Aibu to give up trying to breastfeed?

[funinthesun18]

Baby is 3 days old and I’ve been trying to breastfeed her. It’s not gone very well as I think I’ve been getting the technique wrong I’m bleeding a bit and I’m SO sore.
I formula fed my other babies and they were all happy healthy babies, but this time I really wanted to give breastfeeding a go as this is my last one and I wanted to really enjoy that closeness to her.
I’ve been considering putting her on formula because the pain is too much. But my milk has come in now and I feel so guilty and upset. It’s a bit of a now or never thing now because if I stop then the milk will go and won’t come back.
I just don’t know what to do 😢

My midwife came out this morning to help and advise me. She gave me some of that cream too.
I’ve just fed baby on my own now and it was amazing! I’m going to keep going with it.
Thankyou for all the supportive posts on here too I really appreciate them.

Once you get the latch right and your nipples toughen a bit it’s such a joy! Well done OP for the progress xxx

Well done OP it does get much easier.

Maybe get checked for tongue tie?

Also, hold your boob and swipe from nose to chin to encourage baby to open mouth wide and try to put your breast in the mouth using this technique too, making sure to get your breast in as far as possible, you want to get a deep latch, it should reduce the pain.

I’d maybe try nipple shields and even giving the odd bottle to give your boobs a rest and chance to heal. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, you could combination feed!

I had an awful labour and was really messed up so I breast fed during the day and my partner did bottle night feeds for the first 2 weeks so I could get my strength up. Then when I was up to it I went onto breastfeed exclusively and carried on breastfeeding until ds was 20 months! I’ve only just stopped.

You have to do whatever is right for you though

Oh sorry just seen your update! Great news op

Brilliant news Fun! Well done 😊 It’s a learning curve for both of you. Sometimes you just need that one good feed to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Congratulations on your baby. You're doing great and first few days in can often feel like this. It sounds like you planned to breastfeed your bub, so the following could help in reaching your goal.
You could try speaking to a breastfeeding hotline for support.
You could arrange a lactation consultant to come visit you.
There are generally local lactation groups for mums to meet up and feed their baby. This could be a great support group to be around whilst you are still trying to establish the breastfeeding relationship.
Baby safe ointment to help soothe nipples.
Try different positions to help baby latch.
Shower with damp hot washcloth to massage and release any plugged ducts.
First week or so can be painful. Establishing breastfeeding can last for the whole first few months of life. Many people find newborns to be too small and fragile, which can affect breastfeeding.
All the best!

Good work! Keep asking for help. Ask that nice midwife to come back and help again if needs be.
Enjoy your new baby

amazing! Brilliant news well done

Glad things have moved on. Hope you heal up. I found parafin guaze from the chemist effective and cheap for cracked nipples.

Hey OP

I had problems with baby’s latch And Jesus it hurt. Fully cracked, toe curling, wincing - as posters above have been there.

Midwife thought my nipples might be too flat for baby to get a proper latch, she recommended nipple shields which were great.
I did use them for too long and once they have more hand control they can pull them off which is super annoying. But it did enable me to feed for a few months, occasionally she could do it without the shields too.

I promise you it really does get easier!!
Glad the midwife was able to help
It really is a skill you and the baby need to learn together but it might take a few weeks

Myself and my siblings were all bottle fed. We all grew up to be intelligent and compassionate people. I bottle fed my son and he is in an Ivy League university in the USA. He's a wonderful person. Everyone who meets him is impressed.

By comparison my sister-in-law breast fed her son, bought him all those "smart toys" when he was growing up. He's an emotional wreck because his mom is SUCH A JERK. Its family environment - not breast feeding.

If you're not comfortable with breast feeding DO NOT do it. Don't let the arrogant breast feeding moms try to intimidate you. None of their friggin' business!!

‘Arrogant breastfeeding mums’? Jeez, that’s some chip on your shoulder. If you’d read the thread you’d see that the OP wanted to breastfeed and managed to get the help she needed to continue.

@CommomSenseMom

Its hilarious how irrelevant your arguments are to breastfeeding and formula feeding.
I mean, i didnt realise choosing how i feed my baby will determine whether they end up in an ivy league university or not?! ARE YOU READING THIS DAILY MAIL?!
Secondly the OP wants to breastfeed and wants support. Telling her to stop is counterproductive to what she actually wants to do.

OP im glad you have found the right support and its going better for you! As everyone says those first 6-8 weeks are the hardest. Dont feel guilty either way. Do what you feel is right for you and for baby xx

Please go and see your local breastfeeding consultant. You should be able to get a referral via the midwife or health visitor.

With my first I did half and half ... morning and night feeds were with breastfeeding and the rest with bottles.

As long as your baby is putting on weight it doesn't matter how the baby is feed x