The Breast Feeding Support Thread

How Strange · 18-12-2014 8:20am

Medicare.ie. they're based in Wicklow but they deliver. Look up the friends if breastfeeding website for a list of LCs in your area. They have a buddy system too so see if your area is included. Also look for any breastfeeding groups. Other breastfeeding mothers are probably the best support you can have.

ariana` · 18-12-2014 12:10pm

Congrats on your baby and your efforts so far at b'feeding.

Why don't you try feeding every 3yrs so that he's not ravenous and getting frustrated so quickly.

Another thing to try is to get into bed with him, prop yourself up a bit on pillows so that you're comfy but not totally flat, lie him on your chest, a big higher than your boobs, he will wriggle and squirm to find your boobs himself. I also did this in a recliner seat in the sitting room on my 2nd as well as i had a toddler to watch over. It's a very natural position. There are videos on You Tube, it's amazing to watch how resourceful a new born baby is.

I also highly recommend a LC and a support group, try Ciudiu. The PHNs are hit & miss unfortunately but you might be lucky.

tinkerbell · 18-12-2014 12:23pm

Regarding the pump, you can hire direct from Medicare OR get it from a pharmacy - some pharmacies rent out the pumps on behalf of Medicare so it's easier then when returning it as you just return to pharmacy rather than Medicare in Kilmacanogue.

Neyite · 18-12-2014 12:57pm

Whispered, could you give him an ounce of expressed in the bottle then switch to breast when he is calmer, with the ounce in his tummy?

I had to give colief drops for every feed so would have to make up the bottles, but when babies are hungry they sometimes are too worked up to find the nipple or latch - even when they are soley breastfed.

In my case, the ounce settled him down then he would happily root for the breast. You'll be less stressed if the baby is calmer too.

And maybe change the 4hr schedule to feeding on demand- . Offer him the breast for comfort too outside of feeds in lieu of a soother and he'll get the taste of it, and get the hang of it.

Whispered · 18-12-2014 2:25pm

Thanks guys. There is a lot to think about. I am going to contact a consultant because even with the good advice, I think I'm too worked up over it. He get upset. I get upset etc

The four hourly feeds are not always four hourly. They are actually closer to three but yesterday he was having a snoozy day and I had to wake him for a feed, hence the four hours

tinkerbell · 18-12-2014 3:12pm

Whispered, definitely contact the LC. Regarding feeds, at that age I was pretty much feeding around the clock. Also when they say 3 hourly they mean 3 hours from the time the feed started, not ended. Just saying in case they didn't tell you in hospital because sometimes they don't! For me at the start, some feeds were taking nearly 90 minutes so I was starting the feeding cycle all over again in another 60-90 minutes. But even at that, it was rare when my baby wouldnt want another feed sooner. I think it was more like every 2 hours I was feeding. It's a learned skill so for the first while feeds can take a long time.

As Neyite said, just offer the breast all the time - even for comfort. Your nipples are nature's version of a soother. Did they show you in hospital how to distinguish between swallowing and just sucking? It's hard to know for sure at the start when they are taking in tiny quantities of milk.

With breastfeeding, you need to ignore schedules and just feed on demand. Schedules were created for formula babies - it just doesn't work with a bf baby until they are much older. And even at that, when going through a growth spurt or wonder week they can feed even more. got a great piece of advice when I attended a specific bf class given by a LC. Two weeks in the bed, two weeks on the bed and two weeks near the bed. She wasn't kidding. The first 6 weeks are the toughest but once you pass that it gets soooo much easier and bf is a doddle now. Good luck

How Strange · 18-12-2014 4:04pm

100% agree with feeding on demand. It's so important in the early days. If babs wants to feed 20 mins after the next feed then just go with it. I tried to stick to a schedule on my first and had a very cranky baby. I fed my second on demand and she was much more placid and easy going.

bovril · 19-12-2014 5:53pm

How do you feed when using a co sleeper crib/cot? Do you take the baby to your side or feed them with them on their side? I don't have a co sleeper crib but i do have a separate crib on my side of the bed. At the moment i feed baby in the bed and have to wait for baby to be in a deep sleep before transfer to the crib. Sometimes the transfer goes wrong and it means feeding to sleep again. Just wondering would a co sleeper help with transfer issues.

madeinamerica · 20-12-2014 2:36am

bovril wrote: »

How do you feed when using a co sleeper crib/cot? Do you take the baby to your side or feed them with them on their side? I don't have a co sleeper crib but i do have a separate crib on my side of the bed. At the moment i feed baby in the bed and have to wait for baby to be in a deep sleep before transfer to the crib. Sometimes the transfer goes wrong and it means feeding to sleep again. Just wondering would a co sleeper help with transfer issues.

