Positive outcomes on delayed &low supply

[cloboe]

Hi all, my milk came in very late due to birth complications and it's been a month now and I still have low supply. I am breast feeding and pumping to stimulate supply as much as I can. DS is still on formula as I am not producing enough. Feels like I will never be able to exclusively breast feed. What experiences have others had and any advice to stimulate and remain positive. It really gets me down at times.

I'm so sorry to hear you're struggling. I'd stop pumping. Your baby is best at getting milk out and stimulating supply. I'm sure you've already been told this but try breastfeeding at every feed before you give any formula, especially at night time as the hormones produced when breastfeeding overnight are much more potent at stimulating milk supply. Try to relax and let baby feed on and off when they want to. I'd recommend speaking to a lactation consultant (privately if you cna afford it) to check babies latch and give you full advice re how to reduce the formula top ups. Remember it's normal for babies who breastfeed to want to feed all the time, it's how they build up your supply. It does eventually settle down.

I would also suggest that you join your local breastfeeding support group. They will tell you it's nappy output and steady even if tiny weight gain that indicates your supply is okay and give you loads of tips!

Main things are: offer both breasts immediately on waking up from all naps and any time baby cries if not needing nappy change, lots of skin to skin and gradually reduce formula top ups as it's too tempting to let your worries take over and give more and more formula, sabotaging your goal of EBF.