Hi just wondering if anyone can help me. I have a 2week 5 day old son who I have been breast feeding. At first he was feeding every 3-4 hours from me and my breasts felt full. He then spent a week in hospital as he had an infection and even though I stayed in with him it was a struggle to get him to feed as he was so sleepy. Since comming home he is awake more and wants feeding every hour. He does not seem full after each feed as he cries and sucks his hands looking for a feed, also my breasts never feel full. I have tried expressing aswell put can only manage a very small amount. I have been giving him top up feeds (one at night) of Aptamil (4 oz). This settels him and he will go 4 hours before wanting a feed from me.

Do I carry on breast feeding or shall I give him formula?. I want to breast feed but I'm worried that he will not be getting enough milk from me plus its hard feeding every hour. Or shall I give alternite feeds, or carry on just giving him a top up feed at might?.

Bec x

Hi , i had the same problem with my little one, i breast fed for about 3 weeks and everything was fine but then all of a sudden it wasnt enough and then i had to use both breast and formula, at the end of the day doctors and midwives always say any breast milk is better than none , so dont worry yourself over this you know your boy better than anyone .

plus you need you routine.
all the best
ljsx x

Hi Rebecca
i am having my third child now and breast fed both of my other two so i hope i can offer some advice/support!

My second son also spent alot of time in hospital on a tube feeder and i had to express thoughout this time but still my milk dwindled. If you really do want to continue breastfeeding my advice is to drop everything else and concentrate on you and baby for 24-48 hours. get a relative in if possible to help with chores or hand them over to hubby.

Feed your baby everytime he demands it and soon your body will respond by making more milk. The full breast thing goes after a few weeks anyway and the breasts return to normal but still produce milk, so don't worry about that.

If you are sore use breast shields just for a day or two and lanisol cream helps too.

Fennel tea can help with milk production but i never tok this. You will need to eat, drink and sleep well so that you dont get too tired. Giving him the odd bottle will not harm either of you but make sure you express at this time or feed him first yourself so that your body knows it is a feed time.

In a few days he will be getting more milk and thingswill get back to normal. When you stop breats feeding the milk production hormones etc still remain in your body and you can resume feeding up to two years after finishing! The body is an amazing thing.

Itcould be that your baby is happier on the bottle and this maybe something you have to consider but keep your chin up and persever for a few days. If you don't try you will always wonder but don't put yourself under any pressure as this will inhibit the milk flow.

I agree with Lyndsay that even a few days of breast milk is better than non at all so don't feel you have let yourself or the baby down. Baby bing in hosiptal isbeyond your control and lets face it these things happen and as long as you are both happy and healthy it doesnt matter what feeding method you use.

Hope it helps best of luck. Philippa xx

Hi Rebecca,

Philippa has given some great advice there. I'm still breastfeeding (Krishan is 9 months now) and although I didn't ahve the kind of problems you have had, I did give a bottle of formula every night from 3 - 6 months because he never seemed satisfied with my milk in the evenings. Whenever he had a growth spurt he would be constantly hungry and I discovered that it would take about 24 hours for my body to catch up with the increased demand.

I'm sure that you will be able to increase your milk supply just by continuing to let him suckle, but don't feel guilty if you have to give the odd bottle. I really hope it works out for you, once you establish a routine, breastfeeding is amazing.

Best Wishes, Sarah x

Hi, thanks for the great advice, Isaac is feeding every 2 hours at mo and I'm having to give a top up at night. Over the past two days it seems milk production has decreased as I no longer leak milk. Is there any tablets I can take that will enhance milk production?

Thanks

Bec and Isaac xx

Hi bec no i dont think there areany tablets which will help but as i said before the breats return to normal after a few weeks and reduce in size, plus you will stop leaking. It is just asign that things are going normally!

I would say that if you are worriedabout howmuch milk your baby is getting listen to him while he is feeding. He should start with quick shallow sucks and go into deep long ones you will be able to hear him swallowing th milk. As long as he is doing this and he is content while on the breast then he is doing fine.

Breast fed babies do feed more often, at least in the beginning as he milk is so much easier to absorb and so the tummy empties faster than with formula. My first fed every 1hr at first for about 6 weeks and my second would go 6 hours inbetween feeds during the day but he would feed evry 1.5-2 hours at night. They eventually stabalise themselves so just go with it. the more worried you are the less likely you are to produce milk so chill out and enjoy it.

Breast feeding is fab if you can do it and so rewarding but it isnt always that easy. More people have problems than not but it is worth perservering. However if it gets too much and you really feel he is better on the bottle then you go for it and don't let anyone talk you out of it or put you down. You are Mum and you know what is best for your baby and you.

Keep chatting on here there are loads of people who will give good advice..far better than some profesionals who are paid to say certain things whether they believe it or not. My health visitor and breast feeding co-ordinator were amazing and i had lots of great support which helped alot and when i eventually did put the boys on bottles i had their full support.

P.S I have always found that i have very little milk between tea time and early am. I found the odd top up bottle at this time given by Dad was great all round and gve me a rest. By the next am i had enough milk to both feed and express some for the freezer or top up bottle later. keep having ago with a breast pump inbetween feeds even if it is just an ounce or two. things will soon settle down.
xx

Hi Rebecca i am a mum of four all of which i breast fed and i am now a peer supporter in my local group. the more your baby suckles the more milk you produce and it really isn't unusual for your baby to want to feed continually unfortunatly. considering how unwell your baby has been you are doing so well to keep going and just remember that your milk will help him get better quicker due to the antibodies it contains and all the close contact with you will help too. unfortunatly introducing top ups creates a vicious circle as the more bottles he has the less milk you produce but saying that, as has been pointed out in other messages, some is better than none and you have to do what is best for the both of you. at the end of the day you being exhausted due to a baby demanding feeding 24/7 is no good for anyone so you do what you have to. i hope your little one feels 100% soon and don't let any one make you feel guilty about your choices. by the way is there a breast feeding group in your area as they can be really helpful to mums who are having problems? maybe your health visitor can find out for you.

Hi Rebecca,
I'm still breast feeding my 10 month old son and I went through the continual demand for milk in the first few weeks. It does settle down once your baby has encouraged your body to produce more milk. I was exhausted and felt like I wasn't producing anything for him but it takes a day or two before your supply increases. As your baby develops the times of feeding will change and your baby may crave more milk during a growth spurt. Rest as much as you can too.
Wendy