i wanna restart after 5 days!

[maratobe]

hi all!!
firstly im only new over in this section because with my first baby i only fed for a few weeks and felt it wasn't for me so i stopped, i told myself that this time around i would give it a 100% go to feed for at least 3 months (that was my mini goal ultimately i want to do it for as long as possible!) but after having my 2nd c-section i thought i wouldn't be able to but i did for 2 weeks but i gave up breast feeding 5 days ago... although i still have milk, boobs still feel big and full, i can still hand express plenty of milk. since giving up on breast feeding we have spent so much money on getting the right formula that works and have had so much trouble with her vomiting and being very unsettled. when i fed her for the first 2 weeks, she always burped, she slept for 3 hours at a time and would go to sleep very happy although she did cluster feed a lot because she was building my supply up which made me very tired!
but now every feed i just want to put her back on my boobs get a funny feeling in them and my nipples feel weird while im feeding her formula and my mothering instinct just says i should have her on me... would i still be able to? i was gonna ring the lactation consultant at my local hospital tomorrow to discuss it as well. i only gave up cause i was exhausted in the first 2 weeks (little one is 3 weeks old now) but now i think i can do it! my hubby thinks i should defiantly do it if that's what i want! anyone every done this?

 

[CandyDay]

I have never done it but am sure that if you want to start up again that you should go for it. You still have milk so it should be fine. May cluster feed a lot at first to build your supply up. You may regret it if you don't at least try.

 

[hopefully4]

yes !!! it is still very possible! you might have to suplement a little after you nurse to make sure the baby is getting enough .. but only after you have nursed her to her hearts content... the more she nurses the more milk you will make

 

[ThunderPearls]

If you want to get back to the breast then do it! Its only been 5 days and if your supply is still there then it shouldnt be too hard. You may still need yo supplement a bit but just nurse nurse nurse and it should work out.

If its something you really want then dont leave it any longer. My little boy id 8 weeks today and im desperately trying to get him back to breastfeeding after about 4-5 weeks almost exclusive formula feeding. I still have some milk as i express but its not much and he pefers bottles as its easier for him. I wish i had have tried to get him restarted earlier on the breast!

 

[Dk1234]

Go for it!!!! The sooner the better! Keep everyone updated on your progress

 

[jinglebear]

u sound just like me! my lo is 5 weeks old and i bf her for the first 4 weeks and then gave up. its been just about a week now and i really regretted my decision. like u said formula feeding is expensive and my lo has been much more sicky since. i decided i wanted to restart so i have been offering her my breast first and then giving her formula as she isnt satisfied on my milk alone. she is still latching on but obv getting a little annoyed as the milk isnt flowing as it did previously. iv been pumping after shes fed to let my body knw tht i need more milk. i would say pump or nurse every 2 hours to signal ur body to up its supply and within a couple of days u should be able to wean ur lo off the formula altogether. hope it works for u x

 

[nabo86]

i did it!

i gave up in the hospital and didn't BF for 3/4 days then put her back on when i got home. i then gave up AGAIN for a few days and have managed to put her back on

i waited till no-one was around each time just in case it didn't work so it was less pressure for both of us - i had a bottle ready just in case she wouldn't go on - i also had someone come out and check her positioning as the reason i gave up was cracked/bleeding nipple, i also got her weighed the first couple of weeks to check she was putting weight on

my DD is 5 weeks old now and i have been EBF for 3 weeks + 1 day now (and counting!) its so much easier at night, obviously its cheaper, better for LO and i've nearly lost all my pregnancy weight which i'm putting down to BF

the longer you leave it the harder it will be, just go for it! if it doesn't work first time i would hand express some milk (for your supply) and try again next time good luck

 

[maratobe]

thanks everyone! i expressed last night before my 1am night feed and i got 20mls, im gonna ring the lactation consultant today and see what she says! after pumping, when i got up at 5am i noticed my boobs were leaking a big YAY!

 

[BunnyN]

Well done! A lady on another foum I use restarted after 2 weeks so it's totally possible. She had to work really hard at getting her supply back up but she has. Actually amazingly even women who didn't have a baby can BF!

 

[susannah14]

Definitely possible. I think it's sweet that your husband is supportive. Don't ignore your mothering instinct, it's always right hon Good luck, please keep us posted!

Also don't be afraid to bother us with your silly questions, the ladies in the BF forum are the BEST!!!!

 

[TheNewMrs]

YES YES YES!!! YOU CAN!!!!
DO IT!
I did after a MONTH of formula feeding, its SO possible. And if you're getting 20 mls of milk you just need to keep that baby on your breast and pump between feeds. GO FOR IT MAMA.

See an LC, let us know how it goes. PS I LOVE your mothering instinct.

 

[maratobe]

well ive just finished a course of antibiotics so i had to finish them before feeding her, we are still pumping and i can feel them getting fuller more frequently so ill let you know how it goes when she is back on!!!

 

[ChimChims]

I don't know if this advice will be useful to you or not, since you don't want to be tired back out, but when I brought my first daughter home from the NICU I was only a day or two into actual nursing since I had to bring my milk in with a pump initially, and she was fed through a tube and then a bottle. I had been told by the hospital LC to keep giving it a try, but that it would take 2 weeks to go EBF. I was to supplement with formula in the meantime. For some reason once we brought her home, she just slept nonstop. I could barely wake her, let alone nurse or feed her at all. Panicked, I called LLL (La Leche League), and reached a lady who happened to be at the national conference with the other higher up LC's. They collaborated and I was instructed specifically NOT to supplement, no matter what. So I did just that. Woke her up at the intervals (although you don't have that problem, I'm sure), and gave her nothing at all but breast. Instead of two weeks, within 24 hours we were EBF.

So anyway, it might not be right for you, but I have only my own experience to offer, and it worked for me.

 

[BunnyN]

Let us know how it goes. Well done for not just giviing up. It really sounds like you will make it.