breast Feeding and weight loss
Another ramble about feeding!! Wilfy was breech so i had a planned C section. He weighed 6lb 15oz From day one we had problems breast feeding, at first he would get very frustrated as he was having problems latching on, once he latched on i thought he was feeding fine. Sometimes it would take up to an hour of screaming first!! We were discharged from hospital after 3 days and i still thought things were going reasonably well, although i would have to express a little milk off first before he could feed. On the second day home the midwife weighed him and to my horror he lost 13% of his body weight and only weighed 6lb. The mw was also a bit shocked and referred me to a feeding specialist straight away. To cut a long story short after 3weeks he wasnt gaining weight just staying the same. This was both stressfull and frustrating. What i am angry about is that not once was i advised the choice of top up feeds with formula. The specialist MW wanted me to take some medication that would be prescribed for a stomach upset (which i didnt have) one of the side effects of this medicine was to produce more milk. She also suggested feeding him expressed milk through a tube fed into his mouth whilst at the same time breast feeding!! This was 3 weeks after he was born and i already felt under imense pressure. It was me that had to suggest formula feeds and breast feeding, which i was told in a non supportive way that this could be an option. So for a week now that is what i have been doing and its the best thing i have done. He is now 6lb9oz and the relief is huge. He is more content as before he was obviously not getting enough food. It turns out that i am only producing 50% of his needs. So i ask what is the problem with topping the other 50% up with formula? It is about time the government and ultimately the NHS stop pressurising us women into breast feeding, surely if i had continued with just breast feeding it would have been detremental to my baby. In my opinion he is now getting the best of both. You hear of breast feeding support groups all the time, what about feeding support groups or dare i say it bottle feeding support groups!!
Anyway sorry to rant but i am so angry about the pressure we feel under. Mums know best and dont i now know it!!!
Anyway sorry to rant but i am so angry about the pressure we feel under. Mums know best and dont i now know it!!!
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my health visitor annoyed me actually as i expected more advice to help more persevere with ryans breast feeding but instead shesaid oh everyone gives up around 4-6 weeks cos of the growth spurt. i was quite annoyed as i didnt really want to give up but thought seeing as there is so much pressure to bf from EVERYWHERE she might have some tips for settling him and more successful feeding while he goes through this stage. but no. she just said if i want to give him a bottle then go for it. which is lovely to hear aswell but im so confused. all the hype and pressure but little support when i needed it.
everyone's experiences are different and im now at the point where i will scream at anyone who tells me they bf successfully!
ryan is getting better again but ihave a box of aptimel and some cartons for going out.
i think we are all in the same boat here from the replies on my topic about bf and we need to just do what we think is best. that is what they should be telling us from the start...do whatu think is best for ur baby!
i do hope your lo is piling on weight for you, and i dont know about u but sometimes i enjoy bottle feeding more than bf! xxxxsorry for going on!
Thank god for sites like this so we can share our stories and realise how common this problem is.
L xx
If i let my lo go hungry cause i was trying to just bf him then i'd be doing neither of us any good - it is not a bad thing to want your lo to have a full tummy!
feeding support groups sound like a much better idea than bf support!
Luckily i havent yet been critisised for introducing a dummy although i am yet to let my mother in law know!! I think they are wonderful things and more hygienic than sucking my finger and if it helps him and me get some sleep then bring it on!!
Know what you mean about the dry hands Obi - I've finally found a use for al l the small tubs of body butter I've got lying around- keep them in every room for my hands... stops them being so dry and masks the smell of milton!!
Isobel is a great breast feeder and also has a dummy pretty much all the time when she is not feeding.
So anyone who says you should not give them a dummy is wrong.
Also i have read articles that a dummy can help prevent cot death too.. so what do they want us to do?
I think we all know are babies best and should follow our instincts!
I tried Caed with a dummy the other night. He sleeps on average 6-8 hours a night and seems to do nothing but feed all during the day. Late afternoon/early evenings are the worst, he just wont let me put him down at all so i tried a dummy. He didnt like it at first but then he fell asleep sucking on it and spat it out afterwards, he slept for a couple of hours. I dont use it all the time but its good to know that its there and he will go to sleep sucking on it. My other two kids wouldn't have a dummy. I used to place a terry nappy under my arm when i was feeding them (and still do) so any milk drips go onto it, then when they were really tired i used to place it next to them and they could smell the milk and me on it and they slept for longer. My daughter (who is now 7) still likes to suck/sniff her clothes lol.
Dummies are brill if your baby loves to suck and have certainly reduced Gracie's feeds or rather, comfort sucks. My hv didn't say anything today...then again, she's young and childless so I sort of feel more qualified in an experienced way, and she's really nice too!