re-lactation

Plan tomorrow is to go to the group support and then ring different helplines when I get home about hiring an LC:

Le Leche League
National Breastfeeding helpline
NCT Breastfeeding helpline
Association of breastfeeding mothers

It's really hard to hear them cry. And its tough on you really when they say you are giving the formula too easy. The minute Hebe seems unsettled the first thing I do is offer the breast so the obvious equivalent for a bottle fed baby is formula in some respects. You could try a dummy but I think that at this point in the whole scheme of things, adding another thing to suck is probably the last thing you should do.

The first day I took the fenugreek I was quite taken a back at the amount I pumped - I think I got over 2oz and it was mid afternoon so I was really pleased.

It does sound like you are getting some good support but I think you need some really strong support which I think you will have to hunt for unfortunately.

Did you spend some time skin to skin?? Is hubby at home ATM? You could do with a full 24hrs in bed and bathing with her - I know it might seem impractical but it might help you turn a corner. You need to feel like you're getting some wins in. What pump are you using??
x

Picked up the fenugreek today from the post office - thank you so much! I'll keep you updated.

Im going to try a full day of skin to skin this weekend. I have nothing planned and OH and I are just going to stay in and spend time with Niamh.

I've been sort of co-sleeping with her too. Just for a couple of hours though. When OH goes to work I bring her into bed with me from about 6am-9am and try her on the breast a couple of times in that period. She's still not interested at all, but I figure the more cuddling, the more skin-skin, the more she smells me, etc then the quicker she'll take to it even if she's not showing any interest now.

Well I went to the BFing support group today and I was so nervous! I
walked in and everyone seemed to know each other. Niamh was the
youngest baby there and everyone was BFing happily over cups of tea.
I felt so dejected watching them all BF so easily and I felt I wouldn't fit in at all.

I introduced myself and sat down with Niamh who was fast asleep. I
started chatting to some of the other Mums who had varied BFing
stories. Most felt BFing had come quite naturally to them, and I felt
happy for them rather than jealous. They were very supportive and
offered advice until one of the midwives came over. I asked her to help
me BF even though Niamh wasn't due a feed. She was stirring though so I
thought we may as well try.

Same story as always though. The MW couldn't get her interested in my
breast at all. She wouldn't even open her mouth when her lips of cheeks
were tickled. She's just pull her head back or push me with her hands
and cry. So it was a complete non-starter basically.

So I'm going to go back next week and the MW from this support group
and the BFing counsellor are going to work together to try to get me
BFing again. So I'll go to this group once a week, and the counsellor
will come out twice a week to help me. I've also been given their work
and home numbers in case I need to talk to someone.

The MW today recommended trying to cut out the bottles totally and get
her cup feeding expressed breast milk when she's due a feed after
trying her on my breast. If I'm honest, I think that's not going to
happen overnight as I can't expressed 4oz, which is what she's
currently on. I'll give her what I can though. I'm hoping the
breastflow bottles will arrive tomorrow too, so at least if I am using
a bottle it's as close to breast as possible and with a slow flow teat.

On the bright side though, the MW today as experience with my exact
situation. A mother gave her baby formula bottles for 6 weeks and they
managed to get her baby back to the breast in 10 weeks. She told me to
expect it to take 6-8 weeks to get her feeding 100% on the breast but
I'm willing to persevere!

You can do it!! I feel like a cheerleader on your threads :cheer:

:aww: :aww::aww:

:aww: well done you are trying everything so im sure you will succeed.

Fab job hun - we are all willing you to do it!

You are amazing! I really admire your determination. I really, really hope things work out for you :aww: :aww:

:aww:

You are doing everything right and I admire you so much.

Also the midwife is being very supportive which is great to hear.

Just use the forum not only for advice but to vent and get some much needed support. They are a wonderful group and there is a wealth of experience.

Thanks so much girls for your support, it really means a lot!

I managed to get her to cup feed!I am so so proud of my little girl It took awhile and she had a cat nap halfway through but I managed to get her to cup feed 30mls (1oz)!

I also had a bath with her tonight too and she nuzzled into my breast for the first time since she was born! She didn't try to latch at all and started to get really upset when I tried to get her on my breast but she nuzzled me, which is a start!

It was incredibly funny though because she pooed in the bath! I found it hilarious and when she was finished OH took her out to dry her off and put a nappy on her. Only she hadn't finished and pooed all over the towel and OH! I couldn't stop laughing, and that's obviously what she thought of us trying to get her BF! lol

:aww: well done, every little step gets you that bit closer to achieving your goal. You really are an inspiration. Hope you are very proud off all your efforts.

:haha: for little one showing whos still boss !!!

:aww:

:aww: well done - dont you just love bathtime poos?

I DID IT! I BREAST FED!

The counsellor came out today and we tried cup feeding and syringe feeding and none of it was working. So she asked if I had nipple shields. I did, and had tried them before with a MW and Niamh wouldn't take to them at all. So it was a last ditch attempt today before we gave her more formula.

She latched straight on, sucked, swallowed and everything and never once broke contact! She fed for 30mins then fell asleep.

I am just so elated! After being told yesterday that it could be weeks before she's even trying to latch properly, I can't believe I had her feed for a full session! She is 17 days old, and this is the first time I have ever been able to feed my little girl.

The counsellor is coming back out on Tuesday and that's when we will start to try and wean her off the nipple shields. At the minute she will only take my left breast too so that's something else to work on.

Still, we've come so far! I can't wait until I cut the formula out altogether and can officially call myself a BFing Mum!

I AM SO VERY PLEASED FOR YOU ,SO NICE THAT ALL YOUR HARD WORK PAID OFF.

So this is now you ......... :bf1:

I am sooooooo happy for you!!! You will be a boobie mama in no time :boob:

You WILL get there I'm sure of it!

:boob: :bf2: :cheer: :cheer: :aww: :aww: well done im sooooo pleased for you

This is the best news I've had all day!! I knew you'd do it - I could tell how much you wanted it.

You're on you way honey!!!! x

How are things going today?

Really, really well We co-slept last night and BFed through the night. I'm not very good with the different positions yet though so she gets annoyed easily lol.

OH tried to bottle feed her last night to give me a break and she refused to take it! She just cried until she got boobie

So she had a little formula last night, but her last fullmula for bottle was 9am yesterday! I'm so pleased!

Fab!! :gdluck:

Thats brilliant honey!!!!!!! She knows where the good stuff is!!! You'll get the hang of differnt positions in time. I never thought I'd be able to do it so easily.

Well done you!!!!

Ps - You should be massively proud of yourself.:aww: