Under supply - 30ml almost 4wks- traumatised.
I am utterly traumatised so far by my journey and need some input / insight to see if the issue is me or the methods suggested by my LC.
Sorry for the long post and information dump but trying to get as much info down so there is a clear picture.
The birth was a precipitous labour - very fast - 10 minute push with kiwi assisted. Hadn’t realised I was having contractions till an hour before. Manual removal of placenta. Bleeding has stopped and we’re locha is fine.
LO latched on golden hour for the entire hour. But BF advice in hospital was incredibly contradictory and I struggled through doing the wrong things for the first five days.
He was just aundiced and sleepy, difficult to feed for first few days but passed the initial glucose test. On day of discharge failed last glucose test and forced to supplement.
Was seen by hospital LC as BF was blamed for low glucose and following plan given:
Triple feed on 3 hr cycle with top ups (now at four weeks we’re at 45ml top up with more if LO still hungry). He almost always needs more. Incredibly hungry baby.
Triple feed is set out at:
- BF 20
- top up
- Pump 20.
Brith weight met @ 2 weeks.
Told I can go 4 hourly at night with one full formula feed for mental health. I don’t do this every night I see how I’m coping.
LO still a sleepy baby and needs to be stripped, changed and constantly kept awake when feeding.
Have slept through 5/6 hours feed cycle by mistake multiple nights this week due to exhaustion. I know this won’t help. I have set every alarm and set Alexa to go off and it doesn’t wake me. His cries will.
Average triple feeds 7/8 only. Try to increase but OH is working 12 hr shifts. But I am latching him in between whenever he wants to or needs comfort as well. So probably closer to 12 plus for latches.
I want to add more triple feeds but I find it difficult to get the cycle finished in less than 1.5hrs.
Using Medela symphony with amazon flange inserts. 17mm.
Baby checked for tongue tie/lip tie. I’m told no but I query the lip tie still and might get second opinion.
Week 3/4 - Average output is 10-25mls after a feed. No consistency. If skipped feed (formula only feed) I still only max out at 30-35ml). No increase from week 2 but did less 5mls. Occasionally I’ll try hand pump and get 25ml.
Weighted feed showed intake of 35ml over 20 mins.
Medication: labetalol for gestational hypertension. No preeclampsia. 200 x 4 times daily.
Started Motillium last week - no real results. 10mg x 3 times daily. Increased to 30mg x 3 times as last ditch try and been on that 4 days so far - no results.
Supplements: have bought morgina and fenugreek which should arrive shortly. Taking breastfeeding multivitamin.
Never felt engorged until I slept the 5/6 hours. Even then just full - not painful.
Only started leaking when feeding opposite breast when I started taking Motillium.
Breasts: Feel a dragging pain under armpit when pumping.
Now suffering from vasospasms.
Have booked a private LC for this week for my own mental health, in the meantime…
HELP!
What am I doing wrong??
Am I torturing myself for 30/35ml….
Edit: to add he will settle and use breast to soothe to sleep so he’s not completely developed a bottle preference but he does get frustrated once flow stops. We are pace feeding with bottle.