Breastfeeding Support Thread

[Rosieroo]

Not the MIL! Hope you have a nice lunch hon

Well Ella has not taken to biting me Fabulous It took over an hour for the teeth marks to fade after her last feed. I think that maybe I am fighting a losing battle Really annoyed as we had a good bf day yesterday!

 

[lauramumof2]

Hi everyone,
Sorry its a difficult time for you Kina, at least you are keeping going.

Im struggling with what to do just now with the feeding. Since Joe has been born I have
Breastfed for 2 days
Bottlefed for 4 days
bottle/bf for 2 days.

Im worried im confusing him but he will not take the breast only. Maybe when im producing a lot more milk he will but today I was going to give formula only and he wouldnt take it. I managed about 7 ounce all day. After bath after another unsuccessfull bottle I put him on and he went on each breast for about 5 mins each but still was hungry so he took about an ounce from the bottle then went to sleep. I dont want to flit between bf/bottle but I will feel so guilty if I dont try the bf when to be honest he is so good at it and it doesnt hurt. On the other hand (and I know I shouldnt compare) Jessica was such a happy content bottle fed baby and took a lot.
What do you think?

 

[Rosieroo]

I put him on and he went on each breast for about 5 mins each but still was hungry

I would probably say that he needs longer on each breast before swapping - Ella used to stay on for quite a while (when she was about 2 weeks she'd feed for up to an hour each feed). Has your milk come in? How do you feel about having a nurse-in with him for a couple of days to build up your supply and confidence? Could your DH look after Jess/keep her occupied whilst you just nurse?
Sounds like you and Joe could manage to bf sucessfully but I'm thinking you're feeling quite tired and down at the moment?
I honestly think you can get him bf full-time quite easily from how he wants to be on the boob, but it's whether you want to hon

 

[lauramumof2]

I think the milk has just about come in, certainly if I squeeze the nipple there is milk coming out. I didnt think 5 mins was long enough but he was pulling off though I did try to get him back on.
He is taking that long to feed a bottle anyway that it doesnt make much difference having him on the breast. Jessica isnt too bad though she was trying to skateboard on a lego lid in the hall today while I was feeding.
I do want to do it and i too think we could successfully do it but its got to come from within. You are right, im a bit down but hopefully its just baby blues and the scar problem.
Thanksx

 

[Rosieroo]

Ahhh I see, I thought you were swapping boobies after 5 mins

I think the milk has just about come in, certainly if I squeeze the nipple there is milk coming out.

Do your boobies feel fuller/harder? When my milk came in with Ella I rivalled Pammie for a couple days, soon settled down though

I do want to do it and i too think we could successfully do it but its got to come from within.

Things always seemed worse for me at night when I was struggling with the bf. A fresh new day tomorrow morning, hope you get some sleep and can think with a clearer head

 

[lauramumof2]

thanks kina

 

[beanie]

Hi hun, its normal for some babies to feed very frequently and for short periods of time. My friends little boy fed for 5 mins and would want to be back on but it soon settled down and she is still feeding him to this day. What makes you think Joe isn't taking the breast only??

Congrats on the arrival of baby Joe and a massive

 

[Lucy]

hi Laura

Just saw your posts.

congratulations on the arrival of Joseph

I honestly don't think you are doing him any harm by breast and bottlefeeding. Some people are concerned they will confuse the baby but they are far more switched on than we realise. My friend has mixed feed since her baby was 1 day old (she's 3 months old now) - this works for them and they are all really happy but if you want to exclusively breastfeed then I am certain you can do it. It's important in the first 6 wks to establish your supply so offering him the breast before the bottle each time will build up your supply although I think from the sounds of things he's doing what Olivia did - getting nice and snug and cosy next to you when he's feeding from the breast and getting a wee bit lazy when he has to work to get the milk - it's easier to get it from the bottle. Do you feel when you "let down"? For me, it's like a weird sort of pins and needles feeling in my boob then milk starts spraying out - I get this after Olivia has been sucking for a wee bit or I used to get it if I was thinking about her or hearing her cry! When the let down happens he'll be getting the milk squirting into his mouth and he wont have to work for it but after the L.D he'll need to carry on suckling hard to get more milk.

If you get chance let us know how you're doing tomorrow. Do you have any BF support near you? I'm not that far away if you need some moral support hun. The early days were hard for me, I didn't really know what I was doing and I was so tempted to put Olivia on bottles but I really wanted to have a go at the BF - I was lucky and had fab support on here and locally.

