Help!!!

[DIANNEKB]

I had decided to start bubba on bottles cause he seemed like he wanted to feed all the time...... this was about a week ago... but now I feel so guilty cause he is only 13.5 weeks that I have decided to give up on the bottles and give him back his booby fix... Question is obviously my supply has dropped off but seen as it has only been about a week can I get my milk supply back up and running to what it was....

Thanks
Very Guilty Mum.... xxx

[MammaMia]

First: quit feeling guilty. We are all prone to a case of the guilts and reality is we do the best we can with what we know.

Second: start feeding again and see what happens? You can probably boost your supply by expressing/pumping between feeds.

Thirdly: find someone who can help.... a good lactation consultant, breastfeeding association...anyone who will listen to your situation and give you advice that you can make work.

Regardless of whether you continue to breast/bottle feed, baby will continue to thrive because he's living with a mother who loves him & wants the best for him.

Be kind to yourself and good luck!

[reAllytee]

Everything that Mammamia said !!!! :yelclap:
Dont beat yourself up about it & do whats right for you & bubs !
Your doing a great job so dont stress yourself out :hugs:

[Ana Gram]

Definately start pumping away but also contact your doctor, lactation consultant or the Breast Feeding association adn they will definately be able to give you some more info on getting your supply back for your baby's needs.

[misskittyfantastico]

Like all the ladies said...pump and feed...you will probably feel like a dairy cow but it's the best advice out there:thumbsup:

[mumma bear]

I recently spoke with my GP about this as i have to leave my baby for 1 week for intestate travel and want to continue to breast feed on my return. I asked about medication etc to boost supply and he told me the best thing you can do is feed your baby as they demand it, which might be 2 hourly if your supply is low and take it easy. You may also want to top up feed with formula if you think baby is starving. You will also need to rest and take it easy for at least a week whilst your supply reestablishes.

GP told me of a lady who died in a car accident ladies mother wanted to breast feed grandson who was only weeks old. She was 50 and had not fed a baby for 25 years. She simply put him on the boob and established a supply in no time at all.

If you and your baby work together i am sure you can reestablish your supply. It is the best gift you can give your baby!

Good luck!

[Goosie22]

Its hard to trust your instincts and accept what is a normal growth and feeding pattern when all around are giving you formula as a quick fix. So dont feel guilty it happens to so many women in the name of nonjudgemental support, instead of accepting that you need to get some frustration of your chest by saying it hard to deal with a baby that feeds so frequently you feel like you should be in milking shed:eek: or some such thing. Most people are too quick off the mark with its OK to give formula and when your vulnerable you clutch at staws to fix what you see as a problem. Breastfeeding takes a lot of good support.

I agree with all the advice apart from topping up with bottles, if you feel your supply has diminshed so much that you will not be able to give a feed you could try a nursing suppliment system, this allows the formula to be sucked from the breast. ABA sell them as do some chemists.

Wishing you Well:hugs:

[jembelina]

GP told me of a lady who died in a car accident ladies mother wanted to breast feed grandson who was only weeks old. She was 50 and had not fed a baby for 25 years. She simply put him on the boob and established a supply in no time at all.



That's beautiful. Sometimes the world we live in is just perfect.........I would be glowing with happiness from 'up there' if my mum did that for my baby! And I actually think she would too!
Sorry completely off track, but everyone else has great advice, so I don't need to add anything else!

[mummybeast]

Maybe your bub is going through a growth spurt - that makes them really hungry! I had 2 weeks of 2hourly feeds night and day at about 12 weeks, it drove me mad, but everything else just got put on hold, and that is where I got my addiction to ABC kids TV ...lol. Also if the weather is a bit hot or dry they want more. Also mummy cuddles are the BEST and at 13weeks or so he is becoming more interactive and developing very firm preferences for what is his favorite things!

If you want to get your supply back up ...
1. stop stressing! It is the absolutely worst thing for milk supply.
2. feed when he wants, as he demands. Most ladies I know find that it only takes 1 - 2 days for the milk to start then be back in abundance.
3. Makes sure YOU are eating & drinking enough, and also resting adequately. I found Milo with malt a very helpful booster too, as it is very nutritious.

It is so frustrating when you can just see all these other things that need to be done, like cooking and housework etc etc etc., but if you can, try to rope in some help, or just do what I did, and seriously cut back on the "chores" and remember that he is only a little baby for a while so enjoy him. Lucky my family is very patient with me ...

Also I used to panic thinking DD was not getting enough because shse was only feeding for a very short time, but I went to the baby clinic, and did a test weigh, and found out she was just getting very good at it & was taking 200 - 250ml in 3-4mins.

Hope that helps you ease your mind. I was a working mummy who had to express milk every day for young & hungry babies and I used to stress all the time about not having enough for them, since I could never express enough ... but they lived & are now driving me even more mad aged 5 & 10 ...

[MamaSage]

Phone ABA, you can have fennel tea, fenugreek tabs, pump like a maniac and feed that baby ALL THE TIME! Lol! :yes: If you can, spend a couple of days in bed with your baby, do nothing but feed that kid every time it wants it. This was great for boosting my supply when I was having issues. But reall, you must call the ABA, they are wonderful :kiss: Good luck!

Oh yeah, and don't beat yourself up!