Breastfeeding help

[teddytoo95]

Looking for some help!

We've started breastfeeding again since last Sunday (baby was 5 and a half weeks when we restarted) We had a 3 week gap but I was still pumping in this time (probably 3 or 4 times per day) but never got much, usually 3oz per day.

The first few days she was barely interested in the breast, I would maybe get her to latch for 30 seconds to a minute. We have spent the whole week at home and on Thursday it was like it clicked and she was latching beautifully and feeding for between 5-20 minutes each side. I've upped my pumping too, I'm doing it as often as possible and also setting an alarm for 3/4am too.
I have a few worries though, is the fact she is feeding for longer a positive sign?
Also, I don't seem to be able to pump anymore than 0.5oz-1oz at a time (both breasts) surely I should be seeing an increase by now? But then am I only getting a little because she's feeding more?
She is probably breastfeeding around 6-8 times per 24 hours and also having formula too, we always offer breast first and also it's offered between feeds aswell. I'm not sure if I should still be pumping more with her feeding so often? She has slightly dropped the amount of formula she is having, but is still hungry for it.
Last question is would a better pump be necessary? I have a bellababy double electric pump, a bellababy wearable and a momcozy wearable too. I don't get better results with one over the other.

Thank you if you got this far, I would really appreciate any help!

If baby is gaining weight and having lots of dirty and heavy, wet nappies I wouldn’t worry too much about her getting enough milk OP.

Can you hear her gulping the milk when she’s on the breast?

I had a lot of issues with BF my DS at the start too and had to pump and FF. We paid to see a lactation consultant when he was about 11 weeks who was really helpful. DS is nearly 9 months old now and still going strong with the BF.

Would seeing a lactation consultant be an option for you OP? Or speak to Health Visitor about your concerns?

Longer feeds are definitely good. Sometimes babies' feeds get shorter as they grow, due to them becoming more efficient at feeding - if you haven't been exclusively feeding then no need to worry about them not getting shorter. Also, a 20 min feed isn't drastically long - it's a perfectly respectable duration.

The amount of milk you get from pumping is NOT an accurate representation of your milk supply. It is easier for a baby to extract milk than a pump, and different women have different results with different pumps. Some women have a large supply, but aren't able to pump at all because the milk just doesn't come out.

Pumping is not necessary, but any pumping you do will help to increase your supply. Basically, breast has X ml of milk; breast gets empty so it makes X ml of milk for next time plus a bit extra; breast gets empty so it makes X ml plus a bit extra, and another bit extra.

Lastly it sounds like you're doing an absolutely amazing job! Looking after a new baby and doing all that pumping must be absolutely exhausting, so well done you!

@MaybeBaby2024 yes I hear her gulping for the first few minutes, although maybe not as much afterwards?

Nappy output is absolutely fine, and she is having slightly less formula.

I do have the HV coming on Monday so I'm hoping that they can be of some help too! So glad that you managed to get sorted, it's such a hard thing to do!

@UnravellingTheWorld
Thank you so much I really appreciate that 🩷

She seems really content when she's feeding, and although she is still needing that formula, she is having less already and I'm trying to make sure I pump when she has the formula bottle.

That's made me feel a bit more positive, hopefully I'm just not very successful with the pump. I seem to get the initial let down and then not much past that! I'm really hoping we can keep improving my supply but I do feel like we've made some progress in a week!

It sounds like the others have covered all bases. Congratulations on restarting BF. X

I found the Bella baby double pump quite good, and would recommend using that over the wearables where possible!!!

remember that your milk is on a supply and demand basis so you can up your production by pumping consistently every 2/3 hours, or by feeding baby directly, even through the night until your supply is established.

Pumping doesn’t really show us our outputs as our babies are far more effective at getting our milk than the pumps are unfortunately so please don’t beat yourself up about the amount you’re able to pump. Some people think that watching a video of your baby feeding or crying helps you to produce more in a pumping session but I’m not sure if this is true. Remember that around 6 weeks some bf babies will start to cluster feed to try to invrase your supply more. Your baby knows what they are doing, please don’t feel guilty or like you can’t give them enough.

you’re doing amazingly❤️

what kept me going was someone saying never give up on a hard day.

@Gabsssss thank you so much for your kind words! ❤️

So I'm right in thinking that I can replace a pumping session with nursing instead?
She is slowly dropping oz of formula and seems to want to go to the breast often so I'm hoping that's a good sign.