Lucy x

 

[Rosieroo]

Hey Laura, how's it going?

 

[Jadie]

To much expressing??

My milk supply has really gone up. I have been expressing for milk for olivers food and also trying to get six ozs for him to have before bed. (he seems to last longer before the next feed if he has had a bottle) But now my boobs are massive and really uncomfortable!

I know its my own fault for expressing so much. looks like I will have to drop the night time bottle. I have to express at least three time to get the milk i need for the day. Which leaves me no chance of storing any in the freezer for a bit of freedom!

(Still loving the breastfeeding!!)

Jadie

 

[Rosieroo]

Jadie I used to express twice a day for Ella's milk before bed. Now she's on solids she doesn't need as much so I don't need to (have finally packed my expresser away!). So you might find it's only a temporary thing having to express off for the next month or so

Glad the bf is going well though

We're still bf Was worried I'd have to stop already with being pg but we're managing fine. DH gave her 4oz of formula last night as I'd fed her off both boobies at 5pm and felt really tired, but I don't mind topping her up occasionally as I know she's still getting as much boobie as she wants and needs in the day.

Fingers crossed we can keep going

 

[beanie]

Jadie, it should settle down soon. Your body will become used to producing that amount of milk and you will stop getting engorged. Now I find that I can go a fair few hours before I get engorged, my body has just got used to what Seren needs.


Kina, am so pleased its got better hun. Sounds like its settled right back down. Perhaps Ella was picking up on your discomfort when your boobs were sore??

 

[Jadie]

He is feeding less the last few days. he has not fed since 8 30 this morning. untill now, as i tpye with one hand. he used to feed every two hours like clock work. his banana must be filling him up!

kina, are you intending to feed both your littes ones. that would be amazing!

after 6 months when i am still feeding will oliver need extra vitimins. i read yesturday that he would need a supplement. but the leaflet was writtern by SMA PROGRESS. perhaps trying to sell follow on milk! ihave never read that ant where else.

 

[Rosieroo]

He doesn't need a supplement hon, that's just the formula companies trying to make a fast buck If he's eating a balance diet of solids and getting boobie milk at over 6 months he'll be fine

I don't think I will tandem feed Although I think I am going to feel very guilty if Ella does get to a year then I move her onto cows milk but start bf the new baby a couple months later I don't know When we do bf it's nice to have the cuddles and I'm worried she's going to feel pushed out by the new bub anyway. It's a tough decision

 

[emilia]

Kina, my friend tandemfed her 2 ... she had no problems with it, but other folk had alot to say... the usual!

Emilia xx

 

[Rosieroo]

I was just talking to DH about this tonight. I feel that Ella is too young for me to stop bf and then restart with the new baby, I would feel guilty for not bf her. The only reason I wouldn't continue feeding her is because of what other people would have to say. If she weans off the breast and is happy off before the new baby arrives then fine, but if she shows an interest in starting feeding again when the baby arrives I will let her. She will still benefit from the goodness in breastmilk til she's at least 2.

Will take each day as it comes but after chatting with DH I can't see anything wrong with tandem feeding her especially if she's down to just a morning and evening feed then, I'm not ready to think about giving up and she really enjoys it.

So looks like I'll be investigating tandem feeding in a few months time!

 

[xSuzx]

I'd think of it this way Kina

She'll only be about 15months when baby is here right?

and if you weren't having another you'd still proberly feed her then and people wouldn't bat an eye, and also people commend people that can BF twins, so I'd say why shoul it be any different for you with 2 as we always seem to say do whats right for you and your little ones and sod what everyone else thinks

xSuzx

 

[Rosieroo]

Cheers Suz I'm just fed up with being asked by people in 'real' life how long I plan to bf for or if I've thought about putting Ella on a bottle. It starts getting to you after a while

 

[skatty]

Hi I have just read on Kellymom.com that it is useful to freeze expressed milk in an ice cube tray with a lid. Do you know where you can buy these? I am presuming ice bags wouldn't be sterile would they? I am starting to plan my breastfeeding already!

 

[beanie]

I know that Anabel Karmel dies a range of these in Boots. I use their breastmilk bags for freezing mine, I personally think I would find the ice cubes a bit fiddly but I am clumsy

Kina thats great news hun, I would probably tandem feed if I was in the same boat, the benefits of extended nursing are very good.