Breastfeeding woes

[SleepyHeid]

I EBF my almost 4 week old DS for the first 3 days after he was born. Come day 4 he was starving and my milk hadn't come in yet (I also noticed orange crystals in his nappy meaning dehydration) so I decided to give him one of those ready-to-feed bottles which he guzzled. It took until day 5 before my milk came in so I continued with the pre-made bottles until this point.

I then tried to go back to EBF but he never seemed satisfied, like he wasn't getting enough from me (coming off the breast himself but crying, chewing his fists, etc.) so I tried combination feeding but he kept falling asleep minutes after latching on. I've tried undressing him, changing his nappy etc. As recommended by the midwife to try and wake him up but nothing seems to work. Even when he does nurse for a while he's still crying for more milk afterwards but won't go back on the breast.

I've been pumping to try and increase my supply (pumping for 10 mins on each side every couple of hours during the day) but I'm only getting maybe 10mls per session. My breasts are still leaking so I'm assuming there is milk there but I can't seem to release it.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I know about hand expressing but how am I supposed to collect the milk whilst doing that? I'd really like to BF at least until he's had his first vaccinations at 8 weeks but I'm really struggling.

For the past 2 weeks he's been almost exclusively bottle fed as I can't meet his needs (although I always offer the breast first). He is taking between 4 and 5 ounces every 2-3 hours and put on 10oz in weight between week 2 and 3. This seems a lot for such a young baby but the HV said, 'if he's hungry, feed him'.

You are doing the right thing by continuing to put him on the boob - it will stimulate supply. And plenty of skin on skin when you're not feeding him.

It sounds like persevering with that approach may pay off, as if he may just have a bit of confusion? He might be thinking "oh this boob milk is nice but I haven't quite got the hang of it, where's that other stuff I've been getting?" Hence the protesting.

A breast pump doesn't reflect how much milk you have as it's not as efficient as a baby at getting it out.

Good luck! And congrats on your little one.

Thanks very much @sillybean ☺️

I think you're right, the process of him getting breast milk probably seems too much like hard work compared to the instant gratification he gets from the free flowing teat on the bottle. It really went against the grain to introduce a bottle but I felt I didn't have any option at the time. My mistake was to continue with it for so long but I'll admit, the ease and convenience made it hard to stop.

I'll definitely make more time for skin to skin and persevere x

He may also be upset when your initial let down slows and then he has to work to get a second let down, he's getting frustrated. You could try switching breasts at that point, then switching back to the original breast. Or you could try breast compressions during feeds, when he begins to get fussy. Keep on with skin to skin and offering breast first.

Also when expressing it's worth doing more frequent sessions for shorter amounts of time than longer sessions. So ten mins each side, then repeat.

Also, remember your supply will currently be driven by Babie's demands, baby knows when he needs more so he has to order it in. This seems like fussiness but it's his way of telling your body to make more milk!

Yep and don't beat yourself up about it either - it's a learning process for you both. Emotions run high in these early days - there will be times when it feels like it's going well and other days when it's not - all normal. It can take anything from 6-12 weeks for breastfeeding to establish itself.

When my son was born I ended up topping up with formula for first three days while I was in hospital. Once I got home we didn't have any formula so I ended up ebf because of that and I worried if he was getting enough but I just kept putting him on - literally every 2 hours and checking/counting nappies, and weekly weight gain, like you are doing.

The only other thing could be possible tongue tie? How is his latch? HV maybe able to advise you on this if you think he's not getting enough out because of that.

Perhaps you and the baby could go to bed for a couple days for a “baby moon”. Just stay in bed and focus on bf and upping your supply. Lots of skin to skin and lots of feeding

Other than an occasional bottle in the early days my daughter was ebf until 6 months when I added in food - I can’t express all but the good news is babies are way more effective than pumps.

You need to make sure you are pace feeding when bottle feeding so it more like breast feeding and your baby isn’t used to a constant flow of milk. There is no secret trick to make you produce more milk, just breast feed, breast feed and breast feed. Make sure you drink plenty of water or what ever non alcoholic and none caffeine drinks you like.

Do you know about cluster feeding? This is where young babies feed continuously for hours, never seeming to be happy with how much milk I they have had. Often it’s described as “putting their orders in”. It normally occurs early evening and over night. In the first 6 weeks it’s normal for a mum of an ebf to feed from 6 to 11 in the evening while the baby only has an occasional cat nap. This does not mean the baby isn’t getting enough milk, they are just establishing Mum’s milk supply.

To increase your milk you need to reduce the amount of formula feed you give and then spend the next few days comfy in bed or on the sofa feeding and having skin to skin. Join a la lache league Facebook page for advice on how much formula to reduce at a time.

How is your baby’s latch? Other than the initial latch is feeding comfortable?

You’ve done amazing to get so far breast feeding. You’re a supermum.

I did EBF for a year and nearly gave up early on, so painful and was every 2 hours morning and night but I had alot of milk but he piled always dose off, I found rubbing his feet he gentle walking up and down his spine with fingers helped whcih is what midwife suggested...

Thank you all so much for your advice, recommendations and words of encouragement!

I don't think he is tongue tied as his latch seems to be pretty good and breastfeeding isn't painful (except when he decides to pull off the nipple like he is sucking in a piece of spaghetti, lady and the tramp style) 😳

I will definitely look at Le Leche League on Facebook, drink more water, have more skin to skin time and try different feeding positions (only been doing cradle hold until now as lying down and rugby ball didn't feel comfortable but maybe I should practice more).

My HV asked if I feel my let down reflex but I don't, and my boobs feel empty. I don't feel them 'refilling' but when I hand express milk does come out. Sometimes I can see milk around baby's mouth after a feed but other times I can't so it's hard to know if he's getting anything which is frustrating for both of us.

The message I'm taking away is - more boob, less formula, persevere and don't be hard on myself ☺️

Thanks again x

@SleepyHeid I'm in exactly the same situation right now. Curious to know how you got on...please do update us if you see this!