Bottle feeding advice

[kumber]

Apologies for putting this in here as opposed to the feeding section but there are more people in here so hopefully someone will be able to help.

A bit of background, I am currently ebf but have couple of problems - mainly oversupply and an over active (fast/forceful) let down. I thought I had managed the oversupply but I'm still having a fast or forceful letdown. Alongside this, Malachy is in awful pain all day every day. He does 4 or 5 poosplosions a day, doesn't stop farting and is very clearly struggling.

I have been doing a lot of research and it seems that his pain, his wind, his discomfort is because of my oversupply and let down - in short he is getting too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk, meaning he is getting too much lactose which ferments in the gut causing gas. Other typical symptoms are short feeds, daytime fussiness but calm nights, and extreme weight gain (more than 1oz a day - M put on 11oz in 7 days).

Has anyone else had this problem and come out the other side?

I'm thinking of giving formula in the day and boob at night with a view to going back to ebf with the odd bottle of expressed once my supply and let down are sorted (I will express in the daytime). Do you think that would sort out my problems?

 

[Mummybexee]

You should express your formilk off or at least some of it first ? That will relieve the pressure and let down and help draw your hind milk through

I'm not sure Combi feeding is the solution to your challenges ?

 

[kumber]

I already express pre-feed until my let down has stopped but he's still only getting foremilk in his 10-15 minute feed. He won't feed for any longer so I don't know how else to bring my hindmilk through without increasing my supply and causing oversupply.

 

[Pumpkin9]

Have you spoken to a breastfeeding support worker? They may be able to help you

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-help/breastfeeding-support/

When I was having problems I found them very useful, it was actually for pain and supply issues that I got in touch but I'm sure they have experience in all areas

 

[kumber]

I spoke to my local bf specialist and she wasn't at all helpful. She said the wind and gas were normal and had no idea how to explain the pain. It was only after posting on the August mummies and looking onlime that I realised I am having the same problems I did with ds1. Unfortunately with him by the time I realised what was going wrong, it was to late - he was 6 weeks and in complete agony daily so I switched to formula. I really don't want to do that again, I'm desperate to keep going for at least 6 months.

 

[JJ Mum]

Kumber, other than expressing off a little before feeds to slow things down how much are you expressing?
Ive got lots of milk and fast flow, but with my son Devon ( my first bf baby ), i was expressing first thing just once a day to get milk for a bottle or freezer, i got loads but while establishing my milk supply it confused my boobs totally and hv said to stop till 6 weeks at least for boobs to stop over producing. They calmed down and got used to actually just what baby needed but he never took a bottle again, we jumped to baby cup at 3 mths!

Im not expessing this time and didn't last time, i had to in hosp as baby griffin was in scbu twice and boobs, well oh my word!!

 

[kumber]

I'm expressing off until my let down kicks in, then stopping and catching it and tgen puttibg M to boobl

 

[Niknaknoo]

Kumber what age is your little one? Have you tried infacol / colief t help with the wind? My wee boy had colic really badly in the beginning and colief really helped us. I'm afraid I don't really know how to help with the let down etc but wishing you the best of luck. Xx

 

[kumber]

He's almost 3 weeks. I'm avoiding both as they made my other son much worse and they are both displaying the same problems. I'm using gripe water which is helping.

 

[Niknaknoo]

I didn't think you were supposed to use gripe water till 4 weeks?? It made my son worse. Every baby is so different! x

 

[kumber]

It's not recommended but I'm using it under the advice of a family member who's a hv

 

[Pumpkin9]

I spoke to my local bf specialist and she wasn't at all helpful. She said the wind and gas were normal and had no idea how to explain the pain. It was only after posting on the August mummies and looking onlime that I realised I am having the same problems I did with ds1. Unfortunately with him by the time I realised what was going wrong, it was to late - he was 6 weeks and in complete agony daily so I switched to formula. I really don't want to do that again, I'm desperate to keep going for at least 6 months.

Ah ok - was worth a shot but if you've already tried that then I'm not much help really!

I had the total opposite problem you see - I ended up switching to formula at 12 weeks which made a massive difference. I'm sure some other ladies may have some experience they can share

 

[kumber]

Thanks for the help anyway it's quite frustrating as he's in pain every single day but he won't settle on me as he constantly looks for my milk but isn't hungry, so hubby has to have him. M spends most of his day writhing around, grunting, shouting and squeezing, it's heartbreaking and so draining seeing him in that much pain all the time. On top of that, nothing is getting done as we basically have a child each, neither of whom will let us get anything done and then hubby is back at uni in 3 weeks so I'm going to have both of them on my own and if M is still like this I don't know what I will do!

 

[Mummybexee]

It took my milk 4 days to come in - so I topped up with formula - went back to Breast and she was in agonky with colic and wind after my feeds so I'm back on formula now.

If your struggling to and the Breast milk isn't agreeing - and you want to formula feed - if I were you Id just either go to formula or stay Breast feeding

Have you tried cutting out diary? This is a known cause of colic and wind in breast milk. What has your HV friend said about all this?

 

[kumber]

I haven't tried cutting out dairy but I might try it - didn't even realise it could be a factor in colic so thank you!

No hv, bf specialist or mw seems to know what's going on, I'm feeling quite lost.

 

[JD.Deedee]

I'd speak to a lactation consultant instead..

 

[kumber]

I already have, as already posted.

 

[kumber]

I've given the NCT bf helpline a call and they have been amazing. The lady said to keep going with block feeding and expressing, we should hopefully see a difference in him in about a week and if not I'm to call them back to work out a new action plan. She said that 6 weeks is usually when the let down and oversupply calm down so I'm gonna keep boobing til then and hopefully I can crack the problem!

Thanks for all your help ladies

 

[Lolie14]

I agree with the cutting out dairy. My sister had to when bf her little one. He is now 3 and still lactose intolerant so worth a try.

 

[Mummybexee]

Yup diary can make a huge difference. Glad you got some guidance