Breastfeeding stress

[teddysmummyx]

My DS is 5 weeks old, I had fantastic milk supply immediately when he was born, and up until a week ago I pumped 12oz in the morning, around 6-8oz in the middle of the day and then 10oz around 10pm every day. Didn't need to pump in the night as could comfortably go till the morning. Out of nowhere I can barely get 2oz out of each breast and I'm freaking out. My baby is on 4oz a bottle and feeds 3-4 hourly and I'm just running out of milk for him, I've even had to start using my freezer stash. I do not feel ready to put him on formula as I really want to feed him myself for longer. It's really upsetting me. I have a great Hospital grade medela symphony pump and from tonight Im going to get up in the night to pump. Any other advice is very welcome. I am really getting desperate and it's getting me down.

Hi, sorry if I’ve missed something but are you just pumping and bottle feeding? I’m sure you know but baby will be far more effective at getting milk out. Sorry if that’s irrelevant.
Have you tried expressing more often? I remember cluster feeding a lot around that time, especially in the evening. The more you freak out though, the worse it’ll be so try and stay calm about it. Have you tried skin to skin? I don’t have much experience of pumping but I’ve fed both of mine until 20/22 months. Just didn’t want to read and run!

My DS has issues with latching so we made the decision with advice of midwifes after I had him to exclusively pump. I feel like I'm trying to pump more regularly and this is reducing my supply. Mid morning I only got 2oz!!

I was advised to pump after every feed baby had to keep up. Tongue tie so baby couldn’t feed as well. Latched great with nipple shields though.
My boobs didn’t get on well with pumping though.
The more you stress about it the harder it will be. As baby is 5 weeks could you still contact the infant feeding midwife?

Pumping doesn't release the hormones that facilitate let down and milk production in the same way that the baby feeding does.
What are the midwives advising about the difficulty latching? Has your baby been carefully checked for tongue tie or other problems?

I am sorry, this must be very stressful and worrying for you, which in turn will affect your milk production.

Are you still trying baby on breast daily? My DD couldn't latch at all at first and we kept on trying at least once a day while I pumped. At six weeks she suddenly latched on and at twelve weeks she was entirely feeding from the breast and I had stopped pumping.

I think you just need to pump more. This is when supply settles, but I pumped eight times or so a day to establish supply. Every three-four hours including overnight. Your body has learned that you only feed three times a day so it's reduced your supply to reflect that. Also night is when milk supply is highest and by not pumping then, it will hurt your supply. Just up your pumping schedule.

Also IME midwives and HVs know very little about exclusive pumping. There are some great resources online and groups on Facebook that I got most of my information from in those early weeks. But they will all say that you need to be pumping every 3-4 hours.

He's not tongue tied. Just very stubborn. He will latch for 10 seconds then come off and cry, I repeat and persevere but he gets so upset that I can't continue. It's almost as if he isn't patient enough. I just think I need to pump more. I just feel that even with power pumping, more sessions, I just end up with less milk. I'm going to keep persevering as I really want to continue him on breast milk. His latch is getting worse each time we try so I'm not sure he will ever EBF.

Do you have a fast let down? My ten week old cries at the breast and latches on and off if I don't first get the let down out to slow the flow. Took me a while to suss that out.

I don't pump but I'll pop a haakaa on for a minute which will get about 30 ml of let down out then I put him on and he latches easily as the flow is slower and not choking him. While he's on one breast I move the haakaa over to the other and come away with about 60-80ml of milk in total at each feed this way which I put in the freezer.

If you're exclusively pumping you'll have to mimic cluster feeding as your baby would be cluster feeding not out of hunger but to increase your supply for coming growth spurts. I'm not sure how that would work with pumping as there have been times during cluster feeding where I've literally been passing him from one breast to the other for hours. He would be feeding every 15 minutes for hours at a time.

Perhaps see if there's anything online about pumping and cluster feeding. Or try latching again after getting some of your let down out first.

Hi OP it is far better to get another tongue tie assessment and fix the issue causing bad latch. I did this and could switch from exclusively pumping by 12 weeks and had no milk supply issues then.

Try the Facebook group”exclusively pumping uk mums” there’s loads of advice on there for upping supply. Essentially it’s pump pump pump every two hours even at night even if you’re not getting anything to stimulate supply. Try not to stress and stay hydrated. Try and get some help with baby so you can focus on getting your supply back on track.
I exclusively pumped for a few weeks before eventually getting him to latch (same problem as you he was v impatient on the breast and knew the bottle was easier/quicker)
If you do want to get him on the breast I found that I could latch him when he was very sleepy and he’d comfort suck. I was gradually able to build this up to a point where he’d take little feeds then bigger feeds then actually feed when properly awake.
It’s so stressful I completely understand. Good luck

I exclusively pumped for dc3. You can do it. I also know the stress of trying to get a latch when it just doesn’t work.

Know that you have already given him a great start. Do not feel pressured to continue and try not to let it bother you.

If you do, try pumping every 4 hours. Even through the night if you want to increase supply. Having cuddles with baby will still stimulate milk.

I tried lots of different pumps. The Evie pump was great. Far more relaxing not being hooked up, but I did have to do at least 6 sessions a day to keep up.

