Don't belong here anymore but feeling very depressed =(

[Mummyxofx2]

Ok so I was ebf my lo for 2 weeks but at 7 days she started refusing the breast but I perservered but by day 14 she was not feeding well at all and started dropping weight. In the week of her screaming at the breast except for 1 feed of a morning I had cut out all dairy wheat and pretty much everything she could of been allergic to. Well that didn't help so off to the doctors we went at 15 days old both crying our eyes out. She had lost a fair bit of weight and we had realised she had silent reflux so she was put on losec. My supply had been greatly reduced from pretty much no feeds at all. So I was given tablets (domperidone) was on fenugreek and made lactation cookies. ALL OF THIS TOGETHER DID NOTHING, ZILCH, ZERO but I coul still manage to feed her 3 times a day with top ups of formula as advised by the doctor. Well for 3 days now lo will not come near the breast at all she latches screams pulls away then screams until a bottle is given. I have tried pumping I get the tiniest little amount in 20 minutes every hour. So in 3 days she has had NO BM I am getting anxiety attacks about it every feed I just want her to have me but he won't take me. I feel devastated and rejected my stupid breast can't do what they are supposed to. I'm still taking everything hoping my milk supply comes back but I think in the 3 days its totally gone. I'm still pumping every hour to try stimulate milk and hand expressing in the shower but nothing =( the doctor thinks she may be allergic to something in my milk but because I cut everything out and she still won't take it we don't know. Also she had a bum rash on my milk but its totally gone in the 3 days she hasn't had BM and she is much more settled. Does anyone know what I can do other than what I'm doing to get my BM back?? I'm desperate to keep BF even if its a couple feeds a day.

 

[kates84]

Ok so I was ebf my lo for 2 weeks but at 7 days she started refusing the breast but I perservered but by day 14 she was not feeding well at all and started dropping weight. In the week of her screaming at the breast except for 1 feed of a morning I had cut out all dairy wheat and pretty much everything she could of been allergic to. Well that didn't help so off to the doctors we went at 15 days old both crying our eyes out. She had lost a fair bit of weight and we had realised she had silent reflux so she was put on losec. My supply had been greatly reduced from pretty much no feeds at all. So I was given tablets (domperidone) was on fenugreek and made lactation cookies. ALL OF THIS TOGETHER DID NOTHING, ZILCH, ZERO but I coul still manage to feed her 3 times a day with top ups of formula as advised by the doctor. Well for 3 days now lo will not come near the breast at all she latches screams pulls away then screams until a bottle is given. I have tried pumping I get the tiniest little amount in 20 minutes every hour. So in 3 days she has had NO BM I am getting anxiety attacks about it every feed I just want her to have me but he won't take me. I feel devastated and rejected my stupid breast can't do what they are supposed to. I'm still taking everything hoping my milk supply comes back but I think in the 3 days its totally gone. I'm still pumping every hour to try stimulate milk and hand expressing in the shower but nothing =( the doctor thinks she may be allergic to something in my milk but because I cut everything out and she still won't take it we don't know. Also she had a bum rash on my milk but its totally gone in the 3 days she hasn't had BM and she is much more settled. Does anyone know what I can do other than what I'm doing to get my BM back?? I'm desperate to keep BF even if its a couple feeds a day.

Oh honey. I'm so sorry that you are so upset.

I was where you are about my 5 month old about a month ago - my milk supply had reduced because of a medical condition going out of control and as I supplemented more, so my supply decreased.

I was given some advice that has enabled me to combi feed by a lady here when I was at my wits end. She advised me to give my baby a bottle but put an a little less in it and offer the breast afterwards. This would curb the worst of his hunger and he was more inclined to take it to finish off his feed. Then she advised to gradually reduce the amount in the bottles as my supply built up and he became more used to it. It worked brilliantly and I'm now able to do a 50/50 split, more some days.

I also found that when breastfeeding, the best position by far for us was laid in bed on our sides facing each other so that he was looking straight at me - no distractions - with me gently cuddling him.

I'm sure you'll get some great advice here honey x

 

[Calif]

Is it nipple confusion? Can you try squeezing a few drops for the baby to gey a taste? or try a nipple shield?

