Breastfeeding help please

[gg321]

Needing to express to increase supply as my baby is a lazy feeder. I have a manual pump, been told to express 50ml after each feed but I am literally empty after my baby has had a feed, is this normal or is my supply really that low if this is the case? I can get about 30 if I wait a bit. Would pumping on what seems like an empty breast still be beneficial for supply? I thought maybe I’m one that pumping just doesn't work for but during the night when my breasts were really full I tried and it was easy. I’m really stressing (which I know isn’t good) as I want to carry on bf but I’m worried if I don’t increase supply and I can’t get the top ups I’ll have no choice but to introduce some formula. I ebf my other for over a year so I feel like a let down to this baby if I can’t do the same. ANY advice welcome

It would be beneficial to pump even though you are not getting any out, it should stimulate more milk. I found if I waited 30 minutes after a feed I could get quite a bit of milk out. Also, remember that the baby is the best thing to get more milk so make sure you are putting them to your boob as much as possible. Good luck and try not to worry, I am sure you are doing everything you can.

Are you drinking plenty of water and eating well ?

Yes definitely beneficial even if no milk coming out how much water do you drink

You are never 'empty', you produce milk to order so the more demand the more you produce.

It's a common trap new mums fall into, topping up with formula because breasts feel empty/ baby isn't satisfied so you then produce less & the cycle continues.

Feed as much as poss, pump when you can & build your supply up.

@NeverHadANickname Thankyou. He’s on the boob a lot but not effectively feeding for a lot of the time, very lazy!

@gg321 has he been checked for a tongue tie?

Buy an electric pump, the manual ones take forever. I could never get a drop out with the manual pump but an electric ont I could fill a bottle.

Baby's always get more than what you pump to as they work harder then the pump

I'd wait 30 mins OP, it wont make any difference and will be less frustrating for you. Most people produce more at night, does he feed plenty at night?
You dont need to top up with formula, just keep going. Has baby stopped gaining weight?

@FippertyGibbett @mrssunshinexxx eating well and drinking quite a bit but I’ll try to drink more.
@NoGoodPunsLeft I’m with u on what u say and I’m definitely not one of these who will easily go to formula, I’m trying everything I can before. I know you’re never ‘empty’ but why can’t I get anything after a feed it’s so frustrating?! It’s exactly what I’m doing feeding as much as I can (that’s a lot!!) pumping when I can. It’s the midwives saying topping up with formula would be needed if still not gaining weight after pumping and topping up with breast milk. I’m so aware of the trap new mums fall into (I’m not a new to bf) and I don’t want to sound like I’m one of these but I just need to make more milk!

How old is your baby? I'd say keep feeding. Keep pumping. Drink lots of water and eat lots of oats (I found this really helped). I could never express much, took me all day to produce enough for one bottle. After a while I couldn't be bothered anymore. Baby gained weight and had plenty of wet/dirty nappies and seemed content so I stopped pumping. The bottle was only so I could get a bit more sleep and wasn't worth the stress.

Why do you think you need to increase supply? Is baby losing weight or not content a lot of the time? Or does he just want to be on the boob a lot?

@Ejb86 he’s had all his checks and no mention of tongue tie.
@nattiee I have heard the manuals not always great. Agree with babies more effective than pumps at getting milk but he’s so lazy!
@Jamhandprints he feeds every 3/4 hours at night, I could wake him more often? His weight is static, he’s 3wks and not got back up to birth weight since initial drop which wasn’t huge. He was big baby 9.14 I’ve been told they take longer.

@saywhatwhatnow see previous post re age and situation, midwives telling me to do the pumping and topping up.
I’ll get some oats!!

My DS was lazy when he was little too, he just wanted to sleep! The breastfeeding supporter I had in hospital (not UK) was saying I needed to keep him awake for feeds so to tickle his feet, that just put him to sleep 🤣 he is a milk monster now. Good luck.

I had a nightmare with my 9lb 6 baby taking ages to pick up weight wise and was under pressure to top up with formula.

Do ask for tongue-tie to be checked for again (mine was missed twice).

I kept getting sent to the hospital by the midwives, hospital checked everything and sent us away 3 times. She was just slow to gain. Eventually she found her centile and has stuck to it!

If his nappy output is good and he is alert, happy and otherwise healthy I would carry on pumping after a feed but don’t tie yourself in knots over it.

These are things that helped me:

• drinking a hot drink while pumping
• looking at baby photos or videos on phone while pumping
• eating lots of oats (porridge, flapjacks, biscuits)
• ensuring I was drinking a lot of water during the day.

Maybe some of these will help you?

You could see if he'll latch on while sleeping? This is what my dd does. Just until he picks the weight back up. Keep doing what you're doing, it sounds fine. See if you can find a local support group on facebook. Then you can get some input from some peer supporters, to back you up.

@Irre247 Thankyou. They are going to refer us to hospital if he hasn’t gained anything by early next week. Was your baby at same weight for a while or gaining slowly? Were u topping up at all? I think my midwife would be happy with any slight gain, but he’s just staying the same. He’s so happy and well, all the midwives I’ve seen say that too, just no weight gain.
I’m just dreading the day when they say you HAVE to top up with formula! I know they can’t force me but they can guilt me into it. When you had him checked in hospital was there pressure to top up with formula?

@BlackKittyKat thankyou x

My friend was recently in this same position, it was an undiagnosed tongue tie, it was really far back so not glaringly obvious but she had a low supply as the baby wasn’t latching properly so the milk wasn’t being taken away, therefore the body wasn’t producing anymore.

Push again for someone to have a really good look😊

@JumperooSue I certainly will, to be honest I can’t remember anyone having a good pin his mouth. If I had a look myself before I see anyone what would I be looking for?

He wouldn’t be able to fully move and stick out his tongue, there are lots of different tongue ties, some can be at the front so much more obvious but some can be further back and involve a bit of the muscle. I hope you get it sorted quickly😊

That’s meant to say a good look not pin!

@gg321 another tip when pumping is to smell something of baby's, and cover the pump bottles with socks. If you're stressing about it, you're less likely to pump well.

I can definitely recommend the medela pumps. I have the Medela Swing Maxi. It is a closed system, so fine to buy second hand if needed. I used it with my little boy, lent to my friend who was struggling with manual pumping, and now I have it back for when baby no. 2 arrives.

Also, breast massage and compressions before pumping make a massive difference!

@Ejb86 Thankyou.