Breastfeeding

[nicole1233]

Probably the dumbest and troll worth question but here it's me grasping at straws, how important is a good latch, I mean no matter what I don't think my baby can manage a good as in a deep latch, but my nipples are never sore and I can hear her swallow. Obviously That has me lost my confidence in breastfeeding at that's why I express but only can manage 2 ounces and top up with formula. My bay was only born little , 5 pounds, although she was full term hence I am so scared to only rely on my breast milk n I tip up with formula which does take happily so that also means she isn't getting enough from my breast. She is 6 weeks old.

Babies are much better than a pump at getting milk out. I could sometimes express 1/2 and oz but mostly couldn’t get an milk yet I ebf a big baby for 6 months and feed her alongside food for years afterwards.

What is it you want to do? Do you want to move to ebf or mostly bf with occasional bottle or stay as you are or move to just ff? All are fine.

I really want to do more of breastfeeding and Ditch formula but if her latch ain't good I don't know if I can trust my body.

If your nipples aren't sore, she is gaining weight and having lots of wet nappies then it's fine! Honestly just stop the formula and see what happens. Offer the breast often and have faith!

My little boy is 9 weeks old and has always had a terrible latch. Constantly coming on and off and cluster feeds. It’s really exhausting sometimes. But he’s thriving so I must doing something right he’s piling weight on. In my case the latch isn’t as important he’s growing well and I’m not sore. The only problem is sometimes we both get tired from frequent feeding especially through growth spurts.
trust your body xx

i had the same experience as @El13 . Baby had undiagnosed tongue tie snipped at 12 weeks and even after that just couldn’t get a properly deep latch. I went to so many support groups and lactation consultants, but it’s still quite shallow.never painful for me though. The HV’s were never bothered because he is big and gained weight so well. In the early days it did give him quite bad reflux and me an oversupply (which made the reflux worse, vicious circle). But we’re 8 months into exclusive breastfeeding now and still going strong.

The reflux almost disappeared when he turned 5-6 months, and he feeds much more efficiently now, and still tracking between 75th and 80th centile, plenty of wet and dirty nappies etc. definitely trust your body xx

Why do you think her latch is poor, OP?

This. If it doesn't hurt then her latch is good.

You will never get as much with a pump as baby can get by sucking.

Some breastfeeding mums can't get anything out expressing.

As long as baby is producing wet and dirty nappies and putting on weight then baby is getting enough. That is how you trust your body.

And the more she feeds the more milk you will produce. If you give formula you might decrease your supply.

There's really no need to top up with formula.

Go to a nearby breastfeeding cafe or ask your GP/ Midwife to refer you to the NHS lactation/ feeding specialist at your local hospital Trust. Better than posting on an internet forum where no one can actually see you baby's latch or make a good feeding plan based on relevant clinical information.

Just stop the top ups and offer breast lots. Her latch sounds fine! All 3 of mine have had poor latches that made me sore in the early days because they were born quite tiddly (eldest in the bottom 10% for 38 weeks, twins in bottom 2% for 34 weeks...). As they got bigger and stronger the problem passed. If it's not hurting you, scrap the pumping and the formula. Babies are WAY better at getting milk out of you. As long as you are getting wet/dirty nappies and they don't lose weight they are getting plenty!

You'd know if your latch was bad, you'd be in agony and your nipple would be shaped like a new lipstick when she unlatches.

It sounds like your latch is fine!

Can you get an IBCLC for some advice and support on latch?

https://lcgb.org/find-an-ibclc/

If you pump, you risk getting yourself into a cycle of top-ups with bottles and your supply might start to drop because your body won't produce as much at the pump as your baby might demand if latched on.

Breastfeeding is all about supply and demand - a pump doesn't demand. Put baby to the boob often as possible. Ditch the bottle. Fussing at the boob is baby's way of putting in orders for more milk so don't let this worry you.

Instead of monitoring how much you can pump, ditch the pump. Trust your body. Monitor baby weight gain and nappy output. As long as they're still gaining weight with their curve and have regular wet and dirty nappies, you should be good.

It sounds good, OP. If you're not sore and you can hear her swallow, she's gaining weight and has lots of wet nappies, all is well and you can be confident she has a good latch.

Babies are much more efficient than pumps. With one of mine I couldn't pump at all, but he was absolutely thriving so I stopped bothering.

If you want to breastfeed, try stopping the pumping and the formula and have confidence in your body. It sounds like you're doing great.

I exclusively bf for 5 days she had loads of wet nappies and poo nappies as well l, I was over the moon I thought things were going well as I really wanted to bf as couldn't with my toddler but then she lost more than 10% birth weight the midwives said to top up with formula and that really got me scared felt my body was failing me was no good and had to give formula, as she was born tiny as well. M scared to only efb just in case she starts to loose weight again m scared to risk it

I mix fed initially too and there's nothing wrong with it, I'd argue it's the best of both worlds in the early stages. But now your dd is 6 weeks, you could start gradually phasing out the formula. Keep monitoring nappies, maybe keep a diary of them

How many ounces of formula is she having (as in actually drinking) per day OP? If it’s a big proportion if her total intake, you might need to swap one feed at a time to full breastmilk direct from breast rather than do it all at once to give your body time to adjust and make more milk.

My son has never had a good latch, very shallow however he feeds very well and very efficiently and I’m never sore. Only “issue” I would say is he does take in a lot of air but it doesn’t seem to bother him he just does lots and lots of burps! He’s on 99th percentile and I’ve EBF for 7 months with no plans to stop so it’s never been an issue for us.

So do it gradually. Drop one top up bottle in 24 hrs. A week later weigh baby and if all is well bro another. That way baby has time to adjust and increase her breastfeeding intake to compensate. There's no rush with it is there? I would suggest you get a proper plan to reduce the top ups (with an agreed time to review) from your midwife of health visitor.

My son is 19 months and only ever had breast milk, no formula. He never achieved a deep or 'good' latch. I didn't listen to anyone as I knew my baby and body best and he's never had any issues with weight. He's a very happy and healthy baby. You know best as to what's working for you both x

My baby is 6 and a half months old. He has been exclusively breast fed. He sometimes took breast milk from a bottle but stopped at 4 months along with a little self soothing of sucking his thumb. Now he’s started weaning aswell and has breakfast and dinner and breast milk inbetween.
My problem is he’s always been fed to sleep but now it’s getting ridiculous at night time he won’t sleep unless he’s on me and when he’s on me he’s getting worse he’s using my breast as a pacifier it feels.
He will only sleep on me i put him in his next to me and 10 sometimes 30 mins later he’s crying and fighting to get down to my breast? I need sleep and some advice I don’t know how to stop it.

I’ve tried feeding 30 mins before his nap window and putting him to bed see if he falls aslp. Tried rocking him and he’s stubborn and will just stay awake until he gets on the boob. He’s become very clingy and won’t really go to his dad unless he can see me.

he’s been on and off poorly recently on and off with a few different things and he’s had a couple of growth spurts so I know that all contributes to him being clingy.

please help any advice to save my nipples sleep and sanity.