 

[Mummyxofx2]

I was using a nipple shield due to over sensitive nipples that bled and blistered. Tried with and without.

 

[NoodleSnack]

I think the most important thing is to try to rule out the possibility that she has a reaction to your milk by pumping and give it to her in a bottle if possible? If you know that's not the issue than you could work on supply/flow issues and nipple confusion. I doubt it's milk intolerance or allergy if she's taking normal formula okay.

 

[Nevaie]

Have you tried a supplemental feeding system? They're bottles/bags/cups that you can put formula or breastmilk into, that have small tubes attached or placed into them that can be slid into the baby's mouth while breastfeeding. It would allow you to breastfeed even if your supply is low (or even non-existent) and will very likely help with increasing supply as well. I liked mine while I was able to use it and it seemed to help some. Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you and baby.

 

[Mummyxofx2]

I think the most important thing is to try to rule out the possibility that she has a reaction to your milk by pumping and give it to her in a bottle if possible? If you know that's not the issue than you could work on supply/flow issues and nipple confusion. I doubt it's milk intolerance or allergy if she's taking normal formula okay.

Ok I'll put all my freezer stash from the last few days together today in a bottle and see what happens. I have only managed to get sound 200mls in about 4 days of pumping every hour. Give or take of a night. I went back to the doctors again today in tears asking where my milk is even meds are not working

 

[justkitty]

Hmmmn I was allergic to my mums breast milk and ended up very poorly. Broke my mums heart when I was admitted to hospital and she'd successfully bf my sister previously. See if it's your bm and if so, get some counselling to help you cope and feed your baby what's good for him in this case. You are doing a fabulous job and it's so hard when something that should be natural isn't working

 

[Mummyxofx2]

Have you tried a supplemental feeding system? They're bottles/bags/cups that you can put formula or breastmilk into, that have small tubes attached or placed into them that can be slid into the baby's mouth while breastfeeding. It would allow you to breastfeed even if your supply is low (or even non-existent) and will very likely help with increasing supply as well. I liked mine while I was able to use it and it seemed to help some. Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you and baby.

She is fine with a bottle and I would pump and bottle feed but I can't get hardly anything out =(

 

[Mummyxofx2]

Hmmmn I was allergic to my mums breast milk and ended up very poorly. Broke my mums heart when I was admitted to hospital and she'd successfully bf my sister previously. See if it's your bm and if so, get some counselling to help you cope and feed your baby what's good for him in this case. You are doing a fabulous job and it's so hard when something that should be natural isn't working

Thanks Hun. Doctor has sent me a referral to talk to someone =) I feel so stupid getting depressed about this but I was so adamant about bf until at least 12 months.

 

[Mummyxofx2]

I'm feeding her my expressed milk now. How long should it be if a reaction is going to start ?

 

[justkitty]

I couldn't breastfeed my first it broke my heart. Even more so when my cousin had a baby a few months later with perfect latch etc but chose tp formula feed. I am pro choice so not critical of people who choose to ff but I just so wanted it to work. It's a form of grief of a loss so don't feel stupid!! I can only hope my baby no.2 is a good breast feeder.

Hmmmn I was allergic to my mums breast milk and ended up very poorly. Broke my mums heart when I was admitted to hospital and she'd successfully bf my sister previously. See if it's your bm and if so, get some counselling to help you cope and feed your baby what's good for him in this case. You are doing a fabulous job and it's so hard when something that should be natural isn't working

Thanks Hun. Doctor has sent me a referral to talk to someone =) I feel so stupid getting depressed about this but I was so adamant about bf until at least 12 months.

 

[RoseArcana]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear you and your LO are struggling

I would go with a PP's suggestion of the supplementary feeding system maybe? Counselling may help too because being this upset and worried certainly won't help your milk supply x

 

[Mummyxofx2]

I have her my freezer stash. The first time she was Okish a little unsettled. Then have her some more this morning and she is very unsettled and spewed it all back up =(

 

[kitabird]

I'm sorry things aren't working out for you It sounds like she's definitely having a reaction to your milk. You have nothing to feel guilty about, formula is what is best for your baby. Try to focus on the positives and enjoy her rather than thinking of what might have been. Hope you get access to counselling soon x