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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Have I left it too late?

14 replies

TopBanana · 13/09/2006 14:39

Dd2 was born on Sunday. We decided early on in the pregnancy that we would bottle feed her and when she was born we gave her formula. She has taken to it really well and is happy and content.
But, on Monday night I decided I wanted to try and breastfeed her when my milk came in which it started to last night. I tried to feed her and she latched on but I don't think shes sucking hard enough to get any milk.
I've tried a few times today but she gets frustrated after a while and I just give her a bottle. Last time I tried I think she got some milk and then fell asleep but I can't be sure.
I'm not sure if I should just leave it or keep trying. I don't want to upset or confuse her.

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loopybear · 13/09/2006 14:47

Topbanana everything I've read on here suggests keep offering the breast contact your local breastfeeding counsellor hopefully tiktok will be along soon. I found mumsnet after I'd given up :-( if you want to BF keep perservering I'm sure someone will be along soon.

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milward · 13/09/2006 14:49

check the nct website for a breastfeeding counsellor.

best wishes xxx

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hairymclary · 13/09/2006 14:49

yes, there is no reason why you can't keep at it. I would just offer the breast each time and let her feed as long as she wants.
If it were me I would go cold turkey on the formula and just keep breastfeeding. She'll let you know if she isn't getting any milk and you should be able to hear her swallowing if she is getting anything.
the more she feeds the more you will make

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milward · 13/09/2006 14:50

nct bf line Breastfeeding Line 0870 444 8708

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tinytitch · 13/09/2006 14:52

I would say keep trying - i'm sure it is possible but have no experience of it. Baby may have to re-learn as i think sucking action is different. Are you hoping to breast feed completely?

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WigWamBam · 13/09/2006 14:54

If you want to keep trying then do - but I would recommend ditching the formula to give yourself the best chance. The more you feed the better your supply will be, and supplementing with formula can play havoc with supply.

I'd second the advice to speak to a breast feeding counsellor - if your hospital has one then there may also be a breastfeeding clinic that you can go along to for help and advice. Otherwise NCT or La Leche League can really help you.

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TopBanana · 13/09/2006 14:54

Thanks for your replies. I know I need to keep doing it till she gets the hang of it I just don't like seeing her upset. I might go and buy a pump to give her some more time before it dries up.
I'll try that number when shes asleep, thanks.

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TopBanana · 13/09/2006 14:55

I still want to give bottles but if my supply increases I'd give ebm instead. I blamed breastfeeding for making dd1 so clingy and don't want to make the same mistakes again.

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hairymclary · 13/09/2006 14:56

topbanana it won't dry up as long as you keep feeding.
honestly.
you could try just staying in bed for a day, keep it nice and warm so that you and baby can be mostly naked, have lots and lots of skin to skin and feed her every time she opens her mouth!
this will all help stimulate your supply and you';ll be just fine.

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TopBanana · 13/09/2006 15:02

Thanks, I'll try again when she wakes. I'll try and leave the bottles alone for today and see how it goes. I'll watch her and see if shes swallowing next time.
Thanks again.

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LIZS · 13/09/2006 15:04

Are you getting very full as that can make it harder for her to latch on comfortably and expressing could alleviate the fullness, reassure you that the milk is there and make it easier to latch her on. Otherwise if you can express a little (by hand if needs be) and feed it to her (from a cup perhaps rather than a bottle) before trying to latch her on she may be less frantic and more relaxed. Remember she probably won't feed for long at this point as her tummy is tiny !

If you cuddle her up skin to skin , you may find her starting to root naturally or you can try whenever she stirs. Similarly warm baths together or just lolling around for a day or so in bed if you can may create opportunities to try. Hopefully Tiktok, Mears or Pupuce will have some more suggestions.

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animalfarm · 13/09/2006 15:09

hi, I hadto give dd formula due to jaundice in the first week. However I also expressed as much as possible and gradually she needed less and less formula. Each time we first gave a bottle to ensure she got the amount recommendedby the paediatricians .then put her on the breast afterwards. After three weeks we replaced some feeds with entire breastfeeds and bottlefeeds were wholly ebm. After 6 wks she was fully b/f, now at 6.5 months she is still fully b/f and we are just starting withsolids. However, would recommend a really good pump such as ameda egnell, rent it - nct or john bell & croydon (pharmacy in london). good luck!

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tiktok · 13/09/2006 15:15

Top, no you haven't left it too late

The way to get bf going now is to keep your baby skin to skin with you, and be gentle, responsive and patient with her. Your midwife should encourage and support you.

This is only day 5 - you have plenty of time before your milk just goes, and it is early days for your baby to get her breastfeeding act together. There's no mad rush!

Getting milk is not a question of 'sucking hard enough' but of being latched on and positioned in a way that the baby's own instinctive sucking action removes the milk effectively.

Babies love breastfeeding and do it best when they are not messed about with - so keep her in a position where she can show you her feeding cues and you can just help her pop on.

Breastfeeding is absolutely not a cause of clinginess - babies differ in their clingy behaviour because they differ in personaility and needs.

You may need to continue to give formula if you are not confident she is getting milk, but this would be something to talk about with the midwife. It may be you can cut it right down, and then out. The more formula you give, the less chance there is of builing up and maintaining a supply that meets your baby's needs.

Expessing and giving by bottle is another way of getting the good stuff into your baby - but breastfeeding is so much more than that, and I really hope you'll find this out

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TopBanana · 14/09/2006 15:18

Thanks for all your advice. I bought a breast pump yesterday so now I know there is milk I'm more confident. I fed her when she woke in the night and she seemed to get the hang of it. But my nipples are really painful today so shes mainly had the milk I've been able to express.
I feel much better about it than yesterday though so thanks for helping me