Feel like a failure :(

[keldac]

My daughter was born 7 weeks prem and has been in SCBU up until 3 days ago when she came home.

She came home fully bottle fed but on full Breast Milk feeds. I express 6 times a day then give it to her in a bottle.

Now - my milk is drying up a bit

I only seem to be expressing 40ml where she is taking about 70ml.

For the first time today aged 32 days old - she will have to have half breast milk and half formula.

I;m gutted

I will carry on expressing and topping her bottles up with formula. I feel so bad

 

[dippy dee]

 

[lollylou1]

hun your not a failure at all, your doing the best you ca with the circumstances that have been thrown at you and you cant do anymore than that,
big hugs
Lou
xxx

 

[Samantha675]

Love you are so not a failure. You have done brilliantly. Have you tried getting her to nurse from you? Maybe some skin to skin would help boost your supply. There are also supplements that can help. Here is a link to Kellymom about how to boost your supply.

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

and a about herbs that can help

https://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/herbal_galactagogue.html

 

[AC81]

dont feel bad, you're NOT a failure. you're doing a wonderful job.

 

[Serene123]

You are NOT a failure, and if you want to get your supply back up you can.

Well done for doing so well!

 

[cinnamum]

oh i went through the whole drying up thing, i was perscribed antibiotics for a urinary tract infection just 2 months after tj was born, i had to half bottle feed her i was so tender i could hardly cope i was crying through the feeds! then at 4 months i completely dried up. i felt like my heart had been ripped out. you do feel like a failure but believe me your not! its hard to believe it when its yourself i know but my health visitor told me exactly what i needed to hear...
"think of all the mums who go straight to bottle feeding and refuse to breastfeed, the colustrum is the important part, and you've done that"
hope this has helped hun x x x x

 

[kateqpr]

Try not to stress about it honey. Your psychology can make a difference to what you produce too. When i was trying to express, when i got stressed about it or anxious, i produced far less. I then started trying to relax, have a cup of tea and chocs to hand, nice music, hug baby, look at nice holiday pics etc, and it did help me express much more milk. Not the most practical solution but did help me a couple of times.
xx

 

[Dottie]

Hi my LO was 5 weeks 4 days early and was tube fed breast milk untill we could get her to latch. which took 3 weeks. I had a really good lactation consultan who advised lots of skin to skin to keep up supply ans rebirthing to get her to latch

good luck and remember u are dong your best and thats all u can do

 

[Fossey]

I do both hun, I struggled at the start as she just would not stay on past 10 mins, and was advised to top up with formula. I felt crap but the MW said as long as she is getting the calories its all that matters.