Breast feeding - lack of milk supply - any positive stories?

[TripleESept24]

Hi

I am 4.5 weeks post partum and have been breastfeeding since my daughter was born.

Unfortunately after a few weeks of continuous weight loss we had to go on a feeding plan with formula top ups every 3 hours, and she is now nearly back at birth weight which is great.

The problem is my breast milk supply just isn't there, she was sucking so much to hardly any swallowing and exhausting herself. I don't leak, I get hardly anything expressing.....when I squeeze there are droplets on the nipples she is getting "something" but obviously not much.

The infant feeding team have asked me to pump 8 times a day/every 3 hours. I have been doing this since Monday .... Still no increase to flow/no volumes worth saving....

Has anyone been in this situation and had success and all of a sudden after lots of pumping suddenly milk has just started to flow/supply increased?? I just don't have much hope if I'm honest........ And I am absolutely exhausting myself.

I had my first daughter in 2004, and back then my milk was squirting out and i had to wear breast pads. I then in those 20 years had breast implants which I had to have done a couple of times due to complications....... So I also wonder if anyone has had issues breastfeeding after breast implants?

One very exhausted mama 😭🥺😴😓

I had to do this due to tongue tie and jaundice meaning slow to feed. I did the pump after a feed and then give expressed milk. Supply did go up. Also took fennnel tablets. Was exhausting! Has your baby been checked for any issues that would affect them feeding efficiently like tongue tie?

Yes she doesn't have tongue tie has been checked her tongue function/sucking/latch is fine.

How long did it take until you actually started to flow ??

Have you seen this website OP? https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/breastfeeding/can-i-breastfeed-if-im/breastfeeding-with-implants/#:~:text=Breastfeeding%20with%20breast%20implants&text=If%20the%20incisions%20are%20under,of%20knowing%20until%20you%20try.

I've no experience with implants but I've done the whole pumping / triple feeding thing twice. I could never get my supply up, so I did breastfeeding plus formula top ups. Ditched the pump. I managed to keep bf going for 6months with both my DDs and then switched to full formula. Pumping so much is hard mentally and takes time away from baby, even with wearable pumps. Agree with pp - try and see a lactation consultant privately as well as infant feeding, their advice is often more specialised plus they can check for tongue tie. DD2 was seen by 7 different NHS professionals who all missed her 90% tongue tie 🥴 However you end up feeding your baby, make sure to look after yourself as well. 💐

Congratulations on your new arrival. You are doing great mama!

in my experience it would require a lot of pumping to try and boost supply. Looking back I’d wish I had switched to formula sooner. It was so much stress and my mental health was in the gutter.

Do what you feel is best - but if you can’t boost your supply by pumping switch to formula and enjoy your baby!

lots of luck and best wishes

I did the feed, pump and feed express milk for three weeks and then there was a flow. Felt like I had no time for anything else but it did work and still exclusively breastfeeding 8 months later. Have not pumped since!!

@Noodlesnotstrudels thanks, that pretty much tells me what I've been told by midwives/health visitor/infant feeding. I was incision under boob, but did have 3 surgeries. There isn't really any way of knowing I suppose.

@Anonemouse1 I honestly don't know if I can do 3 weeks of this pumping through the night / every 3 hours. It's draining the life out of me 😓

@Doveytail I do feel like I'm trying absolutely everything and this feeding and formula top ups and expressing every 3 hours is absolutely draining me and affecting my mental health, I'm already struggling due to no family or friends around but I feel like I have started it and have to give it a chance! How long for before I go crazy though I don't know, I keep saying to my other half I am seeing absolutely no improvement how long do I do that for without seeing an increase to milk supply?

It worked for me after a few weeks. I sat in front of neflix and relaxed and drank a ton of water daily.