Hi all

After more advice- sorry to be such a 'taker', all so new to me! Now that it seems I am having bit more luck with attachment, I was wondering if anyone could advise how they built up their milk supply? My milk never 'came in' with a rush, I had to wait until about day 7 or 8 before I could even express a couple of drops. I was prescibed Motilum to increase my proclactin (and therefore my milk), which I have just weaned off (it probably helped but I still never had full breasts). Currently I am feeding on demand (about 6 times over 24 hours) and expressing after 3 of these feeds. Feeding takes me a long time as I feed separately. I don't get alot of sleep- do people feel lack of sleep really makes a difference to supply?? Should I express more?? ATM my boys are very unsettled after a feed, so I comp them and they usually settle- this is why I presume my supply is not great. My aim is to breastfeed as much as possible.

Thanks again everyone
:-) Lindy

Hi Lindy

Keep asking lots of questions - I wish I had!! I'm no expert on breastfeeding, other than having done it myself but here's what worked for me...

I found sleep really did help. If not sleep, then at least a 'rest' with feet up every day. Lots and lots of water too, and plenty of good food, especially protein and higher in fat than I would normally eat (well, more than I should normally eat).

I gave my girls 2 x 'top up' feeds per day with formula, but they were on top of a breastfeed not instead of one, so they didn't interfere with my supply.

In the early days I used to express several times a day after a feed, but I wasn't getting much and frankly it was all getting a bit exhausting so I stopped after a couple of weeks. I'm not sure how much it stimulated supply, I always found the babies did a better job than the pump!

I probably haven't told you anything you don't already know (but then sometimes that's what you want to hear IYKWIM). I'm sure there are some other, better ideas out there!

Nicolie
DDs Paige & Hannah (23/09/03)

Thanks Nicolie- always good to hear from people with first hand experience. The idea of giving comp feeds on top of breastfeeds (not instead of), is also what I am trying. Problem is, my boys seem to want one after every feed, not just twice a day. Last night I decided to give them a full bottle after each breastfeed and just see how much they would take. Well they both took about 140ml first feed, and 100ml next feed, and both happily settled afterwards! I have to wonder how much they are actually getting from my breast (but then again when I express I am able to get reasonable amounts?). Those comp feeds last night were formula- and I decided that we would just try to stick to bf + ebm comps during the day. No luck with that this morn- bf both for about 20 min each, then ebm top up of 40ml each (all that I had). Still unhappy, so gave Hayden another bf- still unhappy so gave hime 50ml formula. That seemed to do it for him. Jackson also unhappy so gave him 50ml formula (this started at 4.30am and went until 7.30am, so did not try another bf with him- was already overtired). I then expressed and got about 100ml. Jackson has now stopped crying, but now can't get him to sleep, it is 8am. I originally had intended to go back to bed after this early morn feed, but now I can't sleep myself- and Hayden will probably wake soon anyway for another feed. I wonder is it normal for them to be unsettled after a feed? Should I just let them cry a bit, or should I aim for them to be full and content??? Getting strung out (again!)...

It is now 9am- Jackson just went to sleep and Hayden is waking for his next feed. Now I will have to wake Jackson to feed again! (after Hayden, so at least he'll get about an hour of sleep...)

I just spoke to a lactation consultant/ABA councellor who thinks I may need to go back onto 'Motilium' to increase my supply again, so will also try that.

Lindy ~ Sending you some hugs lovie...I am not sure if this is an option for you have you tried can you feed them together at the same time? This will help with the sleep for you and Hayden & Jackson. Its trickly but if you have DH help you it should make it easier. We did this from early on, if one was asleep they would get woken at 3 hourly intervals to be fed together and then back to bed together?

I know your supply is struggling - keep up lots of fluids and you may need to go back on the Motilum until you get to a good level. What are you using to express? Hand manual pump or electric?

Edited to add - try putting some warm flannels on your chest, this was a suggestion by a midwife for me and it did help my milk to flow easily once expressing or feeding.
Hoping today is a little better

Haylie ~ Proud Mum of Hayden & Brooklen 21.3.05

This message was edited by hayfilfy on Saturday, 3 September 2005 @ 4:47 PM

Hun, I'm speaking from the point of view of someone who's read a lot and talked to mums + midwives, but I'm not in your shoes (yet!)

Is it possible that 6 feeds in 24 hours isn't enough to stimulate your breasts? One of my references suggested that to really get things going, at least 8-10 times per day is needed.

Perhaps you could "sacrifice" a couple of days to give that a go?

Best of luck :-)

Hi ladies

Haylie- thanks for the hugs :-) I have tried tandem feeding, but not with alot of success. At first it was too difficult because we were all just learning feeding and I could not concentrate on making sure both were attached and feeding well. Now that we are a little better at feeding, I tried again- but is was too hard to do on my own (and I spend a fair bit of time on my own with them). We all ended up a bit stressed, so I am back to feeding singularly which is much more relaxing for us. However, I am now putting a bit of a rough limit on time spent at the breast- instead of 45min-1 hr, it is more like 20-30min max. That has helped me get back to bed a bit quicker. Last night I had some really good rest! Will try the warm washers, thanks.

Hi ChristieEm- thanks, have also read that- but I don't really want to wake the boys to feed if it can be avoided (we all need the sleep LOL). As it is I do wake Jackson if he has not woken by the time Hayden finishes, sometimes it makes him a bit fussier and harder to feed. 6 is really the minimum recommended, and because I am also expressing (now 4 times a day), that is like giving 4 extra feeds as far as stimulation of milk production goes. How long for you now? Must be getting very excited :-)

Have a great Fathers Day everyone. Hayden & Jackson gave their dad a photo frame for his work desk (with them in it of course) and a nice bottle of mums favourite aftershave- Dolce & Gabbana :-)