Hi, I have a diy cosleeper crib - we just took one side off an IKEA crib and the mattress is the same height as our bed. I do also have issues with the transfer back but often it goes OK. I sit up in bed to feed him in my arms, it is easier to put him back since he's already up in my arms he doesn't get disturbed by lifting him. As the two mattresses are the same height, it is easy to lift him in and out while I'm sitting up. I have an extra pillow to prop me up when sitting. I do wait for him to be well asleep before transfer. Sometimes if I'm too wrecked to lift him out I lean onto the crib and feed him in there by lying my upper body on the crib mattress and feed him lying down. A bit odd looking but it works, no transfer issues. (I just hope it won't collapse under me!). A tip for transferring, when iv just put him down, I keep my hands on his chest for a while longer, it seems to settle him if he's half waking up. Then slowly remove my hands when he's quiet.

bovril · 20-12-2014 11:32am

Thanks @madeinamerica. It was a blog I read where a lady had transformed an IKEA cot into a cosleeper which had me wondering. It looked the business. Not sure if the extra cost of getting a cosleeper would be worth it now given there are still transfer issues. I'm just gong to have to get better at transferring!

How Strange · 20-12-2014 7:46pm

I bought a mini cosleeper second hand when I was pregnant on my first child. I used it from 2-8 months on both babies and it was the best investment ever. I wanted them beside me as babies but not always in the bed as I couldn't sleep properly and my back was in bits from sleeping in a contorted position once too often.

I then loaned it to 3 different people who also thought it was brilliant so it definitely wasn't a fad or a waste of money.

Marz66 · 21-12-2014 3:43pm

How's it going Whispered?

My 3 month old has a small cold. Feeding really badly - he wants his nose and throat completely clear before he'll feed. Feeds take ages, have to stop mid feed to apply vapour rub etc. 10 o clock feed is going on so long, he is going to sleep then missing his 12 o'clock feed. Trying to feed him as often as possible anyway and going to doctor to be sure he's ok tomorrow. Even though he's sleepy he's alert when he's awake.

Anyway as a result of poor feeding, my supply has decreased so I've started expressing and that's brought it back up.

Would it be normal for a cold to disrupt feeding this much?

madeinamerica · 21-12-2014 4:42pm

bovril wrote: »

Thanks @madeinamerica. It was a blog I read where a lady had transformed an IKEA cot into a cosleeper which had me wondering. It looked the business. Not sure if the extra cost of getting a cosleeper would be worth it now given there are still transfer issues. I'm just gong to have to get better at transferring!

I swear I'm not that blogger but it sounds like we did the same thing! I've attached a pic of our set up here.

For me, the cosleeper is a major thing. I think I makes my life so much easier. No need to get out of bed! I just have to turn over and I can see him and if he gets a bit fussy at night I can just put my hand out to calm him. And to feed him it's easier, like i said just sit up and turn to pick him up or lean in and feed. When he was smaller I used to change him there too, great for middle of night, just have a few nappies and wipes at the top of my bed. I think I would be so much more sleep deprived if I had to get out of bed each time. We got the cheapest ikea crib and their hardest mattress.

bovril · 21-12-2014 7:25pm

madeinamerica wrote: »

I swear I'm not that blogger but it sounds like we did the same thing! I've attached a pic of our set up here.

For me, the cosleeper is a major thing. I think I makes my life so much easier. No need to get out of bed! I just have to turn over and I can see him and if he gets a bit fussy at night I can just put my hand out to calm him. And to feed him it's easier, like i said just sit up and turn to pick him up or lean in and feed. When he was smaller I used to change him there too, great for middle of night, just have a few nappies and wipes at the top of my bed. I think I would be so much more sleep deprived if I had to get out of bed each time. We got the cheapest ikea crib and their hardest mattress.

