Strange one this....
I was in hospital with my baby for a week. First couple of days I breastfed exclusively.. My baby was on antibiotics and poorly and tongue tied and struggling somewhat, giving up, fighting, falling asleep without eating.
Hospital decided to send the BF person with the expressing machine to me without discussing it first, I was that tired/confused/ill/uneducated that I went along with everything they suggested - which was hook up to a machine, express, bottle feed (they initially suggested THEY feed her with a cup, but she spat everything up so they "let" me bottle feed) and then asked me to top up her feeds up to 50ml every 2 hours with formula (they followed me up on this every 2 hours recording feeds, how much breast milk, fomula, nappies...etc) I didn't even ask why they were keeping track of all this!! (the anti biotics were for an infection she likely got from my waters breaking 2 days before birth they said)
I didn't really ask questions (was she dehydrated? I don't know!!), was on another planet after traumatic birth, but once I got home and continued to express I noticed my milk was drying up, and I was having to use more and more fomula! (formula was always second option and I tried to express every 2 hours) I had bf support and they suggested a million things to increase milk flow... nothing! In the beginning I was infront of her with milk, but then less and less
Was bloody angry I didn't persist with BFing and that the hospital somewhat led me into a situation that wasn't ideal... but like I said, I was stupid... and poorly and doing everything they said.
Anyway... I dried up to the point of a few ml and there was nothing but formula to feed her. Ended up completely stopping, had no engorgement and my breasts were "empty" which pissed me off no end, because I was wearing breast pads from about 20w pregnant - I had more milk then!
Anyway... after over a week of just formula feeding, my boobs have started leaking again?!. I'm so tempted next time she roots/cries that I try putting her on the breast again....
Should I? I don't know. She still probably won't latch properly, but she's much better now, and stays awake for longer, so have more time to persist
Am I just asking for trouble trying again?
I don't want to express again, it was so time consuming.
I probably made a lot of mistakes... but first time mum, and always envisaged I'd be a breast feeder. She is thriving and happy on formula. So don't shoot me down! Need advice, so no breast feeding brigaders or guilt trippers. Not here to judge on how anyone feeds their baby as long as they do :)
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
AIBU?
To ask if it possible to start breast feeding again at 4 weeks??
49 replies
TheHermitCrab · 08/02/2015 22:08
OP posts:
Loletta ·
08/02/2015 22:35
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.