Is it possible to return to BF

[morgan78]

Was wondering what would be involved in taking DD off the FF and getting back into BF.
I have been FF for nearly 2 weeks now as she was not putting on enough weight - had dropped down to the 5th percentile, in weeks 8 & 9 had only gained 100g and over the 9 weeks had only increase 800g from birth weight - she has put on around 1.2kd in the 2 weeks of FF.
I will have little support from DP as he prefers FF - feels like there is more control and she has been more settled & happier since swapping. I have a 2yr old at home with me all day, i dont drive and have no other family around for support.
Is it going to be to big a task?
Your advice is appreciated

[Pretty Butterfly]

It can be possible to BF again sometimes. Have you tried putting your bub back on? Do you still have milk? Does she still latch? If bub will go back on, the best way to get a supply back up will be to put bub back on the breast for every feed, at least 3-4 hourly. If its not enough to fill her, breast feed first and top with formula. Eventually you could possibly not need formula at all. If you do try, it may a hard few weeks, but be beneficial in the long run!! I wish you so much luck honey!!!

[Pretty Butterfly]

Sorry, I almost forgot!! The ABA most probably has members in your area. Most will come to your home to help you re-establish milk and latching on if you need some extra help. Your local hospital may also have a lactation midwife that could also help.

[morgan78]

Purplemamma - when you say have i still got milk - i haven't been expressing or anything for the last 2 weeks but if i try to hand express now there is small drips coming out - is this what you mean???

[Smoke Jaguar]

Great advice there - please seek out the support of your local ABA people.
It sure is possible - and it could be a challenge.
I would also think that if you are going to be watching 'the charts', you could fall into this trap again - I would rip the charts out of the baby book and tap into your instinct about how your baby is growing You have what it takes to nourish your child without needing to feed formula, just to keep up with charts - also remember that those damn averages only work because there are babies who fall into areas either side of those figures. What I mean is, there is no such thing as an average if ALL babies were to be 'average'! And this, in no way, means that the non-average babies are unhealthy...it's just that those babies will never be 'average' because of genetics or whatever, so it's ok for babies not to conform to what our health nurses would like to see
Oh, and by the way, you can ALWAYS come here to BB when you're having a tough time. Do both you and your baby a favour and give BFing a shot again

[morgan78]

Thanks for that - just rung local LC and shes coming round Monday
DD just woke up so i offered BF that was 10 mins ago she went on fine & doesn't want to let go - guess she knows whats good for her

[Pretty Butterfly]

Yep!! Since you can still easily produce milk, getting a good supply back up shouldn't take too long. You just may not have enough for a little while till supply gets back up. Just keep attaching bub, and the milk will soon meet all her needs!!! you'll know when all is good when you get strong let downs if you normally feel them, or you can still squeeze out milk after she's pulled off and is full. If you do return to BF, thats all she needs. Ditto Mayaness, if bub is fully breastfed, happy, weeing and generally content, get rid of the chart!!!

[aussienic]

Morgan.. thats great news she attached

I agree get rid of the charts. I have been worrying myself for no good reason. My CHN nurse wanted me to reweigh Olivia in a month as she hadn't gained what she wanted.. But I have reweighed her myself and according to the "charts" she is at the 50% line anyways..

Anyway Good Luck Let us know how you go

[morgan78]

Well have had the LC come and visit and she is really happy with how things are going.
She recommended that i take Motilicim (sp?) to improve milk supply - does this stuff work any better than herbal remedies???
Also she wants to see 180-200gm of weight increase a week is this a lot i thought that around 150g would be normal??

[Janie]

Yep, Motilium is an anti-nausea drug that also increases prolactin levels. Most people find that it works very well. I took it for almost 7 months, and found that it worked very well for me. Most people only need it for a short period of time though, maybe a month or so. The idea is to wean off it VERY slowly. I would still take your herbal remedies as well.

180-200g does seem like a bit, but maybe there is a reason behind it. Has you baby been putting on much weight up until now?

[Smoke Jaguar]

This is just so awesome - hope you don't mind if I quote your situation to anyone who finds themselves in the pickle you were in...seems like ages ago now, doesn't it? It was a close call, though, so good to read about you back from the brink
I know people for whom motilium is the reason they are still BFing - and like Janie says, you may not need to take it for the rest of the time you are BFing.
Howzat? Now you're a shining 'example'

[morgan78]

Janie - Vicky had only gained 900g over the first two months which was the reason we put her on FF - i got so stressed out about it and instead of getting in LC knee jerked reacted . Anyway in the 2 weeks of being completely FF she gained 1.2kg so is now looking like a little buddha.

Mayaness - Thank you so much for your post it came at a perfect time to as we had a pear shaped morning today - the joys of having a 2yr old boy at home as well - & please feel free to quote away if it helps even just one other woman it would be wonderful. BF so important in so many different ways and i know that there is many women out there who dont realise that relactating is possible and then live with the guilt of having FF for a very long time - i know i did with DS. But it is not easy to do and without the support of people like yourself and everyone else here on BB i wouldn't be doing it. So thank you again
And thank you to everyone else

And just a general woohoo - i got letdown 3 times today

[Jennifer13]

And just a general woohoo - i got letdown 3 times today

Well done Morgan! Sounds like you are on track.

[morgan78]

just another update
Today Vicky has dropped from having 880 - 1000ml of formula a day when she was being FF to 660ml today & 9 BF's and has so far been asleep since 7pm. the last feed she actually had half a bottle and then refused it but jumped back on the boob for half an hour and went to sleep - i love her so much & i know she is loving me doing this for her.

[Jas]

Congrats! That's fantastic that your doing that you should definitely be proud of yourself!!

[Smoke Jaguar]

you're a gun!! She sure is thanking you, and she will later, too

[BekZ]

Congrates Morgan and Vicky, what a great job.

I have been trying all week to re-introduce breastfeeding but my little miss just won't take to it at all.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Bekz, from what I understand, it's more miss than hit with relactation, and it takes some perseverance...sometimes with the goal remaining unattained. In that case, you can always tell your kids later that you gave it a red hot go!! Look, if you don't achieve it, you did what you knew to be best at the time, given all the information you had at that time - no-one can ask for more than that, can they? Meanwhile, keep us posted with how you go and be kind to yourself :hugs:
The ABA forum has got a section for relactation, and you can also call a counsellor about it, too, if the going gets tough (though I suspect, Barb, that the counsellor on the phone might refer a caller to you!), to chat to others who have tried and succeeded/not succeeded. Just remember that it's not only a matter of you wanting it badly enough - there's a kid with a volition of their own, and some just decide they won't be going back. There's only so much you can control.
Thinking of you both