Your setup is seriously cool. Here is the blog post I saw and it uses the cheapest cot too. http://amandamedlin.com/2013/11/diy-co-sleeper-pretty-little-quilt/

If I did end up going down the co sleeper route I'd have wasted money on my existing crib, mattress and sheets

. Also I use an angelcare monitor which I understand can't be used with a co sleeper as it would pick up my breathing. The dilemma continues! The thoughts of a bit more sleep are making the co sleeper so tempting!!

madeinamerica · 21-12-2014 9:25pm

bovril wrote: »

Your setup is seriously cool. Here is the blog post I saw and it uses the cheapest cot too. http://amandamedlin.com/2013/11/diy-co-sleeper-pretty-little-quilt/

If I did end up going down the co sleeper route I'd have wasted money on my existing crib, mattress and sheets . Also I use an angelcare monitor which I understand can't be used with a co sleeper as it would pick up my breathing. The dilemma continues! The thoughts of a bit more sleep are making the co sleeper so tempting!!

Yeah, I know it is hard when you've already bought stuff. Good luck with whatever you decide.

The crib in the blog looks so nice! I'd love to be that crafty. She does make a good point: if you do go with a cosleeper make sure it is well attached to your bed so bubs doesn't fall between the two! We have ours wedged up beside the bed by a chair that is wedged beside the wall, if you follow.

bovril · 21-12-2014 9:40pm

madeinamerica wrote: »

Yeah, I know it is hard when you've already bought stuff. Good luck with whatever you decide.

The crib in the blog looks so nice! I'd love to be that crafty. She does make a good point: if you do go with a cosleeper make sure it is well attached to your bed so bubs doesn't fall between the two! We have ours wedged up beside the bed by a chair that is wedged beside the wall, if you follow.

Do you plan on using the cot you use as a co sleeper as a cot in the future or have you thought that far ahead?

madeinamerica · 21-12-2014 9:42pm

bovril wrote: »

Do you plan on using the cot you use as a co sleeper as a cot in the future or have you thought that far ahead?

Yeah, we got a big one with the intention of having him still sleep in it when he gets bigger. We'll just put the fourth side back on.

livinsane · 22-12-2014 3:02pm

Marz66 wrote: »

How's it going Whispered?

My 3 month old has a small cold. Feeding really badly - he wants his nose and throat completely clear before he'll feed. Feeds take ages, have to stop mid feed to apply vapour rub etc. 10 o clock feed is going on so long, he is going to sleep then missing his 12 o'clock feed. Trying to feed him as often as possible anyway and going to doctor to be sure he's ok tomorrow. Even though he's sleepy he's alert when he's awake.

Anyway as a result of poor feeding, my supply has decreased so I've started expressing and that's brought it back up.

Would it be normal for a cold to disrupt feeding this much?

Maybe steam up the bathroom and feed him in there? Might help to clear his breathing. Where are you applying the vapour rub? The soles of the feet inside socks is supposed to be quite effective.

Marz66 · 23-12-2014 12:21am

Thanks - I tried the bathroom but it didn't work. I put the vapour rub on his throat but I will try the socks trick, thanks!

He's not bad but won't feed til his throat is fully clear. The snufflebabe is great though, works most of the time!

tinkerbell · 23-12-2014 6:51pm

Did you try some saline spray?

Marz66 · 23-12-2014 8:28pm

tinkerbell wrote: »

Did you try some saline spray?

I did thanks. Just surprised a cold was enough to reduce my supply I suppose. It meant out of sorts sleepy baby had to work harder for milk. The expressing brought supply up again anyway so he's not too bad.

73trix · 27-12-2014 8:35am

My little man only wakes up once in 11-12hrs now for a feed. He is 12 wks. While this is brilliant, I now struggle with engorgement. I thought supply equated demand and my supply would reduce. I now take my pump to bed with me. Wake up in bits with v super sore leaky boobs. Does my supply adjust eventually? It's been 4/5 days now -baby sleeping thro the nite.

kandr10 · 27-12-2014 10:49am

73trix wrote: »

My little man only wakes up once in 11-12hrs now for a feed. He is 12 wks. While this is brilliant, I now struggle with engorgement. I thought supply equated demand and my supply would reduce. I now take my pump to bed with me. Wake up in bits with v super sore leaky boobs. Does my supply adjust eventually? It's been 4/5 days now -baby sleeping thro the nite.

