All those books should be banned

Agreed!

Hello, I would really appreciate some advice. I had heaps of problems getting my LO to breast feed. When I left the hospital she was still cupfeeding, only about 20mls max at a time, anyway to cut a long story short, I didnt have a clue how much I should be giving her and she didnt cry at all for it and she ended up losing 13% of her body weight. It was a complete nightmare. She then decided she would take milk expressed, from a bottle and finally I have got her on the breast. She was 3ozs short of her birth weight last sunday and the midwives signed her off.
I am struggling with breast feeding though, she seems satisfied but never stays on very long, then sometimes less than half hour later wants feeding again. She was sleeping from 12pm to about 4 then 7 but now Im struggling to get her settled.
My hubby is feeding her bottles of expressed milk in evening to give me a break from around 9 to midnight she prob has around 100ml, which is the absolute max I can now express over the day, and this is a struggle.
Do you think I am producing enough milk? Am I doing something wrong, I just dont know what I am doing? I feel really stressed.
She seems to settle better at night if hubby gives her the expressed milk but I wonder if I should be doing this as maybe it is confusing her?
Any help would be really appreciated. thanks.

How old is your LO?
lots of babies tend to eat little and often, their stomachs are still very small. Also they sometimes cluster feed... my LO used to want to feed sometimes every half an hour in evenings. It was tiring, but i just spend the evening sat on the sofa and put him to the breast as much as often.

My Lo only ever feed for 10mins max at time, sometimes even less... but he is gaining weight well. Some babies feed for a short time but feed effectively, while others feed for longer but still only get the same amount.

if expressing is working for you then carry on. But perhaps now you have managed to get your LO to latch on it might be an idea to feed more often from the breast. The more often you put her to the breast the more milk you will produce. BF is tiring in the early days, it sometimes feels like it is all you do. That you finish one round and feeding and nappy changing and start again but honestly it does get easier. By around 6 weeks you may start to notice some sort of pattern.

Make sure you eat well and drink lots of water, its very important when bf'ing. Sleep when she sleeps to.

Your not doing anything wrong, it sounds like you are doing brilliant. keep up the good work *hugs*

Thanks, its nice just to hear some encouraging words, I feel a bit better about it all today. She is 20 days old.

You welcome...glad i could help a little.
Aww she's still young Just keep going hun....

Good luck

hello

I could really do with some bf advice if possible from one of you experienced bnb champion ladies, pleeeease!?

Hi Grumpymoo! Feel free to PM me if you want to chat

just wondered if one of the relactation specialists could pm me with some advice on how i'd go abt starting breast feeding again? Also how do u find out where BF clinics in my area r? any ideas?

Hi purple socks. I don't have any info on relactating but here's a link to the La Leche League local groups, I'd say they might be the most knowledgeable for this:

http://http://www.laleche.org.uk/pag...ups/groups.htm