Breastfeeding help needed - Let Down?

Hi all - I'm having a bit of a problem with BF, my DD is 19 days old and I am having to BF and do formula top ups. And I am feeling so down about it, I keep crying over it - which is ridiculous.

My milk didnt come in until very very late (8 days after c-section birth), and when it did there wasnt much, only once have my boobs got hard and lumpy with milk, usually they are soft and not that full.

I'm taking Domperidone (5 days so far), herbal nursing tea, milk flow herbal mouth spray and drinking water for Africa. Oh and expressing whenever I get the chance.

I feel like an absolute failure, I feed her one side, than change her, then the other side, then I heat up a bottle and fed her that - usually 50mls, then I express whatever I have left. It varies - that most I've got is 80mls. It's exhausting and it does feel like she enjoys the process either.

I havent felt 'let down' as yet and wonder how the heck I get that to happen, does anyone know how to get 'let down'? Or is that another thing I cant seem to do.

Thanks for any advice - I am currently reading the breastfeeding tips post above also for any help.

Hey hun, you are NOT a failure, you're doing really well and putting in a LOAD of effort for your DD. It's not easy, I know.

My DS is just about 5 months and I have just this week switched to fully formula feeding him after a couple of months of needing formula top ups. Callum was early and I needed to express to get my milk in (as he couldn't BF at first), but we got there in the end .. it was hard going though

It sounds like you're doing everything you can, PLEASE please don't feel like a failure. The fact that you're getting 80mls when you're expressing is pretty fantastic and means your DD is getting BM from you which is great

I am assuming if you're taking domperidone you have seen a lactation consultant for advice? How is your latch?

If BF is what you really want for you and DD then hang in there chick, you can do it. And if you feel you can't and you decide to FF - you are STILL not a failure, you have done 19 days so far, that's a great start for DD.

I never felt "let down" either, I don't think. My (.)(.)s sometimes felt tingly if C slept longer than usual and I was waiting to feed him, but I don't get the feeling that others have described when they start feeding.



Edited by kiwisj

casper1 wrote: I would suggest that you just relax and try and enjoy BF.

I totally agree with this. Whenever I feel my let down it is because I am nice and relaxed and totally concentrated on Ella. I was never very good with expressing but am still b/f so I wouldn't be too worried about the amount you are expressing. I assume you are demand feeding, as this it should help with your supply.

lastly big and it gets better soon.

i'm another one here who never felt the let down - in fact when i felt it the first time i fed my second son i nearly dropped him it was such a shock.

one of the best things for boosting supply is spending a couple of days in bed with baby letting them suckle when they want.

also 80 mls sounds like a lot to me to express after a full bf ... a breast pump is not as efficient as a baby so use that as a guide to how much you have.

also bub is still little and probably doesnt need that much either, it may feel like she is resenting it if in fact she is full and doesnt really want that bottle.

and finally your breasts may not feel full simply because your body is very efficient...

try and relax... it can be hard but worth it.

Hey, you are not a failure! Breastfeeding can be really hard and it sounds like you are doing all you can to protect and nourish your baby, that makes you a great mum. It's only been a few weeks, although I'm sure it feels like its been forever, it took me a few months to get the whole bf thing with Dominic. And with Isobelle she refused the breast from 2 mths and we supplement feed for those 2 mths because she vomited her feeds up. There is nothing wrong with formula its just a different form of nutrition.
One thing I found really helped me was to make sure my shoulders were relaxed, easier said that done! But you'd be surprised at the difference it made, as soon as I relaxed my shoulders the milk would let down (not always accompanied by a feeling mind you).
I also used Lacta drops (available from natropaths) which worked really well.
I think you are doing really well, hang in there.

Thanks for all the supportive and helpful responses. I'm feeling a bit stronger about it all now - whether my boobs work or not - I'm feeling like I'm doing all I can and that's the best thing for my daughter. Thanks everyone, it nice to have a place like this to get advice and words of encouragement.