It will adjust eventually. Just make sure you're only pumping enough to relieve the pain. If you take too much you'll increasing demand too. Maybe a little hand expressing might do instead of the pump? The good news is if you pump milk to store in freezer you'll get loads when you wake in the morning!

tinkerbell · 27-12-2014 1:42pm

Best to just hand express a little before you go to bed just to take the edge off. Your body will adjust. Then when you go through a growth spurt and baby wakes at night again your body will produce more milk again and when your baby gets over that spurt and starts sleeping through, your boobs will be rock solid all over again in the morning! It only lasts a few days

73trix · 28-12-2014 11:11pm

Any advice for weaning off the breast but maintaining a feed or 2? Planning ahead
as considering finishing up at 4 months. Part of my reason is to start ttc again. I would love to keep it up but concerned that it is delaying my ability to conceive again. Given my age (41) i don't wish to wait too long to try for no 2. Again, always something to complicate matters!

FurBabyMomma · 29-12-2014 9:09pm

I'm at the end of my tether and really need advice.

My daughter is 13 weeks today and exclusively bf. It was always my intention to bf her up to a year, using mainly expressed milk when I return to work after 6 months.

All the professionals advised me to wait until 6 weeks so as not to cause problems with my supply. Due to issues with my hands I had to wait til 9 weeks as this was when my electric pump finally arrived. Of course now they are telling me I should have started straight away :mad:

The issue is she will not accept the expressed bottle at all. She screams and roars and gets hysterical. We've tried different teats but that doesn't seem to be the issue; sometimes she will latch and suck for a second but won't swallow any milk she gets in her mouth. It's mainly her dad who feeds her (I've also tried a couple of times and so has my mil) and it's truly horrendous for him - he tells me he "feels like a child abuser" and gets so distressed.

She's also going through a growth spurt and for the last week is feeding for over an hour at a time with only 2.5hrs between feeds. I'm exhausted and stressed out as I've a course day in Dublin on 25th Jan - how do I get her bottle trained by then???? It's really getting me down.

margo321 · 29-12-2014 9:23pm

I don't know if this would help at all but maybe put some of the milk on the bottle nipple or glucose like they do in hospital. Or maybe bf some bit to calm baby then switch to bottle. I use Mam's bottles and mostly bf and baby is happy to take both. Good luck.

FurBabyMomma wrote: »

I'm
the end of my tether and really need advice.

My daughter is 13 weeks today and exclusively bf. It was always my intention to bf her up to a year, using mainly expressed milk when I return to work after 6 months.

All the professionals advised me to wait until 6 weeks so as not to cause problems with my supply. Due to issues with my hands I had to wait til 9 weeks as this was when my electric pump finally arrived. Of course now they are telling me I should have started straight away :mad:

The issue is she will not accept the expressed bottle at all. She screams and roars and gets hysterical. We've tried different teats but that doesn't seem to be the issue; sometimes she will latch and suck for a second but won't swallow any milk she gets in her mouth. It's mainly her dad who feeds her (I've also tried a couple of times and so has my mil) and it's truly horrendous for him - he tells me he "feels like a child abuser" and gets so distressed.

She's also going through a growth spurt and for the last week is feeding for over an hour at a time with only 2.5hrs between feeds. I'm exhausted and stressed out as I've a course day in Dublin on 25th Jan - how do I get her bottle trained by then???? It's really getting me down.

FurBabyMomma · 29-12-2014 9:48pm

margo321 wrote: »

I don't know if this would help at all but maybe put some of the milk on the bottle nipple or glucose like they do in hospital. Or maybe bf some bit to calm baby then switch to bottle. I use Mam's bottles and mostly bf and baby is happy to take both. Good luck.

Hi Margo, I've tried the switch and at the end of a feed but all she does is hold it in her mouth, swirl it around and look at me as if I'm crazy - better than screaming though lol. I haven't ever heard about glucose though, can you explain a bit more?

