Breastfeeding failure

[Fergiemom]

Hi
I gave birth 15 days ago and am failing miserably with bf my child. I have been to support groups lactation consultants bought three different pumps but I cannot seem to get onto it. I think my milk supply is low bf is painful and seems to take hours (up to 4 hours to feed baby and he is still not satisfied). I have been ill since the birth which had not helped. Any advice? Do I give up or keep going? I know about the benefits of bf which is why I am becoming so depressed about this. Baby is otherwise well and putting on weight.

If baby is well and putting on weight then you are succeeding. It's not unusual to be finding breastfeeding very intense at this stage. Have you had your breastfeeding assessed for attachment/ tongue tie issues? These could make feeds longer and more frequent. But long, frequent feeds can also be normal and a sign your baby is growing rapidly. Breastfeeding gets easier over time. If you are well enough, maybe give it a few more weeks for it to establish.

Oh OP, those early days are so tough even when feeding is going well. You don't have to do anything you don't want to - if formula works best for your family, brilliant. Several of my friends have found life got much easier and the baby much happier once they switched.

If you want to keep going, you can do it, it's just bloody hard. Hours of feeding at that age can be normal. Have you had a tongue tie assessment?

Lastly, you could consider combination feeding. If you wait to keep breastfeeding going, have a read about how to do it without affecting supply. My 6 month old won't take a bottle, so out sounds like a brilliant idea to me to start now.

Again, BFing isn't for everyone. If you decide to stop, I forbid you from feeling the slightest shred of guilt! You're just a mum doing her best for her baby, like the rest of us.

If baby is putting on weight your supply is fine and you're doing fantastically.

I haven't yet found a pump which doesn't make my nipples sore (I've been bf for 2 years). I find hand expressing much easier. There's really no need to get lo to take a bottle though unless you want to.

You could try the "flipple" technique (videos on YouTube) to try and get a deeper latch. Also make sure that baby is being held horizontally when feeling - legs and head in line - and that they aren't twisted away from you; face should be fully facing your breast.

It does take a while to get the hang of it. Stick it out if you can x

Are you bottle feeding at all, or is the baby's milk all yours?
They will hang on for hours sometimes.

If baby is well, putting on weight and it’s coming out the other end then it’s going fine. Feeding can go on forever especially in the evening I found. They’re putting in their future order setting up the supply. What sort of pain exactly? I found it got a lot easier after about 6 weeks. Currently have dc2 who is 4 weeks and waiting for that time to come again to stopped feeling trapped at home.