Getting back to breastfeeding

Things with feeding have gone a bit haywire for me.

My baby has quite bad reflux and after weeks of him screaming, fighting the breast, arching his back in feeds, refusing to drink but then going back for more and repeating the process over and over again, and me in tears as it got worse and worse with him scratching and fighting me, I had to give him a formula top up one day and it went from there.

Last week, to save my mental health as I was just about to sink into depression from the feeding saga I began expressing and giving as many feeds of EBM as possible and topping up with formula. It has been working well as he takes the bottle a lot better, and he is on medication now for his reflux which seems to be slowly helping and he's a lot happier. However I have not been able to express enough for every feed so it has been formula for feeds at times.

However despite baby doing better I have really struggled with stopping breastfeeding as I miss the closeness and bond and it really is how I want to feed my baby.

I have noticed my supply has dropped already Im hardly getting anything out of my left breast it's all coming from my right. And I have not been able to pump every 3 hours on some days so no doubt its dropped from that.

I tried baby back on the breast today and he didnt fight or scream or anything he did before and he sucked for a while, although lazily from being on the bottle I expect, but I don't think I had enough to feed him properly.

Is there anything I can do to get him back to breastfeeding full time or mostly full time, or is it too late and Ive done the damage? Should I be trying when he's happy feeding from a bottle? Its all very confusing.

Thanks for your help

If you get in quick (this week), you may well be eligible for a free session with an LC at Birthcare (check their website).

Spend a day (or days) in bed, skin to skin with baby. Feed when he wants, whenever that is.

Pump for a short time after each feed (5 minutes or so per side), for stimulation not for the amount of milk that you get

Try switch feeding - feed for 5 minutes then swap sides then keep going like that for the full feed

Look at the teat you're using. Chuchu teats are really good as they mimic the breast. One issue with bottle vs breast is that the bottle is often easier - chuchu and I think Tommee Tippee ones are more similar to the breast and make the baby work for it like they would have to on the boob.

Good luck!

Weegee and fattartsrock are brilliant sources of info (and I'm happy for them to contradict any of my suggestions!). Also kellymom.com has heaps of info on BFing

Have you thought about contacting the La Leche League? Their website is http://www.lalecheleague.org.nz and they have accredited leaders all over NZ. They were so so so helpful and supportive when I had lots of problems breastfeeding when DS was newborn. They offer email help and I am sure someone would be more than happy to talk to you on the phone and help you out.

Thanks for all the suggestions I will try them out.

In the last 2 days I have put him on the breast at the start of each feed and he's feeding really well from the right, still doesn't like the left but he never did. He's still needing a formula top up but he's definitely getting something from me. I am pumping after every feed, drinking complan and eating almonds and will look into some other things at the shops today.

I'm also going to email la leche league. The problem for me with going to a lactation consultant is I don't have a car during the day and Im not sure if I can afford it but I will do my best. I want to go to the Plunket family centre too but have to wait until January.

My GP gets back on Jan 5th- if I waited till then if I needed to go down the medication route would that be too long to wait? If I keep putting him to the breast in the meantime?

I dont necessarily want meds but will take them if it gets to that

Edited by LittleN

The LC at the Plunket Family centre helped me HEAPS with breastfeeding! (I went to the one on Landscape Road). Also I really think the Lactation Cookies help as well! I can post the recipe I use if you like.

It's definitely possible for your bubs to have both breastmilk and formula supplements, my DS did up until about 12 weeks old.

Sounds like you are doing a great job getting him back on there! And if he ever fights it, you can always give him a small amount of formula first so he's not starving, and therefore easily frustrated, then put him on the breast.