Anyone Breast feed but end up bottle feeding?

[brownlieB]

Hi girls congratulations on your bumps becoming babies.

I had my baby girl 5 days ago, and while we were in hospital she breast fed beautifully, however on the 3rd day when we got home my breasts engorged with milk and she just couldn't latch on.

The midwife suggested, getting her to latch every 3hrs even if she wasn't hungry and expressing before a feed too, I found that expressing before made a constant leak come out so when she did latch if she rested for a second it would continue pouring in and she'd start choking!! but after 4hrs of trying to get her on and her getting more and more upset as by this time she hadn't fed for 7hrs, it just distressed me I was in tears and resorted to our emergency formula feed and bottles. Also I found as I had a section I couldn't get comfy.

I'm happy we made the decision as she has been so happy since, as she's finally getting food and daddy loves it too as he can feed her now!! But there is part of me that wishes I could carry on. Just wondered if theres anyone who were originally BF but now FF just to see how you felt about it, and what you done with your excess milk as these breasts of mine are just pouring with it!! How long are they engorged for did you continue to express? Is it worth expressing and feeding her that while it's there, And to those that are FF I haven't really got a clue about it!!

We are feeding her 4hrly which seems to work out fine, and we're just letting her take what she needs which at the moment is about 90mls. The instructions say that amount for newborns and 120mls for a baby at 2wks aprox 8lb, but as she was 12 days late she weighs 8lb already!! So we figured fill the bottle to 120mls but if she doesn't take the whole thing it's ok. Is that ok?

But she keeps getting hiccups, we're using tommie tippie bottles with the nipple like teat and it's meant to be slow flow?? Anything we're doing wrong? she had hiccups alot in the womb too, and occasionally when ofn the breast too so maybe she's just a hicuppy baby.

Also my main concern about FF is that she gets constipated, is there a way to avoid it? and whats the best way to relieve it?

Oh and lastly I know theres a thing about making bottles up now, can I do it in advance? i've heard it's a no no now, but once the bottles are sterilised if I open the steriliser for just one bottle the rest aren't sterile anymore. So is it ok to make bottles up in advance and store in fridge? I thought this was the done thing, but noticed during pregnancy a few debates on whether or the rules had changed!

Thanks in advance x x x

 

[hajis-sweetie]

Hi. I breastfed exclusively for 4 days after birth, was getting very stressed as we'd had quite a traumatic birth and my LO didn't seem to be getting enough milk from me. I seem to be the oposite, my milk hasn't come in yet and she is 10 days old tomorrow. We began by topping her up with formula, but I was still stressed and like you, she had latched perfectly in hospital but not at home. We went over to FF exclusively on day 6. She is so much more content, sleeping for 3-4 hours at a time and taking 3oz formula. She did not poo for 2 days after starting formula, apparenlty babies do not poo as much if they are FF fed. I was told to give her 1/2 oz cool boiled water as this helps constipation but in the end we didn't need to. We don't make bottles in advance, using ready made formula at the moment for ease.
I'll be interested to hear about hiccups, as our LO gets them regularly now, never did on the breast. I assumed it was due to the extra air taken in during bottle feeding.
I'm rambling now, but I hope this helps???

 

[brownlieB]

That has thankyou, saw my midwife today and asked her about the hiccups and she said babies get hiccups it's fine, i said is it because she's guzzling too fast as she hiccuped on the breast too and she said yeah probably don't worry!!

Our baby is the same i do miss BF but feel so much better now i know she's settled, and everyone has said how content she is, so i'm happy. Thanks for the advice on constipation, i didn't know they don't poo as often either so thanks for that otherwise i'd be getting nappy obsession!!

How long did your breasts take to go down? what did you do to ease them? or have they not gone up as your milk did not come in?

 

[hajis-sweetie]

They haven't really changed, although I noticed some watery milk coming out earlier. I have had a tingly feeling in them yesterday and today. After saying she sleeps 3-4 hours and has 3 oz, she's been awake a lot this afternoon, typical! How much is your LO sleeping?

 

[MrsVenn]

Firstly, well done for managing to BF for the days that you did, it's not easy!

I BF exclusively for 5 days but was then readmitted so had to stop. I wasn't able to express and my milk had dried up by 2 weeks after birth and madam was put on to formula. I was so desperate to BF and was resentful that I had this taken out of my hands BUT I will never regret going to formula as madam is doing beautifully on it.

Ok first off, do not use the side of the tubs as guidelines. Every baby is different. Molly started on 2-3oz 6 times a day. She has been sleeping through from 5 days from 10pm to 6am so misses a couple of feeds. She's now on 6-7oz at 8 weeks. Her feeding times have always been 6am, 10am, 1:30pm, 4pm, 6pm and 9pm give or take half an hour. Some days she takes more than others and takes different size feeds. What I would do is have a bottle made up as a 'top up' should she down a full bottle but still needed an extra ounce.

Hiccups, trust me, my daughter could win the hiccup competition for England!! It's completely normal, we've found we can give her a little sip of water and it tends to help.

We've not had any constipation issues yet but you can give them cooled boiled water between feeds to ease things. Also fennel water is very good.

As for making bottles up in advance, everyone has a different opinion. Personally, I make mine up in advance. This is what I do:

Boil kettle, pour in to bottle, measure and put in correct amount of formula, cap, shake and bung in fridge to cool. I never use a bottle that is over 24 hours old.

We also use Colief in ours to help her digestion so I make 2 at 10pm for the 2 morning feeds then make 4 more in the morning for the day time. It's a routine that works very well for us. Good luck!