Good luck

I would try adding in a couple of pumping sessions if you can manage it between 1am and 5am, I was told that is when prolactin levels are highest (nature is cruel, hey) and if you stimulate milk production then it boosts supply. It’s a killer but you won’t have to do that forever. Follow @bemybreastfriend on Instagram, she has amazing tips for exclusive pumping. As an aside, have you tried nipple shields? I was able to move on from exclusive pumping to breastfeeding using Mam ones and then by 12 weeks was able to directly latch. You have my sympathy though it’s so hard. You’re doing amazing x

Thank you all so much for your advice xxx

I pumped and bottle fed for 3 months until he got the hang of latching, he couldn't suck or stay on but got there in the end, so feed, nappy change and then pumped for 10 mins for the next feed, after every 2 hours at first, then 3hrs as he got older. Pump for the next feed every single time you feed.
The pumping that you do in the night, between 1 and 3am is crucial for supply for the next day, hormones that happen then. Its hard work, I lived by an alarm, but if you keep offering your breast too at each feed then they get the practice too.

Can I just add- I pumped (and bf) for my son for just shy of six months, and I remember that sinking feeling I'm sure you must have, BUT, we slowly transitioned him on to formula over the course of a month and guess what - he's thriving! He's nearly a year old now and doing beautifully.

Of course keep trying new things with pumping. I actually quite enjoyed it although I know lots of women don't, but please please do not give yourself any formula-grief! There are adults alive now who wouldn't be here without it!

Hi Op, next to all advices given above I would also try to amend your diet a bit.

You can add fenugreek, fennel, ginger to your cooking or just make a tea out of it. Yeast, pasta, bread all can help with the milk production. And the more you feed/pump the more milk you will have. The most important dont stress. Good luck X

Hi OP, firstly, you’re doing amazingly I think exclusively pumping is so hard!! I would recommend:

• put baby to breast every feed even if he doesn’t latch, as it will stimulate your hormones.
• power pump
• try pumping at least once in the night as the night time pumping/ feeding is what stimulated your supply for the next day (something to do with higher hormone levels in the night)
• cover up the bottles when you pump so you can’t see how much you’re pumping as if you get stressed it’ll make it worse
• look at your baby when pumping or photos of your baby as it stimulates your hormones
• stay hydrated

This happened to me and it turns out my pump was broken and barely had the suction it needed. I got a piece replaced and immediately was back to pumping loads. I was using the Elvie for reference

I exclusively pumped for 15 weeks so I know how stressful it can be! I think you may need to introduce one pump between 12-6am (as painful as it is having to get up!) and start pumping a little more frequently - this should be temporary - just to give your supply a boost. Only expressing 3 times a day may be the issue. Otherwise look at the pump itself, I rented the same one and needed to replace the connectors and the suction bits in the top of the machine! Are you double pumping? This can also help

You’ll never maintain supply if you only pump three times a day. If you pump at least every two hours during the day and at least every three hours at night then your supply will come back.

Also agree about pumping 3 times a day not being enough. I have a 6 month old and pump either 6 or 7 times a day

Do you have access to a breastfeeding group ? There are lots around and worth going to. I was trained as a peer supporter in our local one and did that for 2 years. So many mums worry themselves into a frenzy about amounts etc Mostly unnecessarily - If I had a £ for every mum that worries they re not producing

' enough' when they re doing great I'd be retired by now !

But that's meant to be reassuring not dismissive - I'd check your concerns with a health visitor / GP for peace of mind. If baby is gaining weight and you re getting wet diapers then those are clear indications you are doing great!

Kellymom has some good articles.

Assuming no issues, it's worth mentioning a few things

breastmilk composition changes over time - in line with what baby needs so looking out the number of ozs from a pump isn't always the thing to measure ! Are diapers wet ? Is baby gaining weight ?

Worth a sense check - is baby latched on ok ? Once you ve both figured out that out it's gets a whole heap easier. It should feel comfortable for both of you.

Is baby having a growth spurt - lots of short spells of frequent cluster feeding is very usual.

Babies sometimes can favour one breast over another cos of the speed of let down - they get used to it. Wasn't an issue as they got older.
Look up u tubes on breast milk composition - first part of feed is thirst quenching - it gets progressively creamier.

Don't be afraid to let baby suckle once they ve 'finished ' - it stimulates milk production as they grow - last bit of feed is thick and creamy and satiating. They nod off in milk bliss . It sends you sleepy too - so enjoy a nap with baby.

A big glass of water next to you while you feed is a must !

Suckling is also a form of natural pain relief / comforting. Sometimes when they are crying they don't need to feed - might be wind. Some mums put baby straight tup breast every time they cry when that's not what's needed . There was one mum who suffered 5 months of crying - kept trying to feed - baby kept screaming and jerking - cranial osteopath found another cause. That's a very very gentle treatment - I took both of mine to cranial osteopathy - it helped with after affects of vonteuse delivery and teething. Worth a thought if you sense baby is in discomfort.

The body is amazing - it will produce the amount that was consumed the day before - if baby needs / wants more let them suckle the breast will create more.

Breastfeeding support really really helps but if isn't working, for whatever reason obv it's fine to do what's right for you. I needed so much help - I fretted over everything but that's cos difficult premature birth- but I had a wonderful group of mums to support me. So I chose to keep going. Many mums choose to bottlefeed - that's fine too !

Get that baby on you at every opportunity.

Skin to skin everyday. Stay home in bed and just have snuggles.

Baby to breasts multiple times a day.

I'm in awe of you pumping. Well done you.

If you are going to exclusively pump, you need to pretty much pump as and when baby is due feeds as it will mimic baby’s milk demand and keep your body regularly producing milk. If you don’t pump in the night and only pump 3 times a day your supply will naturally dip. I know it’s exhausting the thought of pumping, sanitising and feeding at the same rate as what baby needs right now, but that is the only way you will maintain supply if exclusively pumping. Good luck x