Breastfeeding

[Charl0508]

Hi all I’m new to this group and need a little advice please

I have decided I want to breastfeed my little boy he’s 5 days old. He did latch on Saturday night and last night for a short while but won’t since. I’ve spoken to my MW about expressing and giving it to him via bottle. If I use Tommee tippee manual pump am I then ok to transfer the milk

To a MAM bottle to store in the fridge? Any advice is appreciated

Thank you

X

[Cheekymonkey85]

Yes that's absolutely ok to do. I'd keep trying to latch but obviously if he won't then expressing is the next best thing. Have a google if power pumping if supply seems to drop, look up pace feeding so as not to overfill baby & do plenty of skin to skin. It all helps your milk.

Milk can be stored at room temperature for 6 hours, in the fridge for 6 days and the freezer for 6months. You can also mix milk from different pumping sessions as long as they are at the same temp- also if you mix from different days make sure you date it with the date from the first batch if that makes sense.

Warming in a jug of hot water is enough, don't be tempted to use the microwave.

Wishing you the best of luck x

[Charl0508 in reply to Cheekymonkey85]

Thank you for your reply. I’m

Going to keep trying to get him to latch but it’s just if he doesn’t I’d still like him to have the good stuff. I started off with formula wish I’d done it from

The start now I spoke to my MW today about it she did say if I

Didn’t get a lot at first that I could express give him breast milk from bottle and if needed to top him up

With formula then he’s still getting breast milk. It’s all new to me

I didn’t do it with my daughter

X

[Cheekymonkey85 in reply to Charl0508]

Sometimes midwives aren't always the best for breastfeeding support. Definitely see if there are any support groups in your area you can go to, and possibly see a lactation consultant.

There have been a few similar posts to yours this week so take a look if you haven't already & see if there is anything else helpful in the answers xx

[Purpledazzle27]

Lots of skin to skin contact and offer often. Also look up pace feeding bottles. Definitely try and find a local latch on group to give you support. They can suggest different positions and check latch etc. All the best xx

[Hidden]

Lots of great info available here: kellymom.com

Also the breastfeeding helpline has really nice advisors 0300 100 0212

And maybe look up the details of a local Lactation consultant here: lcgb.org. They can visit at home for a few, some advise for free at your local breastfeeding cafe/clinic. As well as offer more specific advice around breastfeeding (than midwives can) some can assess babies for tongue tie or refer you to someone who can.

Tongue tie is very common and is often the reason a baby struggles to latch and it’s a really quick and simple procedure to resolve it. How you described your little one sounds like how my little boy was in the early days...he managed to latch a few times but this got less and less. After the tongue tie was fixed he got progressively better over 3 weeks and we’re still bf 4.5 months on. How he feeds now is SO very different to how he was at the beginning.

[Floradora87]

I had latch problems too and went to a la Leche league meet up to get some help and advice. They were very helpful and I tried the techniques they recommended but it still didn’t work out after 5.5 weeks. So I began expressing and didn’t even realise that it was a thing that people did exclusively.

I would definitely try to get some help from a Lactation Consultant, but if it still doesn’t work out and you just want to express I hugely recommend the Facebook group called “exclusively pumping mammas - education and support group”

I’ve learnt so much from the group and it’s been a huge support. I’m 12 weeks pp and have been pumping for 6 now with the help of this group.

[hannabelle]

Hi it can take time but im sure your son will soon if you have any major concerns why dont you talk to your GP not all babies like it so if he doesnt within the month try the bottle