How to increase milk supply?

nadnad

grey_lady wrote: »

This thread seems to be about encouraging the op and others to ignore the advice of the health visitor who told her to consider formula and in later posts from other people to ignore the advice of the professional midwifes, isnt that a bit irresponsible? just wondering.

these "health professionals" a lot of the time know little about breastfeeding. As i've said before - when i had my little one and was in the hospital - and dedicated to bf him the midwives couldnt be bothered (or didnt have the time) to help me, the first night i buzzed for assistance latching him on and all i got was an auxilliary nurse telling me for FOUR hours that the midwives were busy and someone would be there soon. I had a very frustrated newborn and I was in tears and helpless. The next day I must have had about 3 different midwives saying "would you not just give him a wee bottle". The only advice i was given was to chart the feedings when and how long for, which side etc and this was just extra stress because then i worried about how much he was taking.

I'm glad i had the willpower to continue and when i got home the HV and home visting midwife were much more helpful - a girl opposite me in hospital who was told repeatedly that baby was latching on beautifully was eventually persuaded to give her a bottle because she wanted fed every hour and a bit and the mum had a C section and couldnt lift her out of crib very well and needed assistance often. I also heard the midwives referring to me as a "feeder" and how the "feeders" take up so much time - charming. They also use outdated charts which refer to formula fed babies and not bf babies which may make it look like BF babies arent thriving as well. And in my opinion they are too ruled by charts and statistics.

So to cut a (very) long story short (sorry!) this just goes to prove that health professionals are not well informed when it comes to BF and in my opinion other mums know best when it comes to this subject.

Krystaltips

Breastfeeding information taught on a midwifery or health visitor course is actually very minimal, sometimes as little as one afternoon on 2 years... There is also not much opportunity for ongoing learning unless it is a personal interest of the health proffesional. Someone who has trained with one of the big voluntary organisations has had a lot more in depth training including feeding logistics plus counselling skills. They then are encouraged to undertake ongoing learning and regular supervision sessions to ensure their skills are up to date and the information they are handing out to mothers is correct. They are not there to undermine the health proffessionals but work alongside them in supporting women who need help and quite often those that don't. If there are serious concerns about a babys health then the health proffessional is always the one to turn to. If it is merely a slow gaining baby and the health proffessional has neither time or inclination to fully support breastfeeding then peer supporters are there to back the mother up on her own intuition and support her in making sensible choices.

If the OP had come on here saying her baby was losing weight, lethargic, not interested in feeding etc then I'm sure the responses would of been a lot different.

Sarahsaver

I am sure all the people who have given advice on breastfeeding have personal experience of doing it, and i expect many of us have been told 'supplement' when we have not needed to.
The OP wants to breastfeed and all power to her.

moneypanicker

Went to GP today to update about blood pressure was not the doc i saw last week. Was told that meds i had been given were unsuitable for bf as computer says "no"! He said that after 3 weeks the baby had received full advantages of being bf and that i should stop! When i became very upset he replyed why are you so ademant there are other ways to feed your baby!!!!

This medication i was prescribed after my first child while i was breastfeeding. i've spent the day crying at his lack of understanding and his comments that formula milk has the same nutritional value. I thought that they were supposed to support breastfeeding. He stated that my baby would need monitoring (this isn't the case) and that they would frown upon having to do this as there are other ways to feed my baby!

I'm seeing him again on mon and i am going armed with info i've researched on this particular drug. It's just one hurdle after another!!!!:eek:

Sarahsaver

Poor you
get in touch with la leche league and get support from them
I have to take aspirin and i am fine with bf my daughter
What do they think people used to do before formula was invented? (hugs) best of luck

nadnad

moneypanicker wrote: »

Went to GP today to update about blood pressure was not the doc i saw last week. Was told that meds i had been given were unsuitable for bf as computer says "no"! He said that after 3 weeks the baby had received full advantages of being bf and that i should stop! When i became very upset he replyed why are you so ademant there are other ways to feed your baby!!!!

This medication i was prescribed after my first child while i was breastfeeding. i've spent the day crying at his lack of understanding and his comments that formula milk has the same nutritional value. I thought that they were supposed to support breastfeeding. He stated that my baby would need monitoring (this isn't the case) and that they would frown upon having to do this as there are other ways to feed my baby!

I'm seeing him again on mon and i am going armed with info i've researched on this particular drug. It's just one hurdle after another!!!!:eek:

omg that has made me soooo angry on your behalf. they just don't have a clue do they?! is there another doctor you can see? a more sympathetic and understanding one? my GP is great she breast fed her LO until he was 18months and she is so supportive and understanding and that helps a lot. What an idiot doctor. grrrrr:mad:

LittleTinker

moneypanicker wrote: »

I was up in the night worrying about it! He is coming up 3 weeks and he's put on 3 1/2 ozs in 8 days so at least he's putting on. The thing is i feel dreadful about it. My middle child put on 1lb a week:eek: from breastfeeding i feel like i'm failing him. I did give him formula last night and he finished 4ozs in seconds but i expressed this morning and got 4ozs so it's obviously the same as what he is getting. the hv was concerned that he has dropped from his birth weight centile. I'm trying to eat and drink more so hopefully in the next few days my milk will pick up!

thanks all

You are not doing anything wrong here.....and if I were you I would not take any notice of your health visitor at all. He is putting weight on and is otherwise ok too...so dont worry yourself about anything. It wont help him much if you become too stressed.

These health visitors really need to get a grip with what is important and remember that they are there as support....not as the font of all knowledge!!

3under3

I wouldn't be going back to see him! The info he has given you is incorrect regarding breastfeeding v formula nutrition.

There is an excelllent message board for breastfeeding support on the website ivillage.co.uk, (I hope I can recommend this), I posted there when I was feeding my 3 and doubt I would have succeeded without it.

Krystaltips

moneypanicker wrote: »

Went to GP today to update about blood pressure was not the doc i saw last week. Was told that meds i had been given were unsuitable for bf as computer says "no"! He said that after 3 weeks the baby had received full advantages of being bf and that i should stop! When i became very upset he replyed why are you so ademant there are other ways to feed your baby!!!!

This medication i was prescribed after my first child while i was breastfeeding. i've spent the day crying at his lack of understanding and his comments that formula milk has the same nutritional value. I thought that they were supposed to support breastfeeding. He stated that my baby would need monitoring (this isn't the case) and that they would frown upon having to do this as there are other ways to feed my baby!

I'm seeing him again on mon and i am going armed with info i've researched on this particular drug. It's just one hurdle after another!!!!:eek:

Have you checked the Breastfeeding Networks drugs and mothers milk pages on the website? Written by a fully qualified pharmacist they cover a whole host of common medications and if the one you on is not listed there are links to email directly for information.

Sadly Drs have even less understanding than midwives and health visitors and even more sadly they are often sold propagada from formula companies during complimentary lunches....

Fritha_2

moneypanicker wrote: »

He said that after 3 weeks the baby had received full advantages of being bf and that i should stop!

I had that! The ladies at my bf group were astonished! It's utter nonsense and frankly it's disgraceful that we're being told things this!

Keep sticking to your guns and I hope you find better support soon.