Pumped last time, hoping to nurse this time. Please help!
I am currently 21 weeks pregnant with my second baby. With my first breastfeeding was going really well until day 3 when i was told she lost 25% of her body weight and ultimately forced to give formula. With lots of evaluation of what happened during her birth, we now believe her birth weight was wrong! I was utterly devastated and blamed myself and it didn’t help that continuing with breastfeeding at the time was discouraged. I bottle fed with formula for 1 month and then decided to relactate. I ended up pumping for 11 months in total, she remained combi fed via a bottle about 60% breastmilk and 40% formula.
Let me tell you, relactation and EP is the hardest thing I have ever done! I beat myself up every day for a year for not being able to get my baby back on the breast and not exclusively feeding with breast milk. Looking back now I just wish I wasn’t so mean to myself! I recognise now that I tried my best and I kept going - a big hug to anyone in a similar situation!!
With baby number 2 on the way, feeding is really consuming my mind and I’m really wanting a better experience this time! Ideally I would love to feed from the breast mainly but also have pumped milk as an option on occasion. I would love for baby to be exclusively fed with breastmilk this time.
What do you guys recommend for establishing a good supply? What bottles do you recommend to avoid nipple confusion and when did you introduce the bottle? What are the warning signs of a poor latch? I own the spectra s1, shall I be prepared and purchase wearables now? If so, which ones do you recommend? Any other bits of advice on how to succeed this time will be much appreciated!