Sligo1 · 29-12-2014 10:29pm

FurBabyMomma wrote: »

Hi Margo, I've tried the switch and at the end of a feed but all she does is hold it in her mouth, swirl it around and look at me as if I'm crazy - better than screaming though lol. I haven't ever heard about glucose though, can you explain a bit more?

Hiya... I really don't envy you. I had an awful time trying to get my little girl to take a bottle of EBM. She took a bottle of
EBM at night for the first couple weeks of her life and then I stopped giving her the bottle altogether. When we went to try her again at around 3 months it was extremely hard, upsetting and frustrating.

Apparently the little ones learn how to assert themselves in their second month of life... I put the refusal of bottles down to this. And apparently as you have said, you'd need to be getting them used to a bottle before this phase. I found the MAM bottles finally worked for us with A LOT of perseverance... Everyday.... For a couple of months and then she finally took it. My girl was very stubborn and it can be very stressful. Here's a thread with some tips from parents who have gone through the same thing. Best of luck.

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057216333/1/#post90530337

Lola92 · 29-12-2014 10:53pm

Have you tried the ebm heated and room temp? I have heard of people being successful using a syringe/dropper and open top cup.

FurBabyMomma · 29-12-2014 11:47pm

Sligo1 wrote: »

Hiya... I really don't envy you. I had an awful time trying to get my little girl to take a bottle of EBM. She took a bottle of
EBM at night for the first couple weeks of her life and then I stopped giving her the bottle altogether. When we went to try her again at around 3 months it was extremely hard, upsetting and frustrating.

Apparently the little ones learn how to assert themselves in their second month of life... I put the refusal of bottles down to this. And apparently as you have said, you'd need to be getting them used to a bottle before this phase. I found the MAM bottles finally worked for us with A LOT of perseverance... Everyday.... For a couple of months and then she finally took it. My girl was very stubborn and it can be very stressful. Here's a thread with some tips from parents who have gone through the same thing. Best of luck.

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057216333/1/#post90530337

Thanks so much Sligo, I'll have a good read through that thread. Glad your perseverance paid off but goodness yes, it's stressful.

Lola I haven't tried the cup yet as wasn't sure if it should be a sippy cup or like the little cups that come with medicine. I'll have to pick up both next time I'm in town.

kandr10 · 30-12-2014 1:31am

FurBabyMomma wrote: »

Thanks so much Sligo, I'll have a good read through that thread. Glad your perseverance paid off but goodness yes, it's stressful.

Lola I haven't tried the cup yet as wasn't sure if it should be a sippy cup or like the little cups that come with medicine. I'll have to pick up both next time I'm in town.

I remember poor Sligo posting about this. I had the same issue to a lesser less stressful degree. I gave ebm for the first few weeks stopped and had to work quite hard to get her to take it again. Got there eventually. All about perseverance. Hope you get there soon. When you do make sure to give a bottle at least once a week to be sure it doesn't happen again.

margo321 · 30-12-2014 8:54am

My poor baby is almost 8 weeks and was in hospital with a chest infection. We wanted to give her a dummy to comfort her and the nurses had boxes of these little glucose dips to dip the dummy in. The nurse said it helps newer babies suck the dummy. Maybe you can get them somewhere. Good luck!

FurBabyMomma wrote: »

Hi Margo, I've tried the switch and at the end of a feed but all she does is hold it in her mouth, swirl it around and look at me as if I'm crazy - better than screaming though lol. I haven't ever heard about glucose though, can you explain a bit more?

FurBabyMomma · 01-01-2015 12:58am

Thanks so much ladies. Read Sligo's thread and just said it was like it could have been written by me! :pac: Will keep persevering, although to top it off she has a little chest infection now so is totally out of sorts anyway. No rest for the wicked! :P

madeinamerica · 04-01-2015 9:50pm

A strange question: is it ok or not for a baby other than your own to drink your breast milk? A friend is exclusively pumping as her baby won't latch. He won't take formula. Her stash of frozen milk is very low and she can't build it up. I have a freezer full of my breast milk and I'm still producing more than I need as I'm pumping to keep supply up as I'm back to work. Would it be weird/inappropriate/icky/wrong/insensitive of me to offer her some of my surplus? Thanks.

