Selfish of me to continue?

[victoriaaa0]

Hello,

Niall is my second child, but the first that i've BF (stupidly thought that as I didn't leak/get sore boobs the first time round that I wouldn't be able too).

From the very beginning my milk didn't seem to fill/satisfy him and despite being on my boob a lot (I had to keep a diary for the lactation lady), and going through all 3 of the meal stages he didn't put weight on. I started topping up with 1oz formula after a feed and that worked..but the more he's grown the more top up he wants (now onto 4oz after a BF). The midwife who discharged us didn't seem concerned as he is putting on lots of weight, pooing, weeing and sleeping fine and is a happy content little baby..she said he was still getting my goodness.

But im beginning to think sooner or later im going to have to stop as it is so time consuming and tiring doing both (especially in the night)..as I said above, he's my second..i also have a two year old and at times I feel like I am constantly feeding and not giving him the attention that he deserves (he's so forward for his age I feel like I am dumbing him down sticking him infront of peppa pig for chunks of the day).

But the thought of stopping brings to tears everytime. My only regret with my first is not BF'ing. All I want to do is to be able to feed my child. And it breaks my heart that I can satisfy him.

(tried oats, eating lots of mars bars etc to fatten my milk up)

My OH mentioned instead of fully stopping maybe let him use me as a comfort while the bottles are warming and to quench his thirst in between feeds when its hot etc??

 

[Maud]

I don't think anyone would say it's selfish to want to breastfeed your child!

If you want to keep breastfeeding then be wary of following your OH's suggestion, as the less you feed the less milk you will produce.

How old is Niall? The first weeks of breastfeeding do feel like all you do is feed, but once you're past that everything gets so much easier (trust me!). I can appreciate how difficult it must be to balance breastfeeding and a toddler, but your older child won't be harmed by a few weeks with less attention. I've read people suggesting reading a book to the older child during a feed so you can spend some extra time with them.

Good luck, whatever you decide x

 

[victoriaaa0]

Thanks, my OH only mentioned that as I was going to stop completely and he saw how heart broken it made me. Its the breastfeeding support lady that doesn't think my milk is fatty enough I've been eating like a trooper to try and up it.

Hoping we miraculously turn a corner soon

Yeah I'm lucky that my LO is a bookworm so we have lots of story time atm, storytime and sticker books xx

 

[mum2b410]

Never taken them myself but how about Fenugreek tablets? I've heard positive things from others about boosting supply?.... Don't think u r being selfish at all! Xx

 

[victoriaaa0]

I can't swallow tablets which is why I'm eating daily Mars bars and flapjacks I will ask my GP if there's a medicine equivalent though!!

 

[CamFi]

are you sure little one is latching properly? maybe just not getting enough milk despite being long time on the boob? I'd go see a lactation consultant.

 

[victoriaaa0]

It was the lactation lady that told me about trying to fatten up my milk. Latch is apparently fine 'we're naturals' x

 

[HL28]

If you really want to feed baby more I'd say he'd need to be latched on a lot more and reduce top ups? It's hard but to produce more Milk baby needs to suckle as much as they need or want too. It's never ending in the beginning and extremely hard don't get me wrong. It can feel like they are latched on constantly!!! But that's how baby controls Milk production. Do you have any other breastfeeding support groups near you? I know it's been advised to spend as much skin to skin contact and continuous feeding to help you to.produce more and to go to bed for a whole day with constant skin to skin. Obviously not easy with a toddler unless you can get a baby sitter! Good luck and it's so hard your doing fab job!!! Xxx

 

[mum2b410]

I can't swallow tablets which is why I'm eating daily Mars bars and flapjacks I will ask my GP if there's a medicine equivalent though!!

That's a shame hun- but yes, def worth asking the question! X

 

[Jajis]

I've heard of women being prescribed dopamine to up milk production before, but I think some GPs don't 'believe in it', so you might want to have a read of this first (or take it with you if you do go the GP):

Breastfeeding Network factsheet about increasing milk supply

Are you on facebook? If so I would join a group like 'Breastfeeding older babies and beyond' - doesn't matter whether your baby is actually 'older' yet, they're a great source of support and advice for matters like this. I'm also part of a local breastfeeding group on facebook, and I'm sure they'd be some local ones for you too - very useful for advice and practical local help.

Good luck, I hope you manage to continue

 

[Pumpkin9]

i admire you for your determination. I had similar issues (well i think) no latch problems but after 12 weeks of exclusively breast feeding i ended up switching to combi feeding and quickly afterwards went to exclusive FF.

Thomas clearly wasn't getting enough from me as he was crying after every feed and was very unsettled. He also dropped from the 9th centile to the 0.4 and I had to closely monitor his weight for nearly 4 months, going every 2 weeks to the weight clinic.

I didn't seek the advice of a lactation consultant. It broke my heart and I was a mess when i went totally to FF. I felt like i was poisoning him for the first few days. However I could see almost an immediate change in him and I felt to re leaved as a result (his sleep improved, he was smiley again, he was content etc..)

You need to do whats best for you hun. Happy baby, Happy Mummy and vice versa. So if you want to carry on breast feeding, do what you have to do to make it work. Even if that means continuing to combi feed.

Only you will know in your gut what is the right thing for you and your baby. By all means get all the professional help you can too.

 

[Mummyof3tobe]

Have you thought about expressing? My sister in law gives baby breast milk by bottle x

 

[victoriaaa0]

I express what I can and give it before the formula but it isn't much, I'm lucky to get an oz..though my health visitor may think it's down to my pump so looking into hiring their industrial one x

 

[Pixel]

Some people don't respond well to a pump. If your latch is good I would forget pumping and let the baby feed as often as you can on the breast. Babies are much more efficient than pumps at getting the milk out. The more your baby feeds the more milk you will make. You could try hand compressions to help your baby access the hind-milk quicker. Also make sure you're offering both sides each time you feed.

It sounds like you're doing a fantastic job so far xx