Mumsnet Breastfeeding Club

[Llondbol]

Hi!

I can't find a thread for breastfeeding chat; so thought I'd start one.

I'm a new Mum to Jac (10/4/19) and he's my first baby. I haven't made it to a local breastfeeding group yet, so would love the chance to chat here. It was a difficult start and I still have so many questions...

Anyone want to join? Introduce yourself - I'd love to hear from you 😁

@tootyfrooty35 tandem feeding is really hard but worth it. I hated feeding my toddler during pregnancy I felt like I didn't have much milk and used to find it really irritating and stop the feeds after a few minutes a lot which I'd never needed to do before. This was the hardest part I think.

Since I've had dd2 It's been so handy having an older one still feeding when my boobs are full of milk- she doesn't take any persuasion to have some whereas the baby can be a bit overwhelmed sometimes if milk is literally squirting out or they are too full and hard.

Have fed both at the same time a fair bit now and at first this was a bit too much but now I take the opportunity to close my eyes and rest for a minute knowing they're both fine. Could not do this in public easily as my discreet tops don't cover much when both are feeding!

I reckon it's reduced jealousy and my eldest says 'my side, dd2 side' quite often while poking me in the chest. Even though they don't have a set side. Sometimes she pats her younger sister as they both feed which is so sweet. Dd1 does ask a lot more for 'boo' now though and will whine 'my turn', 'other side' at me if she's tired and she can see I'm feeding the little one.

She can be distracted with snacks most of the time and I'm grateful to be able to feed her to comfort her if she's ill or falls over etc it's invaluable to instantly make her feel better. It means I feel really close to both of them and my eldest still gets that reassurance of being my baby too still.

I've never been this tired before but that was always going to happen with a smallish age gap. I'm taking breastfeeding vitamins religiously so hopefully that's helping keep me healthy as well.

Establishing feeding my youngest was no bother this time as well and I think that my milk never had to 'come in' like with my first and my nipples were already tough! If you're considering feeding 2 I'd say go for it. The only thing I don't feel confident about is them ever deciding to stop breastfeeding on their own.

Seems like my milk supply is less during the day. Baby is always taking 5oz of formula after I breast feed for ages, but doesn’t seem to look for it at night. Should I just keep breastfeeding baby for longer to get the supply up? I feel like I feed her for ages and she is still hungry.

Also, has anyone tried lactation cookies? Have seen some recipes but not sure if it would even work!

Lots of respect for the breastfeeding twin mums!

Thanks x

@beherenowx32 chocolate chip hobnobs work for me I've not tried lactation biscuits! I've read somewhere oats help your supply so always justified having a few! I think you do have more milk at night and every time it feels like they want too much just keep going and offering it and ime your supply should catch up with the amount they're trying to feed within a few days and you can relax again.

@Yayswimming I love hob nobs 🤗 defo worth a try x

@BeHereNowx32 yes keep going, you are doing a great job. But by giving formula you are creating an interruption to your milk supply. Let the baby suckle as they will instruct your body to create the milk it needs to.

Have faith in your body. No one in developing countries use any lactation biscuits or anything else. They just feed and milk comes.

Keep hydrated and get rest, feeding is a full time job. X

@avocadoincident thank you. Baby was up every hour last night, and I breastfed until I couldn’t handle it anymore (tired and feeling sore). So, DH took her and she drank 5oz of formula. Then, again this morning. I breastfed her 7am- no formula. Then 10:30.. she wouldn’t settle, so gulped down 5oz of formula. Feel like I’m failing if she’s is always hungry all the time ☹️
My mum thinks I should just go into bottles as this happened to her. X

Do you have any bf support in your local area. I'm in south Monmouthshire and there's a few options here.

Unfortunately family members are a huge cause of undermining confidence in a mums ability to feed. I know they are coming from a kind place but encouraging a substandard product that is essentially cows milk and water and sugar is not the best for your little one.

I can't stress enough how important it is to just keep feeding. Your body will adjust and meet the needs of your baby.

How old is your little one? It gets easier and in no way will bottle feeding be easier for you in the long run.

You are doing so well to cope with all this pressure

@avocadoincident my baby is 7 weeks. But has had bottles since about 3 days old when she had lost too much weight. However, I always tried to avoid bottles. But now she just seems so unsettled all the time, unless she’s had a bottle. She is all smiles and cooing, but it’s breaking my heart because it’s after a bottle.

There is a support group close by. I keep saying that I will go. I will try this coming week. How does it work? Do they just answer questions that you might have? It’s not until Thursday. I will keep breastfeeding first, like I usually do anyway... with formula top ups as I can’t stand her being so unsettled. Thank you again xx

Hello everyone 👋Hope you don’t mind me chipping in - I’m currently 20w pregnant with my first and planning to breastfeed, and I’m really enjoying reading this thread.
I have a question about breast pads! I see them on every “essentials” list so I assume people do use them...but I can’t help wondering if they just stick to the raw/ bleeding bits and make things worse?

@PatrickMerricksGoshawk yes, I find them very uncomfortable and itchy. They also squash the nipples! You can put nipple shells into your bra and it collects the milk. Just need to remember to empty and wash them. And you can use that milk for feeding xx

@BeHereNowx32 all groups are different but they can give you moral support, practical guidance and physical help if you want it. Are you under a health visitor yet or still a midwife? Either of them should be able to help support you.