Edit to say I meant to offer my pumped, frozen milk. Not straight from the boob!!

clare82 · 04-01-2015 10:14pm

madeinamerica wrote: »

A strange question: is it ok or not for a baby other than your own to drink your breast milk? A friend is exclusively pumping as her baby won't latch. He won't take formula. Her stash of frozen milk is very low and she can't build it up. I have a freezer full of my breast milk and I'm still producing more than I need as I'm pumping to keep supply up as I'm back to work. Would it be weird/inappropriate/icky/wrong/insensitive of me to offer her some of my surplus? Thanks.

It's still quite common in some cultures for different women to feed other babies...They call them milk siblings.
I don't think it's weird or icky but actually a v nice gesture. All she nmight do is say no

baba won't care !

How Strange · 04-01-2015 10:48pm

Some people may feel it's weird or icky but it's a very generous and kind offer to make. If I were in your friend position I'd definitely use another woman's breastmilk over formula.

Ro2015 · 04-01-2015 11:09pm

Hi everyone, hope I'm posting this in the right place. I'm just curious to see if anyone here has experienced the same thing as me. I'm 22 weeks pregnant with my first and I've none from the very start that I want to breast feed! I really am determined but I feel very overwhelmed! I'm fairly young and thought I'd be able to get a lot of advice/ support from my family and in laws. The thing is when they found out I was planning to breast feed they didn't have the reaction I expected! I thought everyone would be supportive as I want to do the best for my child and the people that surprised me the most were my MIL and own Mother! I would've thought because they're older they'd see breast feeding as the better option. My Mother doesn't bother me as much as I can tell her to keep her remarks to herself but my MIL is a bit of a nightmare as it is! Ever since she found out I was planning on breast feeding she keeps making bitchy remarks about how I don't know what I'm getting myself into and that breast fed babies never stop crying (is this even true?). She keeps suggesting I supplement some feeds with a bottle and I actually got upset the other day when she told me to make sure I'm prepared with bottles/ formula and stuff as I'll probably end up giving up!! My SIL, who already has children of her own isn't as bad but between the 2 of them they've made me feel isolated in my desicion! I feel so overwhelmed and i only really know the basics of breast feeding, I know it's the best for my baby and stuff but other than that I don't know where to start! Can I get classes at my hospital and do I have to wait until the baby is born? Is my MIL right, Should I get a steraliser and bottles in case?

I'm so sorry for this long post, I'm a complete newbie and feel so overwhelmed! Thanks so much in advance!

Soooky · 04-01-2015 11:43pm

Hi congratulations

I'm sure there will be lots of other much more experienced mama's who will post great advise - I'm a first time mama so have a limited experience. Firstly, its great that you want to research first! Try reading this whole thread if you can from page 1 - I did this during the first few weeks of breastfeeding (that's one great thing about breastfeeding, you have one hand free for surfing the net!!) and I found it to be the best resource of all

Another good site is kellymom.com

I'm sorry you are getting negative feedback from your family with regards to your intention to breastfeed. Unfortunately this can be quite common amongst the older generation I feel

Formula feeding was the only way to go in those days and it can be hard for them to get their head around the idea of breastfeeding. Maybe you could look up your local ciudiu meetings before your baby is born - they can offer you great support and its good to have their number in your mobile if you do run into problems in the early days. Advise from the midwives in the hospital when you give birth can vary but don't be afraid to keep asking for help in getting breastfeeding established - most midwives do want you to succeed! Breastfed babies can lose up to 10% of their body weight in the first few days so don't be alarmed! Also, milk can be slower in coming in if you have a C-section - these are things I wish I had known at the time:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Other than that, do lots & lots of skin on skin with baby and forget about schedules etc just feed whenever baby demands it. It can be tiring but then having a baby is very tiring and as I have never bottle fed I can't compare! Try to have lots of food frozen in the fridge for the first few weeks. Stock up on multi mam balm and compresses and a nice comfy v shaped pillow. Sorry for the essay

I'm sure you will get lots of great advise from the other mamas

:)

madeinamerica · 05-01-2015 12:57am

clare82 wrote: »

It's still quite common in some cultures for different women to feed other babies...They call them milk siblings.
I don't think it's weird or icky but actually a v nice gesture. All she nmight do is say no baba won't care !

