Yoyo breastfeeding

[Christinedonna]

I gave birth to my first DD on the 19th and everything this far has gone perfectly, she's beautiful and I'm the luckiest mummy alive but really struggling with a feeding conundrum. Well..it was a conundrum but now just a problem. I breastfed her for the first day in the hospital and loved it! The bond I felt with her and the feeling of being able to feed my baby and her relying on me for food and comfort and me being able to do it was just amazing..but it became so painful that I had to stop, it broke my heart and was not a decision I took lightly but eventually came to the decision that a hurting mummy is not a happy one. She got the hang of bottles and is now doing really well with them..but now my milks come in and my nipples are healed and I really want to give it another go! At first I thought it was out of the question as I didn't want to confuse her undo the progress she's made with bottles but midwives and other mummies have reassured me that this isn't the case and I can have that special little bond back with my baby. Tonight I tried breastfeeding, full boobies, hungry baby and nothing. She won't take to it, I know I've only tried once and il persevere but it worries me that she was such a natural the first time round, she took to it instantly and now I feel i took that for granted. Is there anything I can do to fix it and make her want to do it again or is it too late?

[villainousbroodmare]

Not too late, keep trying. You'll get it!

What happened when you did try?

[Christinedonna]

She screamed and wouldn't do it, really made me feel like I was forcing her. I preserved for 15 minutes but didn't want her going hungry so gave her a bottle and she was clearly starving

[SpeakNoWords]

When you've had a break from latching on then it can take a while. I'd try at each feed, maybe after giving some formula so that she's not starving hungry. It took my DS several days to remember how to latch on after being bottle fed for the first few days. Express if you can to help keep your supply going.

[LadySilvia]

Congratulations on your DD Christine.

Keep trying at each feed, with lots of skin to skin and maybe hand expressing a couple of drops to lead DD to the nipple. (DS2 remembered after an 8 week break and me pumping exclusively. 🙄 It's all instinct and it can be done - promise!)

[ICJump]

Have you had a try of biological nurturing? It's a really useful and relaxed way to help a baby learn to feed at the breast.
www.biologicalnurturing.com/

[Christinedonna]

Il have a look thank you ICJ. I've just pumped 2 and a half ounces of milk so she's drinking that, thinking maybe if she gets a taste for it she'll recognise it when I try next time

[Karoleann]

That's great a huge amount, well done.

Try rubbing your nipple across her cheek before a feed, it may work better if she is slightly sleepy. As LadySilva recommends lots of skin to skin. She will get it.

There are loads of semi-professional people who will help you (and its really not too late at all) NCT, La Leche League, and your health visitor will help. But do remember they won't tell you to stop if its not working...