That's such a good saying, thank you!

Yes the gulping at the start is good. When your let down happens at the start the milk comes out quite fast and they get a good mouthful (gets a bit messy if they suddenly unlatch, I have been sprayed with milk a few times lol), then the flow eases off a bit after that initial gush.

If she is content and passing plenty of urine and poo I would say you’re doing just fine.

Thank you so much, I'm really hoping so!

I would keep putting baby to breast instead of pumping, especially during the night, this is when you will be making the most milk. For me pumping did not increase my supply at all only my babies could do that (I was in hospital for five days and baby couldn't visit I pumped religiously but my supply dwindled to nothing, but came back strong when I got home to my baby who was 18 months at the time)

Thank you i will keep doing that. Should I be dropping her formula amount or keep it the same and let her drop it herself?

Of course you can replace pumping with feeding! I would personally drop the formula now if that’s the goal as long as you’re happy to as it will only take a day or so for baby to bring your milk levels up. Some people choose to combi feed and like to give a bottle of formula before bed etc but again it’s all personal preference. Just remember as long as baby is gaining weight and the nappy output is there then your milk is more than good enough.

In complete honesty, my choice to exclusively breastfeed came down to the cost of formula… so I’d use whatever you’ve got left over the course of however long it takes and then leave it be! But everyone is different and that’s just what my take would be x

This is a great Facebook group I've found infinitely helpful in my five years of BF. It's run by American ladies but there is always someone there with an answer and loads of good info to peruse m.facebook.com/groups/BreastfeedingSuccess/?ref=share

@Gabsssss I tried to miss out her night time bottle of formula last night, she fed lots between 10pm-12pm and fell asleep content but this morning her nappy was dry 😔 I've really ramped up the feeding and trying to pump less in favour of feeding. So I'm really not sure what's best. The health visitor is due for our 6-8 week check today so I will ask her too.

The goal is to end up EBF, as you say formula costs an absolute fortune and I just love the ease of BF (When I say that I mean not washing/sterilising/taking a flask etc out) otherwise it's the hardest thing I've ever done xx

My milk was never enoughsome of us like that (even when they try to convince you that every women will have unlimited milk if they do it right-that is a lie!)

I breastfed during the day, but mostly for comfort. I pumped after every feed or when I offered a bottle.

They say you should offer breast first, but for me offering bottle first worked better. I gave my little one about 30ml and offered breast after- she was much calmer and managed to get more out this way.

They also advise to breastfeed at night---well, that's great if you don't struggle but if you do that will mean sleepless night for both of you. As soon as I stopped breastfeeding at night, my daughter and I slept much better and the daytime breastfeeding became calmer and more enjoyable.

I went on 4 months with breastfeeding and expressing. It was hell. After 4 months my milk stopped (it must be something to do with genetics: my mum and my sister experienced the same).

@Tina8800 well done you for getting to 4 months! Did you stopping in the night effect your supply much?
My supply just seems so awful no matter what I do!

6 weeks is prime cluster feeding time or at least it was for us. My LO is EBF, though she does have bottles of expressed milk so we could split the night shifts and now I'm back at work part time.

I had the same thing as an FTM, was worried I didnt have enough milk so kept pumping as well as feeding and ended up with an oversupply which is not a fun thing either. Now I have a baby that sleeps through and still have to pump for comfort.

Have you tried a local breastfeeding support group or La Leche league? They were really helpful for me, and it also really boosted my confidence around feeding in public as I wasnt the only one

@Sunshineandlollipop
I'm feeding her before every bottle and she is still drinking most of her bottle, so I'm really confused on what I should do.
I do have contact with someone from la leche league and I'm doing everything that she had reccomended but I just don't feel like we are getting any further along with it 😔

@teddytoo95 don't breastfeeding at night didn't effect my milk supply. I still got up to pump at least once until 3 months when she was sleeping through. After that I managed to express a big amount in a morning, similar that I would of had during a night combined.

Please don't feel bad about topping feed with formula. No matter what I tried, my milk was never enough. It also came from the fact that my baby needed a lot more than the recommended amount from the begging. I could of just breastfeed and let her go hungry ( I know many women who does that) but I rather use formula as well to make sure I have a happy, well fed baby.

Are you pave feeding the bottle? It’s very easy for babies to over eat from a bottle, as they drink quicker than their hunger signals change. Pace feeding can help prevent this and you might find she then has less formula as a result.