How Strange wrote: »

Some people may feel it's weird or icky but it's a very generous and kind offer to make. If I were in your friend position I'd definitely use another woman's breastmilk over formula.

Thanks ladies. I'd feel it's OK, as in I'd accept someone else's before I'd give him formula. But just wanted to see what others thought.

er1983 · 05-01-2015 4:06am

Hi I'm just wondering if anyone can help. My baby is a few days old and have decided to bottle feed. My breasts are now big and tender and need to relieve this and stop milk production, I am wondering how to do this?

bovril · 05-01-2015 4:25am

Congratulations Ro2015, like Soooky said try and read this thread from the start. I read it during pregnancy. It took weeks. I used to jot down notes from it.

As for classes in your hospital, it depends on your hospital. I attended the Coombe and they do a specific breastfeeding class. Try to find out if they have one and sign up.

It's great advice too to attend a breastfeeding meet up before you have your baby. I went to the local friends of breastfeeding group's coffee morning before birth. Look up you local Cuidiu, La Leche League or friends of breastfeeding. All groups will have people you can call if you need help.

From my own experience, I found support in the hospital to be great. I rang the bell a lot for help and asked a lot of questions. They were rushed off their feet but they always found time to give me a hand. At home I found it very difficult at first. There was a lot of tears and pain at different points. I used the balm and Multimam compresses a lot. My Phn wasn't happy with weight gain and suggested combined feeding. This made me upset but I was very determined and said no to her. I called the friends of breastfeeding buddy after that and she came to my house. My local health clinic runs a breast feeding support clinic which I started to attend. I find this great for meeting other bf mums and also phns who know all about breast feeding for advice and support.

There is also this thread too!!

I deliberately didn't get bottles or a sterilizer so that I didn't have an easy fall back. I really really wanted to bf.

My advice would be to surround yourself with support from outside your family. If you're determined you can make it work. I'm nearly 8 weeks in now and I love it.

bovril · 05-01-2015 4:37am

er1983 wrote: »

Hi I'm just wondering if anyone can help. My baby is a few days old and have decided to bottle feed. My breasts are now big and tender and need to relieve this and stop milk production, I am wondering how to do this?

As far as I know, and I might be wrong but cold things will help stop your milk. Try cutting a new nappy open and put ice cubes inside it and place this on your breasts. In the shower stand with your back to the water and avoid hot water straight on your breasts.

You might need to stop feeding gradually or else hand express a bit to stop engorgement. I'm not too familiar with this so maybe someone else can help. I just remember reading about cold things helping to stop milk production.

How Strange · 05-01-2015 8:19am

er1983 your milk has just come in so you're pretty much in the same position as every woman after giving birth. As said, keep your back to the shower as heat will stimulate your milk which you want to avoid. Cold compresses will help to relieve the uncomfortable engorgement. After that I don't really know. Perhaps post in the newborns and toddlers thread as well as you'll get opinions from other mums who might've stopped breastfeeding in the first few days. Congrats on your little one btw

tinkerbell · 05-01-2015 10:45am

Ro2015 wrote: »

Hi everyone, hope I'm posting this in the right place. I'm just curious to see if anyone here has experienced the same thing as me. I'm 22 weeks pregnant with my first and I've none from the very start that I want to breast feed! I really am determined but I feel very overwhelmed! I'm fairly young and thought I'd be able to get a lot of advice/ support from my family and in laws.

Congratulations and well done for wanting to breastfeed, it's a really beautiful experience (once you get the hang of it!) and is the best food you can give your baby

I read the book Breastfeeding Made Simple - Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers by Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett and found it to be so informative. It'll arm you with all the facts that you will need, especially when you have no support.

I would highly recommend that you go to a specific breast-feeding class while pregnant by a lactation consultant. That way, you have made contact with one so if you need help after the birth, you at least know somebody. Don't rely on the hospital helping you out. I found some midwives good but others awful and made my life miserable while I was in hospital as they were pro-formula. In my case I was really determined to breastfeed so I kept on going but they really were awful.

Don't buy bottles, any of that stuff. You can get it if needs be after the birth but in my opinion, don't assume you will fail and need a back up plan. Assume you will be able to do it and if it works out, great. If not, well then you can go buy some bottles etc. then. No point spending money that may be unnecessary.

