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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Breastfeeding help please

31 replies

gg321 · 21/11/2020 07:28

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

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Irre247 · 21/11/2020 17:42

Hospital were great and just told us to keep doing what we were doing cause she was so obviously fine. It was actually the health visitor at the breastfeeding support group who wanted me to formula top up Hmm.

I tried for a bit to express enough for some top ups, but she fed so much I never really got much, unless I used a Hakka on the other boob while I fed, which felt a bit self-defeating and didn’t result in any gain.

She slept really well at night and I think that was partly the issue. She would go down after a final feed at 10 and not wake up till 4, 5am. They wanted me to wake her, I had another to run round after and needed my sleep and sanity!

So I largely ignored them, once she had had her tongue tie done it still didn’t make a huge difference but the HV at the support group was still being a bit of a cow and I asked them, “what will you do if I just don’t come and get her weighed?”

They said they would phone me and ask me to come. I never went back, they never called and she hasn’t been weighed since. I told my HV it was making me unwell to be put under all this pressure to top up.

It helped that she was my second so I was confident enough to know she was fine and I didn’t need the top ups (first was also a slow weight gainer although started smaller and I combination fed her which worked for us at the time).

I’d go to the hospital, have the tests. Ask for another TT check just in case. You’ll likely be told he’s fine, maybe tongue ties, but then and tell your HV the constant weighing is impacting your mental health.

NoGoodPunsLeft · 21/11/2020 21:04

You could try nipple shields if it isn't tongue tie, I used them witj DD because she wouldn't latch & she fed straightaway. I did get her off them after a few months which was better because having to sterilise them & take a stash everywhere was a bit of a pain at first

Anothercliche · 22/11/2020 04:54

@gg321 I had the same problem as you with my first (10 lb 4 baby, static weight for ages, lots of pressure to top up feed), and now having similar issues with my second (9 lb 4).

With my first it turned out it was tongue tie - midwives are not specifically trained to recognise or diagnose tongue tie, you need to see an infant feeding specialist or a tongue tie practitioner to get it properly diagnosed. If possible, go private (the NHS waiting list for tongue tie division is ridiculous). There's a website with contact details for private tongue tie practitioners, Google it and it should come up. It made the world of difference with my first.

However with my second I don't think it's tongue tie, I think it's just that he was born a big baby and isn't meant to be that big. Midwives take no account of the fact that if you and your partner aren't naturally large people that your baby probably won't be either. It is very common for large babies to "trend down" after birth, but the midwives guidelines on birth weight create all this unnecessary pressure around regaining weight within a certain timeframe which doesn't work well with large, breastfed babies.

As a previous poster said, as long as baby is having plenty of wet and dirty nappies, is otherwise alert and happy, then you can refuse to do weigh ins and top ups. I wish I'd known this first time round as I ended up pumping and topping up for months and nearly lost my sanity, but my first went from 98th centile to 50th and happily stayed there. She's now a very robust 2.5 year old.

Things to help with pumping: look up "power pumping" - it's a method that attempts to replicate cluster feeding and is good at upping your supply and getting lots of milk without having to be tied to pumps for hours. Get a medical grade double pump with a pumping bra so that you're hands are free. I used the spectre S1 and can highly recommend it in terms of how quickly and efficiently it extracted milk. When pumping throughout the day you can continue to use the same bottles for 6 hours without washing them, just put them in the fridge between uses - this saves loads of hassle with washing up. Oh and they don't need sterilising, just washing with hot soapy water. Also, I pumped for approx 5 minutes before feeding, this meant that I got the easily accessible milk with the pump while baby (who is much better at getting milk out) was able to get what I couldn't after I'd pumped. It also meant baby has the fattier milk that comes through at the end of a feed, rather than the watery milk at the beginning.

Other helpful things: breast compressions before and during feeds/pumping, lots of skin to skin, keeping well hydrated, eating oats, try fenugreek capsules, don't restrict your calorie intake, avoid alcohol and peppermint tea.

Oh and don't use nipple shields unless you have bad nipple trauma or baby can only latch that way, they really reduce supply. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

MadameMiggeldy · 22/11/2020 07:53

Try a Haakaa or similar passive pump. It collects on one side whilst you feed on the other. Good for building up for top ups

LifeIsBusy · 22/11/2020 08:09

Like others said try a hakka whilst the lo is feeding... You may not get much at first but it will built up. I found the 3-4am feedings the best for getting milk. Pumping in the early days is horrendously hard and I remember expecting so much more than I ever got. Remember to do quick pumps at the start then slow after the milks starts to flow but it can take up to 3-6 minutes to get a let down and can be very frustrating.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/11/2020 08:09

I had trouble bf my second - she’s slightly jaundice so fell asleep so easily on the boob. I found pumping my seemingly dry breasts really beneficial - though an electric pump is easier. I also cut coffee, have porridge every morning with a big glass of water. It’s definitely been getting easier.

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