Don't think this is working???

[Frazzled]

I need some help and advice from some of you amazingly experienced mumma's. E is now 11 weeks old and bfed. I found i had a very difficult stage arounf 8-9 weeks when my AF returned and my supply dwindled and E was quite fussy. We got thru that but then it has started again this week. The only time my breasts ever feel full, or fullish is after his big night sleep. He doesn't ever seem to be satisfied after a feed and for the last two days has been crying at the end of the feed and will go back on but pulls back off and cries. I try and squeeze milk out to see if there is any there and I am empty - both sides and he is still wanting more. He isn't sleeping very well thru the day. Yesterday at his afternoon feed he had both sides and 120ml of formula and then slept for 3.5 hours - something he hasn't done thru the day for a couple of weeks. He just seems so hungry and i dont seem to have enough:confused: .

I really want to keep feeding cause i know it is the best but i want him to do well. He stacked weight on at the beginning - 300 gms every week for a while and now it has really slowed down, 100gms sometimes. Plus he has reflux...

HELP????

[draught]

The best advice I can give is to see a lactation consultant - they will help you work through all the issues, including making sure he is getting enough (your breasts feeling full is not an indication at all - with DD2 my breasts NEVER felt full but I exclusively fed her until she was 6 months old - in comparison with DD1 they felt full all the time for the first 8 months.) Do what you need to do in order to have a happy and healthy baby and mother - getting good advice is the first step in the right direction. The other good resource is the ABA - their number is listed in the services section of this site. Hoep you find something that works for you both.

[My3kids]

Hi Kate,

could it be something your eating, which could be why he is not wanting it and pulling away from it, Could taste different. Also i found when i was breastfeeding, that my breast didn't feel full of milk like they did in the morning, but they were. They do settle after a few weeks after birth. Hope this helps.

Best Wishes

[Goosie22]

Hi kate,
Giving the formula will reduce your supply, depending on how long you have been giving it your supply may be very low? Could you try giving the comp feed with a supplemental nursing system (ABA sell them as do some chemists) This way the baby gets all its feeds from the breast even the formula and thus increases your supply. You could go and see a LC for extra advice which I would strongly recommend it isn't too late you can turn it around. The weight graphs used by child health and most Paeds are based on FF babies from the 50's Weight gain is not the most important thing other factors such as alertness and output are far more important that weight gain as long as baby is not going backwards.

[xkwzit]

Hi Katie
I'd also say see an LC, they will watch you feed and have amazing hints. You would not think that there are too many different ways to BF, but they may just give you the tweak that you need. Our LC was able to change our feeding so that DD1's weight gains remained acceptable to our paed (and for interest he was only concerned if it was less than 90 g/week).

I've heard that it isn't unusual for AF to change the taste of BM, but this should only be for a few days each month. A LC would have better advice on that.

Cheers

[DB&O]

Hi, I know that not all of you will agree with what I am about to say but I'm going to say it anyway, if you are not happy & you don't think that your bubby is happy then by all means go to the LC but if your still not happy then go ahead & supplement your bubs feeds with formula, I did & Liv is a happy, healthy, alert baby who has reached all her milestones. I had lots of trouble with supply & after 4 months started comp feeding Liv but you know not one professional would tell me that this was ok, they all said just perservere, express between feeds, here take these tablets, drink more water, feed every two hours but not one of the many people I saw told me it was ok to feed my baby formula, so in the end I was an emotionally drained, exhausted wreck who just wanted to be told that it was ok to feed her baby formula. I know that I am not a professional & yes you should seek help but in the end you should do whats right for you & your bubs & if that means babe has a little formula once in a while then so be it. Well now that I have prattled on long enough, I will get down on my soapbox & let someone else have a go. Good luck.
Ciao, Brooke.

[Frazzled]

Thanx everyone, all taken on board. Have seen a LC in the past. Will keep on going, steam ahead. BTW I have only given formula at the end of a full BFeed when my baby is screaming for more and I can't squeeze anything out of those babies! I am not prepared to let my baby cry and go hungry.

Thank you for ur advice.