Baby had been latched on beautifully for 2 days feeding incredibly well after birth, then got taken to NICU where he had cow and gate bottles and dummys (not happy about either). I could breastfeed once or twice a day when I was allowed to be there and he continued to feed well.

I was expressing and could get about 60mls-90mls each side.

Now since leaving hospital I felt he was getting better, each breastfeed needed less and less formula on top, started off needing about 2.5 oz then down to 1oz or basically none. Now he seems to have lost interest and I'm having trouble seeing how to get back on track, he just needed 4oz of milk he's only just over 1 week old!

One midwife said to carry on as we are. Another said to breastfeed every other feed so I have enough. His latch seems fine when he's compliant. I'm stuck anyone have any advice?!

When my lo got lazy & lost his latch for a bit after a few too many expressed bottles, I was advised by a bf counsellor to go back to basics as if he was a newborn learning to feed for first time, which meant spending a day in bed doing skin to skin (as that stimulates the babies primitive instinct to suckle) and to keep lying him on me near to my boob and letting him kind of head bob around until he found it himself, I was a bit sceptical but it worked wonders and seemed to renew his interest, plus it was a lovely bonding day!

Have you got a bf support group you could contact, like an nct one or treasure chest? They are so supportive in situations like this.

I like what bunny has said - personally, I think you're doing great after such a difficult start. I'd keep on with no bottles and after a few days, your baby suckling will have told your body what he needs xx

What bunny said is the best thing to do just staying in bed and letting him suckle often will stimulate your supply and encourage him. Eat and drink plenty and rest lots for a few days, you could also take fenugreek. another option would be to wear nipple shields for a bit as it will be more like a bottle for him at first. The support groups are brilliant ours even came out to me the first few weeks. Good luck sounds like your doing brilliant x

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This is definately the best advice. Lots and lots of skin to skin for a day or more, back to basics!

Make sure you drink plenty of water to keep your fluids up too.

But yeah, just keept that baby on your chest.

xxxxx

I'll take your advice thanks tomorrow there's no school so will do lots of skin to skin in the warm. I was actually thinking earlier also that maybe he just has been getting more frequent daytime feeds in NICU .

I've got a lovely lady from breastfeeding support I can call but I thought she might not know what to do under these circumstances. I've also got a special midwife coming tomorrow but she's the one who said to bf every other feed and that just doesn't sound like good advice.

Let us know how you get on. The bf support lady might help more than you think just having a supportive person can help. The mw that runs our group told me a lovely inspiring story about a lady who adopted a new baby and as she wanted the special bond mummys who give birth have she wanted to breast feed her and amazingly her body started producing milk! She didn't have enough to feed full time but remarkable that her body could produce milk and what a great bonding experience for both mum and baby! Got my fx that everything works out for you x

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Bunnys advice is what all mw's hv's etc will tell you hope you get on ok x

Well last night no bottles til about 7.30am when you literally could squeeze no more than a drop out. No bottles since then either but haven't had much time for skin to skin I had to figure out how to shower successfully lol.

Hope things keep going well hun, don't put too much pressure on yourself either xxx

Yeah I would ditch the bottles too, I had to feed then use the hosp bottles to top up to flush out jaundice , and when I got home I just gave up forumla and relaxed into my own routene, just expect nothing fancy , just chill out you and baby and lots of skin to skin and plenty of fluids for you, Those hospitals have alot to answer for!! relax and enjoy it , it will come XX

Things are getting better. He isn't having formula during the night even though it's there on standby. Usually in the morning or late afternoon my milk runs out he drinks for so long, and he's still screaming so I give him 1 or 2 oz of FFwhich he just projectile vomits after 2 mins, so I've trying to settle him other ways if I can.

Here's hoping my supply catches up soon but I'm feeling more positive and he's looking more chubby every second.

Going to speak to the breastfeeding support woman tomorrow she keeps ringing me she certainly is persistent thank goodness!

I feel like that in the evenings sometimes but I think Tyler likes to comfort suck so I leave him on then at 9 when we go to bed I swap to the fuller side and he drinks that before going to sleep.

Both sides are pretty empty by this point. Empty enough that he won't continue to bother. Going to try bathing him at this time this evening as a distraction.