Ignore your family with their lack of support rubbish. If they are giving you grief tell them to back off and you're not interested unless they have supportive things to say. The reason I say this is that the first six weeks are very very very hard. Most likely you'll have your family pushing formula then and it's very easy then to just quit. But the first 6 weeks are meant to be hard as baby is learning and so are you and baby is trying to establish your milk supply for their needs. That time flies by and before you know it, it'll be a doddle. But I highly recommend getting a lactation consultant to help you at home for the first day or so. Good luck!

Fagashlil · 05-01-2015 2:58pm

That's awful you're not getting the support from your families. I'm very lucky that my mother is very supportive, however my MIL is a different story. From day 1 I was told I was selfish as she wouldn't get to have a go feeding, how was my husband supposed to bond with our son if he couldn't feed him. She bought bottles as a gift "just in case". We had terrible problems feeding at first, but after 6 weeks we turned a corner and now at 11 weeks he's flying.

My husband ended up having to tell his mam to back off, that this was our decision and we were doing what's best for me and our soon.

Have found people on this thread great. Also there's sveral FB support groups. There's a lactation consultant in my local health center and she was great when we were having a tough time. I found the midwives in the Coombe great, one in particular really helped us to get feeding established, she kept me in an extra night as she wasn't happy with his feeding and then spent every feed with me the next day.

The person who is so negative though is the practise nurse at my GP. She actually told me she doesn't think people should be breastfed. I fed him during his 2 month jabs and she only had negative comments. If the same thing happens at his 4 month jabs I'll be finding a new doctor.

Best of luck Ro2015, It is hard at the start, but so so rewarding.

FurBabyMomma · 05-01-2015 3:28pm

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Sooky as posted some very good advice. I'm a first time mum and also found the older generation very adverse to bf - particularly my parents. But now my mum sees how calm and easy going my baby is and how little she cries she's crediting the bf and thinks it's some kind of miracle lol. I dunno whether it is or not but all I know is my baby is content and happy.

Except with the bottle of expressed breast milk

we're now on the sippy cup and it's not much better. It's weird, she won't swallow any milk that gets in her mouth, just gargles and spits it out.

bovril · 05-01-2015 9:37pm

Quick question for those of you that pump. Baby is 8 weeks old and I would like to start pumping for the odd late evening feed or for the odd time I need to head out by myself for a few hours. I know it's recommended to pump early morning. I have a medela swing and freezer bags at the ready. I'm just wondering do I need to pump every morning at the same time once I start. Also if I'm not giving the expressed bottle every day and pumping will my supply be all over the place?

kandr10 · 05-01-2015 11:22pm

bovril wrote: »

Quick question for those of you that pump. Baby is 8 weeks old and I would like to start pumping for the odd late evening feed or for the odd time I need to head out by myself for a few hours. I know it's recommended to pump early morning. I have a medela swing and freezer bags at the ready. I'm just wondering do I need to pump every morning at the same time once I start. Also if I'm not giving the expressed bottle every day and pumping will my supply be all over the place?

I pumped almost every day when feeding my daughter. From my experience morning was indeed the best time and I always got most then. For that reason I tried to do it in and around the same time every day. It was easier to build it into my routine that way too. I found if I left it too late I either wouldn't get much or anything at all. That said there will be times when you can't so don't stress if you can't the odd day. Generally speaking though, I think you are better off doing everyday because your supply will be up and down otherwise. You'll have enough changes when the baby goes through growth spurts etc so best to try keep it consistent. Try to slot it in to a time when you know you're home and the baby might be sleeping. For me that was after her first feed if the day when she was settled in the cot and I could pump in bed beside her them go back asleep

if you don't think you'll use it- freeze it. It'll give you great flexibility once you get up and running

clare82 · 06-01-2015 2:26pm

Ro2015 congratulations on the pregnancy. Sorry to hear about the lack of family support but at least you have a good bit of time to prepare them and yourself.
EVERY ONE on this thread supports you and will try to help you out.
As others said, don't rely on the hospital for help...go to la leche league meet ups, Cuidiu and find groups on Facebook like Breastfeeding feeding mammies in (your county). Also there's extended breastfeeding in Ireland page, that's a great one.
Also check out babywearing ireland...slings are great for bfing.

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