a question from Bubbles :D

[Mervs Mum]

Well since I didn't get any help before when I asked may aswell try here and see what happens. This is my original post
For the first 3months of edwards life I was completely BFing then he started getting hungrier (feeding every2hrs for 45mins minimum) HV adv to give him formula to give myself a break so decided I would do this in the day and BF at night which worked ok (still not sleeping through the night though). Now he is on solids I would like to go back to majority BFing during the day and 1 bottle before bed.

Bubbles asked this question in the sticky so I moved it here so we all see it and can answer

 

[Mervs Mum]

I think that the HV gave you bad advice there Bubbles. As soon as you suppliment you dont give the correct signals to your breasts to up the supply to meet the demand.

The easiest way to get your supply up to meet his demand is by repeatedly putting him to the breast. It will be frustrating but your boobs will respond. I have personal and recent experience of this too! I had been giving a bottle of EBM in the middle of the evening to give myself a break from her feeding every 1/2 hours - she was still doing this at about 4 months. As she needed more for this feed, I struggled find time to pump enough everyday. So alternate days she had formula. I was very keen to get back to EBFing too so just over a week ago I started to BF her for that feed (which is now her last one before bed so I no longer felt I needed the break) and when she had taken both boobs for the first 3 days I gave her a top up of EBM or formula. It wook me exactly 6 days to get back to exclusively feeding her - no EBM or formula. My boobs responded and I can now offer her both boobs and then she sleeps exactly as before.

Much of it is belief - you have to trust your body. Of course you can help by eating well - lots of carbs and oats are really good for supply - and drinking well too.

HTH

 

[bubbles]

Thanks will keep trying. do you think it would help if I expressed a little in between feeds aswell as I know it is said the more they feed the more you produce so maybe this would "fool" my body into producing more?

 

[Mervs Mum]

Pumping often helps but it's not a great mimic of baby's suck so dont fret if you only get a few drops. The #1 way to boost supply is putting baby to booby

 

[sam#3]

I totally agree with mm, the more you feed him the more you will produce.

Good luck x