Hungry baby

[blueberryuk]

Hi everyone

My name is Anna, I am kinda new here - was more of a lurker than a poster during my pregnancy! Nice to meet you all anyhow.

I need some advise regarding combination breast/bottle feeding, hope you guys can help. Jacob is coming up 4 weeks tomorrow. I always intended to exclusivly breast feed but I ended up having a c-sect and wasn't able to hold or feed him for about 6 hours after he had been born, in which time he had been given his first feed of formula by the midwives. From then, I continued to breast feed only but I never seemed to satisfy him and he did nothing but cry for the first few days of his life - so much to the point where he almost lost his voice! When I got him home I couldn't stand to see him so upset due to his hunger, and I was so exhausted to the point of feeling ill, that giving him a bottle seemed the only solution. Since then we can't seem to ditch the bottle, and now he is almost a month old, I am wondering if we ever can? He feeds from me almost always in the day, but night time comes and I just can't seem to satisfy him. Last night, he fed from me for about an hour and a half, and still wouldn't settle. So, OH made up a bottle (150ml of Aptimil) and he gulped down the lot. That seems an awful lot of milk, but he must have been hungry to take it all. Getting to my point, I guess my question is am I ever going to be able to produce that amount of milk or is my baby just too hungry for my milk alone? Oh, BTW, he's feeding every 2-4 hours, day and night.

Thanks in advance for your replies x

 

[Plumfairy]

Not sure hun, Im having similar issues.. Hope someone has some advice for you. x x x

 

[Mervs Mum]

The only way to get to exclusively BFing is to stop the top ups NOT EASY!!

He probably knows that if he waits long enough he will get the bottle - that's the easy option for him as he doesnt have to work.

It really depends how much you want to exclusively BF. It was very important to me at your stage so I went cold turkey and got my supply up. Not before I almost tore each individual hair out of my head with having to listen to him cry as he wouldnt settle.

There have been a few threads on here just lately on this. I'll have a look now and add some links rather than keep repeating myself.....I think there are a few people here sick of the 'sound' of my 'voice'

x

 

[Bec L]

Hi
Hopefully MM will be able to direct you to some previous posts on this, but what seems to work for a lot of mums is having a day with your LO just on your bare chest all day, feeding as and when he wants it. Not sure if it's the answer but could be worth a try? That way your body should get used to producing the amount of milk that he needs.

 

[alice&bump]

have you tried expressing for the last feed for a while? that could be a way to up your supply and he's still getting boobie milk, just a different way?xx

 

[blueberryuk]

I have read all the other posts and have been taking in all your advise, sorry if I'm repeating. I kinda guessed the answer would be go on bottle strike, just wish there was a way in which I didn't have to see my little man upset.

The other thing is, I just can't see how I'm ever going to be able to produce all that milk, I mean, 150ml is a lot of milk! Especially as he feeds from me first. I have got to say though, last night we didn't have any top ups - yay! He seemed quite content with a 1/2 hour feed every 2-3 hours. So this might be the time to really push him, I'll get my earplugs ready!

Having a couple of days where I can just feed feed feed is a great idea, just gotta get rid of some of these visitors!

alice&bump - I have tried expressing, and in fact this is how I used to get my milk down him for the first couple of days out of hospital. But I find now I can't seem to express much, unless my boobs are absolutely bulging. Maybe something to do with the let down do you think?

Thanks for all your replies ladies x

 

[Mervs Mum]

Well done on getting by with out a top up!! Take it a feed at a time so you dont feel under pressure. Bec's idea is a good one too - I think on of our American cousins called it a 'nursing vacation' recently! I love that idea - away on holiday (NO VISITORS!! ) just relaxing topless (I dont think American's do this on holiday but lots of us British gals do! ) and just enjoying skin on skin with your lovely little booby boy.

I wont add loads of links if you've had a look but it's come up quite a bit recently buy by all means, come here, moan, rant and celebrate coz we'd love to hear how it's going.

 

[alice&bump]

thats great not having the top up last night! i had the same problem with expressing! its cos your milk supply regulates after a while, so only makes it when bubba wants it (clever things your boobies!). i needed to express to go out once and i spend a couple of weeks expressing every night before bed and every morning after the first feed. gradually it built up, only problem was, after all my hours of expressing, my little monkey wouldnt take the bottle so it was all wasted cos i'd defrosted enough for a night!! keep us updated on howyou go xx