I'm sure Thursday seems very far away right now. Have you got any lanolin cream to keep the soreness down? It can be pricey but worth it.

@BeHereNowx32 this link may help get you to Thursday. X

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-support/

@PatrickMerricksGoshawk
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
I found cloth washable pads better as in the early days you may leak a lot. I found disposables mixed around too much and crumpled up. Washable are better financially and environmentally too.

But now I don't wear any as my milk supply naturally matches the baby's need.
I think I stopped wearing them at around 6 months.

@avocadoincident seeing the health visiter now, who says do what is best for me. If I’m happy to combo feed then carry on. When I saw her yesterday, I felt really positive about it. But now on reflection, I would prefer baby fed from me and felt content afterwards. Not just look for a bottle too, and she is drinking more and more formula.

Thanks for the link. I do have cream. I also have nipple shields. But haven’t used them yet and not keen to. I will keep going until Thursday, but maybe phone feeding team for advice.
Did you find it took a while to get settled into a breastfeeding routine? Xx

I went to see midwife to go get signed off (DS 10 days old) yesterday and she hadn’t put on any weight since day 5 when she was first weighed (originally dropped 4% of birth weight). DD was originally taking 1 boob every 2 hours and only for 5-8 mins.

Midwife suggested either topping up with formula or pumping. I don’t really want to do either I tried pumping yesterday but as I wasn’t planning on doing it I only have a crappy pump and she didn’t really take to the bottle. Since then I have been feeding her on 1 boob and then winding/changing her basically waking her up to re feed on the same boob again as I think the problem is she’s getting the watery milk but then passing out before the thick milk comes through.

Midwife coming tomorrow to re weigh so hopefully that will help and she will have put some on, she is so content and chilled and I feed on demand so really upsetting when she didn’t put weight on...makes you feel it’s your fault and I don’t get upset easily!

Also she has really dry skin so any tips on that??! X

Absolutely I did @BeHereNowx32

I was completely shocked by how hard I found it with my second as my first was a breeze. But remember that a baby needs to learn what to do too.

Combo feeding is an option but from what I've seen. It's just a slow road to giving up bfing completely. The thing with the bottle is that the milk comes out quicker and easier and the baby has to work less hard to get the reward. Who wouldn't want that hey?' But over time they get better at feeding from you but it'll take perseverance and then all of a sudden you'll realise...wow it's so easy and natural now...when did that happen?! Hooray!!!

You must have faith in yourself. You and the baby can do this. But it's a team effort and it sounds like you are doing well. Is your baby a healthy weight now?

@Creas35 I had the same thing, baby wouldn't gain weight but I just persevered. It was scary and I cried a lot with worry. But it came right within the week.
I always felt that the midwife was lovely but that she didn't have the time to fully help my with breastfeeding. So her answer of 'just top up' was a quick fix so that she could tick me off the list safely.

@Creas35
info.dralexrinehart.com/articles/nutrition-benefits/importance-of-breastfeeding-infant-gut-development

Some interesting info on the immune system and gut makeup even after one formula feed

@Creas35 how about some gentle baby massage. You can use olive oil from the kitchen. Also just bath in plain water and avoid wet wipes

@avocadoincident thank you, I agree my midwife is lovely but massively overworked, I told her I probably wouldn’t do either of those things and she was fine. The problem is if DD is a lazy eater then giving her expressed or formula will just be playing into that so it will never correct itself. Will keep trying the boob twice and see how we get on, feeding my DS 7 years ago was such hard work and she is a dream at the moment so really knocked me when they said there was a problem.

Thanks for your help and advice! Will try the skincare tips as well x

@Creas35 my dd2 would fall asleep after only a few minutes and I got an app to record feeding time and duration. But once she gained weight that app was deleted as I hated getting so obsessed with the detail.

You sound pretty determined and like you are totally in control of this

@avocadoincident baby is feeding again (breast) 2 hours after her formula. She seems to be a very hungry baby just now 😊 she is a good weight, yes. I feel like she wants fed all the time! Our health suggested giving her cool boiled water too? Incase it’s actually thirst. I didn’t think breastfed babies needed water.

@Creas35 your situation sounds a little similar to me, as ini was told to top up with formula. As I was struggling with breastfeeding I was more than happy to use the bottle to help me cope. Now it’s a stress!
It’s a hard decision to make.

At first, we used coconut oil on baby’s dry skin. It worked for a little while, then skin would be dry again later in. Once 4 weeks, we moved onto aveeno, but she doesn’t really have dry skin so much x

Just read something online, which suggests breastfeeding baby first, offering the formula (but less then they would usually take). Then putting them back in the breast to help empty the milk and for baby to associate being full with the breast. Something to try. If I keep giving her more and more formula, I will definitely end up moving to just formula fed.

Just though I would add that if anyone is in the same situation as me x

BeHereNowx32, avocadoincident thanks for the tips

I think feeding every 4 hours is a unobtainable myth. If we think how we feed and why it's a totally different story.

Somedays I eat every hour, some days I eat because I'm cold, feeling sad, feeling happy, feeling tired. Babies are the same.

In the womb they get a constant supply of nourishment. Out in the real world I think feeding every two hours is fine. I don't think it's a sign that your milk is not up to the job. It won't be forever although it bloody feels like it at the time.

The baby loves you and loves your milk and loves your boobies. No wonder they want you so often. They are in heaven