WWYD RE Health Visitor

Corelli

My experience of midwives and BF support was abysmal. However, my eldest would have been 21 and my now eldest is 19 and my youngest is 15 so obviously this is many year back. At my first booking session, I was asked how I was planning to feed the baby, 'by bottle? ' was the MW's asumption. Not a good start. Then latter I had latching problems and all any of them did was jam the baby's face into my breast.

My problems were helped by an NCT BF supporter. As we later became friend I saw just how much she had studied to gain her knowledge. Another friend had been trained by La Leche and their indepth knowlege was greater than other MW's I spoke to.

Earlier in this thread I mentioned a mother I knew more recently who's baby had a tongue tie. She was helped very much by the local NHS lactation clinic so I hope that things are improving.

gayleygoo

My second baby wasn't weighed at all after the 6 week weighing and he had only just regained his birthweight, my HV seemed ok about that.

Fenugreek worked wonders for me too, you only need take it for a day or two and the milk just shoots out! Keeping your supply up then is just a case of frequent feeding. However, very frequent feeds may mean that not enough of the thick, fatty hindmilk is getting through. Don't "change boob" until your baby starts to wriggle and seems to complain that there is less coming! Your breast will never empty entirely, even if it feels like it is.

Lovely as they were, my HVs were generally incompetent in their knowledge of breastfeeding (although I know that many HVs are very good with BFing and often it is down to proper training or personal experience of BFing. Neither of my HV's breastfed their own children so their advice was rather limited I felt, and in the case of one, very outdated.) If I had listened to all of their advice I don't think I would have been able to breastfeed for as long as I did! If they know anything at all about breastfeeding they shouldn't advise formula top ups unless the circumstances are extreme, even a small, regular amount of formula will interfere with your supply, and will be particularly noticeable when baby is going through a growth spurt. Top-ups of breastmilk are fine since you'll still be producing all the milk your baby needs.

When I was in hospital with my second baby, two student MWs came to sit and watch me BF, I was the only mum on the wards BFing at the time. Sadly for some MWs/HVs they can have plenty of training on the subject, but very little practical experience of seeing it happen and having to deal with problems.

Anyway, enough of me rambling on... OP, if your HV is concerned about baby's weight, don't ignore her,just get baby weighed once a week and see if there is an improvement. You don't have to give formula and your body can do it just fine, and as long as your baby is happy and having wet and dirty nappies you're doing fine