IMO, if your baby is up to it, BFing instead of expressing is definitely the way to go. As others have said, bub will do a better job than the pump, and who's going to say no to all those extra cuddles? I know it's hard work, but it won't be long until it pays off
Thanks Marcellus and Janie...i think i just needed to talk and get it all out and for some others to give me some other advice! So much for the LC giving me help, you girls have given me better and more contructive advice than the LC has and did. I now know my plan of attack for this weeks progress, i try not to think in the long term for this relactating bfeeding journey as it just seems so far away to us getting back to bfeeding fulltime....week by week progress is so much better and more manageable. Wish i had blogged my progress now from the beginning cause in a months time i will be able to see just how far i have come.
Yesterday we dropped another bottle, down to three now He had breast then bottle at 3am then another one at 10am and the last one at 7pm. All in between was breast, it was on top of each other i must admit but i never actually felt real empty IYKWIM. I kinda felt as though i was starving the poor little trooper at times but i fed very often....sometimes twice in an hour, so at least i was keeping him hydrated!
Today so far he has only had the one bottle at 10am, he slept through to almost 5am this morning and has had 3 feeds between 5-10am, just trying to get him to have a nap now!
Hi ladies just wondering if when bub breastfeeds should i pull him off when he starts just suckling at me like a dummy? I find that he will feed and then he will nod off and just start suckling at me, not actually feeding IYKWIM.
You're going great guns Danni! Hmmmm, I'm not sure about the suckling, probably depends on a few things. The extra stimulation is good (and the cuddles are lovely ), but you don't want him sitting there all day and then falling asleep for ages, meaning that it's too long before he feeds again. How long is he feeding 'properly' for? If he's already been at the breast for awhile I think it would be fine to pull him off when he's fast asleep.
Do you offer one or both breasts at a feed? If he falls asleep on the first breast, but stirs when you pull him off, you could always change his nappy and then offer him the second one.
Janie it depends on how full i am whether i offer both sides. First thing in the morning i offer one side to fully drain it and that is normally enough for him to go back to sleep for a few more hours. Then the next few feeds upto 10am i normally offer both on and off until 10am before i will give the bottle. He sleeps from around 11-2pm then around 2.30pm he will breast feed on and off till 5pm when he has another bottle and then his last bottle at 8pm and is in bed by 8.30pm. I offer the breast before all bottles and the bottles are really only a top up although they are quite a large top up!
I was in another thread before and we were talking about large bubs and how much they drink, anyway another member said her paed told her because her bub was in the high weight percentile it would be difficult to keep a good supply up....is this correct?? I just thought that you produce what your bubs needs are. Any feedback would be good!
Danni, your bbs will supply enough milk, regardless of how big your baby is (after all, some mums successfully bf twins - that's twice the amount!!). It is only about how often you are bfing him. You are right to bf him before every bottle feed. The other thing to do to increase your supply for those bfs that you are topping him up with formula is to pump after you bottle feed him. You can then use this amount to supplement what he is getting in the bottle and will build up your own supply at the same time. Another alternative is rather than topping him up with a bottle feed, wait 1/2 hr to an hour after the bf (that you would normally top up after) and offer him the bb again. You will have 'refilled' somewhat in that time.
I really applaud your efforts here, Danni, what a great effort you've made to get this far!
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I know it's hard work, but it won't be long until it pays off
He had breast then bottle at 3am then another one at 10am and the last one at 7pm. All in between was breast, it was on top of each other i must admit but i never actually felt real empty IYKWIM. I kinda felt as though i was starving the poor little trooper at times but i fed very often....sometimes twice in an hour, so at least i was keeping him hydrated!
), but you don't want him sitting there all day and then falling asleep for ages, meaning that it's too long before he feeds again. How long is he feeding 'properly' for? If he's already been at the breast for awhile I think it would be fine to pull him off when he's fast asleep.
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