Returning 7-day old to breast milk after being on formula for 4 days

[TrixieLox]

My baby was born a week ago today at 36+4 weeks and she latched on really well to start. Or so I thought. Gradually, she started to seem less satisfied and cried after feeding, like there wasn't enough milk.

When she was weighed 3 days later, she'd lost over 10% of her body weight. So as a desperate measure, we went onto formula as it was essential she got her weight up.

I didn't express my milk as was so exhausted and in pain from c-section, and wanted to focus on getting her weight up. I'd actually started to make the decision to just go onto formula.

However, now we're home from hospital, I'm aching to BF her. She searches for my nipple and I keep thinking about how amazing it was to see her BFing, that little look on her face etc.

So I've got a breast pump and want to get this BFing show on the road! But of course, for now, need to continue with formula to keep her weight up. So it'd be a case of supplementing the formula with BM to start with before eventually crossing back over to BF again. Would you say I'm right to do the following:

Pump every 3-4 hours
Feed her with pumped milk when she still seems really hungry after having her 3-4 hourly 50mls of formula (NB. at the moment, I'm only getting about 25 mls per pumping session)
Try to get her to latch every time we feed her formula, just to get her back into it, IF she can of course, (and to help get the milk ducts going again)

I will ask my midwife about this when she visits Tuesday but until then, I have 2-3 days of this so want some advice to ensure I'm getting it right.

I also eventually want to BF exclusively. If anyone has any advice on this, let me know.

 

[seaweed eater]

There are plenty of mamas in this forum who have relactated successfully, and it's great that you are working on it so early on! TheNewMrs might be a good person to talk to.

TBH, I don't think pumping every 3-4 hours sounds like enough if she's not getting very much at the breast. I would go for more like every 2-3.

Why not give the expressed milk first and add the formula on to that, instead of treating the EBM as extra?

You may want to look into a supplemental nursing system as a way to deliver any formula and pumped milk. That will help reduce nipple confusion, if she has any (or prevent it if she doesn't), and it will help keep her interested in latching and sucking.

Congratulations, and good luck it will be so worth it when you are EBF!!

 

[Serafina83]

At that age I was breast feeding every 1-2 hous so I'd say you need to be pumping more often if you want to build p your supply

 

[joo]

I would pump every 2hrs minimum at the newborn stage just to try & keep supply going as much as poss. They feed little and often to start with. I don't have any experience in this, but after pumpi g every 2 hrs, my next thought was to suggest offering breast first, then top up with formula rather than the other way around. Again this should help with your supply, as long as you're pumping to offset the formula supplement, and LO shouls still gain weight this way. Hopefully someone wth real life experience will swing by with some advice as that's just what I've picked up from various reading over the last few months. Definitely ask your MW too, & ring your local surestart to get details of local BF peer supporters. I used this service & was texting a BF peer supporter daily and met up so she could observe feed. I wouldn't have got passed 4 weeks if it wasn't for the lady who helped me. Good luck xxx

 

[TrixieLox]

2 hours? I just don't see how I can do that considering each time, I need to sterilise the components too. She feeds every 3-4 right now and that in itself takes an hour sometimes as she's so tiny. So I literally won't get any sleep (I share the load with my husband but he can't sleep when I express due to sound of pump).

Add that to the fact she just completely turned her nose up at my expressed milk, complete look of disgust on her face and refused to drink it then guzzled formula.

Think this might be a bit too ambitious of me!

 

[seaweed eater]

You don't need to sterilize each time. You can rinse and put in the refrigerator and then just sterilize once or twice a day.

You know what your own limits are. If every 2 hours is too much, then do what you can. Just know that earlier is better for rebuilding your supply. You are much more sensitive to a given level of demand in the early weeks than you ever will be again. If your goal is EBF I would really do everything you can to invest the time now. It's REALLY HARD WORK, but it will really pay off and will make EBF feel like a breeze once you get there. But, again, you can only do what you can.

 

[TrixieLox]

Thanks, am persevering, fingers crossed!

 

[Athena]

Hi Trixielox and congrats!

Just wanted to say, my girl was born 4 days ago and got weighed today and had gone from 9lb to 7lb15oz which was 11.7%. I haven't supplemented at all and have kept going with the breast, she goes about 1-2 hours during the day but is cluster feeding at night for most of the night. Actually my milk came in today and tonight she's going a bit longer so that's nice! Hopefully her weight will go back up nicely now.

Not really sure about the re lactating but just wanted you to know you're not the only one with more than 10% loss, I know it's such a worry but it will sort itself out eventually and one day you will sleep again, as will I.

Good luck x

 

[detterose]

It is definitely possible to relactate, especially so early. Pump every 2 hours, oatmeal for breakfast, fenugreek capsules and lots of water and plenty of food. Its hard work but possible.

 

[lynnikins]

re-lactating is totally possible since your milk wont have dried up though it would have reduced, id bf then top up with formula or expressed milk, let her nurse for comfort between feeds and make sure your keeping well fed and hydrated yourself, lots of my friends who have relactated have found they needed to spend alot of time with baby at the breast but its worth it in the long run