Breastfeeding, what to do?

[Ab19]

I suppose I'm writing this to either get advice or reassurance, not sure which one to be completely honest. I had my baby at 36 weeks and he would not latch, I decided I did want to breastfeed to expressed while continuing to try him at the breast at 6 weeks he finally latched on. Now he's 3 months and although will latch he doesn't always like to and sometimes screams until I give him a bottle. He's still only taking breast milk but I'm concerned I'm not able to produce enough when I'm expressing no matter what I do. Also one breast is becoming engorged more frequently and I'm struggling to clear it even when he's feeding directly from me. It's starting to stress me out and I'm considering combi-feeding by supplementing some formula to a couple of his feeds but I feel so guilty! I love the fact I can give him breast milk and yet while pregnant I was very of the mindset that "fed is best" so I don't know why I'm feeling guilty now. My husband is really supportive or whatever I decide to do. What would everyone suggest to do? He doesn't seem to be going hungry and is still gaining weight but I think it's just I was pumping 180ml most pumps and now it's 120ml even though I'm doing it just as frequently. Any advice or reassurance would be gratefully received. Thank you x

I would recommend the group breastfeeding and parentimg supports (BAPS) on facebook a v supportive community many who have exclusively expressed fed as well.

Hello,

I just want to share my own experience with you because I can relate. My baba was born at 37 weeks and I struggled with latch and also she fell asleep at the breast a lot. She's 13 weeks now and exclusively breast fed. Things got a lot easier, but I've found that as she's becoming more alert she cries before feeding and takes a while to latch. When she does she feeds to sleep, so can only assume she just wants to be awake? Perhaps it's her personality. When I pump I get about 4-5oz oz. I've tried bottle but she won't accept it at all. She has plenty of wet and dirty nappies and is gaining weight 'perfectly' according to health visitors and I've been advised to keep doing what I'm doing.

My thoughts are that if your baby isn't producing wet and dirty nappies and isn't gaining weight sufficiently then there would be concern. I would definitely speak with your health visitor. Is there any local breast feeding support groups?

Thank you so much for sharing with me. I do find my little boy falls asleep at the breast when he does latch but the last few days he has just screamed and point blank refused the breast but took a bottle. I'm not sure why he's started doing that now. Like your little one he is gaining weight perfectly according to the chart and is having lots of wet and dirty nappies so I'm not concerned that way I just sometimes feel he's still hungry after having my expressed milk. I'm hoping he's maybe just having a bit of a growth spurt and I can catch up with his demand.
There is a local breastfeeding support so I think I'll get in touch with them.
Thank you both for your replies xx

Hi. Is he getting impatient at the breast because he is used to the faster flow of the bottle? If you haven't tried would it be worth doing lots of skin to skin and comfort suckling before he gets hungry enough to cry? Do you express before or after offering breast? Has he been checked for tongue tie?
I found the la leche league very helpful when I struggled with my baby. Hope you get it sorted!

Hi, when he latches he is staying on for a while but he won't always latch. Sometimes once he's been on the breast he will still cry for a bottle and literally take a few ml so I think he just prefers a bottle as that's what I had to give him in hospital as he wasn't feeding and ended up jaundice. I'll give it a go with the suckling :), we do lots of skin to skin every morning as I like my little sleepy snuggles with him. He's been checked for tongue tie and doesn't have it. I have tried both offering the breast before and after expressing and he seems to prefer it after.
Thank you for your advice I'll have a look :) x