 

[lauram22]

To make up the bottles what myself and a few ladies on here do is....
If making a 4oz bottle, boil kettle and fill all bottles for day with 2oz, then put in fridge to cool. Then when lo needs a feed, boil kettle and add remaining water (2oz in this case) and add powder.
Makes the bottle perfect temp no waiting around but bottle is still fresh xx

 

[AlwaysPraying]

Wow, girl, this is exactly my story! 2 days of great feeding at the hospital, and a meltdown of a first day at home. Now 7 days old and decided to stay with formula only. I'm just searching to find out how much to feed him at the moment myself. Right now he's eating 2 oz every 3 hours or so.

 

[aliss]

I BF'd for about 3 days but had to stop as his injury (fractured clavicle) made feeding from the breast extremely painful for him. He did not take in any milk, it was a horrible ordeal. I exclusively expressed for about a week after that using a Medela Harmony but unfortunately the pump could not produce enough milk for him so I began supplementing, and then finally exclusive FF. Had been to hell and back with multiple lactation consultants, emergency rooms, dramatic weight loss.

 

[Justagirlxx]

I BF exclusively for 2 weeks but ended up FF as for some reason he wasnt gaining any weight. Sometimes it just doesnt work out but my LO is thriving on formula and doing soo much better than he was the first two weeks!

 

[brownlieB]

Thanks girls for your advice sorry for the late reply as you can guess we've been busy!!

Hajis sweetie my LO Sleeps for England!! She wakes pretty much 4hrly for a feed, sometimes 5 sometimes 3 and a half and sometimes goes straight back to sleep and sometimes stays awake for a little while first (usually to fill a nappy lol!!)

Thanks Mrs Venn it really upset me when I couldn't go on I think my section wounds didn't help and also hubbys nan died the day she was born so we had family staying with us and I think really when your're a first time parent and learning to feed you really need your house to yourself!!

I'm definately gonna try for the next one even if it's just a week or so again so they baby gets the good stuff, but in hund sight I wasn't going to feed for the whole 6 months anyway, and she's so happy and and content, and thats all you want really for your baby!!

 

[brownlieB]

To make up the bottles what myself and a few ladies on here do is....
If making a 4oz bottle, boil kettle and fill all bottles for day with 2oz, then put in fridge to cool. Then when lo needs a feed, boil kettle and add remaining water (2oz in this case) and add powder.
Makes the bottle perfect temp no waiting around but bottle is still fresh xx

Thats a fantastic tip thanks very much!! We have been doing the old fashioned put in boiled water to take the chill off, but your way seems much easier plus some cooled boiled water readily available if needed!! xx

 

[brownlieB]

Wow, girl, this is exactly my story! 2 days of great feeding at the hospital, and a meltdown of a first day at home. Now 7 days old and decided to stay with formula only. I'm just searching to find out how much to feed him at the moment myself. Right now he's eating 2 oz every 3 hours or so.

Hey always, how did your induction go? all good by the looks of things?

My LO is having about the same she has 3oz every 4 or so hours, to start with we woke her to feed her but we've learnt when she's hungry she'll wake!!

she's not regular at the moment but as a rough guide she's taking 3oz at 3am 9am, 2pm, 5pm, and she's due another one around 9/10pm she seems quite happy and content on that xx

 

[MrsVenn]

Happy mum = happy baby and you know what's best for your baby. Just keep it up! xxx

 

[AlwaysPraying]

Wow, girl, this is exactly my story! 2 days of great feeding at the hospital, and a meltdown of a first day at home. Now 7 days old and decided to stay with formula only. I'm just searching to find out how much to feed him at the moment myself. Right now he's eating 2 oz every 3 hours or so.

Hey always, how did your induction go? all good by the looks of things?

My LO is having about the same she has 3oz every 4 or so hours, to start with we woke her to feed her but we've learnt when she's hungry she'll wake!!

she's not regular at the moment but as a rough guide she's taking 3oz at 3am 9am, 2pm, 5pm, and she's due another one around 9/10pm she seems quite happy and content on that xx

I put my birth story up on the 3rd tri board if you want to check it out! I ended up going into natural labour friday night before the induction on saturday! Didn't progress after 30 hours and ended up in a section....boooo. Bubs is here though and I'm thrilled, so yes, it went well!! I think that's why I ended up with breast feeding issues, due to the section / exhaustion.

 

[brownlieB]

Wow, girl, this is exactly my story! 2 days of great feeding at the hospital, and a meltdown of a first day at home. Now 7 days old and decided to stay with formula only. I'm just searching to find out how much to feed him at the moment myself. Right now he's eating 2 oz every 3 hours or so.

Hey always, how did your induction go? all good by the looks of things?

My LO is having about the same she has 3oz every 4 or so hours, to start with we woke her to feed her but we've learnt when she's hungry she'll wake!!

she's not regular at the moment but as a rough guide she's taking 3oz at 3am 9am, 2pm, 5pm, and she's due another one around 9/10pm she seems quite happy and content on that xx

I put my birth story up on the 3rd tri board if you want to check it out! I ended up going into natural labour friday night before the induction on saturday! Didn't progress after 30 hours and ended up in a section....boooo. Bubs is here though and I'm thrilled, so yes, it went well!! I think that's why I ended up with breast feeding issues, due to the section / exhaustion.

Ahh me too, my hind waters went on the mon, was booked for induction on fri but nothing progressed so the tues afternoon they began induction process but still nothing progressed so by the wed morn i too ended up with section.

It's very awkward to BF with section wound!!