Any APs that also FF?

CollieJade · November 2009

Just wondering if there are other APs that were not able to BF. Sometimes I feel like a bad AP because I have to FF my DD.

Though I guess bottle feeding is still part of AP if it's done in a way that adapts BFing behaviors. But I feel kind of alone among my AP pals as the lone FFer!

MStason · November 2009

I do AP and am not able to BF due to a medical condition. I feel like I can still bond with my DD. I wish I could BF but I am doing the best I can for DD and to me that is what AP is all about. Taking the best and most loving care of DD that I can.

dmogmo · November 2009

I FF. BF was not for me it turned out.

BohoIslandBaby · November 2009

I had to supplement in addition to BF, but now I am able to EBF in addition to solids. I completely know what you mean, though. I hated that I had to do formula, but it was either that or let my DS not eat...we had a lot of feeding and weight gain issues in the first 4-5 months. I would go to LLL meetings with a friend and I would feel terrible that I was the one mom who couldn't just sit there and BF if I needed to. It took awhile for me to get past the feeling that I was doing something wrong because I couldn't BF.

kujess1 · November 2009

You're not alone. I tried very hard to BF and it did not work out. I continue to feel lots of guilt over this issue, but like pp said, I'm doing the best I can for my baby and I still feel that we are very attached.

moroccojade · November 2009

I had a breast reduction when I was 19. I took megadoses of domperidone, handfuls of capsules of herbs every few hours, power pumped and prayed a LOT and still had to supplement with formula. At best I made 40% of what DD took in.

But I did feed 98% of that formula at the breast with a Medela SNS. To me nursing was more than the breastmilk. We 'nursed' for 18 months.

CollieJade · November 2009

moroccojade:

I had a breast reduction when I was 19. I took megadoses of domperidone, handfuls of capsules of herbs every few hours, power pumped and prayed a LOT and still had to supplement with formula. At best I made 40% of what DD took in.

But I did feed 98% of that formula at the breast with a Medela SNS. To me nursing was more than the breastmilk. We 'nursed' for 18 months.

Wow. I'm impressed that you did an SNS for an extended period of time! We did it for the first couple of weeks while DH was home to help me, but I found it impossibly hard to maintain by myself without anyone to help and DH back at work full time.

Out of curiosity, what was your megadose of domperidone? I'm on 30mg 3x/day. No luck with an increase yet.

moroccojade · November 2009

CollieJade:
moroccojade:

I had a breast reduction when I was 19. I took megadoses of domperidone, handfuls of capsules of herbs every few hours, power pumped and prayed a LOT and still had to supplement with formula. At best I made 40% of what DD took in.

But I did feed 98% of that formula at the breast with a Medela SNS. To me nursing was more than the breastmilk. We 'nursed' for 18 months.

Wow. I'm impressed that you did an SNS for an extended period of time! We did it for the first couple of weeks while DH was home to help me, but I found it impossibly hard to maintain by myself without anyone to help and DH back at work full time.

Out of curiosity, what was your megadose of domperidone? I'm on 30mg 3x/day. No luck with an increase yet.

I had 2 SNSs going after the first few months - that was wonderful. It just became a part of life. I ended up finding it so much easier than nursing, then feeding her a bottle. (Which she'd fuss with and choke on.) It was like feeding twice. Haaaaaated that. The SNS was a godsend.

90 mg very often isn't enough. BFing queen Diana West says 120 mg is the max daily dose. BFing guru Dr Jack Newman says up to 160 mg. I did the 160. 4X4. I saw results with that dose after a few weeks. Since it doesn't sound like you've had surgery, you should see results much quicker.

My best friend quadrupled her supply in a few days at 120 mg. And slowly weaned down and maintained a good supply till now. (Her DD will be 2 in 6 weeks.... and she just got pregnant, so she went off the dpd and she's drying right up.)

If I were you I'd try 120 for 4 or 5 days. If you don't see any improvements - go up to 160. And give that SNS a try again. Now that you're not as frazzled/sleep deprived (hopefully) you might have more luck with it.

All the best!!

SoonToBeTabor · November 2009

moroccojade:
I had a breast reduction when I was 19. I took megadoses of domperidone, handfuls of capsules of herbs every few hours, power pumped and prayed a LOT and still had to supplement with formula. At best I made 40% of what DD took in.
But I did feed 98% of that formula at the breast with a Medela SNS. To me nursing was more than the breastmilk. We 'nursed' for 18 months.

This. Add Reglan and every tea/home remedy you can think of and it didnt help. I was only ever able to pump about 10mls.

Just because your not BFing doesnt make you any less AP. Its heartbreaking when you want to and yet you dont succeed, I was devestated to say the least. My DD was born a month early, hooked up to all these machines and I couldnt even give her milk.

You can still Bottle Feed with Love, look on the API website. A SNS feeder can help you feel close too but I didnt care for it much, I thought it was too hard to do alone.

cindy453 · November 2009

I somehow managed to reach a full supply despite having a breast reduction. But, I tried Shatavari and it helped a lot. It can be taken in conjunction with dom.

We did the SNS for awhile before switching to EBF. It was SO much easier at 1 month than it was at 1 day or 1 week. At one month old she sort of knew how to latch and had more head control. I loved the SNS then. I hated it before that though. I used it from day 2-day 5, then quit for awhile, then used it from about 3 weeks to 5 weeks. Good luck!

IU_baby · November 2009

I do now. I BF (not exclusively) for almost 6months.

EveryNameIWantIsTaken · November 2009

kujess1:
You're not alone. I tried very hard to BF and it did not work out. I continue to feel lots of guilt over this issue, but like pp said, I'm doing the best I can for my baby and I still feel that we are very attached.

This is exactly me. I still feel guilty. Maybe I'll get over it by the time ds is 18 lol.

KimberJEB · November 2009

fredalina:
i'm not physically or legally able to BF, so obviously i FF. Even i feel guilt sometimes lol. But we do the best for our babies, and honestly i don't think it has deterred D's attachment or bonding at all.

Fred- are you really LEGALLY not allowed to BF? That's so odd... I know that physically you can't, but I'd think since they're trusting you to take care of her, you could BF her if you wanted/had milk. I am finding so much of what I read on your posts interesting and things I'd never thought about when it comes to adoption/foster-adopt. Sorry, that was random, and unimportant, I was just struck by your comment:-)

sweetpea7628 · November 2009

I am a FF here. I BFed until 6 months and had to stop due to low supply. We feed on demand just like I did when I was BFing and I feel like I am still able to have the closeness with DD that I did when I was BFing her. You aren't alone!

LucyPevensie · November 2009

I could not bf either - ep'ed for six months and then switched to formula. DS has always been "bottle nursed." You're not alone!!

goodheartedmommy · November 2009

I FF my first...my choice, really. I didn't know better, I had no support, my ped urged me to quit. I still think I'm about as "AP" as they come. I never parented him differently than my breastfed babies. He was cuddled while fed, coslept, worn, etc.

AutumnBride929 · November 2009

I starved my son half to death when I EBFed so I'm glad that formula is out there for those of us who have supply issues or can't BF for some other reason. I still pump as much as I can but that's nowhere near enough for even one feeding!

AutumnBride929 · November 2009

I think I will bust out my SNS again... it was such a pain in the ass when ds was little as the op was saying but I'm sure it would be much better now!

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