't think of anything else at the minute. Just want to wish you luck. If you try and you are unsuccessful at least you know you tried. I'm glad I tried it. I told myself I'd try for two weeks and if no joy I'd stop. I ended up trying for three weeks and then decided it wasn't feasible for me to keep it up for weeks. Keep us posted on your progress. I love a success story.

Oh forgot to say it sounds like your flange sizes are incorrect. Pumping should not hurt. Google this. I had to try numerous sizes before finding the correct ones.

Got nipple shields today, boots own because they didn't have MAM in. I was quite skeptical i'll be honest but it worked!

I had a bath, left a hot cloth on my chest for a little while and then hand expressed a couple drops.

DD had been quite fussy the whole time I was in the bath (she was with OH) and I thought I'd try it to be a human dummy.

She latched straight on and stayed until she fell asleep. A fair bit of milk came out, it was all over her chin/my boobs/clothes and shields.

Thank you for your advice @Sabrinathethirtysomethingwitch. I'm sorry I don't know what RTFT stands for (I'm still learning the lingo). It's nice to hear from somebody who was in a similar boat to me, I too wanted to know I at least tried.

OH said we aren't having another (I made him promise when I was in labour we wouldn't do it again) but I've now changed my mind. So if we're really not trying again I want to know I've given it a go.

I don't think I'll be able to exclusively breastfeed DD, not without any difficulties anyway, but today has given me a little hope. I'll definitely look into different flanges too

Full of admiration for you for giving it a go. I hope you manage to carry on. Sounds very promising.

Thank you @Wingbing

RTFT (read the full thread)

Ohh that sounds so promising!! I remember a poster before saying that her mother or grandmother (can't remember) relactated years ago when breast pumps were not available simply by putting baby to her breast constantly!

Hooray for nipple shields! That’s so brilliant!

You’re doing amazing. Have you managed to contact a LC yet? The milk being everywhere when she feeds could just be her getting used to the change between shields/breast/bottle or it could be a milk transfer issue so may be worth just getting it checked and face to face help can often make a big difference too.

I've emailed a LC this morning, she runs a drop in centre and visits so I'm hoping she'll be able come to me. I'm much better one on one

Latched LO this morning, she took to it straight away. Wasn't as messy but I'm unsure if she got much out.

Given up on the pump for now! I've been hand expressing and it's definitely increasing.

Sorry if this seems dim but what will the LC do? As in if I go to group would she (and the other women) give me advice? Or if she comes to my home will she watch what I do and offer solutions?

That’s great that she’s latching. You can watch for her swallowing while feeding to reassure yourself she’s getting milk.

A LC will watch her feed, check positioning, her latch, milk transfer.
Often they can spot positioning issues and make a tiny adjustment that makes a big difference. Once they’ve seen her feed, they should be able to get a good idea on how soon to reduce bottles, etc.
Often it can just be good to get reassurance from a professional and make you feel confident that she is latching and feeding well.

Are you doing paced feeding with her bottles?

You may have to try a few different pumps, some get on better with certain ones. The main thing for now is just to keep stimulating your supply, so as long as your DD is continuing to latch and you are hand expressing. The LC will also be able to help with expressing.

I do paced feedings, she is quite predictable though. She goes for 3-4 hours between bottles, she used to have a 'bedtime' bottle at 7pm but for the past week she gives cues at 6pm then she doesn't wake until between 2-3am.

I was wondering how I'd know when to drop bottles (if I'm successful) but I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!

Thank you for all the info, you've been great!

Are you holding her in a more upright position and the bottle sort of horizontally?
www.mamanatural.com/paced-bottle-feeding/
It means that she’ll feed more slowly and have to work harder to get the milk, similar to breastfeeding. It can make the transition to breast easier as she’ll be less reliant on the fast flow of the bottle so hopefully less frustrated at the breast.

It sounds like you have been very successful - you’ve got milk and she is latching and sucking. In terms of dropping the bottles, I would just keep trying to feed her before you would normally give her a bottle. Sometimes she may take lots and then have none from bottle or just a small amount. Other times she may not feed from you at all. You could also try giving her a small amount from the bottle and then transferring her to the breast and seeing if she will continue to feed. The more she feeds, the more milk you will make and then the more easily she will feed. Honestly, you’ve done fantastic.

We feed her upright, she suffers with a little reflux so always done that.

I've been putting her to breast around an hour before I think she'll want feeding. I think because she doesn't get much it angers her so I'll pull her off and feed. Will try swapping her to breast after a little bottle.

It's abit of a faff at the moment with the shields, her arms are always swinging so when I'm trying to get us into position she knocks the shields off. Then I put them back on and she knocks them off again . It's all a learning curve I know it'll get easier. Hopefully the latch consultant can make a difference

It sounds like you’re doing everything right.

Breast compressions may help if she’s frustrated at not getting enough milk.

The LC will hopefully help you position her where she can’t knock the shields off but it’s a tricky age when they are wriggling around swinging their arms everywhere!