DS is 4 months old and I want to restart bf due to regret

[sleepwhatsleep]

I didn't do any bf research before he was born, apart from one class (which went on about the benefits and sold it to me instead of giving practical advice) as I was gonna be earth mother and thought it would just happen.
Then I had a traumatic birth - room suddenly filled with people, midwife telling the doc they were holding a theatre free for me a short while before DS was born via vontouse, followed by me having complications resulting in staying in hospital for a few days (baby was ok though).
Finally discharged very late at night. Spent the whole hospital stay asking for help with bfing only to be told my initial latch was fine so it was fine - even though dS wouldn't actually suck unless he was on the very end of my nipple. 3am on the first night back I screamed at my poor OH to go to Tesco and bring back some formula.

Anyway, since yesterday my boobs have started making milk again. Don't ask me why. I keep thinking about putting DS to boob to see what happens. I have always regretted not bfing. To the point where I have cried when I've seen other mothers doing it. And it's 6am and I've hardly slept due to thinking about it and it's not the first time. Am I being an idiot?

[siblingrevelryagain]

Of course not-it won't hurt to put him to the breast and try to get him to latch on. If successful I would imagine you can mix feed for a few days whilst your supply catches up.

[mirokarikovo]

Of course you can try - if you have some supply it could be OK. When I clicked on the thread I assumed your supply would be long gone (but even then there are ways to retrieve it) but with some flowing anyway that's really positive.

The volume of milk your body makes responds to the amount of time spent suckling so perhaps get a pump and express as much as you can as well as having your baby suckle as much as he wants. This should help increase what is available.

[sleepwhatsleep]

Thank you for the support. I've found a few Facebook groups. I'm worried about what family may say as they encouraged me to bottle feed, saying that bf will be too much effort.
I'm only managing to make a few drops at a time but better than none I guess.

[LeopardPrintSocks1]

Buy some fenugreek tablets and keep putting him on breast

[Dizzybintess]

It's worth joining a support group for support and getting a good breastfed pump to get your supply up x

[sleepwhatsleep]

Would a manual pump be ok?

[MoreBushThanMoss]

No real advice beyond popping the baby on as much as poss - but I DID want to say ... Ignore your family saying BFing is too much. I got a lot of that crap from my mum before DS was born, and then after when we struggled with tongue tie and oversupply issues.

Fast forward 9 weeks... My mum has seen me BF my son as we shared a bath (me and the baby, not me and mum! And he just latched on as we were snuggling) and instantly burst into tears at how "beautiful and natural" it looked. She's reassured me I shouldn't feel a need for cover up with muslins when baby is feeding in a cafe. And at the weekend I overheard her telling my sister how DS is chubbing at an incredible rate - and how it must be something "magic" in my milk

Any way- trying to say that you should ignore the family who are talking you down. You know what's best for you and your baby, and what you're capable of. And massive kudos to you for giving it a go now when some mums are looking forward to the end!

[RockyBird]

Good luck OP. No harm in having a go. Stop beating yourself up though, however it goes

[Kiwi32]

Go for it! Have a look on Kellymom.com for tips on increasing supply and loads of great breastfeeding info in general

[Kiwi32]

Oh and yes a manual pump will work fine!

[SerialReJoiner]

Absolutely give it a go. :) No harm will come from it of course!

[sycamore54321]

Just to say by all means give it a go but don't expect miracles or be disappointed. I think some earlier posters have given misleading impressions of how easy it is likely to be - In my experience of mixed feeding, none of the tricks (or indeed the pitfalls) had any noticeable impact on my supply. I would caution about getting unrealistic hopes of moving rapidly to exclusively BF (which I think is a largely unattainable goal anyway at the best of times) and would focus on doing whatever feeds are enjoyable and work for you and your baby. Some pumping may help but it's easy to get sucked into a crazy pumping schedule and spend all your time obsessing over BF.

Studies have shown that not being able to implement your preferred feeding method can lead to greater risk of PPD, so do take it easy on yourself.

I don't say all this to be a downer, I really hope it all works out for you. But I find the internet of breastfeeding can sometimes cheerlead a bit too hard, so that you feel like a failure if you do everything they all say online and it still doesn't work out.

[sycamore54321]

And on a practical note, consider trying nipple shields if your son still has trouble latching.