Day 8, too late to breast feed?

[Jenny1231990]

Hi all, my 3rd baby is now 8days old,I gave her SMA when born as wasn't sure I wanted to breast feed, people put me off, I've noticed she's been quite groggy the last few days but midwife said that it was normal, her nappys are terrible too.
In the evenings I've tried giving her a feed from me, but just feel like I'm not doing something quite right, I'm finding it hard to keep her latched on, maybe that's because she is used to the bottles now? Have I ruined any chance of feeding her myself?
I am willing to express also, the last 2 days she's been sick after each bottle so I don't think the formula is agreeing with her somehow anyway.

I just wish I hadn't left it so late I'm annoyed at myself. Can I express into her clean sterilised bottles and store in the fridge? If I can how long for? Will I get more milk back if I start expressing straight away? I've tried her on me and she cried, even though there was milk.
Sorry for the essay. Please help x

[iWantToBeAlone]

I just want to add, if you don't seem to produce much milk when expressing, don't be disheartened. My 10 month old dd is bf, yet I never produce much milk when I express.

I obviously am producing a lot when she feeds herself as she's a healthy weight and has always gained well, but when I used to try to express I was nearly in tears of frustration at how little was coming out. I gave up on the expressing in the end and stuck to the old fashioned way!

Good luck with it btw. I totally understand how family can put you off bf. My dp's family aren't supportive either, they have got better as time's gone on.

[nobugsinmyrug]

2boys, your comment about baby not benefiting from bf if not bf exclusively or from the start is wrong. There are huge health and emotional benefits when bf baby at anytime, mixed or ebf. I'm sorry to hear that you have been given bad advice when your dc were young .

Op of course there is huge benefit for you and your baby, as evidence shows . Do what feels right and mn able to you. I'm still bf dc who is 18 months. We both love it.

[nobugsinmyrug]

• manageable even

[2boys2girls]

Thank you yes I was always lead to believe that sole exclusive breast feeding was the only beneficial way and if you formula fed as well then the breast feeding "did nothing" so you may as well just formula feed .. I did this with my 4 as I really thought the done thing, I didn't even express as like 'iwanttobealone' I tried and fail with my 1st 3 but never could express any substantial amount,though I produced more than enough to feed themmaybe it was because it was a manual pump?, with my last one I had a fantastic electric pump that I could express loads with, maybe that's where I went wrong with 1st 3, I was also told not to express properly for 1st few weeks is that wrong advice as well ?

[WellErrr]

Tbh as you have formula fed now there is no benefit to breast! Breast us only best if sole feeding from day 1 x

Totally unhelpful, incorrect and unnecessary.

There's been some fantastic advice on this thread. I really really hope you get going ok OP. Please don't be afraid to ask for help in real life either, there will almost certainly be someone who can come out and help you if you contact your midwife/breastfeeding support groups nearby.

Best of luck

[Hillijx]

A friend of mine had her baby in nicu due to illness and had to be on special milk afterwards so could only give her a little breast milk, she increased feeding over time and the formula got less and less until she was ebf. Just stay relaxed, don't put pressure on yourself and your milk will increase. the crying on the breast, dd2 and dd3 did/does this depending on time of day, it may not be a dislike of nipple, it could be wind, bad time of day etc etc so don't feel disheartened, keep offering and maybe use a sling to hold her with you whilst you look after other children? I expressed with dd1 and kept milk in fridge for up to 5 days according to lansinoh site and it never went off/dd never got sick and I did it for 6 months. If nothing comes out keep pumping as the stimulation will still help, I used to pump for 5 mins after milk flow stopped and every day I got more come out. I used a simple manual pump and it worked a treat. Stay relaxed, look at baby and imagine her feeding on you and that can also help let down. Good luck and 8 days is still quite early so you can do it x

[kinkytoes]

Good luck with it OP and sorry to hear you haven't had as much support as you needed from family.

2boys2girls Your post made me wince!

[purplemeggie]

Just wanted to add a little message of support - I had family members who were really unsupportive, too, and it's the last thing you need.

But BF is really really rewarding and if it's something you want to do, do it for you, do it for your baby and to hell with anyone who doesn't support you in this.

I did a mixture of expressing and bf and it worked for us. Good luck OP.

[petalsandstars]

Breastmilk is full of micronutrients and antibodies especially for mum and babies specific needs- that fact doesn't change if baby has had a bit of formula. Sorry 2boys but your advice is outdated and just incorrect. It is also much more easily digested and and baby can get as much out of each drop as possible as it's biologically designed for them

[Jenny1231990]

I'm overwhelmed by all the responses on here, thank you all so much. I'm extremely greatful.
I am lucky I have my OH he is very supportive, I think he just wishes I followed my heart rather than let peoples silly views get to me.

Ok so I've had a bath and tried expressing, I've managed to get just under 1oz. Doesn't seem a lot when she's taking 3oz a time. Is this ok for first time?
I've had her on me most of the evening and when she has moaned I've tried to feed her from me, she just seems to snuggle in and fall asleep rather than actually doing anything.
sorry I can't reply to you all individually, but I have read and taken all advice on board. Thank you x

[Jenny1231990]

I'm feeling a lot more positive now and that's thanks to all of you lovely ladies.

[dickhead3507]

Sounds dead positive
Enjoy and keep it up

[nobugsinmyrug]

Well Done op, no pressure, take each day as it comes. When you are expressing try and be near your baby as the hormone triggered by this will help your milk flow.

[lordsandladies]

I've BF 3 DC and never got over an oz expressing my boobs just don't like it! I know I produce well though as DD3 is really quite fat

That's really good she'll be loads more efficient than a pump given time.

I do hope it works out for you x

[Jenny1231990]

Thank you. Question as il be expressing again tomorrow now can I add what I've expressed this evening to what I get tomorrow in the same bottle? I've got it in a sterile container in the fridge at the moment.
I feel like I haven't stopped but have hardly anything to show for it, il keep going though. Just wish she would latch on and have a good feed from me but I don't even know if she would get much if she did latch on anyway.
I have the tommee tippee manual pump and I am getting tiny drops at a time. Yet if I use my hand I seem to get more. X tired now so will try through the night with my baby girl
And express again tomorrow. X

[badg3r]

When you're pumping, you can try to move you boob round a bit to get more out. I have the same manual pump, if I lean forward, scoop up my boob or apply pressure to certain bits of it (especially outside just under my armpit) I can get more out... sorry if TMI! Also make sure to mimic baby's suckling, ie five or six short pumps in quick succession then a pause. And drink drink drink! I mix milk that's up to a day old. It'll separate it but you can swill it about a bit too mix the cream back in. 1oz is great for a first shot, well done!

[sunflowered]

I exclusively expressed for about 6 weeks and was told never to mix batches of milk for storage - that might just be an extra cautious view as dd was on scbu and they were very careful about possible infection risks. It's fine to mix batches when feeding but may be better to give it oz by oz anyhow to avoid wasting it if your baby wants less than you expected. Good luck with getting bf going - it can be done even after using a bottle and there's some great advice here already, some babies take longer than others to get the hang of it even if bf from birth so keep going! And as has already been said, it's definitely worth calling out the midwife if you're concerned about feeding.

[Hillijx]

When I expressed exclusively with dd1 I started getting an ounce here or there, then I think me and my boobs got used to it and would get more than a bottles worth eventually so keep going, don't stress and try not to just sit and watch what's coming out as it could stress you more, look at baby or just keep occupied......a watched pot and all of that! You're doing great x

[Hillijx]

Oh and as people have said I always mixed batches x

[Christelle2207]

I was crap at bf (mix fed in the end) but just came on to say that if you're expressing 1oz already that sounds really promising! I think fine to mix milks I just always made sure my son had expressed milk first so that none was wasted.
There is some excellent nhs support out there (in my case the lactation consultant at the hosp) but I found that you really have to seek them out due to them being so busy.

[NinjaLeprechaun]

"Just wish she would latch on and have a good feed from me"
My daughter didn't latch until she was almost exactly a month old. Before that I expressed and mix fed from a bottle. To let you know that just because she doesn't, doesn't mean that she won't.

[territoryaintshit]

Just to add that it's completely doable. My DD was tube fed in SCBU for the first 5 days with a mixture of formula and expressed BM. With help from breastfeeding support she got the hang of it pretty quickly and I fed her for over a year.

Lots of great advice already on skin to skin and access to the breast. Concentrate on this and ignore any "advice" about length of gaps between feeds as that doesn't apply to BF. If she's awake she's probably hungry at this age.